Psychology Professor Brent Robbins Discusses Life, Death and Love in Point Park University Presentation Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Brent Robbins, psychology professor and director of Point Park University's Psy.D. program, speaks at the podium during his presentation "The End is the Beginning: An Existential Perspective on Suffering and Death" on Sept. 17. Robbins based the lecture off of his research and his own experiences after being diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer last year. Photo by Evan Levine, digital journalism major.
During a standing-room-only event on Sept. 17, Brent Dean Robbins gave an emotional and thought-provoking presentation about the nature of life, death and personal passions.
With over 18 years experience teaching psychology at Point Park University, Robbins has always had a deep passion for human behavior, but this presentation was driven by his personal experience. In late 2024, Robbins was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, the most advanced stage of the disease. As his family grappled with the diagnoses and he underwent chemotherapy, he began to use the research he was passionate about to frame his own experiences.
The details of that journey are featured throughout Robbins' presentation, which is titled "The End is the Beginning: An Existential Perspective on Suffering and Death." Throughout the presentation, he weaves a narrative of his own diagnosis with the research on the power of making social goals for patients to achieve.
With an appreciation for life and the love of his community, Robbins' essential message to the audience was to take his lessons and apply those principles to their own lives, building their own communities and working towards their passions.
"A person like me who is diagnosed with a terminal illness might experience profound suffering, both physical and psychological and existential,” Robbins said. “However, within this suffering lies the freedom to choose how to face death, perhaps by reconciling with estranged family members, documenting one’s life story, finding spiritual peace or giving a talk at their college."
To learn more about Robbins' and his journey, some recent media coverage includes:
- "'Love conquers death': Pittsburgh professor reflects on terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis," WTAE, Oct. 5, 2025.
- "A lesson before dying: Point Park professor gives lecture on his own terminal illness," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 21, 2025.
- "“All Real Living Is Meeting”: Brent Robbins on Love, Death, and the Possibilities of Psychology," Mad in America, Feb. 12, 2025.