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When Juliette Bennie ’23 was looking for a school in the United States, she was searching for more than just a college—she was looking for a community. She found one at Rollins. Committed to human connection, personalized attention, global education, and interdisciplinary study, the community at Rollins opened a world of possibilities for Bennie, who is now the associate director of the STEM-PERL lab at Yale University, where she’s focused on education and psychology research.

“The liberal arts foundation at Rollins was exactly what I needed—it helped me find my majors, prepared me for different fields, and kept me open-minded,” she says. “I don’t think I would’ve been as prepared for my career had I gone to another school. I built a home at Rollins, and it gave me a foundation that will guide me for life.”

Personalized Attention

“I took a class with [English professor] Jill Jones, and she saw my potential and encouraged me to pursue it as a major. Had I been in a huge lecture hall, a professor might not have recognized my strengths in the same way. Then my advisor, [English professor] Matthew Forsythe, encouraged me to double-major in economics to merge my interests and skill sets. Thanks to these professors, I earned a degree that prepared me for many different career paths.”

Real-World Experience

“Being in an environment surrounded by ambitious students and supportive professors really pushed me to pursue opportunities outside of class. I worked as the copy editor on the student-run magazine, The Sandspur, which helped me get internships that led to my first professional experience. I also had the opportunity to study abroad in Alexandria, Egypt, which was an amazing experience.”

Borderless Education

“In the future, I’m interested in exploring how education policy can support students from different backgrounds, especially cross-cultural students. I wouldn’t even have those interests if I hadn’t been exposed to so many international classmates at Rollins and learned about the challenges they face.”

Competitive Advantage

“My time in the English department helped develop me as a writer and taught me how to convey strong arguments. In my current role, I’ve had the opportunity to work on an academic manuscript and will be the first author on it. This is a huge feat for someone just a few years out of undergrad. I credit Rollins for giving me the confidence and skills to achieve that.”

Interdisciplinary Thinking

“At Rollins, I took classes where I was doing things outside my major and outside my comfort zone. I took a biology class and an ethnographic research class. These experiences gave me the ability to draw from other disciplines. In my job now, that ability to make connections across fields and perspectives has been invaluable.”

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