Robin L. Leavitt Ph.D. holds a doctorate in Educational Policy Studies with a focus on sociology and philosophy of education, as well as interpretive theory, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

She is the author of two books and multiple peer reviewed book chapters and journal articles, and has a long list of conference presentations at venues such as the American Educational Research Association, Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education, and the Midwest Sociological Association annual meetings. 

In addition to teacher education, Professor Leavitt’s scholarly interests include child and family studies with a focus on childhood socialization, emotional socialization, and children and families with special needs.  She teaches courses in studying children, teacher research, and education and social justice, in addition to interdisciplinary special topics and first year writing courses.  Professor Leavitt has been at IWU since 1995, and in central Illinois since 1978.