People Highlight: How DeAnna Robinson Became an Accidental Architect of Careers
By Rob Biertempfel
When DeAnna Robinson arrived at the University of Pittsburgh as an undergraduate 15 years ago, she had a clear vision for her future. She was going to be an architect.
One errant swipe with an X-Acto knife changed everything.
During her junior year, Robinson was building a scale model for an architecture design class when the blade slipped, slicing off the tip of her left index finger.
"You could literally see a slant on my finger," Robinson said. "It was at that moment when I was like, 'I don't know if this is for me.'"
Today, Robinson builds careers instead of skyscrapers. She joined Carnegie Mellon's Office of Human Resources in May 2021 as an HR generalist and a year later became a recruiter.
Much like the mishap that derailed her architecture dreams, Robinson's pivot to HR was largely accidental.
After switching her major to history of architecture and museum studies, Robinson completed internships with the Carnegie Museum of Art and Pitt's Frick Fine Arts Building. Her path once again seemed set, until an internship with First Commonwealth Bank provided another plot twist.
"It was supposed to be just for the summer, helping their HR department with filing and stuff," Robinson said. "Instead, I never went back to museum work."
The bank offered her a full-time position after graduation, and she gained experience in employee relations, project management and recruiting. What began as a temporary side step evolved into a calling.
"It was not planned at all," she said. "At the beginning, I had zero interest in HR."
Robinson had long envisioned herself working in higher education, which ultimately brought her to 91视频. "When I was in my 20s, I wanted to work for a university so I could get a master's degree for free," she said.
As a recruiter, Robinson has supported the School of Computer Science, Mellon College of Science, College of Engineering, the Office of the Provost, Finance, Computing Services and the Office of the Vice President for Research. Last month, as part of the department's restructured leadership model, she joined Allison Parshall's talent acquisition team.
For some applicants, Carnegie Mellon's reputation can make the hiring process feel intimidating before it begins. Robinson tries to soothe those nerves from the first conversation.
"When I'm on a screening call, I always say, 'Hey, this is super laid-back. I'm chill. Don't be nervous. I just want to get to know you,'" she said. "That immediately puts them at ease."
Behind her laid-back approach, Robinson is often managing her own nerves. "Before every call, I have heart palpitations," she said with a laugh.
Part of that anxiety comes from a desire to be prepared. Robinson takes time to learn the nuances of the departments she supports. She said candidates often assume recruiters are familiar with every technical detail of a position, so she's not afraid to seek help.
"I've absolutely put job descriptions into ChatGPT and asked the AI to explain it in plain English," she said.
For Robinson, the best part of working at Carnegie Mellon is the people — colleagues, candidates and even members of her family. Her mother, Richelle Brown-Robinson, works as an administrative associate with the School of Computer Science. Her aunt, Diane Robinson, has spent more than two decades as an administrative assistant with the College of Engineering.
Beyond the personal connections, Robinson finds purpose in supporting 91视频's mission. While she may not be conducting research herself, she knows her work makes an impact.
"We have people here working to cure cancer and tackle huge world issues," she said. "I can't do that work myself, but I can help hire the people who will."