RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Bryn Mawr College is proud to celebrate Helen Collins '84, who was officially inducted into the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Division III Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The induction ceremony was held on May 5, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C.   

Collins' induction comes as part of only the second-ever Division III Hall of Fame class, honoring the legacies of trailblazing student-athletes who helped shape collegiate swimming. An 18-time All-American, Collins was a standout swimmer at Bryn Mawr from 1980 to 1984, setting a new standard for excellence in the pool and beyond. 

During her time at Bryn Mawr, Collins broke an astonishing 14 school records, many of which stood for decades. To this day, she remains the College record holder in five events: the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, 1650 freestyle, and the 400 individual medley. She also held four national AIAW swimming records, was a four-time recipient of Bryn Mawr's Outstanding Swimmer Award, and was named Top Scholar-Athlete in her graduating year. 

In her senior year, Collins was also awarded Bryn Mawr's Hope Wearn Troxell Memorial Prize, given to a graduating student in recognition of a responsible contribution to the life of the college. She also earned a highly competitive NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. 

But Collins' story is about more than just her times in the pool. At Bryn Mawr, she majored in chemistry, laying the academic foundation for a remarkable career in medicine. During a spring break rotation with a Bryn Mawr alum who was an OBGYN in New York, Collins realized her calling: oncology.  

"I liked helping people," she recalled, "and I wanted a patient-centric environment."  

That defining experience set her on a course that would lead to an M.D. from Johns Hopkins University, a residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and a fellowship in oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine. 

Now a clinical oncologist specializing in cancer trials, Collins continues to lead with compassion and excellence. She attributes much of her confidence and strength to her Bryn Mawr education: 

"It was the one place you felt like there truly was no judgment," she said, "Then you kind of go through the rest of your life realizing that you can just be whoever you want to be." 

For Collins, swimming at Bryn Mawr rekindled her love for the sport. "It gave me camaraderie," she said. "It was the best of both worlds—competitive athletics and academics." That love for competition never left her. While in medical school, she took up flat water kayaking with the Washington Canoe Club. Her team even competed at the 1991 Pan Am Games in Cuba, earning a bronze medal—presented by Fidel Castro himself. To this day, Collins continues to compete in Masters swimming. 

Her connection to Bryn Mawr, however, runs even deeper. Born in Canada to English parents and raised in Arcadia, California, Collins found a true home at Bryn Mawr. "The people I connected with most my first year were my teammates," she said. "They're still the people I've stayed in touch with after all these years." 

Reflecting on her time at Bryn Mawr, Collins emphasized how the College shaped her not just as a scholar and athlete, but as a person. 

"You get put in situations where you think, 'I can't do this,'" she said. "And then you do it—with people who are all different from you. Bryn Mawr brings together a really heterogeneous group of people, and you carry that with you for life. Now, I lead a team where most of the people were born in another country. And just like at Bryn Mawr, you're there because you want to be there." 

Collins' induction into the CSCAA Division III Hall of Fame is not only a celebration of her storied past but a testament to the lifelong impact of Bryn Mawr's scholar-athlete experience. From record-breaking swims to life-saving research, her legacy continues to inspire generations to come.