[2][3] She is known for her significant contributions to the fields of behavioral medicine and health psychology, higher education, and philanthropy, as well as championing the concepts of impact investing and resilience.

[11] As president, Rodin guided the university through a period of unprecedented growth and development that transformed Penn's academic core and dramatically enhanced the quality of life on campus and in the surrounding community.

Her leadership was characterized by a strategic focus on resilience as a guiding framework for addressing complex global challenges, including environmental sustainability, urbanization, healthcare access and economic inequality.

[17] Following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Rodin was appointed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to co-chair NYS 2100,[18] a commission charged with finding ways to improve the resilience and strength of the state's infrastructure in the face of natural disasters and other emergencies.

Under her guidance, 100RC provided technical assistance, funding, and a global network of experts to cities, fostering comprehensive resilience strategies tailored to local needs.

She championed initiatives that aimed to empower marginalized communities, promote inclusive economic growth, and strengthen civil society organizations.

[25] Rodin has authored or co-authored more than 200 academic articles and chapters, and has written or co‐written 15 books, including The University & Urban Revival: Out of the Ivory Tower and Into the Street, The Power of Impact Investing: Putting Markets to Work for Profit and Global Good with Margot Brandenburg, The Resilience Dividend: Being Strong in a World Where Things Go Wrong, and Making Money Moral: How a New Wave of Visionaries is Linking Purpose and Profit with Saadia Madsbjerg.

[37] Rodin is married to Paul R. Verkuil, President Emeritus of the College of William and Mary, former dean of the Tulane University Law School and former CEO of the American Automobile Association.