Hollins University

Step into a legacy of innovation and empowerment at Hollins University, an institution that began its journey in 1842 as the coeducational Valley Union Seminary. What started on the historic grounds of the Botetourt Springs resort, which had flourished from 1820 to 1841, quickly evolved under the visionary leadership of Charles Lewis Cocke. By 1852, this dynamic evolution culminated in its transformation into the Roanoke Female Seminary, exclusively dedicated to women's education and marking it as one of the nation's earliest women's colleges.

The university's defining moment arrived in 1855 when a generous $5,000 donation from Lynchburg residents John and Ann Halsey Hollins led to its renaming as Hollins Institute. This initial gift, coupled with additional contributions totaling $12,500 from the Hollins family before their passing, cemented the institution's financial foundation and its commitment to fostering women's intellectual growth and leadership. This commitment to educational advancement for women has remained a cornerstone of the Hollins experience.

Hollins University is known for its rich and complex history, embodying a spirit of adaptation and progress. Prospective students and families will discover an institution proud of its foundational narrative, from its resort origins to its pioneering role in women's higher education. The early leadership of Charles Lewis Cocke also saw the establishment of the first school for enslaved people in the Roanoke area in 1846, highlighting a multifaceted past that continues to inform its present.