With such an extensive career in journalism and foreign affairs, how does one justly introduce a person such as Carla Robbins? So while this is just a feeble attempt to accomplish just that task, it may be worthwhile to state now that before she was an internationally renowned journalist, Mrs. Robbins had first earned a BA in political science from Wellesley College first. Then after, she later received her master’s and PHD in political science from Berkeley college.
Yet despite her many achievements, many people might still wonder how a person such as Carla Robbins could start out her career professionally as a reporter for Business Week first; before later becoming A deputy editor for The Times; to eventually holding her own lectures as a professor at Baruch college. So as a response to such curiosity on her professional origins then, Carla had told me that “It was just a natural progression. I covered Washington, I was a foreign correspondent, and then [having] a chance to be a senior editor at The New York Times was a fabulous opportunity”.
While in Washington Carla often had the privilege of meeting with various senators, secretary of states, presidents, congressmen, and more. So to Carla, being a journalist was a “great front row seat” as Carla puts it. In fact, often times it is this very front-row seat advantage where much of the fun of being a reporter actually exists, according to Carla. As for some of the reasons as to why this is so then, in part it is because while the public only tends to hear the on record portions of a reporting, it is a gift for journalists to know how stuff works behind the scenes so to speak. Or in the words of Carla, “it’s a good chance for someone to understand what they’re [those who are featured in stories] thinking.”
And just as it is very likely that a reporter’s employer may change over time, so too is it likely that the locations that a journalist reports from in order to perform the duties of their work, changes too. So it is this very requirement of frequent travels for many journalists, which would explain then in many ways how Carla was able to report from so many countries; such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, and even many of the beautiful countries of Latin America. With most of her thanks to having such benefits being owed to her own assorted career as both a foreign diplomat and domestic reporter.
On a more personal note however, Carla looks forward to having our nation’s first woman president, potentially sworn if Clinton snags the election from Trump next month. And when asked if she felt if there are any implications at an international level if our nation elects their first female president this election day, Carla responded that “It’s remarkable that we’re so late to the party,” especially since female presidents had been elected even “in More traditional male dominated society [all ready], than [with] our [own] alleged more progressive society.”
And as an election of many potential firsts, Carla even wonders if Hillary “will make a woman our secretary of defense.” “I mean she may very well choose Michèle Flournoy to be her secretary of defense.” Yet, just to show us how much this specific upcoming election may had lead to great perceptional shifts for many Americans as well; Carla doesn’t forget to assert either that “If you would had asked me [that question] nine months ago I would had said oh I’m not sure if she [Clinton] really would do that [appoint a woman as secretary of defense].” Carla even jokes just a little bit when she says “could a man be our [next] secretary of state?”
Today, Carla Robbins is an adjunct senior fellow for the Council of Foreign Relations. In addition, Carla is also among the staff and faculty members over at Baruch college. Interestingly enough, Carla had even shared with me that her mother graduated from Baruch College as well. And when asked if she felt that her career in journalism was better than her work involvement with academia; Carla had told me that “The hands on nature of teaching is incredibly gratifying in a way that I didn’t expect, I really love my students and Baruch is a really special place”. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything, and they’re [journalism and teaching] just different phases of my life, and one isn’t better than the other.”