Associate Professor Carolyn Robinson was recently named the 2020 recipient of the J. Creighton Miller, Jr. Distinguished Educator Award for the Southern Region from the American Society for Horticultural Science.
The award recognizes an educator with a distinguished and outstanding teaching career in horticultural science for a period of 10 or more years. The primary emphasis of the award is on excellence in undergraduate teaching.
“Beginning with my undergraduate internship, I knew that I wanted to work with and help people,” Robinson said. “The first day of stepping into the teacher roll as a graduate student might have been a bit intimidating, but it was so rewarding. To this day, I love helping students use the art and science of horticulture to create elements and environments that beautify, create functional spaces, and improve the mental and emotional well-being of both the client and creator.”
Desmond Layne, Department of Horticulture head and professor, said on behalf of his department and the College of Agriculture that “we are extremely proud of her and the great work she does for her students.”
Robinson is an alumna of the College of Agriculture, earning her Bachelor of Science in fruit and vegetable production from Auburn, her Master of Science in environmental horticulture from University of Florida, and her Ph.D. in sociohorticulture from Texas A&M University.
She was first hired at Auburn as an assistant professor. Prior to joining the Auburn faculty, she was an assistant professor in the Department of Agriculture at Sam Houston State University.
“It is such an honor to receive this award amongst so many wonderful horticulture educators,” Robinson said. “Many thanks go to those amazing mentors who inspired me.”
