Interview with Sam Stark '91

President, Alumni Association Board of Directors

1) Why do you serve on the Alumni Association Board of Directors?

I am a big believer in giving back and my Rollins experience gave me the foundation for my professional life. The Rollins experience is so special and unique and I hope all students get out of it what I did.

2) What are your goals as Alumni Board President for 2010-11?

We have four goals for this academic year:

• Support and enhance alumni regional chapters: This is a critical step for the Alumni Board to fulfill our mission of being connected for life with the College and with fellow alumni. The active chapters are doing great things and we need to support their efforts. We also need to grow and develop chapters in other key markets.
• Partnerships: It is important to the Alumni Board to get consistent and heartfelt buy-in from other constituent groups on campus. In particular, we look forward to some compelling partnerships with Athletics, Career Services, Admission and the entire faculty. Truthfully, I believe our faculty can be the best “champions” for the College and we need to work closer with that distinguished body.
• Finance and Fundraising: In order to be successful over the long-term, the Alumni Board needs to explore and create consistent revenue streams so we can function and accomplish our goals. We are exploring some exciting ideas that will give our alumni tangible benefits while financially supporting our Board initiatives.
• Governance: It is important to run our organization as efficiently as possible and part of that includes refining policies and procedures.

3) How will the establishment of regional chapters enhance the Alumni Association? What do you envision for your hometown chapter, the Rollins Club of Central Florida?

Regional chapters are the key to our long-term success. Active and engaged chapters will help the College in many ways, including student recruitment and retention, annual giving, career development and more. Without a doubt, the Central Florida chapter needs to be a model and thus far, I would say that is!

4) What is the future of the Rollins Alumni Association?

Thanks to great leadership from my predecessors, Barbara Doolittle Ray '89, Kurt Wells '95, Jim Chanin '87 and other past presidents, the foundation is set for the Association to grow like Rollins has never seen. If we can get even more support from all constituent groups on campus, the Alumni Association will be incredibly valuable to the entire Rollins experience.

Jim Chanin '87

Past President, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Two years ago, President Duncan charged the Alumni Board with three responsibilities: help build morale among students while they are at Rollins, help them transition from college to the outside world and assist them in finding jobs, and keep them connected for life to one another and Rollins for years to come. I am completely confident that the Directors who serve on the Alumni Board are the right people to deliver on this mandate and advance the prestige of Rollins.

Read more from Jim.