Robin McDowell is a Ph.D. Candidate in African and African American Studies at Harvard University. She holds an A.M in History from Harvard University, an M.F.A. in Design from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.A. in Fine Arts from The University of Pennsylvania.

She lives and works in New Orleans and writes about oil and slavery in 19th century Louisiana.

Robin is a co-convener of History Design Studio, a workshop for new ideas in multimedia history.