Volume 5
the
LAKESIDE life
Setting a new standard in liberal arts living and learning
Plus: Your perfect Winter Park weekend The South’s best (and coolest) professors Inside Rollins Gateway + More
Find Your Gateway Chart your own course to personal + professional success
Plus: 10 reasons foodies flock to Rollins An unfiltered look at #RollinsLife Inside a Rollins classroom + More
In this issue
Get ready to go behind the scenes of the Rollins experience through this curated collection of stories produced specifically for you. In this magazine, you’ll plan your perfect weekend in Winter Park and get a sneak peek at Lakeside Neighborhood, our new waterfront residential community that’s setting a new standard in liberal arts living. You’ll see what your first year at Rollins will look like and meet some of
our expert—and incredibly fascinating—professors. You’ll see your #RollinsLife come into focus through the eyes of your future classmates as they share their favorite outdoor study spots on America’s most beautiful campus.
From the first page to the last, I know you’ll find plenty
to discover, but I encourage you to start by taking your first step into Rollins Gateway. Here, you’ll see how your journey through Rollins reveals a plethora of personalized experiences that empower you to chart your own course to personal and professional success, guided along the way by mentors and advisors who are deeply invested in your goals and dreams.
Step into Rollins Gateway As a Rollins student, you’ll experience the
By the end of the issue, I hope you’ll consider joining us as we
journey of a lifetime, and the direction it takes
tackle the complex challenges of the 21st century and forge
is entirely up to you. Within Rollins Gateway,
relationships that will last a lifetime.
you have the opportunity to create a one-ofa-kind college experience that not only aligns
Fiat Lux,
with your interests and passions but also
Zaire McCoy
prepares you for your unique vision of personal
Dean of Admission
and professional success.
Rollins College
Aspiring surgeons discover an equal
passion for music. Budding biochemists apply
4 Cool Class: Difficult Dialogues in Health Communication
their scientific acumen to the preservation
5
Majors, Minors, & Special Programs
working with animals to improve the lives of
6
What’s Your Perfect Winter Park Weekend?
8
Study Spots for Days
of artwork. Future veterinarians specialize in people struggling with disabilities. The flexible framework of Rollins Gateway gives you the freedom to choose your own adventure and
10 Game On
craft your own experience, but you’re not
11 Fielding Success
alone as you chart your distinctive path. You
12 The Lakeside Life 16 A Taste of Rollins
have mentors, advisors, and expert faculty (the best professors in the South, as a matter of fact) to guide you at every turn.
20 The Perfect Start
22 My Rollins Gateway: A Pillar of Progress
Gateway. You’ll explore where our signature
24 Guiding Greatness 26 Rollins at a Glance 27 Disarming Discourse
So c’mon, take a spin through Rollins
educational approach has led a few of the changemaking Tars who’ve gone before you and start envisioning what your own Rollins Gateway will look like.
A FUTURE-PROOF FOUNDATION Rollins Gateway is rooted in the College’s future-proof brand of liberal arts education. Nurtured in classes with an average size of just 17 students, our interdisciplinary core curriculum equips you with broad-based knowledge and a suite of 21st-century skills like creative problem solving and critical thinking that are immune to the fast-paced fluctuations of our ever-evolving world.
COMMUNICATION
Ready to Lead From creative thinking to clear communication, international business major Lucas Hernandez ’13 developed both tactical and strategic toolkits at Rollins, and they’ve proven essential to his success as director of corporate partnerships at Microsoft. “In an increasingly automated world, soft skills like leadership, collaboration, and teamwork are king. As a result, I think a liberal arts education is essential to preparing students to thrive in the world today and tomorrow.”
CRITICAL THINKING
Diversity of Experience At Rollins, Shannon Sullivan ’20 learned to love learning, so much so that she threaded her varied interests into a double major in international relations and Spanish. “I took Arabic and scuba diving. I made a solar oven in Physics of Light. Guest speakers shared very personal stories in my Food & Immigrant Cultures class. I even lived with Spanish-speaking farmworkers. The bookwork is important, but I really learned to understand the world from opening my mind to the stories of people.”
LEADERSHIP CREATIVITY
Asking the Right Questions Biology and sociology double major Marissa Cobuzio ’19—now in vet school at Cornell—credits Rollins for teaching her how to engage with what she was learning. “I think Rollins is very good at making sure you’re able to relate what you’re learning in the classroom back to what’s actually happening in the world. It’s constantly like, ‘This is the theory. This is what’s happening. So where do we see it and how can we fix it?’”
LIBERAL ARTS IN ACTION Get ready to go. You’ll put the future-proof skills you’re learning in our small, discussion-based classes to work in the world through everything from internships to study abroad. You’ll not only develop your passions through these immersive experiences, but you’ll also gain the kind of practical, realworld know-how that employers and graduate schools demand.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Application Over Memorization For Karina Barbesino ’19, now a researcher at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs, concepts were driven home by doing. “My Chinese classes were bolstered by studying abroad in China. Computer science courses were reinforced by teaching coding to local elementary kids, and political science classes were put into practice when I interned for a local congressional campaign. There’s no doubt that the real-world experiences I gained at Rollins helped me stand out while applying for jobs in the think-tank space.”
Gaining Perspective Josephine Spiegelberg ’20 helped build labs while studying helium at UC Davis and studied abroad in Germany, where she learned physics, green politics, and literature from a German perspective in the German language. “I was able to keep pace because of how Rollins prepared me. Professionals respected my input too. It made the idea of global citizenship come to life—how we can accomplish big things through a collaboration of perspectives.”
GLOBAL LEARNING
INTERNSHIPS
Career-Defining Opportunity Business management major Tamer Elkhouly ’19’s coveted internship as a district manager at ALDI directly prepared him for his role as a contracts specialist for air-defense giant Raytheon. “At ALDI, I was given the high-level task of providing a groundbreaking solution for the business within only two months. I managed contracts, supervised projects, and collaborated with teams— real applicable experience that I apply every day to the work I’m doing now.”
MENTORSHIP, MASTERED Within the flexible framework of Rollins Gateway, you have the freedom to pursue your individual interests and professional goals, but you’re never alone on these journeys of discovery. Faculty mentors, alumni mentors, peer mentors—an entire community of support is here to help you uncover your passions and give you the tools and opportunities to realize your dreams.
Partners in Progress Now pursuing a master’s in geoscience from UC Riverside, Lauren Neldner ’20 conducted research alongside physics professor Thom Moore every semester. “He is the ideal research mentor. His passion for engaging undergrads in professional research is so inspiring. He has taught me so much about troubleshooting and has helped me become an effective presenter and writer, never failing to remind me to believe in myself.”
FACULTY PARTNERS
Career Champions Thanks in large part to Rollins’ Career Champions Mentorship Program, Harrison Loew ’20 turned an internship at Merrill Lynch into his dream job. “My relationship with [Brandon Burns ’08, associate portfolio manager at City National Rochdale] flourished to encompass far more than what I’d anticipated. I learned a tremendous amount of key information that made me a better intern, professional, and friend.”
ALUMNI MENTORS Friendly Support In his Rollins College Conference (RCC), a seminar-style course designed to ease the transition to college, Jacob Battad ’18 met peer mentors who helped him answer big questions. The experience meant so much that he went on to become a peer mentor himself. “I’d tell first-years: ‘Pick a major you enjoy. You’ll learn skills that you can apply to all kinds of jobs.’ Look at me—a physics major working in marketing at Foot Locker.”
PEER GUIDES
FIND YOUR GATEWAY At its core, Rollins Gateway is a rich curated tapestry of integrated experiences that reflects each student’s personalized pathway to success. Head to rollins.college/gateway to explore the journeys of the global citizens and responsible leaders who’ve gone before you and to see your Rollins Gateway start coming into focus.
COOL CLASS: DIFFICULT DIALOGUES IN HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS Tough conversations are the most meaningful in this community engagement class that offers a lifetime of takeaways.
Instructor Sarah Parsloe, assistant professor of communication
The Scoop
At Rollins, you’ll put what you’re learning in class to work in the real world. Communication professor Sarah Parsloe encourages students in this community engagement (CE) course to address some of life’s most emotionally painful moments, including death, grief, and loss. The result is a powerful union of service learning and human connection that teaches skills in communication and social science research along with listening, validating, and empathizing. Through hands-on experiences like making puppets to communicate with grieving children, creating digital promotions for local nonprofit New Hope for Kids, and even writing their own end-of-life directives, students learn that people don’t understand their experiences until they shape the events of their life into a plot. “Offering people a scenario that reflects a personal experience gives them control,” says Parsloe, “turning them into a director rather than a character in their own narrative.”
Student Perspective
“ From the tactile experience of making puppets for struggling kids to asking my dad really difficult questions, this course has been life-changing,” says communication major Lauren Walier ’22, an aspiring speech pathologist. “It offers so much more than a test or an exam or a paper—it’s really about life skills.”
Fun Fact
This past November, students took over the Instagram account of New Hope for Kids ahead of its celebration of Children’s Grief Awareness Day. They live-streamed the socially distanced event held near campus to memorialize loved ones and engage grieving families in their own digital puppet-making workshops.
Go behind the scenes of dozens of Rollins’ most innovative courses at rollins.college/cool-classes.
04 | ROLLINS
60+ paths to a transformative education UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS American Studies* Anthropology* Art (Studio)* Art History* Asian Studies* Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Biology*
UNDERGRADUATE MINORS ONLY Africa & African-American Studies Archaeology Australian Studies Dance Data Analytics Ethics
Business (Management)*
Film Studies
Business (Social Entrepreneurship)*
German
Chemistry*
Global Health
Classical Studies*
Jewish Studies
Communication Studies*
Middle Eastern and North African Studies
Critical Media and Cultural Studies* Economics* Elementary Education* English* Environmental Studies*
Neuroscience Russian Studies Secondary Education Sexuality, Women’s and Gender Studies
History*
Sustainable Development and the Environment
International Relations*
Writing
Latin American and Caribbean Studies* Marine Biology*
PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
Mathematics*
Allied Health
Music*
Dentistry
Philosophy* Physics* Political Science* Pre-Engineering Psychology*
Law Medicine Optometry Podiatry Veterinary Medicine
Public Policy and Political Economy Religious Studies* Social Innovation Sociology* Spanish* Theatre Arts* * Also offered as a minor
Rollins offers multiple opportunities to earn combined master’s degrees in everything from business to education through a selection of accelerated programs designed to enhance and expedite your personalized pathway to success.
Cultural Anthropology
Business (International)*
Computer Science*
ACCELERATED PATHWAYS
Learn more about our majors, including popular courses, potential career paths, and the expert faculty who will guide you on your journey. rollins.college/majors
BOUND FOR BUSINESS
Through Rollins’ 3/2 Accelerated Management Program, students can earn a bachelor’s degree and the No. 1 MBA in Florida from the Crummer Graduate School of Business in just five years.
ENGINEERING YOUR FUTURE
Students have the opportunity to combine a three-year program in the liberal arts with two years of professional academic work in engineering at one of three prestigious institutions: Washington University, Case Western Reserve, or Auburn.
MASTERING YOUR PASSION
In a new program offered through Rollins’ Hamilton Holt School, students in their senior year have the opportunity to take graduate-level courses that will simultaneously fulfill degree requirements for a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis, education, human resources, liberal studies, or public health. ROLLINS | 05
WHAT’S YOUR PERFECT
Winter Park Weekend?
America’s most beautiful campus lies in the heart of one of the South’s most sophisticated and charming small towns just a stone’s throw from downtown Orlando. And like most good things, there’s so much more than meets the eye. Winter Park’s bustling markets, arts and culture venues, and green spaces galore—not to mention world-class restaurants and endless opportunities for outdoor fun—mean you’re never far from a perfectly planned day off. Take this quiz to discover what kind of wonderful weekend awaits you at Rollins.
Interesting spots full of interesting people Discovering beauty in unexpected places
ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON?
CANTON AV
MORSE BLVD
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I’m an early riser.
I like to sleep in.
to function.
WHAT GETS YOU GOING IN THE MORNING?
WHAT’S FOR BREAKFAST?
Feet hit the floor, and I’m ready to go.
Let’s do brunch!
I’ll pick up something along the way.
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO AS YOU VENTURE OUT?
Rollins’ very own WPRK 91.5 FM
06 | ROLLINS
Whatever’s in my earbuds
VIRGINIA DR
By Stephanie Rizzo ’09
Farmers Market and a Flick
Every Saturday morning, the Winter Park Farmers Market showcases the goods and wares of dozens of local vendors selling everything from houseplants and farm-fresh veggies to artisan bagels and kombucha. After you’ve stocked up, stroll through Park Avenue’s inviting Central Park. Come nightfall, catch dinner and a show at the Enzian, Winter Park’s own arthouse movie theater that features a mix of new releases and cult classics. (Insider tip: Order the truffle fries.)
Picturesque Picnic
Swine & Sons, a chef-owned sandwich shop located inside the Local Butcher & Market, offers some of the city’s best eats between two slices of bread. Grab a sandwich to share and stock up on gourmet cheese and charcuterie while you wait. Then bike over to nearby Kraft Azalea Garden to dine alfresco beneath hundred-year-old cypress trees along the shore of Lake Maitland.
Grab coffee and breakfast to-go at Barnie’s before shopping your way through the many one-of-a-kind boutiques along Park Avenue. If vintage finds are more your jam, check out the nearby Orange Tree Antiques Mall. Round out your day with a visit to the Morse Museum, which houses the largest collection of works by famed glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany.
VE
D
PARK AVE
Hidden Treasures and History
LAKE OSCEOLA
Brunch and a Boat Ride
NEW ENGLAND AVE
ROLLINS FAIRBANKS AVE
LAKE VIRGINIA
MILLS AVE
Paddle and Pose
Just a short stroll from campus is the Briarpatch, a rustic-chic brunch spot serving American-style classics with a twist (think nutella waffles topped with vanilla mascarpone and short-rib benedicts drizzled with chipotle hollandaise). Afterward, stroll over to the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour to explore the tree-canopied canals and grand estates that line the Winter Park Chain of Lakes, where you’ll savor epic views of Rollins from the water.
Calling all early birds. Set out on a sunrise paddleboard or kayak adventure from Dinky Dock Park, a quaint public park with a boat ramp located on the east side of campus. Once you’ve worked up an appetite on the water, replenish yourself at Power House Cafe, which serves healthy wraps, smoothies, and bowls with a Mediterranean flair. End your day by nailing your sun salutation in a yoga sesh on sprawling Mills Lawn, right in the center of campus. CORRINE DR
Indie Adventures
Wake up to the sounds of the best in basement radio—Rollins’ WPRK 91.5—before hitting up the best record shop in town—Park Ave CDs on Corrine Drive. Located just a few minutes from campus, this area is a treasure trove of vintage shops, restaurants, and coffee joints, including local favorite East End Market. Don’t miss grabbing a bite at the Winter Park Biscuit Co., an all-vegan, Southern-inspired eatery. ROLLINS | 07
#ROLLINSLIFE
Study Spots for Days On America’s most beautiful campus, we’ve pretty much cornered the market on awesome alfresco spaces. From poolside decks and lakefront gazebos to sprawling lawns and your very own beach, check out some of your future classmates’ favorite spots to hit the books. Check out rollinslife.com for more #unfiltered sights from the Rollins experience.
08 | ROLLINS
ROLLINS | 09
By Stephanie Rizzo ’09 | Photo by Scott Cook
Game On Monday night isn’t just for football. It’s also prime time for Tars across campus and beyond to tune in to Rollins Rampage, the College’s newly formed competitive esports team now streaming on Twitch. A small group of students started the Rollins Esports Club in 2019 in collaboration with the athletics department, and they’ve welcomed nearly 100 new gamers in the first year. “Rollins is all about looking to the future,” says Ben Katz ’22, president of the Rollins Esports Club. “I see esports as the future of collegiate competition. It touches on every aspect of traditional athletics—discipline, team pride, sportsmanship, community—while being accessible to many people.”
Grade-A Gear The newly converted space in the Alfond Sports Center is decked out with 15 computers featuring topof-the-line processors and graphics cards optimized for competitive gaming.
Dedicated Digs The esports room has the feel of a high-tech lounge where students can come to hang out as well as play their favorite games.
Games Galore Rollins Rampage currently competes in “Rocket League” and “League of Legends,” with plans to add “Apex Legends,” “Dota 2,” “Overwatch,” and “Super Smash Bros” to the competitive roster soon.
Next-Level Loungers Students can compete in comfort and style thanks to ergonomic Respawn gaming chairs at every station.
Connect 24/7 Any student can join the club by signing up for the Rollins Rampage Discord server.
Calling All Gamers The Rollins Esports Club features a threetier competition structure, meaning newbies, hardcore players, and everyone in between are welcome.
10 | ROLLINS
Ready, Set, Game
Get in on the action by subscribing to the Rampage’s official Twitch channel.
By Adrienne Egolf
FIELDING SUCCESS
At Rollins, Damian Clarke ’19 forged bonds and developed skills that supported his ambitions both on and off the field.
From top: Photos by Mike Watters and Scott Cook
Damian Clarke ’19 scored the second-most goals in his final season as a midfielder, but it was perhaps an off-the-field moment that he remembers as one of his biggest victories. He was working as a veterinary technician while preparing to enter grad school when one of his Rollins professors came into the practice as a client. “Seeing the look on his face as he realized I’d accomplished what I set out to do was honestly such a great feeling,” he says. “Like making the game-winning goal.” Clarke made nearly 25 starts on the soccer team—a feat he achieved while majoring in marine biology and researching the evolution of sea stars, a project he went on to publish in a scholarly journal and present at a national conference. The marine-loving midfielder is now pursuing a graduate degree in veterinary medicine at Tufts with plans to enter general veterinary practice or specialize in small-animal surgery. “I can never overstate how well Rollins prepared me for what I’m doing now,” says Clarke. “My soccer coaches celebrated my academic successes, and my biology professors celebrated my soccer successes. I realized that my dreams—while they may be dreams—are reachable.”
TIES THAT BIND “I immediately knew that Rollins was an environment that fosters a family bond. The coaches didn't just see me as someone they could benefit from—they saw me as a player who could grow into someone better. They wanted everyone on the team to have just as big an impact in their classes as they did on the field.”
LIBERAL ARTS IN ACTION
The Perfect Blend At Rollins, we provide opportunities for student-athletes to excel in the classroom, on the field, and for life.
By the Numbers
23 National Championships 90 Sunshine State Conference Championships 35 Consecutive semesters with a cumulative GPA above 3.0
“The summer before my senior year, I interned at Flagler Integrative Veterinary Clinic, where I got to shadow two practicing veterinarians. That experience really opened my eyes to the world of veterinary medicine and put me on the career path I’m on now.”
10 NCAA Presidents’ Awards for Academic Excellence
LEARNING HOW TO LEARN
Lacrosse (M,W)
“At first, the research I did with [biology professor] Fiona Harper on sea stars seemed daunting, but Dr. Harper helped me walk so I could run. Understanding the fragility of the species was something I could really only learn by doing, not reading in a book. Working with her through the Student-Faculty Collaborative Scholarship Program was probably the best experience I had at Rollins.”
Rowing (M,W)
21 NCAA Division II Teams Baseball (M) Basketball (M,W) Golf (M,W)
Sailing (M,W) Soccer (M,W) Softball (W) Swimming (M,W) Tennis (M,W) Volleyball (W) Waterskiing (M,W)
ROLLINS | 11
the
L A K E S I D E life Ready to welcome you home is Rollins’ new Lakeside Neighborhood, a next-generation residential facility that combines the best in independent living with a slew of state-of-the-art amenities designed to promote health, wellness, and community.
By Stephanie Rizzo ’09 | Photos by Scott Cook
12 | ROLLINS
Picture this —it’s a perfectly sunny Florida
day, and you head to the pool, just outside your res hall. Along the way, you stop at a touch-screen kiosk to order lunch, and a few minutes after you settle into a lounge chair to catch some rays, your order arrives. Beyond the lushly landscaped terrace is a shining lake. You see the waterski team practicing from where you’re sitting. An hour or so later, you pack up and meet your study group in the student lounge overlooking the courtyard. Afterward, you go upstairs to your apartment, where your roommates are hosting a game night. Just another day in the neighborhood—Lakeside Neighborhood, that is—Rollins’ revolutionary 250,000-squarefoot residential facility on the southeast shoreline of campus. The term “neighborhood” isn’t just a catchy moniker. It’s a philosophy that describes a new kind of collegiate community—a place to forge lifelong connections alongside a lifelong love of learning while nourishing both your mind and body through an infrastructure of support. In addition to living space for 500 students, Lakeside features a host of amenities that support the College’s liberal arts ethos while making life just a little bit easier. And it’s not just residents who get to enjoy the perks of this living and learning community. Lakeside’s communal areas are open to all Tars. “Living, learning, and engagement are central to the Rollins experience,” says Leon Hayner, Rollins’ dean of students. “When we started thinking about Lakeside, we focused on the concept of balance. How do we provide students with a community space while also
L E T U S T R A N S P O R T YO U Can’t wait to visit Lakeside? We don’t blame you. Take a virtual tour of the neighborhood from anywhere in the world.
ROLLINS | 13
PROXIMITY TO PROGRESS At Rollins, we’re at the forefront of the future, and our 21st-century liberal arts campus offers an incomparable suite of resources across its cozy 80 acres. From our new Lakeside Neighborhood, you’re just feet from a treasure trove of strategically designed spaces that will guide you on your journey through Rollins.
225 FEET
to Kathleen W. Rollins Hall, a launch pad to everything from study abroad and internships to social entrepreneurship and the world’s most prestigious scholarships. Between 2 5 2 A N D 9 7 5 F E E T to the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, the Annie Russell Theatre, and the Tiedtke Concert Hall, where our student-artists have the opportunity to hone their crafts.
1,081 FEET
from physics professor Thomas Moore’s anechoic lab in the Bush Science Center, one of many cutting-edge learning environments where students partner with faculty.
4 3 5 F E E T from the Alfond Sports Center, where our student-athletes across 21 teams develop skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership both on and off the court. 2 7 0 F E E T from Skillman Dining Hall, which is located in the (also lakeside) Cornell Campus Center and offers some of the best college dining in the nation (turn to page 16 and we’ll prove it to you). 14 | ROLLINS
Among the most anticipated Lakeside community features are the movement studio, onsite cafe, and centrally located pool and deck—all of which are poised to open later this spring.
giving them ample personal space? And that doesn’t just mean privacy, but a space that feels personal to each student. We wanted Lakeside to feel like home.” And what says home more than comfort, care, and a focus on well-being? Students have access to a state-of-the-art fitness center and a brand-new movement studio offering every kind of class you can imagine— from meditation and yoga to kickboxing and hip-hop cardio. The existing campus convenience store—or C-Store, as we call it— has been expanded to offer pantry staples and fresh produce as well as a full cafe menu featuring sandwiches, pastries, espresso drinks, and smoothies. Private study rooms invite quiet contemplation while an array of collaborative workspaces throughout the neighborhood make it easy to get creative with your fellow Tars. Want to take that collaboration up a notch? You won’t have to go far. Lakeside houses a number of on-site student services like the Office of Residential Life & Explorations, which focuses on creating holistic living and learning environments, and the Center for Inclusion & Campus
WE’D LOVE TO S H O W YO U A R O U N D Lakeside isn’t the only residential space that combines liberal arts and community. From large facilities with traditional layouts to smaller residence halls where everybody knows your name, our living spaces reflect the needs of our diverse population. Get a feel for res life at Rollins from those who know it best: your future classmates.
Involvement, which facilitates more than 150 student organizations. And, of course, when it’s time to decompress, Lakeside’s main courtyard is the place to be—whether it’s a game of volleyball in the pool or a firepit by the lake to serenade your sweetheart beneath the cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss. Lakeside is a magical place that’s built for making memories. “I’d sum up Lakeside Neighborhood like this,” says international business major Matt Hengelsberg ’21, a resident assistant. “It feels like you’re on vacation, but it’s where you live. Every apartment has a different vibe, and it’s really cool to see how each group of roommates is personalizing their space. And the full-size kitchens are the best for family-style meals. We like doing breakfast for dinner.” Speaking of the kitchen, a four-person island serves as the centerpiece of the expertly outfitted space ideal for sharing a meal or hunkering down for a late-night study session. Off the kitchen is the living room, complete with a couch and a 50-inch wall-mounted TV—perfect for hooking up a
gaming console or binging the latest mustwatch show. Perhaps the best part, though? Each apartment comes with its own in-unit washer and dryer. “It’s been so nice not having to walk up three flights of stairs to do my laundry,” says Hengelsberg, who also enjoys the sense of independence that comes with having his own space. The majority of the suites include four private bedrooms, and each apartment features private bathrooms with walk-in showers and LED vanity mirrors. In suites with two students to a room, each roomie has a walk-in closet. While COVID has put a limit on large gatherings, Hengelsberg and the other RAs have found creative ways to make community members feel connected. For instance, they recently went door to door, dropping off microwave s’more kits and ingredients for root beer floats because, yeah, here at Rollins we take care of each other. And that’s what Lakeside is all about— making connections, living well, learning new things, and growing both individually and together as you create your best #RollinsLife. ROLLINS | 15
By Stephanie Rizzo ’09 | Photos by Scott Cook
Taste Rollins
a of
From hearty, healthy dinners (lake view included) to on-the-go snacks between classes, Rollins dishes up distinctive dining options for every appetite.
At Rollins
, we’re all about what fuels you—whether it’s for your brain, your workout, or simply to nourish your body as you navigate the ins and outs of college life. Our six on-campus dining locations include everything from our souped-up main dining hall to a scattering of cafes sure to sate sweet and savory cravings alike. Add to that our prime location smack dab in the middle of downtown Winter Park, home to some of Central Florida’s hottest restaurants, and it’s no wonder the College keeps racking up accolades everywhere from The Daily Meal to Peta2 lauding Rollins’ innovative and diverse dining options as some of the best in the nation. Is your mouth watering yet? From creative vegetarian offerings to Instagrammable feasts fit for a king, check out what’s on the menu at Rollins.
16 | ROLLINS
Plant-Based Foodies
We
promise we don’t relegate fruit-and-veggie lovers to the salad bar. Every campus dining venue offers innovative vegetarian and vegan creations. We’re talking vegan shepherd’s pie, veggie-based banh mi bowls, and buffalo cauliflower in Skillman Dining Hall, the main dining center overlooking Lake Virginia. At our very own pub, Dave’s Boathouse, you’ll find mile-high plant-based burgers and healthy kale and farro bowls. The all-new, expanded campus convenience store (aka the C-store) has you covered with fresh produce and is happy to take special requests. You can even order in advance and pick up your goods when you’re ready. As if our campus offerings weren’t enough, Rollins happens to be within walking distance of Ethos, one of the city’s best vegan restaurants serving up takes on classic comfort foods like “chickun” marsala and meatless meatloaf.
Our dining facilities serve unique specials that rotate with the season like Mardi Gras-inspired shrimp and grits. You can even get creative and customize your order at most locations, including your favorite day-starter beverage at our very own on-campus Starbucks. At Cornell Cafe, which we’ve lovingly dubbed “Tarpotle,” you can mix and match a variety of proteins and Mexican-inspired fixings to create a signature bowl or burrito that’s all you. (Bonus: Deliciously dippable guacamole is made fresh on the daily.) Off-campus, your options for variety are only as limited as your taste buds. One weekend it’s the quiche of the day from Financier Patisserie (our favorite is asparagus and gruyere), and the next it’s a prime filet paired with a classic wedge salad at BoVine Steakhouse.
Variety Seekers
ROLLINS | 17
Home Chefs Just
because you live in a res hall doesn’t mean you can’t whip up a scrumptious spread. You’ll find community kitchens in many residential halls, and some facilities like the brand-new Lakeside Neighborhood (get a sneak peek on page 12) have full kitchens in every suite. Delivered straight to your door, our new Blue & Gold Apron meal kits make it easy to get tasty, healthy dinners—like barbecue salmon with smoky succotash—on the table in no time. For aspiring Top Chefs, Winter Park abounds with specialty markets and high-end retailers like Williams-Sonoma so you’re always stocked up and ready to indulge your inner Gordon Ramsey.
Instagram-
Worthy Eats
18 | ROLLINS
The best food doesn’t just taste good—it looks good too. Artful sushi awaits at Dave’s Boathouse along with stacked burgers and sinful shakes that’ll be the envy of everyone on your feed. You and your besties will love brunching at nearby Hamilton’s Kitchen, located inside Rollins’ own Alfond Inn, where it’s tough to decide between staples like the chicken and waffles or blueberry pancakes topped with real maple syrup. Just minutes from campus at The Glass Knife, desserts are more like works of art, while over at Krungthep Tea Time, a rainbow assortment of teas is like a party for all your senses. Just remember, pics or it didn’t happen.
World ly Palates Rollins’
emphasis on global citizenship extends to our dining choices across campus. Skillman Dining Hall features a rotating menu of international favorites like pupusas, pad Thai, delicate curries, and more. And don’t forget dessert. All baked goods are made in-house and from scratch by a professional pastry chef. In addition to American and French classics, epicureans can expect to find treats like Filipino flan and chai-spiced cupcakes. Just a few steps from campus and you’ll be transported to far-flung spots like Turkey (perfectly puffed naan at Bosphorous) or India (authentic tikka masala at Mynt) or Thailand (panang curry at Orchid) but without the jet lag.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Join your future classmates on a whirlwind culinary tour of campus dining and local eateries.
If you’ve got food allergies, we’ve got you covered. Skillman Dining Hall has an entire Simple Servings station dedicated to food free from common allergens like wheat, soy, milk, eggs, and nuts. All entrees are served on color-coded plates so you never have to worry about a mix-up. The C-store also carries allergen-free snacks and has even more available for order. All of our cafes are stocked with alternative milks so you can stay caffeinated, and because personalization is the name of the game at Rollins, you can enjoy endless combinations of delicious, healthy food designed just for you.
Sensitive Stomachs
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The Perfect Start Your first year at Rollins will be full of firsts—from meeting your roommate to studying new subjects. Explore the many different ways we make sure your journey of a lifetime gets off to a great start.
We’ve worked hard to crack the first-year code by crafting supportive, personalized experiences to help you transition to living and learning at Rollins. And while everyone’s first year is as unique as they are, they all have a few key things in common like a focus on community building and mentorship. It’s one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report ranks Rollins’ first-year experience among the best in the country. Here are just a few of the ways we ensure that the first year of your #RollinsLife is nothing short of spectacular.
interdisciplinary, experiential, and relational learning you’ll do at Rollins. Because of Cristina Toppin ’21’s RCC, religion professor Todd French’s Discipline: Crafting Subjectivities, Shaping Lives, she decided to major in religious studies along with political science.
Groundwork for Greatness
The cornerstone of your first year is your Rollins College Conference (RCC), a seminar-style course designed for incoming students that acts as a roadmap for your Rollins journey. Whether it’s learning about the science behind the headlines in Physics for Future Presidents or creating your own spirit animal in Foundations in Sculpture, your RCC course provides a foundation for the kind of 20 | ROLLINS
My RCC let me explore a field of study that I didn’t even know was possible. — Cristina Toppin ’21
“My RCC was an opportunity to explore a field of study that I didn’t even know was possible,” says Toppin, who returned to her RCC as a peer mentor. “It was cool to see first-years embrace the same spirit of curiosity that I felt.”
Trusted Friends
Even before you’ve fully moved into your dorm room, you’ll have the support of Rollins’ peer mentors, second-, third-, and fourth-year Tars who are ready to help you out with everything from preparing for your first class presentation to deciding which meal plan to choose. It’s just another way that Rollins has mastered mentorship in and out of the classroom. “As soon as I came to Rollins, I realized there was support everywhere,” says Raul Tavarez Ramirez ’21, who also served as a peer mentor and an assistant hall director. “It’s not a place where you show up and people tell you what to do. It’s a place where people listen to what you want and then work with you to make it happen.”
By Stephanie Rizzo ’09 | Photos by Scott Cook
Meaningful Mentors
When we say we empower you to pursue a meaningful life and productive career, we mean that from day one. Your RCC instructor also serves as your first-year faculty advisor, helping guide you through your foundational courses as you start discovering what makes you tick. “[Political science professor] Mike Gunter helped me combine my interests in political science, international relations, and environmental activism into a plan,” says Ramirez, who put all three into action as a 2019 U.N. Millennium Fellow focused on building awareness around responsible consumption.
community organizations, and EMBARK, a peer-orientation initiative designed for students from underrepresented backgrounds, offer opportunities for connecting with like-minded Tars before you even start at Rollins. “I made my first friends at Rollins through the Bonner Leaders orientation before the semester started, and those relationships have carried throughout my four years,” says Renee Sang ’21, a critical media and cultural studies major. Sang’s experience as a firstyear student working alongside farmworkers just 40 minutes from campus was so impactful that she went on to partner with the Farmworkers Association of Florida to produce a documentary focused on issues facing migrant workers.
As soon as I came to Rollins, I realized there was support everywhere. — Raul Tavarez Ramirez ’21
Building Community
Early Engagement
Cohort-based programs like Bonner Leaders, a national organization that pairs young campus leaders with
Focused on integrating experiences both in and outside the classroom, Rollins’ Living Learning Communities (LLC) encourage inclusive, holistic learning and community building. In LLCs like Ward Hall, you’re housed according to your RCC, which lets you experience college life with a group of classmates who share similar interests. “Living and learning together really makes it easier to branch out,” says Ramirez, who made some of his best friends his first year. “It builds community and kick-starts your network.”
Seeds of Service
Each year on SPARC Day—Rollins’ annual day of service—incoming Tars get a small taste of what can happen when they put their ideas to work in the world.
“Everything came together in my Rollins journey because of SPARC Day,” says Sunny Toreihi ’20, who will begin a master’s program at Georgetown next fall before pursuing her law degree focused on gender rights. Volunteering at the Pace Center for Girls through SPARC led Toreihi to seek out service opportunities focused on domestic violence and political advocacy as a Bonner Leader.
Explore Sydney’s First Year Join political science major Sydney Brown ’21 as she documents her epic first year at Rollins.
:
rollins.college/first-year
ROLLINS | 21
My Rollins Gateway
A Pillar of Progress By Adrienne Egolf | Portraits by Natalie Chitwood
Aditya Mahara ’12’s path through Rollins was defined by both the opportunities he seized and those he created for himself. You might think that someone like Aditya Mahara ’12—a Rollins Cornell Scholar who earned a PhD in engineering from Dartmouth and is now a product manager at AstraZeneca—would have spent his time in college laserfocused on academics. And your assumption wouldn’t be wrong exactly—just incomplete. “Coming from Nepal,” says Mahara, “everything felt like a great opportunity to me—the community, the service aspect, the friendships. I learned to exercise this muscle of gratitude. And I ended up being quite involved at Rollins.” A physics major, Mahara knew going into college that he wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. But he wasn’t sure where exactly that path would lead, and he embraced every chance to explore the big wide 22 | ROLLINS
world at Rollins. He joined the X Club fraternity and spent spring breaks in places like the Bahamas working with children with special needs. He conducted original research on acoustics and optics through Rollins’ Student-Faculty Collaborative Scholarship Program. He co-founded a service club that traveled to Nepal to focus on improving community health and education. “My education at Rollins was not just about enhancing knowledge, but rather enhancing life skills and then acquiring knowledge as a byproduct,” he says. From delving into a variety of disciplines to learning what it really takes to effect change in communities across the globe, explore some of the transformative waypoints on Mahara’s personalized pathway through Rollins.
Future-Proof Foundation
“I never thought I’d wind up at a pharma company making software products when I was Rollins.” Mahara reflects on how even before he knew where he wanted to go, Rollins was preparing him for the path ahead. His physics curriculum was rigorous, building one lesson on top of the next, and his classes across disciplines routinely required collaboration. In his position at AstraZeneca, Mahara leads development of a medical software device, working with experts from across company sectors. “I love engineering, design, and business, so I find it so fortunate that my role allows me to combine all these passions in my day-to-day work.”
Liberal Arts in Action
When Mahara approached one of his advisors about service learning opportunities that aligned with his childhood experience of distributing medicine in rural Nepal, she told him no such programs existed and that he should start one. “It had never even occurred to me that I could organize my own club, fundraise, and take students to Nepal. It really felt like I had no limits at Rollins.” He teamed up with fellow fraternity brothers to co-found Making Lives Better. “I’m proud that we got a lot of people from Rollins involved in international work. I learned how to take initiative, to not be afraid of starting something new, which I apply in my career even now.”
Rollins Ready
Looking back, Mahara says he realizes more each day how the lessons he learned and the experiences he had at Rollins prepared him for the life he’s leading now, one that demands flexibility, creative thinking, and the ability to problem-solve. “At Rollins, I had people who cared about me. Inside the classroom and out, I learned core skills like discipline, teamwork, and listening. Nobody knows what jobs will even exist in five years. Jobs can change, but skills can be applied to any field. It’s those things you can take for the future. Rollins teaches you all of that.”
Find Your Gateway
Learn more about how the passion Mahara uncovered at Rollins has fueled his journey and start charting your course to personal and professional success at rollins.college/gateway.
Mentorship, Mastered
Mahara credits the guidance of his professors for helping prepare him for his doctoral research and for his reputation now as a top-notch collaborator. “[Physics professor] Thom Moore was my mentor, my advisor, my teacher. I learned so much from him beyond physics.” Mahara worked alongside Moore studying the sounds of the Himalayan singing bowl, an experience so focused on acoustics that learning to listen was one of his biggest takeaways. “Listening to diverse perspectives was the norm at Rollins. In the years since, I’ve often been tagged as ‘the listener.’ People like to explore ideas with someone who listens.” ROLLINS | 23
By Robert Stephens | Photos by Scott Cook
Guiding Greatness At Rollins, our professors are equal parts knowledgeable and fascinating, providing personalized attention to students both in and outside the classroom while becoming mentors, research partners, and lifelong guides. Our expert professors are a lot of things. They’re distinguished researchers and esteemed scholars. They’re sci-fi superfans, Broadway composers, and medieval masters. They also recently earned Rollins the ranking of No. 1 in the South for its exceptional commitment to teaching undergraduates. But students are more likely to call them “mentors” and “collaborators” because of their uncommon knacks for bringing subjects to life, connecting learning Pulling the futuristic world closer to home The mind of chemistry professor Ellane Park is full of wonder. For example: Could science fiction ever be real science? So she challenges her students to explore the possibilities of nanoparticles and wearable technology, discovering firsthand that what is unrealistic today could make the world better tomorrow. Introducing an all-star lineup Sometimes a surprise guest will appear in music professor Jamey Ray’s class. He does, after all, boast an impressive roster of connections, having worked with everyone from the London Symphony Orchestra to Broadway performers. His students produce, write, compose, and become versatile enough to make music a career. He knows because he’s done it all. 24 | ROLLINS
to the real world, and inspiring them to chart their own changemaking course to a meaningful life and productive career. Through our small, discussion-based classes, one-on-one advising sessions, and impromptu conversations on everything from Fortnite’s latest marketing campaign to the ethics of self-driving cars, our inventive faculty and industrious students give new meaning to the words “engaged learning.”
“From day one at Rollins, my professors cared about my interests, about me as a person. They implored me to reach out and explore, to get outside my comfort zone, where they know I’d develop not just technical skills, but communication, problem-solving, and people skills.” — Lauren Nelder ’20, PhD Candidate in Geophysics, UC Riverside
Experiencing good business and dirty jeans Josephine Balzac-Arroyo is known to dig in the dirt with her social entrepreneurship students. She partners with organizations like Fleet Farming, which converts neighborhood lawns into organic micro-farms, to show her students that what’s good for the community is good for business. They come away with the know-how to find unconventional solutions to complex issues.
Making physics seriously fun First-year students often associate the word “physics” with “complicated.” Students in physics professor Chris Fuse’s classes say physics concepts are awesome. Fuse uses the same learning catalysts that sparked his own interest in science: action movies and TV shows. From there, students are awed to see physics at work everywhere they go.
Transforming the influenced into influencers With a PhD from the University of Cambridge, business professor Raghabendra KC could be consulting on marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies. Instead, he scrolls Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to shape up-to-the-minute lessons on the motives behind the messages we consume daily. His goal? Prepare each student to be more discerning and more socially conscious.
Opening eyes to how to create real change Political science professor Dan Chong walks in shadows you cannot fathom, unless you’re a student in his Politics of Global Poverty course, for instance, or on a field study with him in Tanzania. He’s worked in refugee camps, medical clinics, landfills, wherever there’s need. His lessons are more of a walk than a talk because he considers the entire world a classroom.
“Throughout my time at Rollins, which included traveling to five countries and participating in a range of fellowships and service learning projects, I had a community of support around me at every turn to foster a sense of adventure and curiosity. I learned about the person I was, the values I hold, and the impact I want to have on the world.” — Lucas Hernandez ’13, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Microsoft Philanthropies
Learn more about Rollins’ unique approach to mentorship and meet more of your professors at rollins.college/mentorship.
Taking biology outside the books On the first day of class, biology professor Brendaliz Santiago-Narvaez shows students how biology applies to their major (business, psychology, any major). She then uses daily news stories to show how it applies to everything. Biology becomes a study of living organisms and of life itself. Changing lives through art If Rachel Simmons’ classroom is a little messy, that’s perfect. It’s supposed to be a busy art studio. Amid the vintage letterpresses and crafty displays is the centerpiece: an oval table. Here, she inspires relationships and creativity to flourish beyond the art-laden walls. ROLLINS | 25
Rollins at a Glance 273
Established 1885
International students from 67 countries
2,127
(fall 2020)
60+
Student clubs and organizations
International programs
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (fall 2020)
17 Average class size
70+ Percent of
Areas of study
150+
90+
students study abroad
11:1
Student-faculty ratio
Finish in Four
Learn more about Rollins’ new four-year graduation guarantee at rollins.college/finish-in-four.
Select Awards & Rankings No. 1 Regional University in the South U.S. News & World Report, 2021
No. 1 for Percentage of Students Who Participate in Alternative Breaks
Top Ranked for 25+ Years
Break Away, 2018–2019
No. 1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching Program
Forbes, 2017–2019
No. 1 College in the South
The Princeton Review, 2015–16
U.S. News & World Report, 1996–2021 U.S. News & World Report, 2020–2021 College Consensus, 2019
Top Producer of Fulbright Scholars
U.S. Department of State, 2013–2017, 2019, 2020
No. 2 Undergraduate Business Program in Florida College Factual, 2020 26 | ROLLINS
No. 1 MBA in Florida
No. 1 Most Beautiful College Campus Top 10 for Percentage of Students Who Study Abroad
Institute for International Education, 2013–2020
97%
of Rollins’ graduates engaged in the workforce, grad school, or volunteer service 12 months after graduation.
Disarming Discourse Karina Barbesino ’19
—who found the intersection between two seemingly disparate passions at Rollins—says it all starts with language.
ROLLINS READY
Learn more about how more Rollins grads are putting their education to work in the world at rollins.college/ rollins-ready.
Conversationally fluent in Mandarin Chinese, German, and Spanish, Karina Barbesino ’19 is passionate about connecting with people through language. While at Rollins, the international relations and Asian studies double major applied and enhanced her communication and people skills by studying abroad in Shanghai and Kunming, near the China-Vietnam border. Turns out it was the perfect preparation for her current role as a research associate at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs, where she’s focusing on America’s policy with China.
Liberal Arts in Action
“ It was through the international experiences I had in China—meeting with local experts, professors, and doctors of traditional Chinese medicine—and the opportunity to write an honors thesis that most prepared me to enter the national security sector. The chance to develop a professional working proficiency in a foreign language has been a sought-after skill in the think-tank space.”
Meaningful Mentors
“I took a Chinese class with [Chinese professor] Li Wei every semester, several of which were independent studies where I could focus on vocabulary and topics I wanted, and he helped me so much with my translations and offered support along the way. It was my relationship with him that led me to an Asian studies major.”
Future-Proof Education
“At Rollins, I was fortunate to learn in various environments— from independent studies and round-table discussions to hands-on learning and seminars. These experiences forced me to tackle questions from different angles, both independently and in collaborative teams. I use the critical-thinking and language skills I gained at Rollins in my work every day.”
ROLLINS | 27
Rollins College Admission 1000 Holt Ave. — 2720 Winter Park, FL 32789
Welcome to the journey of a lifetime From your first day as a Tar, you’ll begin charting your own course to success—one marked by meaningful mentors, hands-on experiences, and epic adventures. Let’s get your #RollinsLife started. Secure Your Spot Submit your deposit and secure your place as a Tar today. rollins.edu/deposit Share Your Story Show the world you’re ready to embark on your #RollinsLife. rollinslife.com Experience Your Rollins Get an up-close look at what life as a Tar is really like at an Experience Rollins event. rollins.edu/experience
