Message from the Dean

We are living through extraordinary times, confronting one of the biggest public health challenges we will face in our lifetimes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our personal and professional lives, forcing us to retreat from our classrooms and labs into our homes. Students, faculty, and staff made the difficult transition to online learning in just a few weeks. Uncertainty about what lies ahead colors our days.

Through all this, Rollins faculty, staff, students, and alumni are rising to the challenge, “leaning in” to do all they can to help with pandemic response efforts. Our faculty are advising state and local health agencies on pandemic response and appearing widely in the media to give expert advice. Our researchers are developing models to predict the most effective distribution of vaccines, when they become available, and the most advantageous public health measures to curb the spread. Our students are providing critical assistance to several local agencies and organizations. And our alumni all over the globe are working on the front lines to bring COVID-19 to heel. I could not be more proud of the contributions the Rollins community is making during this pandemic.

With the cacophony of COVID-19, it can be hard to remember that other facets of Rollins continue. In January, renowned ovarian cancer expert Dr. Joellen Schildkraut joined our strong roster of cancer researchers as the Jules and Uldeen Terry Distinguished Professor of Women’s Health. The Rollins Earn and Learn (REAL) program celebrated 10 years of successfully matching students and partner organizations to the benefit of both. We have unveiled our second named department, the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, in honor of Dr. Eugene Gangarosa and his wife, Rose. And construction of the R. Randall Rollins building continues despite the campus shutdown.

To those of you working on the COVID-19 response, thank you for all that you are doing. And to everyone, take care of yourself and stay safe.