Robert R. Robinson joins the College of Humanities and Social Sciences as an assistant professor of political science. He was previously an assistant professor of government at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and has taught and lectured at Rhodes College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned his doctorate in political science.
Robinson’s research and teaching interests include judicial politics, legal policy, American political development, cultural theory, law and expert testimony.
Why did you pursue the opportunity to join the Titan community?
I sought to work in a collegial department, at an institution devoted to both teaching and research, in a vibrant and beautiful part of the country.
What do you most look forward to now that you’re here?
Helping my students better understand and appreciate law and politics, continuing my research interests, and getting to know faculty both in and outside my division.
What areas of continued scholarship and research are of particular interest to you?
Currently, I’m working in three areas. First, I’ve examined how our cultural attachments impact our perception and consideration of evidence, affecting our views regarding policy and legal decisions. I’m also looking at what can be done to ameliorate such cultural polarization.
Second, I’m researching what factors slow down or speed up the rate of legal change. Third, I’m working with other legal policy scholars to consider alternate ways to measure judicial ideology, beyond a liberal-conservative axis.
What are some of your outside activities, hobbies or interests?
I like beaches, bourbon, college sports, a good book, a game of poker, and spending time with my family.