Helen L. Watson

BIOGRAPHY
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Helen Linnemeier Watson came to Rollins College in 1956 as the Dean of Women.  During her time with the College, Watson took a special interest in the quality of students' on-campus living conditions.

Watson was born on December 11, 1911, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  She earned her BA in psychology from Florida State College for Women [now FSU] and received her MA from Simmons College. Before coming to Rollins, Watson already had extensive job experience including a series of posts at Webber College that culminated in her appointment as the college's president.

While at Rollins College, Watson was heavily involved in sorority life and the residence halls. She suggested that washers and dryers be installed in the girls' dorms and helped promote the idea that the campus should have a night time security guard. Watson was also a member of several organizations including: the National Association of Deans of Women, the National Education Association, and the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. In 1965, she was awarded the Rollins Decoration of Honor for her service to the institution.

Watson eventually became the Executive Director and Educational Consultant for the Collegiate Business Institute.


Watson Discusses Riding an Elephant on Park Ave. with President McKean

  • "...He came and got me and said, “Come on we’re going to ride an elephant..."




     

 

 

 

 

 






  • "...He’ll say, what’s Fox Day? And I’ll say, you can have the whole day off, you can do anything you want, and you don’t have to be responsible to anybody..." 


     



 

 

 




  • "...The boys would bring the girls back to the dormitory and then when the girls had gone in, the boys would start walking back to this end of the campus and they would start singing..."


     





  • "...And at Webber we dressed for dinner and we sat down and were served (laughs) so there was quite a contrast between Webber and Rollins, but I got used to it."




     

 




  • "... She went to FIT, which is Fashion Institute in New York and she became president of FIT.  And she’s still teaching there..."




     

 

 




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Watson Discusses the First Fox Day


Watson Discusses Closing Time


How was Webber different from Rollins?


Watson Discusses a Successful Student