Dr. Katherine Robbins took over as Interim Director of Athletics on May 14, 2018, and on November 24, the "interim" tag was removed and Robbins took over as the permanent Director of Athletics. Robbins previously served as assistant professor and assistant chairperson of Edinboro’s Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Special Education prior to her move to athletics.
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She joined the Edinboro faculty in 2012, and was instrumental in acquiring both Pennsylvania Department of Education and CAEP accreditation for dual accredited Special Education degree programs, both undergraduate and graduate. Dr. Robbins specialized in teaching courses that focused on classroom and behavior management as well teaching methods for students with disabilities and struggling learners. She began her work with student-athletes while working on her doctorate at Clemson University, where she served as a learning specialist and mentor in Clemson’s student-athlete enrichment program from 2004-09. She continued that important work at Edinboro by spearheading a peer and faculty mentoring program, working closely with Athletic Study Tables, collaboratively boosting the academic achievement and retention of Edinboro’s student-athletes.Â
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In her seven years at the helm of Edinboro Athletics, Robbins added to the record of Fighting Scots success with 16 PSAC Team Championships, and 6 NCAA Atlantic Region Titles. She led fundraising efforts to improve facilities including three locker room renovations, a recruiting room renovation, a facelift inside McComb Fieldhouse, painting of Sox Harrison Stadium, and branding of scoreboards and buildings. In addition, Dr. Robbins oversaw the resurfacing of the tennis courts, an overhaul of the softball field drainage system, and stadium turf replacement complete with tartan plaid endzones. Her focus on facility improvements is instilling a renewed sense of pride for all Fighting Scots. Â
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A native of Pittsburgh, Robbins attended North Allegheny High School, and was an accomplished college athlete, herself. She was a three-time All American and a member of three national water ski championship teams – in 1991 with the University of Central Florida and in 1993 and 1994 with the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
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Robbins earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Louisiana-Monroe in 1995, and in 1996 earned her master’s degree in Special Education. She completed work on her doctorate in Special Education from Clemson in 2010.
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In addition to her time at Clemson, Robbins served as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Pittsburgh in 2006, and from 2009-12 was an assistant professor at the University of Southern Indiana. Dr. Robbins also taught special education, predominately in middle and high school for eight years before pursuing her doctorate.
She resides in Edinboro where you can still find her waterskiing in the summer months, and she also enjoys travel, hiking, biking, and even playing golf at an outing from time to time. Despite much adversity, she is a fighter, beating cancer three times, and surviving a surgical error that almost took her life. She is people-centered, passionate about academics and athletics, and grateful to have the opportunity engage and advocate for Fighting Scots past and present.Â
