Age: 33

Job: Clinical assistant professor and online counseling program coordinator, Old Dominion University

At work: Robins leads the design and delivery of a rigorous, fully online counseling program. She develops courses that are not only aligned with accreditation standards but also infused with experiential learning, multicultural perspectives and technology integration. Her approach ensures students engage with challenging, real-world scenarios and graduate prepared to meet the diverse and complex needs of today’s clients. She views online education not as a limitation but as an opportunity to reimagine access, rigor and innovation in counselor preparation. Robins explores the Social Determinants of Health as a lens for counselor education, focusing on how systemic factors such as housing, poverty and access to care shape mental health. In addition, she is advancing the use of virtual reality and artificial intelligence to enhance counselor training, developing immersive frameworks that allow students to practice skills, strengthen multicultural competence and reflect on their professional growth in ways traditional methods cannot. Robins is also the founder of The Writer’s Formula, a writing and editing business that has grown into a national platform for mentorship and professional development where she supports students, professionals and entrepreneurs with resumes, personal statements, dissertations and manuscripts. She helps clients recognize their strengths, refine their voice and gain the confidence to pursue new opportunities.

Home and family: Robins lives in Suffolk with her husband and their four children, who remain her greatest joy and daily inspiration.

Volunteer activities: She serves on editorial boards for national counseling journals, mentoring emerging scholars and supporting first-time authors. She also mentors graduate students nationwide, encouraging them to pursue research, leadership and professional growth. Locally, she presents at community events on mental health, education and equity, ensuring her expertise benefits the wider Hampton Roads community.

Motivating factor: Robins is motivated by impact, such as seeing growth spark in others, whether it’s a student publishing for the first time, a client realizing their story has power or a community gaining access to resources. Motherhood is also central to her drive. Raising four children inspires her daily to model resilience, authenticity and faith.

Advice to young people: Start before you feel ready. Growth comes through action, not perfection. Take risks, embrace opportunities and learn from setbacks. Equally important, never underestimate the power of mentorship, as no one succeeds alone, and building supportive networks is one of the best strategies for success.

Professional goal in five years: To be nationally recognized for advancing equity-centered counselor education through her integration of mentorship, the Social Determinants of Health framework and innovative technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence. She also envisions expanding The Writer’s Formula into a nationally recognized hub for mentorship and professional development, serving thousands of students and professionals and creating scalable opportunities for growth beyond the classroom. Ultimately, her goal is to shape the next generation of counselors and leaders who are not only highly skilled but also deeply committed to equity, innovation and community impact.

The one thing I’d change about Hampton Roads: Strengthen collaboration across the region’s cities and sectors. While Hampton Roads is rich in diversity, talent and creativity, resources often remain fragmented.

Region’s biggest asset: The people and the communities that make up Hampton Roads. Hampton Roads’ diversity, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit make it one of the most dynamic regions in the country.

Downtime: Robins prioritizes time with her family. She also finds inspiration in writing devotionals and children’s books, including a devotional series for mothers in academia, a 52-week devotional for mothers and their teen daughters co-authored with her daughter Kaliyah, and a purpose-driven children’s book created with her younger children, Kai and Korie. Alongside writing, she enjoys going to the gym and cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles.

What really gets under my skin: When people underestimate others based on stereotypes or assumptions.

https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/10/27/top-forty-under-40-2025-lauren-robins/