The one-month term between fall and spring semesters offers students opportunities to stay on campus or venture away; to take up independent research or participate in a faculty-led seminar; to pick up a briefcase and go to work or pack a suitcase and fly to worlds unknown.

This past January was no exception.

Longstanding seminars such as Roanoke Circuit Court Judge David Carson’s “Trial and Error” course challenge students across majors, from psychology to elementary education, through hands-on engagement with the legal system. In “Survival in the Modern World,” taught by Mountain Shepherd Adventure School owner Dina Imbriani and Hollins Outdoor Program Director Jon Guy Owens, students pushed through a series of firsts — from rock-climbing to shelter-building.

At the heart of this year’s on-campus J-Term experience was “Conflict & Collaboration,” a newer seminar introduced as part of Hollins’ redesigned core curriculum. The course, which is for first-year students, focuses on developing skills that shape both academic success and life beyond college.

“Our previous curriculum had a strong emphasis on developing effective communication skills,” says Rachel Nuñez, associate professor and chair, history; Batten Chair in Leadership; director of core curriculum and first-year foundations. “We wanted to build on that while also helping students strengthen their collaboration and leadership skills, which we know are highly sought after by employers.”

Nuñez, who also directs the “First-Year Foundations” program, sees “Conflict & Collaboration” as a natural progression for new students. While “First-Year Foundations” centers on “telling your story,” this course shifts the focus outward.

“Conflict is something we all experience in our lives, and it can feel scary and overwhelming,” she said. “This course tries to reorient our attitude to conflict.”

This year, the course featured “special topics” sessions that allowed students to explore specific themes and faculty to introduce their areas of expertise and interests. From a game of “capture the flag” to demonstrate teamwork skills, to roleplaying games to practice debate tactics, students explored the foundations of leadership.

Dakota Webb-Hawkins ’26

Rachel Hull ’28

Natalia Chapel ’28

Holly Hylton ’26

Anna Woods ’26

Melanie Stevenson ’28

Jessy Herrera ’28

Other students ventured off campus into Hollins’ surrounding jurisdictions. According to Associate Director of Career and Life Design Amber Becke, of the 80 students who interned in the Roanoke Valley, about half participated in programming through Hollins’ Career and Life Design (CLD). The rest secured internships on their own.

For Taryn Shover ’26, a creative writing major with film and business minors, that initiative led to an internship with Boyd-Pearman Photography, a photo and video production company based in Roanoke.

“I applied to so many other internships that I didn’t get, but you always end up where you’re supposed to be,” she said. “Don’t close the doors just because you think they won’t open.”

Kenidee Rabenstein ’26 interned with CLD under Becke and CLD Director Blair Celli. T he experience opened the psychology major’s eyes to other potential post-grad paths.

“There’s a lot of pressure to go into high-stakes psychology fields, like therapy or psychiatry. I never really felt like I fit into one of those things,” Rabenstein said. “But this internship has shown me that I can go into something like career counseling and still help people without it being a life-or-death scenario.”

Anna Woods ’26 interned with Roanoke Public Libraries, digitizing and indexing a collection of about 700 artistic works by Dave Ramsey that documented Roanoke’s historic Gainsboro neighborhood before urban renewal.

“This was my first time working with libraries,” the art history major said. “I’ve done past internships in museums, and as much as I love them, I’ve decided to consider other career paths, broaden my horizons, and see if I can work with libraries or archives.”

J-Term experiences encourage discovery. Students studying abroad, through global partner programs or faculty-led trips, reported increased self-confidence and pride in newfound knowledge.

Holly Hylton ’26, an environmental science major, traveled with Director and Professor of Environmental Studies Renee Godard to Ecuador to explore the biodiversity of the Andes and the Amazon.

“We constantly found new species previous Hollins J-terms didn’t find,” she said. “This study abroad experience has made me more confident in conducting research and collecting data, and overall, more comfortable with independent travel.”

Natalia Chapel ’28 studied French language and culture in Tours, France through l’Institut de Touraine. The English and vocal performance Anna Woods ’26 Jessy Herrera ’28 major said she had studied the language for about seven years, and her time in Tours was just the challenge she needed to improve.

“I had always undermined my own French skills out of self-consciousness, but I actively navigated French cities and had conversations in French on my own,” she said.

President Mary Dana Hinton joined students in Kenya for shared learning and meaningful connection.

In Nairobi, Kenya, Chair and Assistant Professor of Public Health Abubakarr Jalloh and Professor and Chair of Gender & Women’s Studies Lindsey Breitwieser led students through discussions about healthcare needs, access, and medical practice as they explored social, scientific, and juridical influences on sexual and reproductive life.

On the third day of their trip, President Mary Dana Hinton surprised students on their way to the market. She accompanied them for three days, joining them in the classroom and visiting with administrators of Kenyatta University, Hollins’ partner institution in Nairobi.

“To be a part of the class was to be a part of a family,” Hinton shared in a blog post. To the students, she said, “In our brief time together, I observed your growth, your deep humanity and care, and your leadership. … For 72 hours, we laughed together, danced together, and gasped together. You were the midwives to my rebirth and African naming, Nalika. But most of all, we allowed ourselves to love one another.”

The induction coincided with the ODAC’s 50th anniversary. Created by the conference’s Board of Directors, the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who helped shape the league’s first five decades. The inaugural class includes 50 former student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and contributors representing the conference’s member institutions.

Members of the Hollins community have played a lasting role in the ODAC’s history. Two of Hollins’ four inductees — Kat Horton ’97 and Lynda Calkins —  were recognized during the December celebration.

Kat Horton was a standout swimmer from 1994 to 1996. She earned ODAC Swimmer of the Year honors in 1996, was a two-time All-ODAC selection, and achieved national acclaim as a four-time NCAA All-American. Horton captured NCAA national titles in the 100 and 200 butterfly in 1995 and still holds Hollins records in the 100 and 200 butterfly as well as the 200 and 400 individual medleys. She was inducted into the Hollins Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

“Being named to the inaugural Hall of Fame class of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference was a deeply humbling honor, made even more meaningful by being inducted alongside my coach Lynda Calkins,” Horton said. “Sharing the weekend with friends and family, connecting with swimming alumnae/i, and spending time with current student athletes and staff reminded me how powerful this community truly is. The experience reignited my love for the sport, and after nearly 30 years away, I’ve found myself back on the pool deck — and back in the water — with renewed joy and gratitude.”

President Hinton, Kat Horton ’97, Lynda Calkins, Director of Athletics Chris Kilcoyne, and ODAC Commissioner Brad Bankston celebrated the inaugural ODAC Hall of Fame event.

Calkins served as director of athletics from 1985 to 2008 and coached swimming for more than two decades. Under her leadership, Hollins won ODAC Swimming Championships in 1992 and 1993 and finished runner-up four additional times. She was named ODAC Coach of the Year four times and mentored 14 All-ODAC swimmers, including one ODAC Swimmer of the Year. Calkins also played a vital leadership role within the conference, serving on the ODAC Executive Committee and as ODAC President from 1995 to 1997. Nationally, she contributed to the advancement of women’s athletics through service on multiple NCAA committees, including the Council on Women’s Athletics and the NCAA Management Council. She was inducted into the Hollins Athletics Hall of Fame earlier this year.

“The 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s were an exciting time for women’s sports, the ODAC, and the growth of NCAA Division III,” Calkins said. “Being part of the first class of ODAC Hall of Fame is truly an honor. Hosting the ceremony at Hollins made it especially meaningful, as former and current student-athletes came together to celebrate and reflect.”

“These athletes, coaches, and administrators built a standard,” Kilcoyne said. “Their dedication, character, and pursuit of excellence created the foundation on which today’s student-athletes stand.”

Horton and Calkins are two of the four ODAC Hall of Fame inductees with ties to Hollins. Elizabeth Cheng ’14, the ODAC’s first Women’s Golfer of the Year and a two-time All-American, and a women’s athletics trailblazer, the late Marjorie Berkley, will be honored during separate on-campus ceremonies later this spring.