Dr. Robin Phylisia Chapdelaine is a historian with expertise in Women's and Gender Studies, African history, and anti-racist pedagogy. She earned her Ph.D. in Women’s & Gender History and African History from Rutgers University. Dr. Chapdelaine's research focuses on the intersections of child trafficking, coerced labor, and the ongoing impacts of slavery in Africa. Her book, The Persistence of Slavery: An Economic History of Child Trafficking in Nigeria (2021), explores these themes, while her co-edited volume, When Will the Joy Come? Black Women in the Ivory Tower (2023), examines the experiences of Black women in academia.

Currently, Dr. Chapdelaine is developing a forthcoming book, Embrace Black Joy: How Empathetic Teaching Empowers All Students, which aims to integrate anti-racist, Black joy-centered teaching practices into educational environments. Her work seeks to foster inclusive, affirming, and empathetic approaches to education, particularly for marginalized communities.


EDUCATION
Ph.D., Women's & Gender History, African History, Rutgers University
M.A., History, Rutgers University
B.A., Santa Clara University

CERTIFICATIONS
Manager Academy – FranklinCovey
Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles
Understanding Gender Equity
Facing Racism and Emotional Tax in the Workplace
Unconscious Bias: From Awareness to Action
Communication Skills for Dialoguing Across Difference

AWARDS, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS
Association for the Study of the Worldwide Diaspora Outstanding Article Prize (2021)
Severino A. Russo Endowed Faculty Development Fellowship (2020)
Paluse Faculty Research Grant (2020)
Wimmer Family Foundation Grant (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
American Historical Association, Bernadotte E. Schmitt Research Grant (2012)
Graduate Fellow, Rutgers Center for Historical Analysis (2007-2008)
Honorable Mention, Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship Doctoral Program, The National Academies (2005)