Robin Banks

Robin serves as a Blavin Campus Coach, DHHS Liaison, and Volunteer Coordinator for the Blavin Scholars Program, supporting, coaching, and advising 12–20 eligible Blavin Scholars on all aspects of entry, assimilation, and retention in college life, as well as their transition to post-graduate endeavors.

In this role, she engages in problem-solving with scholars, monitors their progress, and performs monthly assessments. She also assists scholars in navigating university processes and services—such as admission, financial aid, and academics—and helps them build self-sufficiency within campus and community environments.

To ensure their foundational success, Robin assists scholars with securing basic needs, including financing, healthcare and insurance, health and well-being services, career planning, driver’s licenses, and year-round housing, while coaching them toward long-term financial literacy. She prepares scholars for graduation by utilizing campus career counseling services, and she coaches them on transitioning to post-graduation careers and developing skills for independent living.

Additionally, she assists students in accessing resources in the community and through the Department of Health and Human Services, including Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care, Youth in Transition (YIT), and Educational Training Voucher funding. She also oversees the Volunteer Program, which includes the Birthday Buddy Program, Move-In/ Move-Out baskets, the Blavin Resource Pantry, and Holiday Gift Giving at Study Day.

Before coming to the University of Michigan in August 2017, Robin worked as an adult services worker, children’s protective services worker, foster care worker, and prevention worker. Robin earned her bachelor of science in social work in 2007 from Eastern Michigan University and her master of social work in 2012 from Eastern Michigan University.