3 Things I’m Learning and Loving About Rollins

My first seven months as Rollins president have been marked with many wonderful experiences, but my greatest joy has been getting to know you—the people who bring Rollins and its mission to life. From students and alumni to faculty, staff, and donors, every conversation with you has helped me better understand the heart of this community and the hopes we share for the College’s future. As I progress on my Every Voice, One Vision listening tour, I continue to witness remarkable examples of excellence, connection, and service, and I wanted to share a few of the many things that I’ve learned and loved in recent weeks.

Opening Our Home to Every Tar

Last time I wrote to you, I shared how thankful Tom and I were for the extraordinary welcome we’ve received since arriving at Rollins. Well, we’re doing our best to return the favor. One of my goals for my first year was to invite every student, faculty, and staff member to Barker House. Everyone here contributes a unique and meaningful piece to the vibrant tapestry of our community, and Tom and I thought inviting everyone to our home was one way to show every Tar that they are welcome, recognized, and valued.

Last fall, we began hosting a series of “neighborhood block parties” for groups of faculty and staff from different areas of campus. In the process, every full-time Rollins employee was invited to Barker House to get to know us and their colleagues a little bit better.

In February, we invited every student in the College of Liberal Arts, Hamilton Holt School, and Crummer Graduate School of Business to Barker House for an evening of Southern comfort foods and conversation. We timed the party to align with the month that Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood first aired and encouraged students to wear their favorite sweater and sneakers. Nearly 500 students showed up, and we had a great time meeting so many of our amazing students. Tom and I enjoyed it so much that we’re going to make it an annual tradition.

Excellence On and Off the Field

In December, Rollins was honored as one of the top 3 colleges in the nation for preparing our student-athletes for success in competition and in the classroom, marking the 15th year in a row that Rollins has earned the NCAA President’s Award for Academic Excellence. That elite recognition comes as no surprise to me because I’ve witnessed firsthand our student-athletes’ commitment to representing Rollins both academically and athletically.

Tom and I were in Colorado this past December to cheer on our men’s soccer team as they advanced all the way to the national championship match, and we’re well on our way to achieving our goal of watching each of our 21 sports teams compete at least once this year. I couldn’t be more proud of our student-athletes, and I’m so thankful for the coaches, faculty, staff, and donors who help power their excellence. Go Tars!

Celebrating a Legacy of Kindness and Service

One of the things that drew me to Rollins was learning about events like Thad and Polly Seymour's Acts of Kindness Day. How can you not fall in love with a campus that sets aside a day to focus on kindness? My first Acts of Kindness Day was just pure joy. I loved hearing stories about Thad and Polly from their children, who came to campus for the celebration, and from the many others in our community who knew them so well. It was amazing to see their tremendous legacy of kindness and service play out across our community.

This year’s Acts of Kindness Day was extra special because we had the opportunity to celebrate Rollins earning the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Fewer than 300 institutions nationwide have earned this selective designation from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is a testament to Rollins’ uncommon commitment to serving communities in our backyard and around the world.