Community-Powered Heritage and Advocacy

Robinson Lee ’26 considers his family heritage and career aspirations to be inseparable. From his classes to his internships, he has advocated for Asian and Asian American communities like the one where he grew up in Arcadia, Calif. His next step on this path? A 2026 Fulbright fellowship in South Korea.

Lee is set to teach English in Seoul, South Korea. The region has personal significance for Lee, whose maternal grandparents immigrated from South Korea in 1979. During his Fulbright, he also plans to apply for law school. That will be his next phase to work in public service.

“It took a village for me to come to Pitzer where we have so many resources,” said Lee. “It took the effort of my family, my church and my local environment. I want to spend my life supporting them.”

Lee’s preparation for public service started with his Pitzer education. He is a combined political studies and history major with a minor in Asian American studies. He has integrated various disciplines to understand how Asian American communities in the past and present have navigated injustices.

“That was attractive to me when coming to The Claremont Colleges,” said Lee. “You’re not just going to do one thing and be a specialist. Part of it is thinking about how what we’re learning is applied to the world.”

One of Lee’s most influential classes was Asian American Community Studies with Professor Todd Honma. As is the case for all social responsibility praxis classes at Pitzer, students pair up with a community partner to see a real-world application of what they are learning. Lee worked with the Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement on health equity and other social justice issues.

“The ways that Pitzer equips connections with the local community are so valuable,” said Lee.

Research, Internships and Mentorship

Lee paired interdisciplinary learning and real-world action to practice advocacy on campus and beyond.

His other experiences as a Pitzer student include:

• Conducting sociology research with Professor Erich Steinman
• Interning at the office of Assemblymember Mike Fong
• Working as a student lead at Pitzer’s Center for Asian Pacific American Students
• Serving as a student representative on Pitzer’s Judicial Council
• Studying abroad through an exchange program with Ewha Womans University in South Korea

Lee has benefitted from mentorship from his fellow students as well as faculty. Classmates shared their experiences working in government offices to help him succeed. His friends also encouraged him to take advantage of Pitzer’s fellowship resources. Director of Fellowships Noosha Malek, Ed.D., proved instrumental for supporting Lee’s Fulbright application.

Lee looks forward to using his Fulbright experience and Pitzer degree to make a difference in his community.

“I want to understand government, law and politics so that people can feel supported,” said Lee. “The idea of trust in public service is so important right now.”