Robin Spath, PhD
Co-Vice-President

Robin Spath comes to SPED*NET with the goal of helping to educate and support parents of kids with special needs. In particular, she is passionate about providing support to parents of girls who are on the spectrum and who often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed until they reach adolescence or later in life. She hopes to use her previous experience as a social work educator, researcher, and practitioner to support the SPED*NET community.

Robin received her PhD in Social Policy and her Master of Arts in Women’s Studies from Brandeis University, as well as a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut. She served as an Associate Professor in Administration and Chair of the Women and Children in Families Substantive Area at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. Subsequent to her work with the university, and while living in Asia, Robin utilized her expertise in non-profit management to assist a small non-governmental child welfare organization in Cambodia.

Robin’s direct practice experience is in the areas of research, non-profit administration, child welfare, and family violence. Additionally, she has extensive experience in grant writing and management; most recently she was Principal Investigator on a federal child welfare training grant. Robin has published journal articles and book chapters as well as conducted presentations nationally and internationally in these areas. She served a six-year appointment on the United States Council on the Role and Status of Women for the Council on Social Work Education. Additionally, she has served on other regional and state level advisory committees and councils.

Robin currently resides in Weston with her husband, Rick, and her two amazing children — as well as with their two cats, two dogs, and two guinea pigs.