Robyn L. Gobin, PhD, is recognized with this Citizen Psychologist Presidential Citation for her leadership in reducing barriers to mental health treatment for ethnic minority populations and creating an educational pipeline for the next generation of culturally diverse leaders in the field of psychology.
Witnessing the silence, shame and lack of mental health knowledge in the Black church, Gobin was inspired to use her psychological expertise to improve well-being for congregants. Gobin’s work within the Church of Christ includes frequently speaking about mental health at church-sponsored events, including being the keynote speaker at a women’s seminar. Gobin shared her challenges as an African-American woman navigating academia to inspire and encourage attendees. She has facilitated workshops for couples, sharing her expertise in effective couples’ communication to educate attendees about therapy. In addition to serving in local church communities, Gobin has shared mindfulness and trauma research at the Danville Illinois Correctional Center through the Education Justice Project, a college-in-prison program that provides academic offerings to incarcerated individuals.
Despite the availability of evidence-based treatments, underutilization of therapy remains high, particularly in ethnic minority populations. Given the widespread use and promise of smartphone apps to help individuals cope with mental health symptoms, Gobin created the TransformU iPhone application “to assist people who want to elevate their lives to the next level.” Through the use of inspirational quotes, reflections, and behavioral challenges, app users are invited to create the lives they want by changing their mindset and making small changes that get them closer to living their best lives. In 2017, she began a podcast series where she discussed how psychological and spiritual principles can be applied to managing life’s challenges. Most recently, Gobin contributed affirmations for interpersonal trauma survivors to the Think Up app which helps users to achieve their personal goals, build healthy habits, and develop a positive mindset through positive affirmations and self-talk. She also shares daily inspiration and psychology content on social media (@drrobyngobin).
Gobin serves on the Board of Directors for Life Balance and Wellness Institute (LBWI) and for Driven to Reach Excellence and Academic Achievement for Males (DREAAM) House. LBWI’s mission is to provide evidence-based tools that support women in achieving and maintaining optimal wellness in all areas of life. DREAAM House is a school-to-college pipeline program that provides academic and emotional skills training for African-American boys.
To create an educational pipeline for the next generation of culturally diverse leaders, Gobin created the Preston and Geneva Porter Scholarship in honor of her grandparents. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a member of her childhood church in Georgia who is pursuing an undergraduate degree and who is committed to using their education to make a difference in their community.