Community, differences, awareness. As Rollins College embraces and celebrates its differences, growth and optimism for a changing future is being fostered. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are all large parts of the Rollins community, and many faculty and student groups are making efforts to put these values on display.
In the few months thus far of the 2024-2025 academic year, special interest groups and cultural groups have been engaging in different events to honor, represent, and celebrate the culture and aspects of various communities.
“It’s a part of the Rollins strategic plan. DEIB, we know, fosters so many things, but we want to foster a community that believes in inclusivity,” said Teasa Mays, Associate Director of Admission for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. “It all originated from our president who said, ‘this is what I want.’”
As part of the inclusion efforts, Rollins has participated in the Coming Out With Pride parade, an empowerment event for LGBTQ+ history month, and an Honoring Indigenous Peoples Day event in which participants and spectators learned about part of the Native American culture through song. Additionally, through other programs, Hispanic Heritage month has been celebrated and recognized through an Olin After Dark themed night as well as the Rollins Dance Program hosting dance workshops featuring different styles of Latin dance.
The inclusion has extended past events and has even been welcomed by the dining hall. “I have eaten during the Hispanic Heritage food events recently, and I loved them,” said Iliana Billiot (‘25). “I also really liked the Black History Month food events they had last semester.”
“It made me feel great to see people being represented on a campus like this one,” said Billiot. “It gave me hope for the community of Rollins to become more diverse and embrace other races and cultures.”
DEIB efforts are important not just to individuals on campus but the Rollins community as a whole. The DEIB leadership team recently sent out an email descriptively detailing theirs and President Cornwell’s efforts towards inclusivity in all facets of the campus, from student affairs to matters of human resources. The emails are sent out monthly by the team under “DEIB at Rollins” to update the campus on upcoming events and to recognize past efforts and progress. These messages also list the events to come for the month.
“We have included DEIB when it comes to admission and cultural competency courses, and we are also incorporating it in our hiring practices here on campus,” said Mays. “There is a sign outside my door, it says you belong here, and that’s a reminder to myself and to anyone that walks through the door that you belong here.”
November is recognized as Native American Heritage Month, and the events to follow have been listed in the most recent email sent by the DEIB team.
Comments are closed.