Associate Vice Provost Rollins steps down

Since 2005 Howard Rollins has served Tech both as a professor of psychology and as associate vice provost of international programs. But on June 30, he will step down from the latter position after playing a major role in bringing international education to prominence within Tech's undergraduate programs.

His decision was motivated in part by a desire to focus more on research and teaching, which he did for 35 years at Emory University before joining Tech in 2003, then as director of the Office of International Education. Another part of the decision was the reorganization of the provost's office in March that created a new position, vice provost of international initiatives, to which Rollins's former position would be subordinate.

"I've always really enjoyed [teaching] and began to think, I turned 65 in March, what do I really want to do for the rest of my career before I retire? And the provost reorganization sort of forced the issue for me because it meant a change in what I would be doing to some degree," Rollins said.

"I gave that a lot of thought and talked to my family. We decided that this was this was the right time for me to make that choice to do the thing I love very much, which is teaching and research in my discipline," Rollins said.

According to Rollins, his efforts culminated last month when Tech was one of four schools honored with the 2007 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization.

Rollins said his passion for international education began in 1975 after spending a nine month research leave in London. Immediately upon returning he developed a study abroad program for psychology students at Emory that started with nine students in 1979 and still sends about 45 participants each year.

As well as increased participation in study abroad programs, Rollins said he is proud of having overseen the adoption by many majors of the International Plan, in which international experiences are integrated into a student's curriculum and they receive a designation on their diploma.

He said that another important development during his tenure has been the International House, an on-campus residence where American and international students live together and participate in community activities designed to promote cultural awareness.

"I feel like we've done a lot of good things, so it's not bad in the sense that I'm leaving because things were going badly. It's really that things have been going exceptionally well," Rollins said.