After 22 years of sharing her passion, expertise and heart with the Williams-Mystic community, Katy Robinson Hall S84 is stepping down as WM marine policy professor. She will be sorely missed by the Williams-Mystic team, who have relied on her wisdom and camaraderie for building relationships and impacting the lives of thousands of students, stakeholders and friends over those years.
Many of you know Katy’s marine policy mantra, “Who decides?” With collaboration from alumni peers, Katy developed the Bell v. Town of Wells Moot Court experience, which empowered hundreds of WM students to understand the legal system, express complex arguments in a group, think on their feet, and accomplish more than they thought was possible. And her intentionality in building relationships have made field seminars deeply relational learning experiences, not extractive climate tourism.
During the spring '24 field seminar to Southern Louisiana, in gratitude for the years of building friendship and carrying their story forward, Chief Devon Parfait F18 and Elder Chief Shirell named Katy an honorary member of the Grand Caillou/Dulac band of the Biloxi Chitimacha Choctaw.
As one educator alum wrote, “When I plan a project, I think to myself, how might Katy have made this feel more real?” Many others cite her as the influence in their career choices in environmental policy or law.
Katy is practicing law in RI and looking forward to spending more time with her family, including her new grandson, Jamie. She remains an actively engaged alumna and key stakeholder for many of our field seminars. We are able to celebrate WM's continuance in large part because of her incredible advocacy and participation in the Williams-Mystic working group.
Thank you, Katy, for the indelible mark you have left on Williams-Mystic.
