February 7, 2025
Bradley Robbins, an English instructor at East Central Community College, has been selected as the college’s Humanities Teacher of the Year and will deliver a special presentation on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 2 p.m. in Thrash Auditorium. The event is free to the public, and all are invited to attend.
Robbins’ presentation, titled “Modern Mythology in Professional Wrestling,” will explore the ways professional wrestling serves as a contemporary form of mythology, shaping cultural narratives much like ancient legends.
From Mount Olympus to Monday Night Raw, the presentation examines how larger-than-life wrestling characters parallel traditional folk heroes, creating contemporary legends that resonate across generations. Through analysis of character development, storytelling techniques, and media influence, listeners will discover how the squared circle has become our society's modern arena for mythological storytelling, where heroes and villains battle for their place in our collective consciousness.
"As a lifelong fan, I've discovered that professional wrestling isn't just entertainment – it's our culture's living mythology factory. Just as the ancient civilizations shared stories of gods and heroes clashing, today's audiences witness the creation of modern legends every time they tune in to watch these larger-than-life characters battle in the squared circle,” said Robbins. “This lecture bridges the gap between classical storytelling and contemporary entertainment, revealing how wrestling creates the folk heroes of our time. This is the ultimate collision of two of my greatest passions and I cannot wait to share!”
Along with his campus presentation, Robbins will be recognized at the Mississippi Humanities Council’s Public Humanities Awards Ceremony in Jackson on March 28.
A 2003 graduate of Clinton High School, Robbins holds an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from East Central Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education – English from Mississippi State University, a Master’s degree in Secondary Education – English from the University of West Alabama, and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Liberty University.
At East Central, Robbins serves as Lead Teacher for Dual Credit English Composition courses and is a member of the Instructional Advisory Committee. He also teaches American Literature and African American Literature. Before joining ECCC, he worked as an Assistant Principal at Bettye Mae Jack Middle School in Morton and taught for 12 years at Sebastopol Attendance Center, where he sponsored Beta, Drama, and Yearbook clubs. He was named Teacher of the Year in 2022 and received the MEC STAR Teacher award in 2014, 2017, and 2018.
In addition to his work in education, Robbins is an Ordained Bishop in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) and has served on the Mississippi Church of God Youth & Discipleship Board. He is currently the Associate Pastor at All Seasons Worship Center in Forest.
Robbins and his wife, Kristi, reside in Sebastopol with their two sons, Joseph (12) and Daniel (8).
