Congratulations to Prof. Colene Robinson, who recently received a 2024 Boulder Faculty Excellence Award for “Excellence in Teaching.” This award recognizes the vital importance of teaching and mentoring students as significant components of faculty duties that are central to the university’s mission. 
“I am really grateful to everyone who worked hard to support my nomination and am so honored by the acknowledgement of my teaching,” Robinson said. “Hearing from former students that I had positively impacted their time in law school, which I know can be so stressful and hard, was incredibly moving.”
Robinson wears many hats here at the law school. Not only does she teach and write about child welfare and juvenile delinquency, she also co-directs the Juvenile and Family Law Program (JFLP). In her Juvenile and Family Law Clinic, students represent children and parents in child welfare cases and youth in delinquency and immigration matters. The JFLP provides students with opportunities to acquire specialized knowledge and fosters collaboration between students, academics, and practitioners.
“The people I work with at the law school are the best part of my job – foremost the students and also the faculty and staff,” Robinson shared. “Being able to laugh with people while at the same time working though hard issues that require compassion and good judgment, makes this my dream job. Not to mention the amazing professionals I work with frequently at the courthouse – like judges, caseworkers, and other attorneys.”
Prof. Robinson’s career has been extensive. Before joining Colorado Law, she represented children and families throughout Colorado and in New York City. Now as a professor and Director of Clinical Programs, she shares that some of her proudest moments come from witnessing students become more confident in their legal practice through their work in many of the Law School’s Clinics.
Like when students feel challenged by what they are learning and make noticeable improvements - “Those moments are gold when you see it happening.” Robinson said. “Also, the times when we [the clinic] have made a positive difference in someone’s case [have been among my proudest accomplishments] – which can be hard to do when you are working primarily in the child welfare system.” Professor Robinson and her students have represented over 300 families.
When asked what excellence in teaching means to her, Robinson revealed that it can be difficult to know if you are teaching well.
“If students don’t perform as well on an exam or assignment, I ask myself how I could have done a better job with the material,” Robinson explained. “Excellence means being creative, reading as much as possible in my area, keeping up with the changes in law and policy, updating or redoing my courses continuously, and finding ways to tackle difficult subjects. It also means being honest with myself when I haven’t done my best work and making changes to get better, including asking for feedback from students and colleagues.”
The University of Colorado Law School is grateful to have Robinson’s expertise and dedication to our students’ success as part of our community and look forward to the impact she will continue to have in the years to come. Congratulations, Professor Robinson, on this incredible achievement!
Learn more about Prof. Robinson here.