Echo Spring 2023 - 34

By Amy Mongiovi, MA, ECHO Magazine Managing Editor
A
t the age of 4, Dr. Robin Bronkema wrote her first poem wrote her first poem, titled " I'd Like to Go to
School. " In fact, throughout her childhood, she wanted to play school all the time-even when her
sister was an unwilling participant. Looking back, Robin realizes that God placed a passion for
education in her heart long ago.
Today, as a professor and Director of Graduate Programs in the Education Department at Lancaster Bible
College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Robin doesn't need to play school anymore. She earned
a bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics at Swarthmore College, a master's degree in human
development and psychology at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and a PhD in
organizational leadership at Eastern University.
Her experience now goes way beyond the colored pencils and notebook paper in her pretend
classroom, and the impact she's having on students is real as well.
Robin's impressive resume includes serving as a teacher in public schools in Pennsylvania
and Connecticut, then supervising student teachers at a liberal arts college for several
years. Discovering that her passion for education and serving the Lord could be
combined in Christian education, she moved into administrative roles at a Christian
K-12 school. Those experiences gave birth to her doctoral research, which focused
on the leadership development of female Christian school leaders.
Years before stepping onto LBC's Lancaster campus, Robin took an Intro to Education
course during her sophomore year at Swarthmore. Even though playing school had
been a favorite pastime, she hadn't been 100% sure about choosing education as a
profession. After that class, however, her pathway became clearer, especially after
being placed in a public school classroom while student-teaching at Swarthmore.
After leading public school classrooms of her own, Robin looked to the next step
in her own education-a master's degree at Harvard University. While some may
have the perception that Harvard is a desert for those living out their faith, that
wasn't Robin's experience. Besides attending the historic Park Street Church
in Boston, she also discovered the graduate student group within InterVarsity
Christian Fellowship, where discussions about the interaction of faith and
teaching were common among educators.
" My whole life, I've loved God and loved education, " she says. " And a light bulb
went off. "
It was possible to do both.
By August 2020, Robin had taught or guided students of all ages in various
educational settings. In her position before LBC, she served as Dean of
Academics at a Christian school, then the phrase " Distance Learning " was added
to her title once COVID-19 upended the world of education. She was well-suited
for the challenge though, having previously taught online and
hybrid courses.
34 ECHO
Echo Spring 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Echo Spring 2023
