In this episode of Gateway Conversations, host Eltavious Johnson sits down with one of the most influential and trusted voices on campus — Dr. Jana Mathews — for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about leadership, mentorship, and the lived realities of student life.

A medievalist by training, a nationally recognized expert on fraternity and sorority life, and the Faculty-in-Residence of Ward Hall, Dr. Mathews is known for her clarity, honesty, and deep commitment to students. Whether through late-night hallway conversations, career coaching, or classroom discussions, she has shaped generations of students with a rare blend of warmth and truth.

In this episode, Dr. Mathews reflects on:

• What it really means to live alongside students as a Faculty-in-Residence
• How motherhood has shaped her leadership and mentorship style
• The realities students face around identity, pressure, and belonging
• Why honesty and empathy must coexist in effective mentorship
• What students misunderstand most about pre-law and professional life
• How medieval scholarship still informs modern leadership and community-building
• And what students today most need—but rarely ask for

She also opens up about her journey through academia, her work in national conversations around higher education and Greek life, and the responsibility of helping young adults learn not just how to succeed—but how to live with intention.

As always, the episode closes with the Gateway Question, passed from the previous guest, inviting reflection on purpose, rest, and what truly sustains us in the work we do.

Whether you’re a student navigating uncertainty, an educator guiding others, or someone invested in the future of higher education, this conversation offers clarity, honesty, and grounding perspective.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

In today’s quick solo episode, I’m breaking down something we all deal with but never really name: small group communication. From staff meetings to student orgs to worship teams to workplace chaos — your success depends on how people talk, decide, and connect. And trust me… I live in small groups. All day, every day.

In just a few minutes, I walk you through the three theories that secretly run every team you’ve ever been part of:

• Systems Theory — Your group isn’t just “people in a room.” It’s a system. Messy inputs and unclear processes equal messy outcomes.
• Functional Decision-Making Theory — Good decisions aren’t luck. They follow four clear steps. Skip one, and you’ll feel it fast.
• Symbolic Convergence Theory — Teams bond through stories. The jokes, the disasters, the “remember that time…” moments. That’s your culture.

I break down how to walk into your next meeting with more purpose, how to guide conversations without taking over, and how to build a team identity that people actually want to be part of.

If you give me six or seven minutes — and actually apply these ideas — I promise your next group project, committee meeting, or workplace huddle won’t feel like a waste of time ever again.

Short, simple, practical.
This one will change the way you show up tomorrow.

Faith, Fitness, and Fatherhood

A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Harold Dorrell Briscoe

In this episode of Gateway Conversations, host Eltavious Johnson sits down with Rev. Dr. Harold Dorrell Briscoe, minister, professor, historian, father of four, and Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at Rollins College. A leader who moves with ease between the academy and the altar, between data and devotion, Briscoe embodies what it means to lead with both intellect and spirit.

From his early work in government and community revitalization, to his national voice as a public theologian, to his daily presence in Rollins’ sacred and interfaith spaces, Briscoe’s story reminds us that leadership is holistic, shaped as much by faith, family, and fitness as by scholarship and service.

He’s also the bestselling author of There’s A Storm Comin’: How the American Church Can Lead Through Times of Racial Crisis, and his insights have reached national audiences, including CNN. Today, he shares how calling, discipline, and belonging weave through every part of his life, from fatherhood to the gym to the pulpit.

In This Episode:

– How civic service shaped his approach to ministry and higher education
– The lessons of President Truman’s 1947 Committee on Civil Rights and why they matter today - His Thesis for his 2nd Doctorate
– What belonging looks like in interfaith and spiritual spaces on a liberal arts campus
– The link between physical fitness and spiritual clarity
– Fatherhood as a teacher of patience, grace, and leadership
– How to discern when a calling is still calling

More Than a Meal

A Conversation with Veronica Hidalgo, Carolina Ossa & Maria Cristina Cabanilla

In this episode of Gateway Conversations, host Eltavious Johnson sits down with three powerhouse leaders who are transforming what dining means at Rollins College. Hospitality isn’t just service—it’s culture, memory, and connection. Together, they’ve turned meals into moments that bring people closer, shaping community through food and leadership.

Veronica Hidalgo, Director of Operations for Sodexo, draws on two decades of luxury hospitality experience to create daily experiences that feel extraordinary. Carolina Ossa, Marketing Manager for Rollins Dining, infuses creativity and storytelling into every campaign, reminding students that dining is more than just routine—it’s joyful, personal, and meaningful. And Maria Cristina Cabanilla, General Manager for Sodexo, leads with entrepreneurial spirit and cultural pride, ensuring every plate reflects both excellence and inclusion.

In This Episode:
– Why food is more than service, it’s a bridge to belonging
– How cultural heritage shapes leadership in hospitality
– Lessons from luxury hotels, restaurants, and higher education dining halls
– Marketing strategies that make dining feel like a student experience, not just a transaction
– Mentorship, team-building, and what it means to lead by example

In this episode, our host Eltavious Johnson sits down with Dr. John V. Sinclair Endowed Chair of the Department of Music at Rollins College and Artistic Director/Conductor of the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park—to explore the art of leadership, the role of tradition in a changing world, and the lasting impact of music in education.

Together, we reflect on his journey from small-town beginnings to the national stage, his philosophy on teaching and conducting, and the ways he continues to shape generations of students and audiences. Dr. Sinclair shares stories filled with humor, wisdom, and heart—reminding us that great leadership often happens quietly, in the moments when we make space for others to shine.

 In This Episode:
– Finding your “personal tempo” in life and leadership
– The subtle, non-verbal power of conducting and communication
– Balancing tradition with innovation in the arts
– Mentorship as the foundation for student success
– Why the arts are the “soul keepers” of a community

 Fun Fact: Some of the most memorable moments in Dr. Sinclair’s career didn’t happen during the performance—they happened in rehearsals, where laughter and resilience became part of the score.

Listener Prompt:
What’s a tradition or practice in your life that you’re working to both honor and evolve? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @rollinsgateway or email [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, our host Eltavious Johnson sits down with Mai-Han Harrington—Rollins College alumna, Trustee, and accomplished executive—to explore the powerful intersections of identity, leadership, and the liberal arts.

Together, we reflect on her journey from being a first-generation college student to becoming a respected leader in the healthcare industry and higher education governance. Mai-Han shares insights about what keeps her coming back to Rollins, the values that continue to shape her, and the lessons she’s un-learning along the way.

💡 In This Episode:
– The impact of liberal arts education across a lifetime
– Finding your voice in leadership as a woman of color
– Staying grounded while rising in influence
– Why she chose to give back through service on the Rollins Board of Trustees
– Her love and work within Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, and how food connects us to memory

📍 Fun Fact: This conversation ends where many great ones begin—with food. Learn how a shared love for Kobe helped bridge stories and build connection.

💬 Listener Prompt:
What are you un-learning? Drop your thoughts or stories with us on Instagram @rollinsgateway or email us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this illuminating episode of Gateway Conversations, host Eltavious Johnson sits down with Faye Tydlaska, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing at Rollins College, for a powerful conversation about access, strategy, and the soul of liberal arts education.

With over a decade of leadership at Rollins, Faye has helped shape the college’s enrollment landscape—driving significant increases in applications, Pell Grant recipients, and access for traditionally underserved students. A champion for student opportunity, her story spans two decades of impact in higher education, including key roles at Tulane University.

In this episode, we explore:

• The role of promise and purpose in liberal arts recruitment
• How Rollins has grown enrollment while deepening equity
• What it means to lead with both data and heart
• Why storytelling and belonging matter in admission strategy
• Advice for students navigating uncertainty and big decisions

Whether you’re a future college student, an aspiring higher ed leader, or simply curious about the inner workings of enrollment, this episode offers thoughtful insights on how institutions can remain mission-driven while meeting the moment.

In this inspiring episode of Gateway Conversations, host Eltavious Johnson sits down with Carroll Hanley Goggin—Rollins College alumna, trustee, business leader, and advocate for the arts—for a warm, thoughtful conversation about legacy, belonging, and the roads that lead us back to where we began.

Carroll’s journey is uniquely interwoven with Rollins—from her days as a math major in the 1980s to her current role as a 10-year trustee and Chair of the Presidential Transition Committee. As Co-Owner and CFO of DBG Promotions and Chair of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, Carroll brings decades of leadership in marketing, civic engagement, and institutional governance. But above all, she brings heart, perspective, and a profound belief in the power of community.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why liberal arts education prepared her for an unexpected career in national advocacy
• How she leads through change, transitions, and generational impact
• What “home” means to alumni who never really left
• How the arts are vital to civic life and higher education
• Her vision for alumni engagement, belonging, and legacy at Rollins

We also discuss the importance of showing up—fully and consistently—for the people and places that shaped us, and how Rollins continues to be a space for connection, purpose, and promise across generations.

Whether you’re a current student, an alum looking to reconnect, or a leader seeking to deepen your impact, this episode reminds us that legacy isn’t just something we inherit—it’s something we build, together.

Quick Notes:
Who she is: Rollins College Trustee, Co-Owner & CFO of DBG Promotions, Chair of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, lifelong community builder, and multigenerational Tar.
Past & present roles: Math major turned marketing leader, 10-year Rollins trustee, presidential search and transition committee chair, statewide advocate for the arts.
Signature contributions: Guiding presidential transitions at Rollins, expanding alumni engagement, championing civic and cultural life in Florida, mentoring the next generation of women leaders.

Themes in this episode:
Legacy-building through service and governance
Belonging across generations
The unexpected value of a liberal arts degree
Arts as essential to civic life
Alumni engagement reimagined
Finding your way back “home”

🔗 Explore Carroll’s writing on branding, meaning, and promotional storytelling at her blog: promotionalgal.com

In this powerful episode of Gateway Conversations, host Eltavious Johnson sits down with Donna A. Lee, Vice President for Student Affairs at Rollins College, for a heartfelt and unflinching conversation about leadership, identity, and the courage it takes to create change in higher education. A proud New Yorker, U.S. Army veteran, and seasoned student affairs leader, Donna brings a lifetime of experience, service, and soul to every space she enters.

Donna’s journey spans decades of transformative leadership—from her early days at Rollins in 1996 to senior roles at Agnes Scott College, Macalester College, and national work with ACPA. Now back at Rollins, she brings a full-circle perspective to her work—one grounded in justice, care, and the deep belief that students should be co-creators of their college experience.

In this episode, we explore:

• The difference between safe spaces and brave spaces in student life
• Why rest is resistance, especially for student leaders and changemakers
• How equity work starts with the self, not just policy
• What legacy looks like when returning to a campus you helped build
• How she’s learned to lead through grief, joy, and everything in between

We also talk about the importance of student voice, what it means to lead authentically as a Black woman in predominantly white institutions, and how care—radical, intentional care—can be a guiding force in leadership.

Whether you're a student, educator, administrator, or aspiring changemaker, this episode invites you to reimagine leadership as something not only brave—but deeply human.

Quick Notes:
Who she is: Vice President for Student Affairs at Rollins College, U.S. Army veteran, mentor, justice-centered leader, and lifelong advocate for transformative student engagement.
Past roles: Dean of Students at Agnes Scott College, Vice President at Macalester College, National ACPA Board Member (Past President), and former Assistant Director of Residential Life at Rollins.
Signature contributions: Advancing student voice and activism, leading campus-wide equity and inclusion efforts, pioneering brave spaces, and mentoring generations of higher ed leaders.

Themes in this episode:

• Brave vs. safe spaces in education
• Rest, care, and sustainability in leadership
• Equity as personal and institutional work
• Legacy, reinvention, and coming home to Rollins
• Black women in leadership
• Listening as an act of transformation
• Student voice as a catalyst for change

In this inspiring episode of Gateway Conversations, host Eltavious Johnson sits down with Dr. Brooke Barnett, the newly appointed 16th President of Rollins College, for her first in-depth campus conversation. President Barnett brings decades of experience in higher education leadership, a journalist’s storytelling soul, and a deep commitment to inclusive, student-centered transformation.

Prior to joining Rollins in July 2025, Dr. Barnett served as Provost at Butler University, where she launched bold initiatives around student belonging, access, and institutional innovation. Her earlier work at Elon University included co-creating the nationally celebrated Center for Access and Success—a testament to her lifelong commitment to expanding educational opportunity.

In this episode, we explore:

• The leadership values she never compromises on
• How her background in journalism shapes her presidency
• What “belonging” really means on a college campus
• How Rollins can strengthen ties with Winter Park and the Greater Orlando community
• Her vision for faculty development, student life, and the transformative power of the liberal arts

We also talk about what excites her most about Rollins students—and the possibilities she sees for the college in the years ahead.

Whether you're a student, staff member, faculty colleague, alum, or trustee, this episode offers a powerful window into President Barnett’s leadership philosophy—and why she believes possibility lives at the heart of Rollins.

 Quick Notes:

• Who she is: 16th President of Rollins College, academic leader, former journalist and professor, mother of two, and an advocate for belonging and access in education.
• Past roles: Provost at Butler University, Senior Academic Leader at Elon University.
• Signature contributions: Center for Access and Success at Elon, a new two-year college at Butler, institutional efforts centered on equity, access, and innovation.
• Themes in this episode:
  • Storytelling as leadership
  • Belonging and transformation
  • Bridging academic and student life
  • Deepening community engagement with Winter Park
  • Faculty development and academic innovation
  • Leaning into possibility as a leadership ethic