Robin McNeal received his PhD from the University of Washington in ancient Chinese history. His teaching at Cornell includes classical Chinese language, text studies, and history and thought of the pre-imperial and early imperial eras. Research interests include social organization and mobilization as evidenced in early military treatises, discovered texts, and works of political philosophy from the pre-Qin period.

Robin McNeal's current research focuses on myth and narrative in traditional and contemporary China. He helped to found the Cornell Contemporary China Initiative (CCCI) and has served as director of it since its inception.