Professor Janice Robinson, Esq. is Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs, Associate Professor in the Higher and Postsecondary Education Program and TC’s Title IX Coordinator. She also served as the College’s first General Counsel from 2005 through February 2009.
Educational and Professional History
Prof. Robinson received her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law (1982), her M.A. (1975) and Ed.M. (1976) from Teachers College and her BS from the University of Bridgeport (1973). She earned two post-graduate certificates from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Institute for Educational Management and the Management Development Program. In 1994, she was awarded a fellowship at the University of London’s Institute for Advanced Legal Studies and spent a semester in London and in South Africa researching and lecturing about minority legal education issues and affirmative action in higher education. Prior to joining Teachers College in 2000, Prof. Robinson held a joint appointment with Rutgers School of Law - Newark and Rutgers - Newark College of Arts and Sciences as Special Counsel to the Law School Dean and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Director of Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)(1996-2000). She was Assistant Dean, Director of the Minority Student Program and Director of Financial Aid at Rutgers Law School (1986-1996). Prof. Robinson practiced with the Legal Aid Society - Civil Division in New York City, arguing in courts ranging from landlord-tenant to the U.S. Court of Appeals - Second Circuit and she also taught at the Dalton School (1974-1979).
Prof. Robinson is admitted to practice in NY, U.S. Federal District Court - Southern and Eastern Districts, U.S. Court of Appeals - Second Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Research and Teaching Interests
Prof. Robinson’s interests include affirmative action in legal education and higher education; legal issues in education; access and diversity in higher education; university and professional school leadership. Course: Diversity Implications for Recruitment and Retention-Legal Perspectives: Affirmative Action in Admissions in Higher Education.
Publications
“Unlocking the Doors to Legal Education: Rutgers-Newark Law School’s Minority Student Program,” N.J. Lawyer - The Magazine, Nov/Dec, 1992
“Harbinger of Hope” The Rutgers Tradition (1994)
Community Service
Prof. Robinson served on the Board of Trustees of the Link Community School in Newark, NJ (2004-2013). Link was an independent middle school that prepared Newark seventh and eighth graders for private and prep high schools. She chaired the Education Committee, served on the Board’s Management Committee, Head of School Search Committee and Fundraising Taskforce. She served on the St. John’s University Law School Dean Search Alumni Advisory Committee in spring ‘09. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the NY County Lawyers Association and the Judiciary Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of NY. Prof. Robinson was recently elected a Director of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, St. John’s School of Law (2013-2016 term).
Recognition Highlights
Outstanding Public Service- NY County Lawyers Association, November 18, 1993
Outstanding Achievement Award, Lesbian and Gay Law Association of Greater NY1994
City of Newark Municipal Council Commendation Resolution, September 18, 1996
Outstanding Service-Garden State Bar Association, June 21, 1997
Dedication & Commitment to Diversity & Higher Education-Rutgers School of Law-Newark, April 10, 2003
Outstanding Service to Teachers College Students-TC Student Senate, May 9, 2003
Exemplary Service Award-Educational Opportunity Fund Program-Rutgers Univ., Newark March 26, 2008
Recognition of Support for EnVision-TC Coalition of Latino/a Scholars, March 7, 2009
Distinguished Alumni Award-University of Bridgeport, September 20, 2012