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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

An illustration of the Rollins College Campus
Oksana Drachkovska

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.

A grid of images from Rollins College
Scott Cook ’24MBA

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

Rollins College archway entrance to campus
Alex Stiner

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

Grant and Peg Cornwell meet Rollins community members during a welcome event
Scott Cook ’24MBA

Better Together

Rollins’ presidential power couple Grant and Peg Cornwell cultivated a campus culture that invited everyone into the conversation. Read story

Grant Cornwell
Alex Stiner

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


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