If you ask Jennifer Rollins about her path to Bridges Middle School, she’ll tell you it’s been a journey filled with curiosity, courage, and a dash of serendipity. A longtime board member, Jennifer has helped navigate Bridges through some of its most transformative years — from legal transitions and new campuses to the school’s evolution into a thriving, mission-driven community.
From East Coast Roots to Pacific Northwest Adventures
Jennifer grew up all over the Northeast, moving frequently for her parents’ federal government careers. Her father worked as a medical librarian for the Department of Defense, and her mother was a nurse. After graduating high school near Dayton, Ohio, she attended nearby Wittenberg University, majoring in Russian and Political Science. Inspired, she jokes, by “reading too many spy novels.”
Her intellectual curiosity and desire to experience the world first-hand led her to spend a semester in St. Petersburg, arriving just as Gorbachev was placed under house arrest. “It was an incredibly momentous experience,” she recalls. After college, she landed her first job at IREX (International Research and Exchanges Board) in Washington, D.C. IREX is a nonprofit that administered educational exchanges between the United States and the former USSR. “It was a great first job! I got to travel a ton. Sometimes it was cheaper to fly someone from the US to Moscow with printer ink than buy it there.”
Ready for More
After four years at IREX, Jennifer grew tired of having 3 roommates and trying to get by in the nation’s Capital on a nonprofit salary. With the hope for more independence and financial freedom, she pivoted to law and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. “On my first day, everyone I met had gone to Harvard or Yale, and I worried I wouldn’t be successful,” she admits. “That experience gave me deep empathy for students who struggle and wonder whether they’ll be able to do it.”
After Law School, she did her clerkship at a prestigious Wall Street firm. “This had been my goal, but I loathed it from day one.” Determined to find balance and a better fit, she accepted a position with Miller Nash in Portland. “I visited for the first time in November of 2000, and even though it was raining, I loved it immediately.” That move changed everything.
Experiencing Life Out West
In Portland, Jennifer shifted her focus from only school and career to one that included experiencing life. She embraced the outdoors — rock climbing, skiing, kayaking, and even mountaineering in Nepal and the Dolomites. After several years at Miller Nash, she moved across the street to a new law firm: Elliott, Ostrander & Preston.
Jennifer’s connection to Bridges began professionally when she represented the school during its spin-off from Providence. “I was blown away by the parents’ dedication. They refused to let the school close and instead built something new and lasting. I thought, ‘This place must be truly special.’”
Leading Through Change
Jennifer joined the Bridges Board in 2015 and quickly became board chair, helping guide the school through a critical transition. “We were in survival mode then, and moving from Marine Drive to the Southwest Portland building was a real turning point.”
She considers the new Slabtown campus the Board’s “crowning achievement.” “For the first time, our move wasn’t reactive. It was intentional. We weren’t scrambling to survive. We were ready to thrive.”
A Personal Connection
Years after joining the Board, one of Jennifer’s twin boys, Adam, was having a very difficult 5th-grade year at his public school. “At a loss for what to do, Jennifer shared what was going on with one of the teachers at Bridges, and the teacher simply said, ‘Just send him to us.’” It was a life-changing experience for her entire family. “When my son started at the school, I joined a community where I didn’t have to explain why he wouldn’t get out of the car that day. The community understood and didn’t judge.” That empathy and sense of belonging deepened her commitment to Bridges.
Looking Ahead
Today, Jennifer envisions Bridges expanding its role as a resource for the broader neurodiverse community. “I’d love to see us host parent groups, speaker series, and summer camps for both neurodiverse and neurotypical kids — really extending our reach and impact beyond our own families.”
Outside the Boardroom
When she’s not working or volunteering, Jennifer still loves traveling and experiencing outdoor adventures, albeit in a less death-defying way. She also loves spending time with her twins, Adam and Nate, and her “very naughty Labrador,” Maple. Jennifer also shared she has been part of the same book club for over 23 years. Talk about commitment!
“I feel like Bridges has entered its grown-up era,” she says with pride. “We’ve weathered the scrappy, start-up storms, and now we’re standing on solid ground … primed for the next adventure.”