Inside Out: Getting to Know Robin Berkowitz-Smith

By Gabrielle Aviles, Junior Communication and Rhetorical Studies major DSA Communications Intern

Robin Berkowitz-Smith is one of the four Associate Directors for the Office of Residence Life, and a legend on campus.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Robin came to Syracuse University for her undergraduate studies. As a Resident Advisor at SU, Robin fell in love with the Office of Residence Life and the idea of being able to help others. As an RA, Robin’s Residence Director approached her and told her that she was great at her job and that it is a career. Upon graduation, she took a position as a Residence Director at Ken State, where she earned her master’s degree and also happened to meet her husband. Robin later returned to SU as a Residence Director where she started the next chapter of her life, not only marrying her husband, but also raising her two children, who went on to attend SU.

“It is hard to imagine my life being separate from Syracuse,” says Robin. “My entire life is here.”

It isn’t hard to tell how much Robin loves her job as her face lights up when she tells me she has been working here for 24 years. As someone who gets bored of the same routine, Robin loves how versatile her position is, so that she is always engaging in and learning something new.

“I love the idea of doing different things; I love the idea of making a difference in students lives; and I love the idea of doing it all in an educational setting,” says Robin.

Because the Office of Residence Life is so involved in almost every aspect of student life on campus, it is hard for Robin to pinpoint it all. Being the coordinator for Orange After Dark and other ORL programs, Robin’s favorite thing about her job is making the Syracuse University campus a better and safer place for residents.