The Rollins College Board of Trustees has announced the selection of Brooke Barnett as the 16th president of the College.
Barnett will join Rollins after a distinguished tenure as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Butler University in Indianapolis, where she played a pivotal role in overseeing academic programs and shaping the student experience, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to both academic excellence and student success.
“I was immediately drawn to the Rollins College mission to educate students for global citizenship and responsible leadership and to prepare them for meaningful lives and careers,” says Barnett. “I’m eager to join the Rollins community and have the opportunity to get to know the students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as the broader Winter Park and Central Florida area. Student learning, well-being, and graduate readiness are central to why I have spent my career in higher education. Engaging with students and working alongside faculty and staff to help students flourish brings me joy.”
Barnett earned a BA in English and communication studies from Georgetown College as well as an MA in journalism and PhD in mass communication with a concentration in law and visual communication from Indiana University. While pursuing her advanced degrees, she worked as a journalist for local news outlets with a focus on cultural and political issues and eventually served as news director at WTIU News producing broadcasts and public affairs and documentary programming.
“During the interview process, Brooke’s background as a journalist really came out—she asked all the right questions,” says Micki Meyer, Lord Family associate vice president of student affairs for engagement and dean of Rollins Gateway. “Brooke is coming to Rollins with a real depth and breadth of experience in multiple aspects of higher education. Those experiences are going to be really important as we think about the opportunities and challenges at Rollins over the next decade.”
A widely published and respected thought leader across the higher-education space, Barnett has served on a number of boards and councils—everything from the American Association of Colleges and Universities to HERS (Higher Education Resource Services), a leadership development organization dedicated to creating and sustaining a dynamic network of leaders in higher education.
Barnett will succeed Grant H. Cornwell, who is retiring on June 30, 2025, after 10 years of service at Rollins.