Professor’s Impact Continues

History professor Williard Rollings was an integral part of the department of history in the two decades he worked at UNLV.  Although he has passed away, a scholarship fund established in his name will continue to make an impact on the lives of students for years to come. 

The Williard Rollings and Barbara J. Williams-Rollings Scholarship in History, named for Rollings and his wife Barbara – who was also a faculty member in the UNLV Boyd School of Law – will be awarded to graduate students in history.

Rollings specialized in Native American history. His unique perspective, based on his own Cherokee heritage and his background growing up in New Mexico, provided students with new ways to consider history.

“Willard challenged our students to think about American history in ways they just hadn’t before,” says Andy Fry, distinguished professor of history. “Few of them had viewed American history from the perspective of Native Americans.”

Rollings impacted students in the classroom and on a personal level, remembers Fry.  He recalls a new doctoral student, returning to school for a change of career, who faced much opposition to completing his degree. 

“Willard, while certainly not minimizing the challenges, was his biggest cheerleader and reassured him that he would all work out,” says Fry. Rollings was right about that student – he successfully completed the program and now teaches in a strong history program at another university.

Rollings was the recipient of numerous teaching awards at UNLV.  He made a significant impact on the students he worked with.

 “In addition to being a very widely published scholar, he was also a tremendously popular teacher,” says David Wrobel, chair of the history department. “Students really sensed that he really cared about their intellectual development.”

The history department continues to miss Rolling’s compassion and dedication to the students, but also remember him fondly as a committed colleague who provided much guidance to the program.

“He’ll be missed by all of us as a colleague and as a friend,” said Fry.

For more information about making a gift to the Rollings fund in History, please contact Erin Keller at 702-895-2945 or via email at erin.keller@unlv.edu.