Robin J. Bowen ’90 says her “Robert Frost” moment came in the middle
of a high school physics test. The Taylor County, Ky., native had given up on
attending Transylvania, believing the financial burden would be too much for her
family. She’d already sent her letter of regret, but the Transy director of
admissions delayed filing the document, knowing that Bowen was at the top of the
wait list for a full scholarship.
During the physics exam, Bowen was summoned to the counselor’s
office and told she’d been awarded the
scholarship. “Basically the dream had come true,” she
said.
At Transylvania, Bowen found the
academic community she’d been craving. “In high school, I was considered
one of the geeks, which was lonely in a way,” she said. “They teased me because
I set the curve. At Transy, that was not a problem. Everyone appreciated and
understood my passions for learning and exploring.”
Bowen graduated with a degree in
history and spent eight months helping a family friend start a business in her
hometown before accepting an internship with U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell’s
office. The three-month internship turned into an eight-year career as a
legislative assistant, during which time she earned her law degree from American
University. “It was a great experience.
Literally I could learn something in class one night, and apply it the next day
at work.”
After leaving McConnell’s office,
Bowen worked as a lobbyist for the American Insurance Association and clerked
for the Honorable Eugene Siler of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth
Circuit in London, Ky. She then returned to Washington and joined the law firm
of McDermott Will & Emery LLP. She is a member of the firm’s Alcohol
Beverages and Products Practice Group, focusing on trade practices, labeling,
advertising, formulation, and taxation of alcohol beverages as well as federal
regulation of non-beverage alcohol.
Bowen says the opportunity the Young Scholarship gave her not only
affected her life, but that of her family. Her younger relatives,
seeing her success, have set higher goals for
themselves. “It’s still amazing to them that the kid
who used to run up and down Brushy Fork in Taylor County now works in
Washington,” she said. “That confidence went from me
through my family. They said ‘if she can do it, we can do
it.’ That ripple effect is not something obvious when
you’re presenting the scholarship, but it’s what I’ve
come to appreciate most.”
Transylvania University admits students regardless of age, race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, national origin, or any other classification protected by federal or state law or local ordinance.
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