Rollin' with the Red and Black

Andrea Rollins may be new to the Office of the President, but she’s no stranger to San Diego State.

The new chief of staff holds a rarefied status – that of three-time Aztec with her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ed.D., all from SDSU.

First-generation college student

“I came to San Diego State right out of high school,” said Rollins, a first-generation college student originally from Bakersfield. “I’d chosen San Diego State because I’d come here the summer before my senior year in high school for cheer camp. It was nice being here on campus; it was familiar; it was also far from home.”

In 2002, Rollins obtained a bachelor’s degree in social sciences with a minor in psychology. After spending some time abroad following graduation, she changed her mind about her career choice — teaching high school — and returned for a master’s degree in post-secondary educational leadership.

During her master’s program, she did a short stint in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, and chaired the graduate student board, where the group reintroduced the graduate student orientation. Following the completion of her master’s degree in fall 2004, she left SDSU for a few years and gained experience working at other area universities.

“I worked at UC San Diego for five years,” she said. “I had the opportunity to do some amazing things and participate in some great initiatives, but there wasn’t the same sense of connection compared to SDSU.”

Siren call of SDSU

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the siren call of SDSU lured her back — this time with the promise of a doctoral degree in educational leadership.

Rollins was a member of the second cohort of the independent Ed.D. program in the College of Education and finished her studies this summer. From there, she directly transitioned into her role with the new president.

“I am thrilled to have Andrea on board,” Hirshman said. “As an Aztec for Life, she brings a great enthusiasm to her role on campus. Moreover, she is deeply committed to our core missions of education, research and service. 

“With a strong background in administration, she has already enhanced the organization of our office and the services we can provide to our students, faculty and staff. I am certain she will make a great contribution to our campus. She serves on several campus committees and she works closely with the campus vice presidents and her office colleagues.”

An Aztec at home

Rollins admits that her familiarity with the campus has proven both comforting and helpful.

“When I’m at San Diego State, I feel like I’m at home. I have some pre-established relationships with some individuals on campus; I have a basic understanding of the culture and dynamics of the organization.

“Being a student here more than 14 years ago, a lot has changed, but a lot is still the same. The context I have, the experience I have here, allowed me to hit the ground running.”

In many ways, Rollins sees her position as a way of coming “full circle” on her life as an Aztec.

“A lot of the opportunities I’ve had are because of my experience at San Diego State — educationally, personally, the growth that I’ve had — so I’m very happy to be able to give back to the community by being here and being in this position.”

And for all of the work she does on behalf of Aztecs, Rollins also looks forward to cheering them on.

“I’m a huge sports fan, so I’m very passionate about SDSU Athletics. It’s fun to see all the red and black on Fridays and get a sense of how committed the community is to athletics. It’s nice to feel that bond and connection with people in the office and across campus.”