Where they are now: Madeline Robinson

Madeline Robinson worked for Parenting: It’s a Life (PIAL) for two years before graduating with a bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from ISU. She continued to be involved with the Child Welfare Research and Training Project (CWRTP) as she completed a master’s in Human Development and Family Studies.  While with PIAL, Madeline assisted on school visits, presenting the PIAL curriculum to middle and high school students. As a graduate student, Madeline completed a reference guide showing which National Health and Sex Education Standards are supported by the PIAL curriculum, updated PIAL's Child Support module for college students, and aided in research around student’s long-term application of money management, which relates to PIAL's Managing Money Module.

After earning her master’s degree, Madeline joined the organization One Love as a Partner Success Coordinator. One Love empowers young people with the tools and resources they need to see the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and bring life-saving prevention education to their communities.

Madeline feels her time with PIAL gave her unique experiences, which helped propel her budding career. She said, “My time [with PIAL] especially taught me so much about working directly with students in the classroom. In my current role, I support educators at community-based organizations and domestic violence organizations to implement relationship-health content in their community. PIAL gave me first-hand experience in the classroom, so the recommendations I give to educators come from my time spent working directly with students.”

Madeline fondly remembers the many car rides to and from school visits with her PIAL colleagues. She says some of her favorite moments occurred during those car rides as she got to know, in her words, “the amazing people at PIAL.”

I asked Madeline if she would have any advice for current or future PIAL students. She said, “I would pay attention to the projects at PIAL that you enjoy doing the most. Is there a module that interests you the most? Do you like the classroom visits or curriculum design? Asking yourself these questions can really help you pinpoint what you want out of a future role. Also, if you have an idea of a project you would like to do, don’t be afraid to put it into practice! Everyone at PIAL is very supportive of you following your interests and passions. If you have an area you want to gain experience in, definitely bring it up with PIAL leadership! They were always so supportive of my ideas and really encouraged me to pursue projects that interested me and aligned with my goals. For example, during my time at PIAL I was able to work on their Teen Dating Violence Awareness Program Evaluation. This project really solidified my passion for relationship health education and prompted me to want to work for One Love. Taking on these additional experiences and pinpointing your interests is so important for career exploration!”

We here at PIAL and CWRTP want to congratulate Madeline on her accomplishments and wish her even greater success as she continues her career!