Laurie Carter Robinson, Distinguished Achievement

            Laurie Carter Robinson (’84) vice president and general counsel and executive director of jazz studies for The Juilliard School, New York City, N.Y., credits her career success to Clarion University. The Clarion University Alumni Association is recognizing this success by presenting her with the Distinguished Achievement Award.

            “It means a great deal to receive this award from Clarion University,” said Robinson. “My experience at Clarion University was extremely positive. It is four years of my life that I cherished. To be honored by the college that benefited me so much is very meaningful.”

            Originally from Rutherford, N.J., Robinson followed her sister, Taryn (Carter ’81) Wyche to Clarion University.

            “It was more of a parental decision that worked out,” she said about attending Clarion. “I majored in communication, but I wasn’t exactly sure about what I wanted to do. I thought I would go into public relations or television. Clarion’s communication program was very strong, so I choose it for a major, because I thought it would prepare me for a career.”

            The decision did prepare Robinson for a career, but not in quite the same fashion as she expected. She went on to earn an M.A. degree in communication from William Paterson College, Wayne, N.J., in 1987, and a J.D. from Rutgers Law School, Newark, N.J., in 1993.

            “After I received my masters I decided that television wasn’t for me,” she said. “I had developed fairly good verbal skills and decided I wanted to become a litigator so I turned my communication training toward the field of law.”

            While she was in graduate school, Robinson worked as a resident hall director at William Paterson University and later as assistant director of residence life and director of residence life at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rutherford, N.J. She joined the Juilliard School in 1988 as director of student affairs, working full-time while attending law school part-time.

            “I wanted to be a litigator,” she recalled. “One of the best ways to do that is be a prosecutor or public defender. During my third year of law school I worked as a legal intern facilitating presentations for victims of domestic violence. This confirmed for me that advocacy was something that I wanted to do.”

            With an offer in hand to join the district attorney’s office, a dean at Juilliard asked Robinson to remain and set up a legal department at the college. His persistence won out and Robinson remained at the school as assistant dean for student relations and legal advisor.  She was named an associate vice president in 1996 and since 2000 has handled the positions of vice president for student and legal affairs and executive director of jazz studies. She was promoted to vice president and general counsel in 2006.

            In addition to serving as in-house counsel and chief student affairs officer in legal and student affairs area, she worked with the president, dean, and artistic director at Juilliard to design and implement a new jazz program. The process included devising curriculum, hiring faculty, recruiting and selecting students, and hiring and training staff.

            “Juilliard allowed me to develop relationships with outside law firms,” said Robinson. “Part of my work is still advocacy, but a different type of advocacy than I had planned.”

            According to Robinson, none of it would have happened without her Clarion experience.

            “I didn’t anticipate doing all of this when I got to Clarion,” she said. “The experience I was having then was a special one. I took advantage of what was offered, and there was a lot to take advantage of. I was prepared for any avenue I choose to take. Being an African American, when there were not many African Americans at Clarion, did not define my experience.”

            Robinson ran on Clarion’s track and field team for coach Bill English, was an admissions graduate assistant for Sue McMillan, served on the University Activities Board, performed in drama productions, and was a member of the Black Student Union.

            “My most memorable experience was doing a class project documentary about a day program in Clarion for people with mental illness,” said Robinson. “In addition to learning the technical aspects of production I learned the creative side of the project, how to weave a story. It was challenging and stimulating.”

            Robinson also credits Chezia Thompson, an African American faculty member in the English department, and McMillan as mentors to her at Clarion.

            “I value the relationships and time they took with me,” she said.

            In the community, Robinson is active with Jazz Connections of Montclair, N.J., and is a children’s worship leader at St. Paul Baptist Church, Montclair, N.J. Professionally, she is a member of the New York State Bar Association, National Bar Association, National Association of College and University Attorneys, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Black Entertainment and Sports Law Association, New York Women’s Bar Association, and council on Law in Higher Education.

            Robinson lives in Montclair, N.J., with her husband, Gary, and son, Carter.