Professor serves students 24/7, thinks she’s the lucky one
Robin Kowalski can sum up the importance of her work in one word — students.
A psychology professor at Clemson, Kowalski views herself more as a mentor than a teacher.
“I love teaching at Clemson. I love the students in my classes,” she said. “I learn all of my students’ names and really enjoy the one-on-one time I get with students outside of class in addition to the in-class time.
“I don't delude myself that students will necessarily remember any particular fact I taught them in class. However, they will, hopefully, remember the type of relationship I had with them.”
Kowalski’s love of and commitment to teaching resulted in her receiving the 2008 Prince Award for Innovation in Teaching, presented each year to an outstanding teacher at Clemson who demonstrates creative and novel teaching methods in the classroom. And in 2009 she received the Douglas W. Bradbury Award for her outstanding contributions to the Calhoun Honors College program at Clemson.
“Given how much I love teaching, these are great honors,” she said.
Clemson provides a collaborative environment Kowalski finds both useful and successful. Her research on cyber bullying is a continuous, joint effort with fellow Clemson professor Susan Limber and Dr. Patti Agatston, a bullying intervention/prevention coordinator in Cobb County, Ga.
Kowalski studies the role of technology in bullying, such as the use of cell phone cameras and text messages, as well as social Internet sites. She and fellow researchers have written a book on cyber bullying, “Cyber bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age,” and have two cyber bullying curriculum guides published. Now she is collecting data on the prevalence of cyber bullying among children with disabilities, most notably Asperger's syndrome.
“Collaborations are hugely important. We each bring different areas of expertise to the cyber bullying research,” Kowalski said of her work with Agatston and Limber. “Patti is the hands-on person who works in the trenches with students. Sue and I contribute more on the research end. So, together we make a good team, representing both the practical and applied sides. We also speak around the country to parents and student groups. Working as a team helps us share the load and use our resources most efficiently.”
Kowalski shares her expertise and research through service activities. She has participated in many presentations in which she talks to parents and student groups about the dangers of cyber bullying. Her service work also includes various committees at Clemson that include serving as vice chairperson of the university’s Institutional Review Board and the President’s Budget Task Force.
Kowalski came to Clemson in 2003 after teaching at Western Carolina University.
“It was like coming home,” the Greenville, S.C., native said. “Coming to work at Clemson gave me a great opportunity to come back to my roots.”
Kowalski comes from a family of Clemson Tigers. Her father and sister are Clemson graduates, as are a number of other relatives. She has always had respect for the university and is proud to now be a member of the Clemson Family.
“Every day when I come to work I realize how fortunate I am,” Kowalski said. “I always think to myself ‘How’d I get so lucky?’”