Binz ’55 Commits $500,000 for Field Study Endowment

Nancy Siebens Binz ’55 has committed $500,000 to establish the Nancy Siebens Binz Field Study Endowment. Her gift will help defray costs for students taking part in faculty-led programs through the Center for Global Initiatives.

A lifelong world traveler and former hostess for TWA, Binz says her greatest adventures occurred during the 10 years she lived on a residential cruise ship that sailed around the globe. At Rollins, she represented her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, on trips to Canada and Europe.

This is Binz’s second endowment supporting international learning. In 2015, she endowed the eponymous chair of world studies, currently held by Crummer Graduate School of Business professor Jim Johnson, to inspire Rollins students to develop a passion for learning and exploring the world.

“Traveling internationally is an essential part of every person’s lifelong journey, no matter when it starts,” says Binz. “It teaches us to see the world through a wide-angle lens and to appreciate other people and their cultures and to learn from them. These experiences help create fulfilling and successful adult lives and careers in which we must relate well to all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds.”

Most of Rollins’ field study programs are one to three weeks long, typically earning students two to four credits, and take place over the summer, winter, or spring break. More than 70 percent of Tars participate in at least one international program during their time at Rollins, and the College ranks among the top 10 master’s-granting institutions nationwide for the percentage of students who study abroad.

“Because field study is a key component of global citizenship, which is woven into the very heart of our mission, we are grateful this gift will help more students gain access to life-changing, in-country learning experiences,” says President Grant Cornwell.