Rodricka Robinson

Cultural Anthropology

Hi. My name is Rodricka Robinson. I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana. I am pre-med, and majoring in Cultural Anthropology. My minor is Creative Writing with a focus on realistic short fiction. For my language, I studied  Japanese. I am also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, where I serve as the treasurer, sisterly relation chair, and correspondence chair.  

During my sophomore year, I worked as a tutor with Ashita Tomorrow, a program that aimed to help Japanese students learn English, and at the Translational Center for Stress-Related Disorder. There, I assist in the dissection and study of the human brain while also culturing stem cells. In the Williamson Lab, I worked as a lab technician in Project Chi which studied the effects of chronic marijuana use on neuroinflammation and HIV-related neuronal injury. I was also awarded the Blackburn Scholarship for outstanding achievement in creative writing.

After Duke, I intend to go to medical school and follow the pathway to becoming a trauma surgeon. My goals in the medical field are influenced by my community and the desire to have them trust the medical profession more. With my Culanth degree, I hope to conduct research in New Orleans and other predominantly POC, low-income areas to further my understanding of the distrust towards medical professionals and hospitals. As a medical professional myself, I hope to act as a bridge between rebuilding this relationship.