Alumni Portrait: Robin Brewer '01 Th'01

Robin Brewer '01 Th'01

Born in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Brewer arrived at Dartmouth, sight-unseen. Here, she discusses her experiences at Dartmouth, her studies in France on a Fulbright, and her current job as a patent lawyer focusing on litigation before the federal courts, the International Trade Commission, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. 

Why did you choose Dartmouth?

Before committing to Dartmouth, I talked to students who had gone there, and they felt familiar to me, like the type of person I would be friends with. I was also attracted to Dartmouth because I knew that a large percentage of students went on an LSA [Language Study Abroad] or an FSP [Foreign Study Program]. Studying abroad was a priority for me. I also liked that there were quite a few smaller classes taught by full-time professors instead of graduate students.

What did you love most about your Dartmouth experience?

I have to say that the Dartmouth Outing Club trips I did at the start of my freshman year gave me an opportunity to get to know Dartmouth before immediately jumping into courses. Coming from Wyoming where I didn't have friends coming into Dartmouth, I didn't have a social network. Being able to make friends on the Outing Club trips and getting a feel for the Dartmouth spirit before starting classes was really great.

Another thing I appreciate is Thayer's insistence on giving students a broad base for engineering. We all have to take ENGS 21 and work as a team to execute on an idea and give a presentation. In addition, working with Professor Francis Kennedy Jr., who was my advisor, had a huge impact on me because he was the one who encouraged me to apply for the Fulbright.

I also loved working in the MShop. It was slightly intimidating but a lot of fun. By comparison, a lot of the engineering experiences I've heard from people who attended other schools sound isolating, whereas I felt in many ways that Thayer was social and welcoming.

What did you do after graduation?

As I was coming up on graduating from Dartmouth, I started to realize that I did not want to work at a large engineering company for multiple decades. I knew I would be able to do it for five years before I'd get bored and need something else. And so at that point, I started to look at alternatives that I could pursue that would still be based in technology where I could use my engineering background.

I eventually ended up getting a Fulbright to study in France. It was honestly one of the most challenging things I've done. Although I was ready to test my boundaries and my comfort level, it took me almost three months to be conversational in French before I was able to keep up. And even when I was in class, I went back and forth about whether to take my notes in English or French, which was a challenge, but doing it in French kept me in the mindset. I struggled with the actual courses, but I did a fantastic job when it came to my thesis because I had experience from Thayer that none of the French students had. I'd already been doing research with Professor Kennedy and working in the lab. I ended up graduating with honors.

My research had to do with comparing different aspects of the human knee to knee replacements, mostly as it related to the different properties of lubricants. I was studying the mechanical properties of articular cartilage and different properties of synovial fluid and how that appears in a healthy knee versus an artificial knee.

Why did you decide to attend law school?

There was a law firm that came to recruit on Dartmouth's campus my senior year. That planted the seed for me. I was a legislative aide for a two-month legislative session in Wyoming. Then I moved to San Francisco, where I worked as a paralegal for a little more than a year. I really loved my work as a paralegal and the cases we were working on. I went to law school with a specific purpose of being a patent attorney. I loaded up on IP courses during my time there.

What about patent law appeals to you?

I love technology and that each case is unique. Patent law is always evolving, too, and I get to work with some of the best companies. I've worked on network security, digital wallets, carburetors, LCD screens, video compression and audio compression. I always tell people that you don't have to be an expert in the field. In fact, some of the best patent litigators do not have a technical background. They just have a love of technology.

How has your Thayer education served you?

I would not even be close to where I am without Thayer. There's no question in my mind. Thayer and Dartmouth was the platform that provided me with the skills and the opportunities to go forth on my path, and I was supported and encouraged by many, many people. Without Professor Kennedy's encouragement, I wouldn't have applied for the Fulbright in France. Dartmouth in many ways launched me into the world, and certainly has opened doors and touched every aspect of my life, not just professionally but personally too, because I ended up meeting my husband while I was in France.

Thayer's insistence on giving students a broad educational base has also served me well. There are very few cases that I pick up in my current job where I don't have at least some understanding of the underlying technology. I'm able to take everything I've learned and synthesize it to quickly get up to speed. It is hugely beneficial to have an engineering background. Everything I have now really originates with the experience and the path I took at Dartmouth.