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Three Central Florida College Presidents Named "Women of the Year"

Orange Appeal magazine selected Rollins College President Brooke Barnett and presidents from Seminole State and Valencia as “Women of the Year” for 2026. (story on pg. 64)

January 27, 2026

Brooke Barnett

Editor’s Note: We talked with President Barnett last fall during her first semester on campus.

What makes Rollins College different and special?

Rollins offers students the best of both worlds in Winter Park and the Greater Orlando area. Our beautiful campus sits in charming Winter Park, a wonderful place to live and learn, while just outside lies Orlando, a thriving urban center that provides exceptional opportunities for internships, jobs, and entrepreneurship.

We’re more comprehensive than a typical liberal arts college. Beyond our undergraduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts, we’ve been delivering adult education for more than 60 years through the Hamilton Holt School, and our Crummer Graduate School of Business offers a highly regarded MBA program. This blend of residential and commuter students for our undergraduate programs and working professionals, many of whom are alumni, creates a dynamic, multifaceted learning community.

Rollins has unique financial strengths that directly benefit students. The Alfond Inn, our award-winning boutique hotel, generates scholarships for our students. Combined with other diversified revenue streams from commercial real estate and executive education, these assets provide financial stability and student support that few colleges our size can match.


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A Framework for Advancement and Academic Leadership

Rollins President Brooke Barnett and Jonathan Purvis, Butler University’s vice president for advancement and marketing, co-authored this Inside Higher Ed opinion piece on how philanthropy can help bring an institution’s vision to life.

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Orlando Sentinel Looks Back on Environmental Issues in Central Florida

Leslie Poole, an associate professor of environmental studies at Rollins College, provided expertise on the history of The Florida Audubon Society for this article, published as part of the Orlando Sentinel’s 150th birthday.

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This year’s valedictorians share highlights from their time at Rollins, how the College connected them to their purpose, and what’s next in their meaningful lives and productive careers.

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