North Carolina Central University alumna Olivia Robinson has been soaring in her career and on behalf of her North Carolina community, as well.
The Fuquay-Varina, N.C., native received a bachelor’s degree in political science in May 2016. During her senior year, Robinson served as president of the Student Government Association. Robinson said she chose her career based on issues she felt passionate about, such as racial equality, service and social justice.
After graduation, Robinson joined Teach For America, an organization that trains diverse teachers to work in low-income schools to grow and strengthen educational equity and excellence. Working in Charlotte, N.C., as a middle school English teacher, Robinson was able to be a positive presence in the classroom and push students to reach their full potential for academic success. After two years of successfully leading students to significant academic gains, she was inspired to amplify her impact by taking on a new role with Teach For America.
Now as a recruitment manager for Teach For America at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she is able to hire individuals who share her motivation and passion for improving education.
“I aim to recruit the most diverse, passionate and promising leaders to commit to teaching in high-need schools and serving as life-long advocates for equity and justice,” Robinson said.
In addition to pursuing her rewarding career, Robinson recently was crowned 2020 Miss Black North Carolina USA. In August, she will represent the state at the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant. This achievement has greatly impacted her life and presented many opportunities, she said.
“Pageants like Miss Black USA have been creating space and opportunities for women like me for decades,” Robinson said. “I have been afforded the opportunity to serve as a positive representation for young black girls in the North Carolina community, and I also received scholarship that will aid in continuing my education.”
With her title, Robinson is able to promote her platform, “Breaking the Cycle: Providing Access to Opportunity.” Through this initiative, Robinson hopes to provide better educational opportunities for students in low-income areas, along with economic empowerment and financial literacy training, voter education, and increased participation in the approaching 2020 elections. Robinson has formulated initiatives for each target within her platform.
She spends her free time volunteering as a tutor at local schools, assisting with voter registration, and serving as a panelist for a financial literacy program.
“I am motivated to serve because I truly believe the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” said Robinson.
