WINTER 2024
Staying Power
A look inside The Alfond Inn’s new expansion and a look back at 10 years of creating opportunities for our students
INSIDE THE BOX The new Tiedtke Theatre & Dance Centre opened its doors this fall, and the Sally K. Albrecht Studio Theatre—the black-box space already lovingly nicknamed the “Sally K”—saw its first production with Metamorphoses. Reinvigorating ancient Greek and Roman myths, the production featured two onstage pools of water with seating on three sides, wrapping the audience around the scenic elements in a truly immersive experience. Integrating the latest in design, lighting, and sound systems, the 1,900-square-foot, custom-built black-box theatre is taking Rollins’ theatre game to the next level, creating new opportunities for students to put their knowledge and skills into practice and to take part in all the different aspects of production and performance.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Supporting educational programming and offerings made possible by new facilities like the Tiedtke Theatre & Dance Centre is one of the many ways your gifts to the Rollins Annual Fund help our students develop their passions through experiential learning. You can be a part of this transformational impact by making a gift at rollins.edu/give.
ROLLINS .EDU | 3
Underscored by my time working on water-filtration efforts both in the lab and on the ground in the Dominican Republic, my time at Rollins has been profoundly transformative. I’ve been able to foster interdisciplinary skills and knowledge, which has ignited a passion for service, research, and scientific growth. — Madison Linn ’25
Without her life-changing field experience in the Dominican Republic, it’s likely that Madison Linn ’25 wouldn’t have found her life’s calling to become a pediatrician. The biochemistry/molecular biology major has worked alongside chemistry professor Pedro Bernal to further his decades-long project of distributing water filters in rural communities across the Caribbean island. It’s an experience that has allowed Linn not only to conduct microbial assessments on water sources but also to dive into topics of humanity, culture, ethics, and language. It has armed her with an acute understanding of the need for health care in underserved communities—a cause to which she is prepared to dedicate her career.
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Visit rollins.college/giving to see how your gifts to the Rollins Annual Fund give students like Madison the ability to say yes to every opportunity.
WINTER 2024 Rollins magazine Email: rollins360@rollins.edu Phone: 407-691-1361 Write: 1000 Holt Ave. – 2729 Winter Park, FL 32789-4409 Web: rollins.edu/magazine; click on “Talk to Us” Office of Alumni Engagement Email: alumni@rollins.edu Phone: 407-646-2266 or 800-799-2586 (ALUM) Write: 1000 Holt Ave. – 2736 Winter Park, FL 32789-4409 Web: rollins.edu/alumni Giving to Rollins Email: giving@rollins.edu Phone: 407-646-2221 Write: 1000 Holt Ave. – 2750 Winter Park, FL 32789-4409 Web: rollins.edu/giving Editor-in-Chief Audrey St. Clair ’03 Associate Creative Director Sarah Hall Chief Photographer Scott Cook Assistant Editor Jessica Firpi ’11 Contributors Laura J. Cole ’04 ’08 MLS Mariano Frisoli Rob Humphreys ’16 MBA Assistant Vice President of Marketing Luke Woodling ’17MBA Produced by the Office of Marketing All ideas expressed in Rollins magazine are those of the authors or the editors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the College. Letters to the editor are welcome and will be considered for publication in the magazine. Rollins magazine is published twice a year by Rollins College for alumni and friends of the College. Postmaster Send address changes to: Rollins College 1000 Holt Ave. – 2754 Winter Park, FL 32789-4409 Visit Rollins magazine online at: rollins.edu/magazine
From the Green 06
In Brief
08
hat It’s Like … to Partner W with Your Professor
10
On Campus
12 Finding a Voice
Features 14
Staying Power
22
Born to Give
24
Solving the World’s Biggest Problems
34
Leading with Humanity
36
The Innovator
40
Eco Pioneer
Connected for Life 33
Save the Date: Giving Day 2024
42
Save the Date: Alumni Weekend 2024
44
Class News
50
What I’ve Learned: Sam Hocking ’87
In Brief
It is my goal to help others find ways to be successful and discover their passions the same way I have found mine.
Sarah Skala ’23, one of the Class of 2023’s seven valedictorians, chose Rollins knowing three things: She wanted a smaller school that was close to home. She wanted to study elementary education. And she wanted to play soccer. She leveraged all three during her time at Rollins while exploring academic disciplines she never would’ve thought to pursue and earning a 2023 Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in Germany. After she returns, Skala plans to follow her passion for helping others and guiding children as a school counselor.
on Top
Rollins was one of just 208 institutions to land on Phi Theta Kappa’s 2023 Transfer Honor Roll, which recognizes the nation’s best schools for transfer students.
Once again, Rollins has been recognized as the No. 1 regional university in the South by U.S. News & World Report. For more than 25 consecutive years, the College has placed among the top two regional universities in the South and the top-ranked Florida school in the category. Alexa Macias ’23—a triple major in international business, Asian studies, and international relations—earned a Critical Language Scholarship to study Chinese in Taiwan.
Rollins’ Crummer Graduate School of Business has been ranked among the nation’s best business schools and in the top 5 MBA programs in Florida.
The Princeton Review has ranked the classroom experience at Rollins as one of the top 25 in the country. Sarah Bennefield ’23, Capri Gutiérrez ’23, Sarah Skala ’23, and Socorro Torres Lopez ’23 earned 2023-24 Fulbright Scholarships. The awards include two teaching positions, a research assignment, and a grad school placement. Elle Mannino ’25 has become the second Tar to earn a coveted spot in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Public Policy Leadership Conference.
By the Numbers
638
With the lessons I learned from [business professor] Emmanuel Kodzi’s leadership class, I was able to apply myself better in my internship with confidence in myself and my abilities.”
The number of first-year students who started at Rollins this fall, which represents the largest class in Rollins’ nearly 140-year history. This new group of students hail everywhere from Texas and New York to Morocco and the United Kingdom, while first-generation college students comprise 14 percent of the class.
3,200
The amount of service hours provided to local nonprofits and community organizations like 4Roots Farm and New Hope for Kids during this year’s SPARC Day, the College’s annual day of service for all incoming first-year and transfer students.
Hayley Stoddard ’24, an international business major who worked this past summer as a travel industry sales intern at Universal Orlando, where she facilitated a first-time conference for the theme-park giant’s preferred partners
Experts in Action Biology professor Paul Stephenson earned a grant from the National Science Foundation to use urban agriculture as an experiential learning opportunity for undergraduate biology students. Led by chemistry professor Kasandra Riley, a group of Rollins STEM faculty received an Inclusive Excellence in STEM Grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute that’s focused on fostering inclusivity and belonging for those who have been historically underrepresented in the sciences. Latin American and Caribbean studies professor Susan Montgomery and Crummer Graduate School of Business professor Jim Johnson were selected as Fulbright Scholars, earning the prestigious opportunity to teach and conduct research in Colombia and Spain, respectively.
$458,963 The amount raised on Giving Day 2023, unlocking essential aid for everything from scholarships to athletics to applied learning opportunities.
23
How many new students were inducted into Rollins’ chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the country’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society.
12
The number of consecutive years that Rollins has earned the NCAA President’s Award for Academic Excellence. Rollins is one of only eight schools that have earned the award—which is given to DII schools with an Academic Success Rate (ASR) of 90 or higher—every year. Rollins’ 95 percent ASR tied for seventh best in the nation.
By Makayle Kellison ’25 and Maggie Kuffskie ’25, as told to Laura J. Cole ’04 ’08MLS
WHAT IT’S LIKE …
to Partner with Your Professor
Thanks to acoustical research they conducted alongside physics professor Whitney Coyle, Makayle Kellison ’25 and Maggie Kuffskie ’25 played a role in the historic launch of the Artemis I rocket.
L
ast year’s Artemis I launch marked NASA’s return to lunar exploration nearly half a century after the conclusion of the Apollo program. Among the closest people to the historic launch were physics majors Makayle Kellison and Maggie Kuffskie. The duo watched the rocket propel toward space from a dock 11 miles away from the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) while collecting data on the impact of its sound with Rollins physics professor Whitney Coyle and a team from Brigham Young University (BYU). Hear from Kellison and Kuffskie in their own words as they share what it was like to work on this groundbreaking real-world project alongside their professor.
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Maggie Dr. Coyle had been my academic advisor for about a year when she approached me to work on the Artemis project. She knew that I was interested in space and NASA because I had done research with [physics professor] Chris Fuse in the astronomy lab that summer. I was actually at Kennedy Space Center with a friend when she texted me asking if I wanted to be a part of the project.
“ My Rollins professors have emphasized that having a well-rounded knowledge of the subject matter and experience in hands-on settings is invaluable for whatever career path I pursue.” — Makayle Kellison ’25
Makayle The second time I met with Dr. Coyle, she asked me if I wanted to do research with her, and I’ve worked with her ever since. We did a project through the StudentFaculty Collaborative Scholarship Program researching the musical acoustics of the clarinet, then I did research on the organ pipe, and then I started working on rocket acoustics. They’re all very different types of research, which has really allowed me to explore different areas of physics and find my niche.
Photo by Scott Cook
Maggie You get to see this whole other side of your professor when you’re working together on research than you do in the classroom. This project made me feel closer to Dr. Coyle because we have this shared experience. There were nice moments of sitting around just talking and discovering interests we share. Knowing her more personally, I feel so much more comfortable asking questions in class.
Makayle I really appreciate that as students we were in charge. For the first launch attempt in August, I worked with [emeritus physics professor] Thom Moore to set up acoustical measurement stations for Rollins that were specifically placed 20 to 50 miles away from KSC. When I got invited to the
November launch, I worked with Dr. Coyle and BYU professor Kent Gee to make sure all the microphones were calibrated and the PUMAS [Portable Unit for Measuring Acoustics] were set up correctly. They emphasized us doing it ourselves and taking the lead, which is reflected in all of our labs, and I think that’s something that’s very special to Rollins.
Maggie I knew when I came to Rollins that I wanted to major in physics. I was a space nerd and really got into physics my sophomore year of high school. But the reality is, if I wasn’t partnering with my professors on research, I don’t think I would be as invested in physics. I would love physics regardless, but the work feels more important because it’s a bigger part of your life.
Makayle What has made this process so valuable is the relationship I’ve developed with Dr. Coyle. Having her as my mentor has been very impactful for me. By the start of next semester, I will have given three presentations at two different conferences, published two papers, and spent 10 weeks at BYU in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program funded by the National Science Foundation. Everything that has happened within the past year has completely turned my life around. Because of Dr. Coyle, I can see myself doing acoustics research as a career, and I would’ve never known that if she hadn’t given me these opportunities.
Liberal Arts in Action Visit rollins.college/what-its-like to explore more firsthand accounts of the Rollins experience.
On Campus
APRIL 3
Sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA), the annual LipSync event was a huge success as student organizations from around campus hyped up the crowd during a night of dancing and lip-syncing. For the third year in a row, the Black Student Union beat out dance teams from nine other student organizations to take the gold.
MARCH 31
The Rollins chapter of Phi Beta Kappa inducted 23 new members at the Rice Family Pavilion. Less than 1 percent of all college students in the U.S. qualify for acceptance into Phi Beta Kappa, which is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society.
MAY 14
On Mother’s Day, graduates from the College of Liberal Arts celebrated their commencement in a ceremony that ushered in the close of their Rollins journeys and the beginning of their bright futures.
APRIL 6
The Fox joined students jumping for joy outside Kathleen W. Rollins Hall to celebrate Fox Day—that much-anticipated day each spring when we close up shop and get outside for a day-long dose of vitamin D. 10 | WINTER 2024
JULY 19
Thanks to Rollins’ Student-Faculty Collaborative Scholarship Program, Nchimunya Mwiinga ’25 spent his summer researching human-computer interaction alongside computer science professor Valerie Summet and psychology professor Jennifer Queen. Mwiinga worked to analyze individual learner differences and predict academic performance in STEM.
AUGUST 15
During orientation week, the lineup of welcome activities included everything from meet-and-greet events and trivia nights to SPARC Day and the beloved tradition of Candlewish.
AUGUST 21
Rollins kicked off the 2023 fall semester by welcoming 638 first-year students to the Class of 2027, the largest incoming class in the College’s history.
AUGUST 19
Facilitated by the Center for Leadership & Community Engagement, this year’s SPARC Day fully reignited the in-person day of service for all incoming first-year and transfer students. Community organizations included 4Roots Farm, New Hope for Kids, and many more. ROLLINS .EDU | 11
Finding a Voice
On the first floor of Kathleen W. Rollins Hall, four student-run media outlets are paving the way for professional success in myriad roles and industries.
“Alone, you go faster. Together, you go further.” Musenya Ngoma ’23 lived by this motto while serving as station manager of WPRK 91.5 FM. “The station was more than a place of work,” he explains. “It was a united family brought together by a common goal of reaching greater heights.” It’s a sentiment that encapsulates the spirit and purpose of the first floor of Kathleen W. Rollins Hall, where four student-run media outlets— WPRK, The Sandspur, The Independent, and Brushing—provide students with applied learning experiences that complement their areas of study. Take Ngoma, for example. The computer science major leveraged his coding skills to develop a mobile app for WPRK that live-streams content and offers access to featured podcasts. Or English and theatre double major Allison Wilson ’20, who parlayed three years as submissions editor at Brushing to land an editorial assistant role at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Research shows that students who engage in these types of programs are able to better connect their academic experiences with their goals and interests in life after college,” says Micki Meyer, Lord Family assistant vice president for engagement and dean of Rollins Gateway. Kathleen W. Rollins Hall is a central hub for melding the ethos of a liberal arts education with high-impact programs that teach leadership skills and open doors for productive careers. Student media, in particular, has advanced the cause with collaborative spaces and tech upgrades like a screening room and podcast studio that provide students even more opportunities to apply their skills in hands-on settings.
The Sandspur
Ellie Rushing ’19 fondly recalls how she “worked tirelessly on the student newspaper” for two years as editor-in-chief, “bringing news and investigations to the forefront and revamping its digital presence.” Leveraging that hands-on experience helped land her on a desk at The Philadelphia Inquirer, where she now reports on issues of criminal justice.
By Rob Humphreys ’16MBA | Photos by Scott Cook
WPRK 91.5 FM
“The best in basement radio” has given scores of Rollins DJs a launchpad to careers in radio and media. “My time at WPRK was crucial to my career development,” says Maria Paz Gutierrez ’16, a former associate producer at NPR who now works at Radiolab in New York City. “It helped me develop my own voice as a creative person in audio production and journalism.”
The Independent
Three years as a writer and editor at The Independent, Rollins’ student-run magazine, prepared Emory O’Malley ’21 for his current job as an editorial specialist at meal-delivery company Purple Carrot. “Helming The Independent taught me so much about fostering a creative, collaborative community of thinkers,” he says. “Now, I get to develop the same positive culture with my teammates.”
Brushing
The student-run Brushing arts and literary journal helps students gain skills in visual and verbal communication while nurturing their creativity and critical thinking. “My tenure as editor-in-chief propelled me down a path to becoming a better storyteller fueled by passion, positivity, and purpose,” says Siobhan Cooney ’22, who now works as a communications associate at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. ROLLINS .EDU | 13
STAYING POWER The Alfond Inn marks its 10th anniversary with a much-anticipated expansion that’s creating more opportunity for Rollins’ best and brightest students. By Jessica Firpi ’11 | Photos by Scott Cook
I
n the heart of northern Uganda, Capri Gutiérrez ’23 listens intently to a local man describing how he was just a child when he was thrust into a life of conflict and survival. He had been taken from his home and forced to fight in a war that ravaged the region until 2006. His story—and those of other former child soldiers—affected her deeply while she was studying abroad in Uganda for a semester, igniting a passion for global development and a drive to make a real impact. Armed with a pen and a camera, Gutiérrez will soon return to this Ugandan village as a Fulbright Research Fellow with the Justice and Reconciliation Project, where she’ll work to bring these stories to light and to create a database of the 30,000 child victims of war so they can eventually get the government support they so desperately need and deserve. Gutiérrez’s journey to Uganda began at Rollins, where she earned the College’s
premier Alfond Scholarship, a full-ride award for highachieving students made possible by revenue generated from The Alfond Inn. At every
I wouldn’t be able to do anything I’m doing now without Rollins and the Alfond Scholarship. I wouldn’t have had such special opportunities, or have found my passion, or have received mentorship from Professor Chong, which has absolutely changed my life. Capri Gutiérrez ’23 Alfond Scholar Fulbright Research Fellow, Uganda
turn, the honors student and valedictorian made the most of the opportunities her scholarship created—from
interning with the Global Livingston Institute and serving as vice president of Rollins Amnesty International to co-authoring a book on global development with political science professor Dan Chong. After completing her Fulbright research fellowship, Gutiérrez plans to pursue a graduate degree in public policy or global development, utilizing Rollins’ Office of External Fellowships & Scholarships to compete for a distinguished Rhodes Scholarship. The fearless advocate is committed to fighting global poverty through a career in policy and development, perhaps with the United Nations. “I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without Rollins,” says Gutiérrez. “I wouldn't have had such special opportunities without the Alfond Scholarship, or have found my passion, or have received mentorship from Professor Chong, which has absolutely changed my life.”
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The new Moroccan-inspired pool area creates an alfresco oasis complete with rentable private cabanas and an outdoor living room, which features an operable sun shade to let in just the right amount of rays. BELOW RIGHT Showcasing customdesigned crystal sculptures, the entrance to the spa sets the tone for an unforgettably relaxing experience.
A Bold Idea That Works In 2010, when initial discussions on building a hotel near Rollins were underway, Trustee Ted Alfond ’68 P’92 ’18H entered the conversation with an entrepreneurial proposal: If Rollins could secure a gift that would permit it to retain ownership of the hotel, the net revenue could be directed to an endowment for student scholarships. The leadership team at Rollins was immediately on board, and thanks to generous contributions from Ted, his wife, Barbara Alfond ’68 P’92 ’18H, and his father’s philanthropic organization, the Harold Alfond Foundation, the inn opened its doors in August 2013.
inn has experienced tremendous success, serving as a popular destination for community social events and corporate meetings and earning perennial recognition in state, national, and global travel awards. Thanks to its pioneering philanthropic business model, the inn has made the dream of a Rollins education a reality for so many deserving students like Gutiérrez. It’s a legacy befitting of the Alfonds, who have fulfilled the Winter Park community’s need for a thriving hotel while giving back to the school that has meant so much to them.
The Alfond Scholarship opened up the opportunity for me to go out of state for college, which expanded my worldview. It gave me a life that I couldn’t have imagined. Katrina Zdanowicz ’16 Alfond Scholar Government and Public Services Senior Consultant, Deloitte
“My father [Harold Alfond P’68 P’75 ’97H] was a businessman who liked entrepreneurial, creative ideas—and this project is both,” says Ted. “Rollins will capitalize on a commercial opportunity to fund student scholarships. As the inn achieves business success, the scholarship program’s impact will continue to grow. My father would have loved it.” With the idea of using hospitality for good, the vision for The Alfond Inn embodied a fresh interpretation of the College’s historic commitment to excellence, innovation, and community. The boutique hotel stands where the Langford Inn once welcomed notable guests like Eleanor Roosevelt and former President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy. Since opening, the
“My scholarship opened up the opportunity for me to go out of state for college, which expanded my worldview,” says Katrina Zdanowicz ’16, part of the first cohort of Alfond Scholars who now works regularly with the World Economic Forum in her role as a senior consultant at Deloitte. “It gave me a life I couldn’t have imagined.” As the inn celebrates its 10th anniversary with a long-awaited expansion—once again funded by the Alfonds and their foundation— there are now even more reasons for alumni and guests to book their next getaway and invest in a brighter future for the next generation of Rollins students.
In addition to seven treatment rooms and dedicated relaxation areas, both the men’s and women’s locker rooms feature aromatic cedarwood saunas along with steam rooms and customizable shower spaces—all of which invite you into a world of calm.
A Decade of Impact Hailing from Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley, Shree Raj Shrestha ’17 had never ventured beyond his hometown before flying to Winter Park for his Alfond Scholarship interview. Once at Rollins, he grabbed every opportunity to learn and grow and apply his knowledge and skills, studying everything from math and computer science to German philosophy and international law. He participated in seven servicelearning experiences through the Immersion program at Rollins, designed a Monopolygame computer simulation using evolutionary theory, and interned at Amazon, where he created an app that was used for the retail conglomerate’s annual Prime Day. “If it weren’t for Rollins, I don’t think I would be doing what I’m doing now,” says Shrestha, a senior software engineer at Automax and
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founder of the Climate Action Project, which connects environmental experts with students looking to create meaningful change. “Rollins
If it were not for Rollins, I don’t think I would be doing what I’m doing now. Rollins has meant pretty much everything to me. Without the Alfond Scholarship, I wouldn’t have the friends, family, experiences, and support I found at Rollins. Everything I am now is because of that scholarship. Shree Raj Shrestha ’17 Alfond Scholar Senior Software Engineer, Automax
has meant pretty much everything to me. Without it, I wouldn’t have the friends,
the family, experiences, and the support I found at Rollins. Everything I am now is because of that scholarship.” To date, The Alfond Inn has funded approximately 80 full scholarships through its $10.8 million contribution to the Alfond Scholars endowment. Post-expansion, from fiscal years 2024 to 2033, the inn is projected to generate another $20 million toward the endowment and $21 million toward athletic scholarships, freeing up funds for need-based financial aid so that deserving students can attend Rollins who otherwise wouldn’t be able to. “Anything we can do to enhance our offerings of financial aid to the greatest array of students who need it, the better,” says Ed Kania, Rollins’ vice president of business and finance. “Educational access, which is what a scholarship is, equals educational excellence.
I use the framing and lessons I learned at Rollins, both in and out of the classroom, pretty much every day. I think Rollins did a really good job of educating the full person and making sure that you can pursue different interests in many different ways. Meghan Wallace ’17 Alfond Scholar Content Policy Manager, Meta
A diverse group of people translates to diversity of thought in the classroom because you’re having new ideas being exchanged and challenged, and people are growing in their understanding of the issues that we study.” Before Meghan Wallace ’17 was overseeing content policy development at Meta and pursuing a master’s degree in AI ethics at the University of Cambridge, she was learning firsthand what it means to be a global citizen. While at Rollins, she worked with schoolchildren in the Bahamas and with indigenous people in Peru, which ignited a passion for studying different cultures, institutions, and policies and led her to declare a
With the expansion, a total of 71 new guestrooms have been added to The Alfond Inn, including everything from meticulously appointed classic king and queen rooms to luxury balcony suites.
major in international relations. Wallace went on to earn a Fulbright Scholarship in Spain, where she taught English and prepared students to participate in Model U.N., a pivotal experience that helped land her a position at Meta, where she utilizes her global experience and cultural fluency to guide policy development and global community standards. “I use the framing and lessons I learned at Rollins pretty much every day,” says Wallace, who also teaches citizenship classes in the Bay Area. “I think Rollins did a really good job of educating the full person and making sure that you can pursue different interests in many different ways.”
Expanding into the Future Regularly operating at peak occupancy, the inn’s capacity almost immediately exceeded supply. In 2018, the College officially embarked on an expansion and renovation project to meet increased demand and create even more opportunities for scholarships. Among the inn’s new features are 71 new guestrooms, a wellness spa and fitness center, an additional 2,400 square feet of meeting and event space, and a light-filled lobby cafe that will double as a wineand-dessert bar in the evenings. “The expansion of The Alfond Inn, with its strategic direction and vision, is another milestone in our journey to become one of the most mission-driven liberal arts colleges in the nation,” says President Grant Cornwell. “The expansion is set to bolster scholarships and financial aid, making it possible for more students to pursue a Rollins education. This progress is a testament to the generosity of our donors and alumni and the commitment to our vision for a brilliant future for our College and our students.” Students just like Muniba Khan ’19, who credits Rollins for giving her access to increased resources and opportunities—from studying abroad in Morocco to interning with the Voting Rights Data Institute. “It’s really hard to finance yourself through college,” says Khan, who now works as a tech arch delivery analyst for Accenture. “Without the Alfond Scholarship and Rollins, I don’t think I would’ve set such high expectations for myself or be working for such an esteemed company.” The hotel now offers 183 guestrooms, with the original rooms featuring new flooring, custom barn doors, and updated lighting, while the newly added rooms showcase a fresh look that creates a seamless aesthetic between the original and new styles. Pops of yellow and peacock blue carry throughout, while hand-illustrated prints depicting our beloved Rollins fox and iconic images of campus dot the walls. The expansion also provides even more spaces to showcase artwork from the Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art, which was established by Ted and Barbara Alfond and has grown to nearly 500 pieces. The Alfond Inn is the only hotel in the country to serve as a formal
It’s really hard to finance yourself through college. Without the Alfond Scholarship and Rollins, I don’t think I would’ve set such high expecations for myself or be working for such an esteemed company. Muniba Khan ’19 Alfond Scholar Tech Arch Delivery Analyst, Accenture extension of an art museum, making it a classroom for Rollins students and the community by integrating art learning into daily life. Perhaps the most anticipated new amenity is The Spa, which includes a two-story luxury wellness spa, a second pool, and a fully equipped fitness center. All troubles seem to melt away almost instantly as you enter the bright and airy lobby embellished with colorful crystal sculptures handmade by New York artist Carson Fox. Make your way farther into the zen space, and Fox’s flowing art installation of over 10,000 handmade resin flowers guides you into the spa, where the ultimate in relaxation awaits.
The Alfond Inn’s increased occupancy and expanded suite of upgrades and amenities promise to attract a greater number of travelers to Winter Park, creating opportunities for more Rollins students to make the world a better place. “Until I got to Rollins, people kept trying to make me choose between my different interests,” says Zdanowicz, who just returned from the U.N. General Assembly where she worked toward improving partnerships between private industry and social entrepreneurs. “Going to Rollins was the first time I didn’t have to choose. I learned that I could combine my passions for math, environmental studies, and business and channel them for the greater good.”
Support Our Students Book a stay and be among the first to experience the new Alfond Inn while contributing to the transformational impact of its philanthropic mission. thealfondinn.com
By Rob Humphreys ’16MBA | Photo by Scott Cook
Born to Give
Jeannie Infante Sager ’94 shares how a fortuitous topic at Rollins started an unexpected career journey into philanthropy. Who says a research paper can’t change your life? When tracing the throughlines of her career in philanthropy, Jeannie Infante Sager ’94 starts with a pivotal decision in her final semester at Rollins. An international relations major, she wanted her senior honors thesis to explore what a maternal foreign policy might look like. “I needed a woman from history who could model that,” says Sager, so her advisor, emeritus history professor Jack Lane ’06H, suggested she focus on Jane Addams, a Progressive Era social reformer and the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Working part-time for Rollins’ annual giving campaign, Sager regularly read the Chronicle of Philanthropy. One day, while perusing job ads, she discovered that Indiana University (IU) was seeking applicants for its Jane Addams Fellowship, a prestigious opportunity to study at what would later become IU’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Suffice to say, Sager had an especially relevant talking point on her resume. “Those were different times, and I had no idea you could even have a career in fundraising,” she says. “But my experience at Rollins sort of set me on this trajectory, and I got my master’s degree in philanthropic studies from Indiana.” Today, Sager is an instrumental part of the very institution that cultivated her professional development, serving as director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at IU’s Lilly Family School. For her 25 years of nonprofit executive leadership—which includes starting an independent college prep school and launching a 16-hospital foundation for the Indiana University Health System—Sager won Rollins’ 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award. The honor recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding success and achieved remarkable distinction through their professional accomplishments. “It’s a very humbling experience to be among such an illustrious list of alumni,” says Sager. “In this year’s group, a
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thread of service and philanthropy ran through all our stories. It’s really inspiring to be in the same company with them.” A globally recognized speaker who has been featured everywhere from Fortune to The New York Times, Sager devotes each day to creating a world where women donors understand and use their growing power and influence to support causes they care about. In her current role since January 2020, she champions the “power and potential” of women’s philanthropy, pointing to research that shows women are more likely to give—and give more—than men. “It’s not because one is better than the other,” explains Sager. “It’s just that they give differently. Yet so much of the current infrastructure around philanthropy is geared toward a white, 60-year-old, heterosexual male.” To address this, the Women’s Philanthropy Institute educates fundraisers and nonprofit leaders to “take women seriously and approach them in ways that appeal to them.” When reflecting on her time at Rollins, Sager fondly remembers living in Pinehurst her first year, joining Chi Omega, and serving on the RA judicial committee. She appreciates how Rollins’ grounding in the liberal arts helped her understand the intersectionality of our world, especially when it comes to tackling complicated issues. “That ‘life is for service’ piece is really important,” she says. “We need to pay it forward, and it’s our responsibility to be public teachers, no matter what professional hat you wear.” Over the years, Sager has returned home to visit her parents and spend time on campus, often bringing her son and daughter, who are now in college. Regardless of where she goes, the Tar network is never far away. “I talk to someone every day who I knew or met at Rollins,” she says. “Philanthropy is a real people business, and for me Rollins was a people place. It’s those relationships and friends that I’ll always cherish most.”
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SOLVING THE WORLD’S BIGGEST PROBLEMS Rollins graduates earn more than a degree. They gain the knowledge and skills to address large-scale issues like climate change and human rights. By Laura J. Cole ’04 ’08MLS
C
hristina Babbitt ’03 can trace her career in water conservation all the way to its source. Her junior year at Rollins, the international relations major enrolled in a class on sustainable development that culminated in a two-week field study in the Dominican Republic. “That course really made me aware of how connected people’s lives are to the resources they have access to, especially water,” says Babbitt. “The class also solidified my interest in working in sustainable development, and subsequent experiences narrowed my focus on water.” After graduating from Rollins, Babbitt earned a master’s in environmental science from Florida International University, followed by a PhD in natural resources sciences with a focus on water policy at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. From there, she took a role with the Environmental Defense Fund, where she worked on implementing “the most significant water legislation to pass in California in the last 100-plus years.” Now she holds the title of global water lead at Starbucks. At the global coffee conglomerate, Babbitt is able to look at implementing critical programs at a scale she says isn’t possible working for a nonprofit. “As a company, we rely on having sufficient quantities of water to grow our commodities, like coffee, support our farming communities, and ultimately, support our business,” she says. “I help drive Starbucks’ approach to water stewardship in ways that positively impact the people and communities in our value chain while also working within a larger ecosystem to really engage people in ways that build momentum on the larger sustainability issues I’m passionate about.” In many ways, Babbitt’s journey from the classroom to addressing major issues surrounding water on a global scale is part of a naturally winding course that starts with Rollins’ commitment to delivering an education that prepares students for so much more than a job. It builds momentum as students gain the broadbased knowledge, real-world experiences, and 21stcentury skills that enable them to earn positions like global water lead that didn’t even exist when Babbitt graduated. And it continues to flow as alumni across the country address the challenges that pose the largest threat to our society.
Conserving Water
We recently sat down with Babbitt to discuss what led her to water, so to speak, and what moves we can make as a society to ensure universal access to this essential source of life. How did grad school expand your interest in water? “I did my research project focused on water use in eastern Africa, where I traveled with a colleague doing water-quality research. We’d go take samples, where we could see E. coli building up, next to people collecting water to bring back to their homes. It solidified how important water is to livelihoods.” What’s been the biggest takeaway from your experience in this field? “I really valued my time working on California water because it showed me how everyone values water in different ways and that there are a lot of powerful groups that have a voice in water. Rather than taking a moral high ground, you have to come into those conversations with humility and bring people together to move forward and create meaningful change.” At Starbucks, you’re focused on water on a global scale. But what should we be thinking about as individuals? “It’s a luxury in the U.S. to be able to turn on a tap and have water, but we still need to know what’s behind the pipe. Knowing where our water comes from is part of being an informed citizen and responsibly using the resources we’re so lucky to have access to.”
After graduating with degrees in biology and environmental studies, Clayton Louis Ferrara ’09 landed a role at the Oakland Nature Preserve, where he discovered a student organization that he would help transform into a U.N.-accredited nongovernmental organization. Today, he’s the CEO of that NGO—IDEAS For Us—which is focused on engaging communities to scale environmental solutions by funding action and sharing best practices for a more sustainable planet.
How to Live More Sustainably
Ferrara shares his top tips for how we can incorporate sustainability practices in our daily lives.
Building Sustainable Communities
Measure your carbon footprint … Carbon calculators, like the ones on the EPA’s and The Nature Conservancy’s websites, will allow you to see a fuller picture. … then reduce it. Plant some trees and native plants. Turn your patio into a jungle. Fill your house with indoor plants. All will help absorb and offset your carbon emissions. Shrink the distance your food travels. Growing your own food or buying locally reduces that supply chain and minimizes the use of fossil-fuel-rich pesticides and fertilizers. Make dietary changes. Eating vegan or vegetarian will help reduce your carbon footprint. If you eat meat, switching to products that are less carbon-intensive—like chicken instead of beef—will have a major impact. Get involved. The best way to help is to figure out where you want to make a difference, then join—or start—an organization and build a community around that purpose.
Kirsten Jensen ’04 is defying the idea that intergovernmental organizations move at a glacial pace. In her role as head of strategic projects and initiatives at UNICEF USA, she is responsible for breaking down bureaucratic barriers across divisions. It’s a critical role when considering she’s ultimately charged with relentlessly pursuing a more equitable world for every child. That mission is the topic of our recent conversation and what has kept Jensen—who majored in English and spent 2½ years in Kenya as part of the Peace Corps—at UNICEF for almost two decades.
Fighting for Children What does your day-to-day look like at UNICEF? “My role is really to work with the executive suite to determine where there’s the greatest need. I work across divisions and departments, rally key players, and ladder everything up into our strategic operating plan.” How do you modernize a 77-year-old company? “We’re trying to get ahead of the digital curve by being proactive with reading data. For example, we’re paying attention to which stories are drawing traffic to understand what is
of interest to people and making adjustments based on those data points.” What topic is top of mind when it comes to children’s rights? “Climate change. It absolutely impacts every single one of the areas UNICEF leads into. For example, if a girl can’t go to school because she has to walk a few kilometers each day to get clean water, that impacts our clean water and sanitation program. It impacts our education and nutrition programs.”
In combination with what I learned in the classroom, Rollins’ community engagement focus allowed me to learn about worker rights directly from farmworkers, which solidified my interest in understanding the intersection between business and human rights. Hanna Cody ’16 always knew she wanted to improve human rights. After graduating with a self-designed major in gender studies, she landed an internship with United Nations Women, then worked at UNICEF for five years, focusing on issues impacting children and families with a concentration on supply chain and garment production. That’s when she began considering a shift to Fair Trade USA, where she’s now the standards manager for the factory program, serving as the representative for the Global Living Wage Coalition and helping write and implement the rules and requirements for earning Fair Trade status.
Increasing Equality 5 Things to Know about Fair Trade Certification
Cody highlights the important ways Fair Trade certification has the biggest impact. A percentage of all Fair Trade-certified purchases goes directly to workers to address their most pressing needs. To date, $1 billion in impact has been delivered. Fair Trade USA partners with 1,500 brands to deliver high-quality, ethically produced food, clothing, beauty products, and more.
Photo by Scott Cook
Our programs address human rights, transparency, and environmental issues in partner supply chains, including forced labor, worker health and safety, discrimination, and safe chemical management. Fair Trade USA collaborates to maximize impact for all workers. For example, we collaboratively advance living wage research and strategies as a member of the Global Living Wage Coalition. Your community can join us in advocating for the Fair Trade movement through Fair Trade Campaigns.
From my major in international business to the exposure to different topics at Rollins, I learned how to connect people and ideas. My role at Newlab leverages my skills to assist people developing exciting technology in everything from networking with government and industry collaborators to fundraising, creating business models, and expanding internationally. Parker Magness ’18 came to Rollins knowing he wanted to fight climate change but not knowing what direction he would take. After serving as an AmeriCorp Fellow and as a clean energy intern for the New York state government, he landed a position as business development manager of membership at Newlab, which helps startups scale and commercialize emerging technologies designed to solve pressing challenges. In his role, he’s focused on climate tech, improving the sources of energy and energy storage and designing sustainable materials for everything from buildings and roads to textiles.
Tackling Climate Change
3 Climate Tech Companies to Watch
With his finger on the pulse of emerging climate technology, Magness predicts great things from these rising leaders as they tackle the climate crisis.
Amogy
The tech: Turning ammonia—an energy source denser than gasoline—into hydrogen to power a vehicle’s fuel cell The impact: Creating carbon-free transportation
Vycarb
The tech: Monitoring and removing carbon dioxide from water The impact: De-acidifying our oceans and waterways
Photo by Scott Cook
Vela Bikes
The tech: Designing a classic frame with leading e-bike technology and reshoring manufacturing back to the U.S. The impact: Providing a low-carbon way to commute
Jeremy Spitzenberger ’20 is actively exploring how to lower your water heater’s impact on climate change— and your electric bill. A PhD candidate in mechanical engineering at the University of Missouri, he’s doing thermal energy research aimed at making water heaters more efficient by recycling used heat back into the system, pulling heat from ambient air, and testing ecofriendly refrigerant alternatives. His efforts have earned him a fellowship with the U.S. Department of Energy.
How Rollins Readies Students for Real-World Science
Spitzenberger reflects on the most impactful ways Rollins prepared him for postgraduate research. I researched isolated elliptical galaxies with physics professor Chris Fuse. We found that some of them were producing stars, which goes against everything we knew. The excitement of that discovery hooked me on research. Without my Rollins foundation, I wouldn’t be able to survive in grad school. My physics courses trained us to have a mindset and systematic way for finding solutions.
Harnessing Clean Energy
My classmates and I would work through problems together on the whiteboards in the basement of Bush Science Center. That prepared me for research at Mizzou, which I never do alone. After turning in my first research paper in grad school, my advisor told me I was a much better writer than most of my peers. That’s 100 percent a testament to the rigor of my Rollins education.
Alaine Jolicoeur ’14 has dedicated her career to making education accessible and equitable. The philosophy major has taught history in Baltimore public schools and French at a rural independent school in Massachusetts. She’s also focused on improving educational policies as a fellow at Chiefs for Change, a bipartisan nonprofit for educational leaders, and helped draft sex discrimination policy to better protect nonbinary and trans students. Jolicoeur is now working as an educational consultant for Teach for America and pursuing a master’s in educational studies at Johns Hopkins University focused on urban schools.
Improving Education Why are you passionate about education? “Because it’s my duty and calling as an American to make sure that my society is healthy. Our role as educators and citizens is to have difficult conversations, listen to what others are saying, and make things better.” What made you want to focus on policy? “I believe that education is critical for safeguarding a multiracial democracy, but if we don’t have a solid infrastructure for students to learn, we are failing. I taught at a school in Baltimore where we had to put trash bags over the AC
unit because it was below 30 degrees in the room. This is in the U.S.—30 miles from the White House.” What was the best lesson you learned at Rollins? “I had a class with [philosophy professor] Ryan Musgrave and former Rep. Pat Schroeder. Schroeder talked about people making comments about a woman’s place when she joined Congress, and she said, ‘Honey, you can’t get mad. You’re a human adult and have to find a way to get your message across without raising your blood pressure.’ No doubt this is hard work, but I’m in it for the long run.”
Preserving Biodiversity
Maintaining nature is one of the solutions to climate change. We know that tropical forests absorb huge amounts of carbon, and peatlands, kelp forests, and the oceans are critical for climate. So there’s no way we can reach the global climate goals unless we protect nature. The two go hand in hand.
6 Ways You Can Make a Big Difference
O’Donnell shares what he believes are the most impactful steps we can take to create real change from our own little corners of the world. Maintain the intact habitats already in place. Restore some of the areas that have been degraded and give them a chance to recover. Reduce the pressure on these areas by thinking about what you consume and how much waste you create. Vote for representatives who care about these important issues. Hold corporations accountable for their actions. Consider careers in conservation, including as a journalist, scientist, or policymaker. This crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, and Rollins provides a solid foundation and the necessary skills we need to help in a range of related careers.
For more than two decades, Brian O’Donnell ’93 has worked to conserve lands and wildlife. His career has included roles with the Conservation Lands Foundation, Trout Unlimited, and The Wilderness Society, and he’s played a role in helping conserve critical areas out West, including the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in New Mexico and the Copper Salmon Wilderness in Oregon, among others. “Throughout my career, I couldn’t help but recognize that nature’s decline was happening at a rapid pace,” says O’Donnell, who double-majored in economics and history. “In May 2018, the largestever scientific report of the state of the planet was released, arguing that this rapid decline— including the threat to a million species—will have grave consequences for humanity unless we make transformational changes.” That report prompted O’Donnell to launch Campaign for Nature, an advocacy, communications, and alliance-building effort to conserve at least 30 percent of the planet’s lands, fresh water, and oceans by 2030. As director, he has worked to build consensus on this global framework, including leading a major advocacy campaign that helped secure the KunmingMontreal agreement, which adopted that goal and has been compared to the Paris Agreement’s commitment to limit global temperature increases. NPR recently called the agreement “the most significant effort to protect the world’s lands and oceans and provide critical financing to save biodiversity in the developing world,” as previous agreements only included 17 percent of land and 10 percent of marine areas. “This initiative will go a long way to ensuring that we have an adequate amount of habitat to prevent the worst numbers of extinctions and to maintain functions for nature, if it’s done in the right places,” says O’Donnell. “Our entire economies and our entire lives depend on healthy natural systems and robust biodiversity.” O’Donnell admits that he has been passionate about conservation for as long as he can remember, having grown up camping with his family and spending time outdoors in the desert in Egypt. But a couple of environmental studies courses he took at Rollins continue to resonate even decades later. “Rollins had a big influence on me,” he says. “I still think back to some of the books we read in those classes, and they and my professors have inspired me throughout my career.”
I’ve found that life really works better when it’s in service of other people and we’re creating something sustainable. My goal is to inspire people and to provide them with actual infrastructures that provide them a better life.
Photo by Mariano Frisoli
Creating Sustainable Solutions Jonathan Lewis Smith ’14 recalls running his fingers across the “Life is for Service” plaque as he passed it daily going to and from his room in Strong Hall. Along the way, the motto began to direct his life. “I’ve found that life really works better when it’s in service of other people and we’re creating something sustainable,” says Smith, who majored in political science. After graduating, he joined Greenpeace for a time before realizing that sustainability applies as much to how we live, work, and engage with the world as the resources we consume. He’s since built a career working in business development for solar companies like Lucent Solar and Southern Beams. The latter is among the first businesses to offer autonomous, fully integrated modular designs that can be deployed quickly, moved when needed, and provide enough amperage to charge everything from cars to homes. “The product itself is a game changer,” he says. “When I started working in solar, I thought anyone could get it, but most of the time, there are barriers, such as whether you make enough money on your taxes or own the property. The reason I like the Southern Beams company and the product, though still in development, is that it’s going to be less expensive, faster to deploy, and easily moved.” It fits in with how Smith has come to understand sustainability as a call for all of us to think about how we spend energy, make a living, and contribute to the world—and to think about what’s possible. “My goal is to inspire people," he says, “and to provide them with actual infrastructures that provide a better life.”
Protecting Our Oceans (and Our People)
Rachel Rilee ’16 wants to talk about fish and the intersection of legal issues they present—including environmental, international, human rights, animal rights, trade, and labor. A recent graduate of the George Washington University Law School, Rilee is a regulatory policy specialist at ICF, a global consulting and technology services company that helps its clients address economic, social, and national security concerns. She focuses on issues like sea slavery, where people are held against their will on fishing boats, forced to endure up to 20 hours a day of work, and often aren’t returned to land for several months—or years. It’s a topic she was first introduced to while doing research in law school, but her passion for sustainability and justice was seeded at Rollins, where her professors encouraged her to forge her own path.
5 Things You May Not Know About the Fish You Eat
From a lack of regulation to an abundance of environmental impacts, Rilee shares insights on how a confluence of issues at sea affects all of us back on land. Third-party certifications aren’t regulated. For example, those little blue labels on seafood that say “certified by the Marine Stewardship Council” are just an unregulated for-profit certification and have different standards that don’t address human rights or sustainability. Your fish may be caught by modern-day slaves. Upward of 100,000 people are working on boats and aquaculture facilities on land as forced labor. It’s happening because of a huge gap in governance on the high seas. Locally farmed fish have a human impact. They're not being caught or processed by forced labor,
but they’re often fed fish meal caught near coastal communities. The farmed fish are shipped back to them and sold for prices that the locals can’t afford. They also have an environmental impact. Fish tightly packed in aquaculture facilities can have incredibly damaging effects on the surrounding ecosystem. Algae blooms become more common, and their diseases seep out and infect the surrounding fish. Fishing practices aren’t always humane. Fish can feel and remember pain. When they’re scooped up, held out of the water in nets, then dropped on the deck of a boat, they can die from suffocation or impact, which raises issues about cruelty.
At Rollins I learned how to combine my strengths with the fields I was interested in instead of following the standard path others lay out for you. When I decided to go to law school, it was really helpful for me to have that community supporting me and confirming that I could get a law degree and use it for something nobody else is.
February 20, 2024 Join us on Giving Day 2024 as we come together to support everything from scholarships to hands-on learning opportunities for Rollins students.
02•20•24
You exemplify the value of a transformative Rollins education. The impact you make in your industry and community started with your decision to make Rollins part of your educational journey. Now you can light the way for the next generation of students, providing them with the same opportunities for success that you enjoyed. Join us this February and help shape the futures of today’s Tars. ROLLINS .EDU | 33
By Rob Humphreys ’16MBA | Photo by Scott Cook
Leading with Humanity An embodiment of one of Rollins’ most treasured tenets—life is for service—Bryce Pittenger ’87 has dedicated her career to improving lives. Directing mental health programs in one of the nation’s poorest states is hard enough. Throw in politicized bordercontrol crises, international child sex trafficking, rising rates of drug addiction, and multiple traumas exacerbated by a global pandemic, and you’ll begin to understand the Herculean challenges faced by Bryce Pittenger ’87. As CEO of the New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative—a position she held from 2020 to March 2023— Pittenger oversaw a cabinet-level group representing 17 state agencies involved in behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery. To earn that appointment, she advanced through multiple leadership positions over many years with New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department. While in state government, Pittenger’s collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach focused on ensuring the well-being of all groups under her care, which extended to creating humane, community-driven support systems for migrant children separated from their families. “Any child who steps into New Mexico is a New Mexican child for that moment,” Pittenger once told the media, and she advanced that platform through partnerships spanning federal, state, and local government; nonprofits; health-care providers; and the state’s indigenous population. For her distinguished service, Pittenger earned the 2023 Fred Rogers Global Citizenship Award, an honor that recognizes alumni who exemplify Rollins’ mission of global citizenship and responsible leadership through their extraordinary achievements and impact on society. “What an award,” she says. “I mean, ‘Won’t you be my neighbor?’ That’s the message I’ve been saying in the media for a long time. Kindness is mental health. Fred’s vision about being kind and connected is exactly the underpinning of what I’ve been doing to reform behavioral health in New Mexico.” At Rollins, Pittenger majored in psychology, started the Women at Rollins group, and lobbied for ADA access. She credits sociology professor Lynda Glennon with educating
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her about poverty and culture from a new perspective—a springboard for the meaningful impact Pittenger has gone on to have in the lives of those facing struggle and uncertainty. “Rollins really opened my eyes,” she says. “There was sort of a getting saturated in this new way of thinking about things. The inspiration for what I’ve done in my career was seeded at Rollins.” One of Pittenger’s most significant achievements came during a refugee surge in the late 2010s when she advocated against creating a locked facility for children who crossed the Mexican border. Instead, she worked with members of the Las Cruces community to process children and families. The approach provided the refugees with resources and support while simultaneously reducing the burden on the federal government. Apart from immigration, service in New Mexico’s government naturally involves a different brand of global citizenship: working to advance the well-being of the state’s 23 sovereign nations. “I started to meet with them individually and pay respects and listen to what they need,” she says. “That became a real educational pivot point for me. The idea was, ‘Just come in, listen to what we need and honor who we are.’” As a result, behavioral health organizations were created within native communities that helped their citizens navigate the pandemic, better address substance abuse and mental health issues, and access government resources like food stamps and Medicaid. These days, Pittenger is transitioning back into private practice, which will allow her more time to pursue passions like hiking and poetry—and perhaps more opportunities to drop in on her beloved alma mater. “Every time I come back to Winter Park, visiting Rollins is one of the first things I do,” she says. “It’s this anchoring sense of place that connects me with that part of myself and that memory.”
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By Luke Woodling ’17MBA | Photos by Scott Cook
The Innovator
Anil Menon is leaning into Rollins tradition while keeping his eyes firmly on the future as he leads a new era of growth at Rollins’ Crummer Graduate School of Business. Supply chains thrown into gridlock by a global pandemic and spiraling military conflicts. The 24-hour news cycle and relentless onslaught of information. The rapid emergence and transformational promise of AI. The world—and the world of business—is becoming increasingly complex, hectic, and uncertain, and the pace is likely only to accelerate. So how does graduate business education prepare the leaders of today and tomorrow not only to thrive in this fast-evolving environment but also to lead positive change for their organizations, for their customers, and for the world? That’s the seismic question facing Anil Menon, the new dean of the Crummer Graduate School of Business, as he directs the next phase of progress at Rollins’ top-ranked business school. Fortunately for Crummer, you would be hard-pressed to find a leader better suited to answering it. Menon, after all, has helped successfully lead change at companies like IBM and Cisco during transformational periods in their histories. In fact, one of the common throughlines across Menon’s diverse career is an appetite for following opportunities that positioned him at inflection points in evolving fields, industries, and organizations.
A Wealth of Experience
Menon’s career spans everything from faculty positions at a pair of respected business schools to strategic leadership of business initiatives at some of the world’s largest companies to advisory roles to world leaders. Menon has a PhD in statistics and marketing from Texas A&M, but he completed his doctoral dissertation at the Strategic Planning Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, an international research and consulting think tank established by GE and the Harvard Business School. He
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began his academic career at Texas Tech’s Rawls College of Business, where he achieved tenure and promotion to associate professor, before joining the graduate faculty at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Menon left Emory in 2001 for IBM, where he would help manage the company’s sweeping transformation from a hardware company to a business technology titan. He held multiple leadership roles at IBM, including chief marketing and strategy officer for the company’s global hardware business. During his time at the tech giant, he also served on the IBM Strategy Team, which advised the CEO on overall business and investment strategy. At Cisco, Menon served as global president of the company’s Smart+Connected Communities division and as deputy chief globalization officer. That experience led him to the World Economic Forum, where he again held multiple positions, including managing director, member of the managing board, and senior advisor to the chairman. Along the way, Menon also acted as senior advisor on sustainable markets to King Charles III when the current British monarch was the Prince of Wales. Most recently, Menon served as executive vice president of community and urban services at Sharecare, Inc., a digital health and well-being company based in Atlanta, where he and his team developed new tools and solutions that integrated health outcomes into infrastructure investments and smart city solutions. While at Sharecare, Menon served on the board of directors for the Center for Customer Insights at the Yale School of Management and as an industry advisor and affiliate faculty member at MIT and its Senseable City Lab. He previously served on the board of Coca-Cola’s tech incubator, Citibank India’s board of advisors, and as a trustee of the NewCities Foundation.
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Perfectly Positioned for Growth
Menon’s affinity for centering himself at turning points— combined with a recommendation from former IBM colleague and Rollins Trustee Rodney Adkins ’81—is what led him to take a meeting with President Grant Cornwell this past summer. Though the idea of leading a business school hadn’t been on Menon’s radar, he quickly embraced the opportunity. Cornwell left those conversations convinced Menon was the right person for the job, while Menon came away convinced that Crummer was ideally positioned to meet the moment. Ask Menon why and he’ll point to an array of assets that range from Rollins’ personalized approach to education to the College’s location in one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation. It starts, of course, with Crummer, which has consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best business schools for leadership development and whose MBA programs have ranked as the best in Florida. “Crummer’s success is rooted in an excellent faculty that is focused on our students and their success,” says Menon. “You have this rich history of personalized attention and a commitment to engaged learning that you don’t find at other institutions.” Menon also cites Crummer’s track record of curricular innovation that includes the development of an Executive Doctorate in Business Administration—the first AACSBaccredited degree of its kind in Florida—as well as the launch earlier this year of a new Flex MBA, a hybrid program that allows busy professionals to attend nearly half of their classes online.
“The size of Crummer is also an asset in this regard,” says Menon. “We don’t have departments, so it’s much more cohesive, and we’re small enough that we can be much more nimble and responsive than larger schools that are divided into silos.” Another reason Menon is so bullish on Crummer’s potential is less obvious but no less influential: the fact that it’s a graduate business school housed at one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges. After all, Menon argues, all current and future executives need a foundation in the liberal arts—from critical thinking and creative problem solving to collaboration and communication—to successfully lead in an increasingly challenging business landscape. “The complexity of business today is dramatically different than 20 years ago,” says Menon. “A lot of the challenges business leaders face go beyond what we think of as traditional business. It’s no longer just financial or operational. Now you have to understand the history of countries as well as macroeconomic, political, and technological trends. So you have to become more of a renaissance person to know how to navigate this complex environment.” The potential of a new facility is another pillar in Crummer’s solid foundation for the future. The planned 44,500-square-foot building, which will be co-located with the newly expanded Alfond Inn and a new Rollins Museum of Art, would transform Crummer’s connection to the Central Florida community and energize the school’s commitment to innovation, excellence, and impact.
Part of Rollins’ new Innovation Triangle, a planned 44,500-square-foot business center will provide unparalleled opportunities for a collaborative and innovative educational experience.
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Crummer’s expert faculty as well as the school’s commitment to personalized attention and engaged learning were part of what drew Menon to Rollins.
Respect the Past, Build the Future
While Menon recognizes Crummer’s rich potential, he also knows the school can’t stand still as the business world changes around it. So on his first day at Rollins, Menon assembled the entire Crummer faculty and staff for a full-day retreat. He kicked off the session by sharing three quotes that he’s lived by throughout his career. All three underscore the importance of embracing change. “The first one was ‘You never stand by the same river twice,’” says Menon. “The river is never the same and you’re not the same because everything is constantly changing. Impermanence is normal and you’ve got to learn to let go. “The second was ‘The ship is safest in the harbor, but that’s not the purpose of the ship,’” he says. “It might be safest to keep doing what we’ve always done, but that’s not the purpose of business education. Business is changing and we need to change along with it as well as help to shape its future. “The third was ‘You can’t contemplate, you have to act,’” says Menon. “We’ve got to move, and we have to have a sense of urgency.” Menon has done just that in his first few months at the College. In fact, he’s already collaborating with Rollins, Crummer, and alumni leadership to architect a strategic framework that will shape the school’s future.
“We are embarking on an ambitious journey to mold and elevate globally minded leaders who are adept at creating both economic value and meaningful social impact,” says Menon. “We are going to do something that will differentiate us meaningfully, something that is unique to Crummer and unique to Rollins, something that we can do better than any other school.” The goals set forth by Menon are as transformative as they are strategic. First, there’s an emphasis on developing leaders who have a global mindset and who are proficient in adapting to diverse environments while upholding the highest ethical standards. The emerging plan also emphasizes innovation and entrepreneurial thinking with a focus on preparing students to meet both market demands and societal needs with creative solutions. Lastly, Menon’s vision calls for an integration of interdisciplinary expertise that will leverage Crummer’s unique position within a liberal arts context, blending robust business acumen with the broad, critical perspective that is the hallmark of liberal arts education. Together, these elements form the bedrock of Crummer’s future under Menon’s stewardship—respecting its storied past and proud traditions while boldly forging a path toward a revolutionary, bright, and impactful future.
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By Rob Humphreys ’16MBA | Photo by Scott Cook
Eco Pioneer
The Hamilton Holt School helped Ann Francis ’01 make a midlife career change, and Rollins has never been the same since. It was the mid-1990s, Ann Francis ’01 was 20 years out of college, and life as an accountant just wasn’t adding up. She wanted something more, a place where she could follow her dreams, complete her degree, and start pursuing a more “sustainable” career. Francis found that place at Rollins, where she enrolled at the Hamilton Holt School a year after joining the College as a business services assistant in 1996. After graduation, an administrative job became available in the Department of Environmental Studies. A few years later, she earned a promotion to coordinator of Rollins’ Recycling Program—later renamed the Sustainability Program— ushering in a new era of environmental awareness on campus. Under Francis’ leadership, Rollins would go on to implement multiple sustainability initiatives—becoming Florida’s first designated Fair Trade campus, launching a bike-share program and urban farm, and installing campuswide hydration stations that have saved more than 2 million plastic water bottles over the past decade. Before retiring in July 2021, Francis also co-founded the Florida Chapter of the Green Chamber of Commerce and co-chaired the Colleges and University Steering Committee for Fair Trade Campaigns. Throughout her tenure, Francis’ gentle, behind-thescenes approach to service touched the lives of countless students and staff. “Innovation, creativity, initiative, and contributions in support of fellow employees made Ann one of the most respected staff members on campus,” says former greenhouse manager Alan J. Chryst ’93. “Through her guidance, encouragement, and mentoring, many students left Rollins being able to provide great worldly stewardship, now and for future generations.” For her exceptional leadership to Rollins and the greater Winter Park community, Francis received the 2023 Alumni Service Award—an honor she doesn’t take lightly.
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“Winning this award really is overwhelming because all my life I’ve had a lot of respect for this college,” says Francis. “I never thought I’d have the opportunity to work there, much less get my degree from there. I’m so thrilled with the last 25 years of my life. It was a great way to have a wonderful career and be part of an incredible school.” Francis’ environmental impact at Rollins was felt well before her time as sustainability coordinator. As a Holt student, she helped resurrect the EcoRollins program, a student-led initiative that continues to this day. Later as program advisor, Francis helped organize annual awareness events like e-waste drives, coordinated lake cleanups, and linked classes to environment-focused service projects. Drawing on her finance background, Francis was a master at finding ways to supplement her budget and help offset expenses by organizing fundraisers that included textbook collections for Habitat for Humanity, swap and shops, and, most notably, the bike rental program. Launched in 2009 by students, the Rollins’ bikeshare program not only promoted alternative methods of transportation on campus, but it also funded the Sustainability Program through fines from overdue rentals. By the time Francis retired two years ago, the fleet had grown from eight to 46 bikes, with a new bike house behind Olin Library. Looking back on her time at Rollins, Francis segments the conversation into two parts: life as a student and time on staff. Some of her favorite professors at Holt included James Hulbert, Laura Turner, Bruce Stephenson, and Barry Allen. As a staff member, it was all about working with students and colleagues to make the College greener, which included five years chairing the committee on environmental and sustainable issues. “I’m so proud of the love and respect I have of the students and staff I worked with over the course of 20 years,” says Francis. “Those are the things that mean the most to me.”
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Reunite • Discover • Ignite March 21-24, 2024 Reunite with fellow Tars for the largest alumni celebration of the year. Discover new campus additions like the Tiedtke Theatre & Dance Centre. Ignite your alumni pride by experiencing time-honored events like the Grove Party, Alumni Dinner, and more. Alumni from all classes are invited to attend.
Class Reunions
1954 • 1959 • 1964 • 1969 • 1974 • 1979 • 1984• 1989 1994 • 1999 • 2004 • 2009 • 2014 • 2019 • 2023
Affinity Reunions
Men’s & Women’s Lacrosse • All Fraternities and Sororities (current and former) Order of the Fox (Class of 1974 and prior)
Scan or visit rollins.edu/alumni-weekend to explore this year’s schedule.
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Alumni Weekend 2023 1. Annual Grove Party 2. Brighter Together campaign celebration 3. Women’s golf reunion 4. 5 0th reunion: Order of the Fox induction & reception 5. Alumni Convocation
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6. Class of 1993 reception at Barker House
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CLASS NEWS What’s the Word? Phyllis Zatlin ’60, author of several scholarly books and translator of numerous plays from Spain and France, has recently edited an anthology, Microtheatre: A Door County Debut of Short Plays from Wisconsin & Spain, which contains her first published short play. Steven Wilson ’70 has recently written about his lifelong struggles with bipolar disorder in Teetering on a Tightrope: My Bipolar Journey. Available on Amazon and through Barnes & Noble, the memoir includes many personal experiences during his undergraduate years at Rollins. Veteran music educator Mark Malone ’77 has published a new biography, William Levi Dawson: American Music Educator, which celebrates the African American composer and Alabama native. A creator of arts-integrated curricula for the Mississippi Arts Commission, Malone presented the William Dawson lecture and recital at Rollins this past September.
Alumni Gatherings Sarah duPont-Robbins ’98, Jack Myers ’69 ’70MBA, Jack Myers ’27, Sophie Hendriksen ’27, John Myers ’94 ’96MBA, Ruth Lawrence duPont ’70, and Molly duPont Schaffer ’97 all celebrated together during the Trinity Prep 2023 high school graduation. David Helmers ’91 hosted a January “Rollins in a Box” gathering in Las Vegas attended by nearly 40 Rollins alumni from the late ’80s and early ’90s. Many X-Club alumni joined the reunion as well as Tars from around the country. This past summer, Lauren Shrensky ’97 hosted a gathering with local Rollins alumni at her home in Denver, where the group enjoyed a tailgate-style party while cheering on the Broncos during an afternoon game. Yasmin Gutierrez ’08 recently hosted a unique “Rollins in a Box” gathering as a surprise to beloved emeritus professor of anthropology Pedro Pequeño. Pequeño’s wife, together with several alumni, celebrated his birthday and expressed their gratitude for his Rollins legacy of inspiration and kindness. A group of Tars assembled in Washington, D.C., to cheer on Tocarra Mallard ’10 in her touring standup show at the DC Improv Comedy Club. Shannon Lynch Zazulia ’12 turned the evening into a Rollins alumni event open to all D.C.-area graduates. Wendy Schafer ’13 ’14MBA hosted the very first “Rollins in a Box” event in Atlanta in January, with more than a dozen area alumni joining the gathering and reconnecting with fellow Tars.
Milestone Moments J. Danielle Smith Trinidad ’01 welcomed her son, Axel Xander, on 8/9/22. Endowed teaching chair and humanities professor Mary Ann Murdoch ’06MLS received a GiveWell Foundation grant to facilitate and build a permanent walkable labyrinth at Polk State College, where she has taught humanities, film, and yoga philosophy for nearly 15 years.
Alan Gassman ’80 P’07, a board-certified trust and estates lawyer, has published The Advisor’s Guide to Charitable Giving, Organizations, and Creative Structuring.
Charlie Fitzgerald IV ’12 ’13MBA, director at Bridge Investment Group, married Erin Donohoe on 1/21/23 at Knowles Memorial Chapel. Kami Spaulding Perkins ’15 married AJ Perkins, in Suwanee, Tennessee, on 5/20/23, with many Rollins theatre alumni in attendance.
Honor Roll Sandra Muvdi ’89 is planning the 20th anniversary celebration for her nonprofit Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation (JJCCF). Founded in 2004 after the loss of her only child to cancer, Muvdi’s organization has provided emergency financial assistance to over 6,700 families with children battling cancer.
Shannon Barry O’Grady ’98, theatre director at Salisbury High School in Pennsylvania, and her department won the Air Products Education and Community Impact Award for their production of 9 to 5 The Musical. The award goes to the department that best connects a production with areas of academic study and/or a community project or event.
Overwater Oasis Sol Bungalows, the creation of owner Drew Berger ’13 and his partner, Tamara, has been rated the No. 1 affordable overwater bungalows in Panama by Traveler’s Choice. Located in Bocas del Toro, the eco-conscious collection of bungalows promise affordable luxury and an unbeatable location right on the Caribbean Sea. Berger has enjoyed connecting with many Rollins alumni during this venture.
Rollins really opened my eyes to living abroad and fostered my love and understanding for the environment, which has guided our business to be sustainably run both for the planet and our local community. — Drew Berger ’13
Winning the 2022 New Women’s Voices Chapbook Competition, Illuminated Creatures by Angela Sucich ’96 will be published this fall by Finishing Line Press. Her book of poetry was also shortlisted for the 2022 Saguaro Poetry Prize and the 2022 CutBank Chapbook Contest. Sucich holds a PhD in medieval literature from the University of Washington. Kim Donovan ’97 received a 2022 Emmy nomination for outstanding casting for an animated program for Go! Go! Cory Carson, the story of kid-car Cory and his friends who have epic adventures while navigating the ups and downs of childhood. Donovan is founder and casting director of KSD Casting whose purview includes podcasts, game shows, cartoons, and video games for Netflix, Kuku Studios, Tonko House, and Steel Wool Studios, among others.
Amy Guy Calandrino ’07, recipient of a 2023 40 Under 40 award from the Orlando Business Journal, recently earned the prestigious SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors) Designation and was named in the financial real estate company Otso’s “2023’s Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate.” Calandrino serves as CEO of Beyond Commericial, one of the largest woman-owned commercial real estate companies in Central Florida. Each year, the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards recognize travel agencies and advisors who make an impact on the industry and community. Described as a powerful voice in the travel advisor community, Theresa Chu-Bermudez ’11 was honored with the 2023 Trendsetter Award as the “Upward Bound, Rock Star Advisor Under 40.”
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Movie Makers Katherine Waddell ’14 and Em Johnson ’14 have created First Bloom Films with their debut feature of Balloon Animal, the story of a young circus performer who breaks free from the harsh rules and expectations of her father and community, finding herself questioning everything she thought she knew. Now available on Amazon, Vudu, and other cable services, the film was accepted into over 26 film festivals across five continents, winning three nominations and 12 awards.
Onward & Upward Richard Woltmann ’66 and Jena Donofrio Hudson ’97 have worked together at the nonprofit legal-aid firm Bay Area Legal Services for several decades. As Woltmann, president and CEO, retires after 43 years, Hudson will carry on his legacy as deputy director. Sherard Tatum ’81 was named president elect of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and took office this past October. After a 27-year career in sales and leadership, Christopher Mader ’92 recently launched MTA Consultancy in New Bedford, Massachusetts, for executive and leadershiplevel coaching focused on emotional intelligence, corporate strategy, and behavior to help clients create a more engaged workplace. The name of his company is in honor of Boyd Coffie, the late Rollins baseball coach whose well-known phrase “Make the Adjustment” always stuck with Mader. Stacy Pierson ’92 has been elected to the Baylor College of Medicine Faculty Senate as a senator for the department of pediatrics. He was also recently named associate program director for the Baylor College of Medicine Pediatric Residency Program in Houston. Next June, Laura Raborn Brainard ’93 will be teaching “The Figure in Action: How to Loosely and Accurately Create Paintings of People in Their Environment,” an art workshop in the Umbria region of Italy focused on painting and drawing for artists of all levels. Trevor Clendenin ’95 has opened Savannah Guitar Lutherie & Mercantile in Savannah, Georgia, where his shop offers top-tier luthier services, features premium brands, and hosts an open forum for musicianship and learning. Clendenin credits Rollins for a strong foundation that has helped shape the course of his career and personal passions.
Governmental attorney Virginia “Ginny” Bozeman ’99 has recently joined the Pope Flynn Group, a law firm headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, that focuses on governmental and public finance matters. She will be providing local governments counsel while continuing to serve as lead county attorney in the South Carolina midlands. Ryan Sheehy ’04MA has been named vice president of marketing and public relations at Seagate Development Group in Fort Myers, Florida. Sheehy has spent her nearly 25-year career representing world-renowned brands in the fields of live entertainment and tourism, most recently having built her own full-service agency in Philadelphia before returning home to southwest Florida. C.J. Maier ’11MBA, managing director of connectivity for Cielo Digital Infrastructure, was reappointed to the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) by Gov. Ron DeSantis and subsequently confirmed by the Florida Senate in May 2023. Maier was also elected to the CFX Executive Committee as treasurer for 2023. Norma Cruz ’15 received her law degree this past May from Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando. Jasmine Cohen-Young ’14, a former Rollins basketball player, is pursuing a doctorate of social work with a clinical concentration at the University of Kentucky. Her research highlights the urgency for mental health screenings and services for college athletes. Lauren Smiarowski ’19MPH graduated from the Florida State University College of Medicine in May 2023 and will continue her education as a pediatric resident at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.
Changemaker in Action Newly elected U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost has hired urban planner Sarah Elbadri ’13MA as second in command in his Orlando office. She will serve as deputy district director and director of constituent services—a key leadership position for which Elbadri will liaise with different local, state, and federal offices and work directly with residents in Frost’s district. While earning her master’s in planning and civic urbanism at Rollins, Elbadri embraced the spirit of community service and grassroots involvement. She worked as a graduate assistant in the Center for Leadership & Community Engagement (CLCE) and went on to found the Democracy Project, which is now one of the most popular and prolific student organizations on campus.
At Rollins, I learned that service could be your life— that you can integrate it into what you want to do for a living. Rollins exemplifies how a large institution can be a good neighbor and a good partner, and that neighborly connectivity is something that has remained a theme for me regardless if I’m an urban planner or working for a U.S. congressman. — Sarah Elbadri ’13MA
In Memory A Patron of Rollins
An avid fisherman and successful entrepreneur who built many thriving businesses in Florida throughout his career, Cary Kresge Jr. ’66 ’67MBA carried a love of Rollins with him well beyond graduation. He served on both the Alumni Board and Board of Trustees during the 1970s and was an ardent supporter of Rollins Athletics, frequently attending games and making donations to various sports teams for more than 30 years.
Barbara Brock Daugherty ’41 November 7, 2022
T.C. Jenkins ’65 December 11, 2022
Beverly Cotter Sinclair ’49 October 11, 2022
Robert C. Legler ’65 May 28, 2023
Patricia German West ’49 June 2, 2023
Michael L. Marlowe ’65 P’97 June 27, 2023
Edwin P. Granberry Jr. ’50 P’88 P’06MHR August 8, 2023
David R. Schechter ’65 August 27, 2023
Joel M. Hull ’53 May 13, 2023 Natalie Merritt Sundberg ’53 October 26, 2022 Bruce Lee ’54 October 14, 2022 Nancy Polk McVey ’54 October 24, 2022 Marilyn Shinton Townsend ’54 September 15, 2022 Carmen Lampe Boland ’55 February 26, 2023 Donald W. Tauscher ’55 P’82 December 6, 2022 Barbara Feidt Kelly ’56 January 2, 2023 Harry G. Bennett ’58 December 9, 2022 Barbara Moore Finch ’58 March 8, 2023 Sanford Brickman ’59 September 11, 2022
Cary was a very special friend and a proud and loyal supporter of Rollins, particularly our athletic programs. Cary never wavered in his love for Rollins, and I’m certain the void of his loss will be filled with many great memories. — Tom Klusman, Head Basketball Coach
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Joady Boulware Perrett ’60 November 30, 2022 Ruthan Wirman Eliades ’63 August 7, 2023 Meredith Mead Sitek ’63 P’95 March 10, 2023 Garner T. McNice ’64 December 28, 2022 Ronald D. Morrisseau ’64 September 18, 2022 Dwain T. Anderson ’65 ’70MCS September 26, 2022
John S. Thomas Jr. ’65 September 18, 2022 Luis Q. Barroso ’66 January 16, 2023 Cary Kresge Jr. ’66 ’67MBA August 2, 2023 Ronald E. Coyle ’68 October 7, 2022 Laurinda Reger Griffith ’68 October 24, 2022 Jean A. Mayer Koivu ’68MAT March 9, 2023 Frederick W. Schert ’69 August 26, 2023 Joyce Shields Beatty ’70 March 28, 2023 Gregory L. Allen ’71 September 24, 2022 De Etta H. Harris Jenkins ’71MED March 13, 2023 Diana Knott Knott Bridwell ’72 August 12, 2023 Patricia L. Spoone ’72MED June 9, 2023 James W. York ’73 December 27, 2022 Gordon K. Carpenter ’74 ’75MBA December 7, 2022 Melissa M. Jones ’74MAT March 5, 2023 Wade H. Keefer ’74 April 20, 2023 James Maynard ’74 April 24, 2023
Patricia Zimmerman Straub ’74MAT May 10, 2023
James T. Murray ’81 September 1, 2023
Mary J. Kemp ’89 P’89 P’91 December 17, 2022
James L. Blake Jr. ’76MSCJ September 27, 2022
Jolyn Petit ’82MA September 11, 2022
Margaret E. Nelson ’89 December 31, 2022
Eldora Holsberry Dolive ’76 ’80MAT February 12, 2023
Margaret Louise G. Baker ’83MED April 23, 2023
Hildegarde S. Shaw ’92 October 19, 2022
Kenneth J. Johnson ’76MSCJ January 17, 2023
Stephanie Jebb Barclift ’83 January 26, 2023
Pamela Dixon Jones ’93 September 27, 2022
Francis E. Peck III ’76MED September 16, 2022
Mae E. Edwards ’84 September 12, 2022
Jane L. Nies ’93MLS February 5, 2023
Nanette Petiprin Lawrence ’77MAT May 11, 2023
Scott W. Roth ’84 ’85MBA September 21, 2022
Stacy Sharp Van Praagh ’93 November 26, 2023
Edward K. Masland Jr. ’77 March 16, 2023
Edna Mobley Gardner ’85MED October 12, 2022
Pamela F. Cutrone ’94 September 8, 2022
Mauro C. Rigante ’78 December 2, 2022
Rosemary Sams ’85 October 3, 2022
James H. Holt ’96MA October 23, 2022
James H. Mathena ’79 September 30, 2022
Nancy M. Stringer ’86MED January 5, 2023
Jennifer Isaacs Twomey ’98 April 2, 2023
Mayfair Taylor Gowdy ’80 January 23, 2023
Robert J. Yount III ’86 January 4, 2023
Kiesha L. Flanigan ’01 August 20, 2023
Gracia M. Smith ’80 August 21, 2023
Margaret O’Sullivan Parker ’87 February 24, 2023
Donald A. Dean ’07 January 29, 2023
Betty B. Wise ’80 October 12, 2022
Rosemary S. Hubble ’88 P’89 May 26, 2023
Matthew R. McGuffee ’16 December 13, 2022
Joyce S. Cream ’81MA October 21, 2022
Mary E. Griffin ’89MA August 22, 2023
Indelible Impact
Trustee and global fashion executive Stacy Van Praagh ’93 brought her characteristic passion, positivity, and personality to every endeavor she took on—whether it was mentoring Rollins students, advancing the College’s goals as a board member, or leading fashion giants like Oscar de la Renta and Alexander McQueen. For her distinguished accomplishments, Van Praagh received the Alumni Achievement Award in 2013, the same year she was elected to the Board of Trustees. She leaves a legacy of highly engaged leadership and a reverberating impact at Rollins that will endure for generations to come.
Stacy’s love for all things Rollins showed in everything she did. She was an outstanding trustee and a generous mentor for many Rollins students. Stacy was a center of gravity, connecting people together, and Stacy was a dear friend. Rollins has lost one of our true champions.
— President Grant Cornwell
Gifts in memory of Stacy can be made to Rollins by listing her name in the memo section, and a commemorative bench will be placed on campus in her honor.
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By Luke Woodling ’17MBA | Photo by Scott Cook
What I’ve Learned: Sam Hocking ’87 Sam Hocking ’87 has always had a knack for building something out of nothing. Throughout his career, Hocking has leveraged an interdisciplinary approach, curiosity-fueled creativity, and dogged determination to manufacture opportunities that range from new careers to new companies. It’s how the Rollins economics major launched a career in TV news despite having no formal journalism education or experience. And it’s how Hocking went from working for small-town local news stations to working for major broadcasting companies in London, Moscow, Geneva, and Amsterdam. It’s also how, a decade after establishing himself as a journalist, Hocking would pivot to a successful career in finance. After starting at square one in a new industry, he steadily climbed the Wall Street ladder and eventually ascended to managing director roles at Bank of America and BNP Paribas, the largest banking group in Europe. Hocking’s capacity for reinvention has served him well in his current pursuits as a tech entrepreneur. His first startup, AltX, was named one of the world’s top 20 tech disruptors by The Financial Times before being acquired in 2017. Hocking founded his current company, Vertis.ai, in 2020. The firm’s workforce and talent benchmarking platform helps companies like Airbnb make datadriven decisions around everything from remote work to compensation. “I’ve learned that if you really want something, you can get it, but it’s not just going to be given to you,” says Hocking. “You have to create those opportunities for yourself.”
Rollins was always open to new possibilities. It wasn’t just “come to class, take the tests, and get out of here.” You could try something different, something unique. That absolutely influenced me. Adversity is an amazing teacher. I got hurt playing soccer my junior year at Rollins and the rehab was just Herculean. But that experience of successfully coming back has made a difference at so many points in my career. A liberal arts education is learning how to problem-solve. I think that’s fundamentally one of the most important things anyone can learn. Stay really curious. That’s one of the things I learned at Rollins. There are so many interesting things to discover if you stay open to learning. Not every path must have a defined outcome. If you let curiosity guide you and you’re willing to do the work, it might lead to outcomes you didn’t even imagine. You have to be willing to hear lots of noes. A lot of people are going to say no, so you have to be agile and adapt and you have to be persistent. Embrace an interdisciplinary approach. Through my interdisclipinary courses at Rollins, I developed the ability to put different thoughts and different disciplines together to create new insights and innovation. You need to take inventory every few years—where you are, what you’re doing—and ask yourself, “Is this what I want to do?” Don’t just focus on the risks of making a change or trying something new. It’s important to also consider, “What if it was better?” Teaching can be a great way to keep learning. I recently started teaching an entrepreneurship course at Rollins, and I’ve already learned a lot from returning to the classroom in this capacity. Try to surround yourself with coaches—not just cheerleaders. Even the greatest athletes of all time need coaches to reach that next level. The world is always evolving, and you’ve got to keep evolving with it. Finished is not a word I use, whether I’m talking about products or people. Keep learning, keep exploring. ROLLINS .EDU | 51
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ROLLINS IN A BOX Reconnect with classmates. Share your Rollins pride. Network with fellow alumni. With Rollins in a Box, you can host your very own alumni event anytime, anywhere with help from the College’s Office of Alumni Engagement. Just fill out the request form, post your event on RollinsConnect, and then receive your special gift box full of Rollins swag for you and your guests to enjoy. Scan or visit rollins.college/in-a-box to get your party started.