The Cornwell Era
As President Grant Cornwell closes out a remarkable decade at Rollins, we reflect on his transformational leadership and the legacy of impact that will echo across campus for generations to come.
August 05, 2025
The mark of great leaders is so much about how they lead themselves. Throughout the past 10 years, President Grant Cornwell has led both himself and Rollins with strategic vision, depth of thought, and a whole lot of heart. He has cultivated a campus culture of kindness, curiosity, and community—a place fueled by the liberal arts ethos, a commitment to academic rigor, and the belief in the power of relationships.
This special collection of stories chronicles the indelible impact of the Cornwell presidency. Under his leadership, Rollins has achieved record enrollments and national recognition for everything from the classroom experience and student support to academic and athletic excellence. Purpose-built spaces like Kathleen W. Rollins Hall and Lakeside Neighborhood have reimagined campus to better prepare students for meaningful lives and productive careers. And all the while, President Cornwell and his wife, Peg, have inspired people through action and reinvigorated the campus community around the importance of our mission.
By the Numbers
The numbers representing Grant Cornwell’s decade-long tenure as the 15th president of Rollins tell a compelling story—one of record-breaking enrollments, surging applications, and national recognition for everything from academic excellence to student support. Read story
Transformative Impact
Guided by President Grant Cornwell’s vision and leadership, Rollins has reimagined campus over the past decade to deepen student engagement, expand learning opportunities, and more fully realize our mission of creating global citizens and responsible leaders. Read story
Better Together
Rollins’ presidential power couple Grant and Peg Cornwell cultivated a campus culture that invited everyone into the conversation. Read story
What I’ve Learned: Grant Cornwell
As he prepared to leave office earlier this year, we asked Grant Cornwell to reflect on what he learned from his decade leading Rollins. Read story
- Categories:
- People
Recent Stories
March 26, 2026
Anthropology in Action
How mentorship and applied learning at Rollins helped Sara Jane Renfroe ’18 earn the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship and find her path to doing global good.
March 23, 2026
How Rollins Prepared Me to Earn the Fulbright Scholarship
Explore how three Rollins graduates developed the knowledge, critical thinking, and global perspective to earn one of the world’s most prestigious scholarships.
March 17, 2026
Decker to Receive the German Cross of the Order of Merit
Retired German professor Nancy Decker will receive the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the nation’s highest honor, as conferred by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.