Robin Carnahan grew up in Rolla, Missouri. After graduating from Rolla High School, she attended William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, earning a degree, with honors, in Economics. Her education continued at the University of Virginia School of Law where she served as Executive Editor of the Virginia Journal of International Law before receiving her law degree in 1986. She returned to Missouri and began practicing law with the St. Louis law firm of Thompson & Mitchell, focusing on business and corporate law.

In 1990, as the people of central and eastern Europe began throwing out their oppressive Soviet-backed governments, Carnahan went to work to help rebuild their democracies and their economies. As part of a team from the National Democratic Institute, she helped draft voting laws, train new political leaders and monitor elections in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Since then, she has worked in six countries to promote democracy and free elections. This unique experience has strengthened Carnahan's commitment to ensuring that Missouri elections are a model of integrity and fairness and a model of citizen participation.

Secretary Carnahan also served as an executive at the Export-Import Bank of the United States. At the bank, Carnahan worked on innovative ways to help American companies increase the sale of their goods and services to buyers around the world.

Today, Carnahan continues to manage her family's 800 acre farm and Angus cattle operation outside of Rolla. As a small business person herself, she understands first hand the challenges faced by small business owners everyday. Carnahan is committed to streamlining the operations of the Secretary of State's office to make it easier for Missouri business to get started and continue to grow.

On November 2, 2004, Carnahan was elected as Missouri's 38th Secretary of State.

As Secretary of State, Carnahan is committed to using innovative, common sense methods to better serve Missourian's who use the office. Specifically, she is working to cut red-tape by creating an online, one-stop-shop for the Missouri businesses; crack down on firms that attempt to defraud Missouri investors; protect Missouri's precious State Libraries and Archives; and restore confidence in the state's elections system. To Carnahan, public service is about providing good customer service and getting the job done for Missourians.

Robin is a fifth generation Missourian and comes from a family long devoted to public service. Her father, Mel Carnahan served as Missouri's State Treasurer, Lt. Governor and Governor. Her mother, Jean Carnahan served Missouri as a United States Senator. Her grandfather, ASJ Carnahan served as Congressman from south-central Missouri and U.S. Ambassador, appointed by President John F. Kennedy.