[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3308]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING DR. RITA BORNSTEIN'S CONTRIBUTIONS AS THE FIRST WOMAN 
                      PRESIDENT OF ROLLINS COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 12, 2010

  Mr. GRAYSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History 
Month. This month, I would like to recognize a few of the phenomenal 
women from central Florida who are making a distinguished contribution 
to my district, the great State of Florida, and to our nation as a 
whole. Today, I honor Dr. Rita Bornstein. Dr. Bornstein's commitment to 
education and her service as the first female president of Rollins 
College from 1990 to 2004 was trailblazing. Her distinguished 
leadership throughout her time at Rollins serves as a model to her 
unwavering dedication to her students, the university and her overall 
educational ideals.
  Under President Bornstein's leadership, Rollins focused on 
strengthening its commitment to excellence, innovation, and community. 
Standards were raised for faculty evaluation, student selectivity, and 
all aspects of administration. Average SAT scores for entering arts and 
sciences students rose more than 65 points, and Rollins' place in U.S. 
News & World Report's annual rankings of ``America's Best Colleges'' 
climbed from No. 6 regional university in the South to No. 2, and No. 1 
in Florida. That trajectory has continued--Rollins is currently No. 1 
in the South. Innovation was encouraged and rewarded, and programs were 
added in film studies, international business, and sustainable 
development, as well as the signature Rollins College Conference for 
first-year students. The college's commitment to building strong 
communities was enhanced through programs of intellectual discourse, 
civic engagement, international study, and service learning.
  In addition to raising the education standards and national acclaim 
of Rollins College, President Bornstein also oversaw Rollins' most 
ambitious fundraising effort. Widely considered to have transformed the 
college, The Campaign For Rollins secured $160.2 million, providing 
support for academic programs, scholarships, faculty chairs, and 
facilities, and significantly strengthening the college's financial 
health. Thanks to the generosity of donors, including the largest gift 
in Rollins' history--alumnus George Cornell's $93.3-million bequest--
and astute financial management, the college's endowment more than 
quintupled during Bornstein's presidency.
  In 2001, she was named to the George D. and Harriet W. Cornell Chair 
of Distinguished Presidential Leadership when Rollins received a $10-
million gift for the first endowment of a college presidency in the 
nation. At the conclusion of her 14-year presidency, she was named 
president emerita and appointed to the George D. and Harriet W. Cornell 
Chair of Philanthropy and Leadership Development. As a recognized 
leader in higher education, Dr. Rita Bornstein regularly consults on 
issues of leadership, governance, and fundraising in the nonprofit 
sector. She is also the author of numerous journal articles and book 
chapters and two books, including Legitimacy in the Academic 
Presidency: From Entrance to Exit, published in 2003.
  Madam Speaker, during Women's History Month, it is my honor to 
recognize this remarkable woman whose enthusiasm for education and 
commitment to excellence can be shown through her great achievements 
during her time at Rollins College and after. I applaud her 
accomplishments to our central Florida community, our great State and 
our Nation.

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