Robbin Chapman
Preserving Diverse Community at MIT
For RRTN by Tristen Graves
Robbin Chapman works to increase the numbers of underrepresented faculty and graduate level students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
As the Manager of Diversity Recruitment for the MIT School of Architecture and Planning and the Assistant Associate Provost for Faculty Equity, Chapman works to ensure that MIT does not miss the opportunity to continue excelling.
“MIT is about promoting excellence and effecting positivechange in the world and one of the ways to promote excellence and innovation is to have a variety of people that bring all kinds of skills and perspectives, an area needed for the continued growth and innovation of MIT,” Chapman said.
Robbin Chapman on Robert R. Taylor
In 2007, Chapman joined the MIT staff. This was within a year of receiving her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Institute in 2006. In 1999, Chapman had also received her SM degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. She did her Masters at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory where she developed a method for robust sign language. Prior to attending MIT, in 1994, Chapman had received her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from City University of New York-Brooklyn College.
As the manager for Diversity Recruitment, Chapman is responsible for the enrollment of underrepresented faculty and students, including women. Her work includes the strategic planning of diversity initiatives, institution of diversity education programs at MIT, attendance at affinity
conferences to recruit perspective students and faculty.
“If we are influencing positive change in the world we need to be able to connect with the world. We need to understand how different kinds of people are thinking and prioritizing. It would be difficult to do that in an authentic way if we did not have the same representation within our own MIT population,” Chapman said.
Within the School of Architecture and Planning, Chapman has started programs such as the Diversity Roundtable and Diversity Snapshots. The roundtable discussions provide tools on how to create a more inclusive environment. The Diversity Snapshots present images of MIT staff members. Each image is presented with information that may challenge the viewer’s initial preconceptions of those featured. These images are presented in slideshows as part of the School’s Plazma Digital Gallery.
In addition to bringing awareness and diversity to the community at MIT, Chapman works to examine the reason behind the low numbers of minority students entering into the science fields. She also works to increase awareness of those areas of study.
She said that the cause begins with the environment a child grows up in and what he or she is being exposed to, in addition to the networks they gain through family and friends.
“We need to think about how we can add additional networks to those that these kids already have and then they will have opportunities [from] all kinds of new things put in front of them.” Chapman said.
Outside of MIT, Chapman has served as a mentor. She has worked with programs such as the Intel Computer Clubhouse, The clubhouse is an after-school technology center for underserved youth based at the Boston Museum of Science.
In 2009, Chapman, with authors Yasmin Kafai and Kylie Peppler published the book, “The Computer Clubhouse: Constructionism and Creativity in Youth Communities”, showcasing life within the clubhouse and its impact on its members.
“It is important to remind people that when you are connecting with a young person you will be surprised at how the exchange you are having becomes pivotal to the direction [of] that person’s life,” Chapman said.
Before joining MIT, during the summer of 1995, Chapman served as the Assistant Program Director for NASA’s Space Life Sciences Training Program at the Kennedy Space Center. There she was responsible for program logistics and administration. Since 2003, Chapman has also served as the Regional Liaison for the Ford Diversity Fellowship program, sponsored by the National Academies of Science.
Chapman is a founding member of Habibis, MIT’s Middle Eastern dance troupe. She said she also enjoys traveling, writing and spending time with her family.
