When Stetson Homecoming comes around Oct. 16-18, the air will feel a little brisker, pumpkin spice will be everywhere and Stetson will crown a new homecoming court. Throngs of alumni will head to campus for reunions and to reconnect with college friends.

For the Roellke family and friends, this homecoming will bring an additional layer of meaning. The university will gather around them in its trademark circle of kindness and support to unveil a permanent tribute to Matt Oyler ’05 — the nephew of President Christopher Roellke, PhD, who passed away in 2006 after being struck, while a pedestrian, by a driver under the influence of alcohol.

The public dedication ceremony for Matt’s Point Living Shoreline is Sunday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m., at the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center.

Matt’s Point will be a lasting memorial to Matt, whose love of fishing, nature and the outdoors was the inspiration for the project developed by Stetson’s Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience. It will be one of the few inland living shorelines in Florida and ensure that Stetson continues to be a leader in restoring freshwater lake ecosystems. (See sidebar below.)

“It’s been 20 years since we lost Matt and first felt the embrace of care and connection from the Stetson community and, in particular, President Doug Lee, who led Stetson during that period of tragic events,” said Roellke. “Our family’s early experiences with Stetson were profound and came many years before I considered applying for the president position when President Wendy Libby retired in June 2020. The kindness and support we were afforded is something I’ve since found is an indelible part of Stetson’s DNA. It’s part of the John B. Stetson story – the innovative and thoughtful ways he showed he cared about his employees, the way he gave back to the community and of course his courage to step up with endowments for Stetson that expanded the university beyond a one building campus.”

The servant leader in Roellke is personified by a leadership style that connects with students beyond his role as an educator and higher education leader. He can be found making rounds each day at lunch, speaking with students and gaining valuable insights into what’s on student’s minds. The president is a professor, too, having established the Presidential Fellows Program, which began as a pilot initiative in fall 2022.

In keeping with the legacy of John B. Stetson and other generous supporters, the Roellke family name will have a permanent place on campus after homecoming weekend when Lynn Hall’s seminar room will become the Roellke Family Classroom.

The return to campus of the Roellke family will also mark a delayed celebration of Roellke’s invocation as university president in July 2020, when the pandemic meant travel and gatherings were difficult. “Kindness was again the first word that came to mind when I thought about how to lead our community during an unprecedented, once-in-a-century set of challenges,” said Roellke. “We were all in crisis-mode and lacking connectivity. I just knew that the people, institutions and organizations that demonstrated kindness, empathy and shared ownership were the ones that were going to prevail.”

Roellke believes that while challenges are inevitable and difficult at times, they often become central to our experience and who we are. When character is tested, our character is burnished and burns brighter. Successfully meeting challenges makes us ready to lead through future challenges with authenticity, integrity and confidence.

It’s a belief — and a conviction — that was greatly shaped by personal tragedy those 20 years ago.

“We were truly moved back in 2006 by the outpouring of kindness my entire family experienced during the most difficult times we’d ever been through,” said Roellke. “I am passionate about protecting and encouraging that Stetson spirit to continue well past our lifetimes. We play a vital role in equipping students with the skills, the disposition and the leadership traits that are going to make the world a better place. It’s what continues to drive me and it’s why I teach every fall. It reminds me of why we’re here.”

-Deb Lovett

At a Glance: Matt’s Point Living Shoreline

• The site was created by a dredge-and-fill operation in the 1950s that created the horseshoe-shape of Lake Beresford’s shoreline. Since that time, erosion has been occurring, made worse by hurricanes and severe thunderstorms in recent years.
• Living shorelines mimic natural systems to hold the shoreline in place, preventing erosion and improving water quality.
• The construction elements used in this living shoreline project will also reduce wave-action and create habitat for wildlife.
• While living shorelines are commonly seen in coastal environments, Matt’s Point is a freshwater living shoreline, one of the first of its kind in the state of Florida.
• The living shoreline project was funded in part by the Volusia County ECHO Program and a generous community of Stetson donors. Like other outdoor spaces at the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center, the ADA-compliant boardwalk and access trail is open to the public for fishing, nature watching and outdoor education purposes.