Hollins University’s slogan, “Women Who Are Going Places Start at Hollins,” has endured because it best captures what this independent liberal arts institution means year in and year out to its students. Hollins has been a motivating force for women to go places creatively, intellectually, and even geographically since it was founded as Virginia’s first chartered women’s college more than 160 years ago. As Hollins graduate and Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Dillard has said, Hollins is a place “where friendships thrive, minds catch fire, careers begin, and hearts open to a world of possibility.”

The university’s approach to education is simple yet effective: Teach students to think and encourage exploration and discovery. “The Hollins environment is especially conducive to learning and creativity,” commented one student. “The academic experience downplays competitiveness and stresses the benefits of discussion, interaction, and support from both professors and fellow students.”

Added a recent graduate, “I could personally experiment while learning, and I got a lot of different ideas and perspectives from the people who taught me. My professors were a constant source of encouragement, always assuring me, ‘You can do this, you can do this,’ and that made all the difference for me.” » Read more: Women Who Are Going Places Start at Hollins University