The David B. Roll Scholarship Endowment was established in 2019 by Stephen Dahl (BPharm ’77) and his wife, Nicola Dahl, in honor of David Roll, PhD, a beloved faculty member who taught at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy from 1967–2001.
When asked what motivated Stephen to establish this scholarship, he shared,
“Dr. Roll embodied the very best of what the College of Pharmacy stands for. His tenure spanned a significant time of change in pharmacy education. At the University of Utah, that included initiating a voluntary senior year clinical clerkship curriculum, an add-on PharmD program, and the entry-level PharmD program. He was an outstanding teacher and mentor and was recognized by both the college and university for his teaching excellence. In addition, he served the college and health sciences in numerous capacities during his tenure. I hope the David B. Roll Scholarship can help students in the same way David supported me through my education.”
The David B. Roll Scholarship Endowment has grown over the years with generous support from many alumni and special supporters who recognize Dr. Roll’s incredible dedication to pharmacy education. By making a gift to the David B. Roll Endowed Scholarship, you are helping to educate the next generation of pharmacy students in Dr. Roll’s honor.
A Note from Dr. Roll:
Dear Friends,
When I first came to the College of Pharmacy, I was not much older than many of the students. I am not sure how they viewed that, but I think it made me appreciate the angst that some of them were going through.
Many of the entering students came from smaller universities and I am sure were somewhat intimidated. The first course I taught was biochemistry—to many, I am sure chemistry of any type was not their long suit (or interest), but I tried to use examples of its relevance in everyday life as well as in pharmacy.
The first day of class each year, I tried to reduce student anxiety, assuring the students that if they were good enough to be accepted into the college, we would do everything possible to ensure they succeed. I tried to employ humor, because it relieves tension, and I believe it made learning easier. In that regard, I shared that if they were having difficulty, that what they really needed might be ROLAIDS (which I wrote on the board for dramatic effect) and to then visit my office. I think that got us off to a good start. I reiterated the importance of getting help early, if necessary, rather than waiting for the last week of the quarter.
Early on, I learned not to be too judgmental about the ability of some students when I had early concerns, only to be humbled when they turned out to be exceptional pharmacists. The best part of the job was the friendships I built with the students and to see their professional development over the years. The worst part was writing exams and the frequency, of which, I demanded.
I cannot begin to express my appreciation for the Dahls for initiating this scholarship, as well as to my friends and former students (you!) for supporting it. It was an incredible surprise, and I am still having difficulty processing it.
Thank you for your generous support for the College of Pharmacy students in my honor. It means a great deal to me.
With gratitude,
David Roll
