Who WE Are – Marissa Robinson

Marissa Robinson graduated from William Penn High School  (WPHS) in 2012 as a National Honor Society student who was active in field hockey, basketball, and softball. She has been on top of her game ever since. She graduated summa cum laude from Kean University in 2016. Today, Robinson is the Executive Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Georgetown University, one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the country. She began her new job in December of 2020. 

“This is a brand new role, so I am excited to work with the athletics department on establishing goals for DEI and live out our value of having an inclusive community”, Robinson says. Prior to joining the administrative team at Georgetown, Robinson worked for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at its headquarters in Indianapolis, first as a postgraduate intern for leadership development, and then spent three and a half years as an assistant director in leadership development.  At the NCAA, Robinson won two top-ten nominations for the NCAA’s President’s Award which celebrated the contribution of outstanding employees.

 Robinson credits her years at WPHS for lending to her dynamic career moves which she acknowledges are contrary to public misconceptions saying, “so many people have a negative outlook on William Penn. However, it will give you what you give it. It can provide you with all of the skills you need to prepare for college or for a career but you have to want that for yourself in return.” 

Having worked in the male-dominated field of athletics, Robinson offers this advice to female students: “You can be anything you want to be in this world. Some days are going to be harder than others but keep going because it will be worth it in the end. Believe in yourself!  People may count you out before they even know you based on your gender, but never count yourself out!”

Robinson is looking forward to her future saying, “I am not sure what my ‘end goal’ is. However, I do know I want to continue to serve in roles where I get to have a positive impact on people’s lives!”