Atlanta, GA — The O. Wayne Rollins Foundation has committed $100 million to Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. This is the largest give the school has received, and the money will establish two endowed funds — the Rollins Fund for Faculty Excellence and the Rollins Fund for Student Success.

“My family and I are proud of the tremendous success of the Rollins School of Public Health and deeply grateful for the dedication of Dean Curran, whose leadership has propelled the school into the highest echelon of public health education and research,” said Amy Rollins Kreisler, executive director of the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation. “We are pleased to support the school’s commitment to its faculty and students.”

Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves said that the sustained and visionary investment from the Rollins family over the last 30 years has transformed Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health into one of the finest in the nation, addressing public health needs in the state, the country and on a global scale.

“Today’s landmark gift will enable Rollins to reach even greater heights of impact by supporting current and future generations of outstanding and innovative faculty members and students dedicated to improving the health of all,” Fenves said.

According to a press release, the Rollins Fund for Faculty Excellence will be focused on the recruitment and retention of distinguished senior faculty leaders dedicated to addressing the most pressing public health challenges. It will provide early career support for gifted junior faculty members as well.

The funding will allow the school to deepen its bench of faculty members in key areas where Rollins is recognized as a national leader, from cancer research and infectious diseases to global safe water, sanitation and hygiene, mental health and substance use disorders, and more. In selecting the recipients, the school will also expand the faculty in departments where it has a significant opportunity to gain national prominence.

The Rollins Fund for Student Success will expand the school’s ability to provide career-enhancing opportunities and financial support to students through the Rollins Earn and Learn work-study and global field experience funds. The fund will additionally allow Rollins to support increased student interest in public health that has been spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are deeply grateful to the Rollins family for this extraordinary commitment and their enduring belief in our mission to promote health, prevent disease and save lives,” said James W. Curran, MD, MPH, dean of the Rollins School of Public Health. “Support from the Rollins family has been crucial to the success of our school, and their continued investment in our faculty and students has led to remarkable advancements in research and profound impact on the health of populations throughout the world.”

M. Daniele Fallin, who will succeed Curran in July, echoed the importance of the gift from the Rollins Foundation.

“This is a critical moment for public health in our country and around the world,” Fallin said. “This gift enables the Rollins School of Public Health to continue its incredible growth and impact by providing sustainable funds to support and increase an outstanding faculty while also expanding education of the next generation of public health researchers and work force.”

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