Dear Southwestern Community,
As our 184th academic year enters the home stretch, I am inspired by our students, who continue to display the finest of the University’s core values. From national awards and scholarships to elite research projects and dazzling performances in the athletic arena and on the stage, there is much to recognize.
With final preparations for Commencement events underway, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the special place that the Class of 2024 holds for me. Our graduating seniors began their Southwestern Experience as first-year students at the same time that I began my tenure. It has been a true pleasure to watch this group develop into the next generation of leaders, scholars, and positive contributors to society.
Updates about our 184th Year
The end of the academic year is a fitting time to look back at some of the notable events and accomplishments that made up this chapter of Southwestern’s history.
Our faculty’s dedication to student success was highlighted by a multitude of recognitions from across the country. For the first time in nearly three decades, a Southwestern student, Brian Armijo ’25, was awarded with a prestigious
Goldwater Scholarship. Two Southwestern sophomores, Andrea Abell ’26 and Fernando Cruz-Rivera ’26, were included among a group of just 45 students nationwide to earn
scholarships from The Sumners Foundation. Recent graduate Sierra Rupp ’23 and senior Leora Ammerman ’24 earned
Fulbright scholarships, and Sierra also earned a Critical Language Scholarship from the U.S. State Department, a further testament to our approach to a global education.
Our students actively participated in a variety of high-impact experiences. This year, 340 students immersed themselves in community-based learning initiatives, including a
memorable event where students from Annie Purl Elementary were invited to campus for tours and hands-on science experiments.
Furthermore, 109 students gained invaluable real-world experience through internships at esteemed organizations such as Dell, Houston Methodist, H-E-B, J.P. Morgan, and the office of U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson.
Meanwhile, 135 students broadened their global perspectives through study abroad programs, from Emery Stobaugh ’24 conducting marine biology research on octopus populations in Turks and Caicos to Georgia Micknal ’26 engaging in a pediatric psychology internship at Growing Hope in London. Chris Vela ’26 embarked on
a journey to New Zealand to delve deeper into physics and environmental studies after earning the prestigious Gilman International Scholarship.
Additionally, 49 students participated in undergraduate research projects, ranging from biomechanical assessments of walking on various surfaces to exploring the
physiological impacts of ASMR to printing a 3D bill for Polly the Duck. These diverse experiences have equipped our students with critical skills, broadened their perspectives, and prepared them for successful careers in a rapidly changing global landscape.
At the 25th annual Research and Creative Works Symposium, Timothy Berlanga ’25 unpacked Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly” album, Laurel Mulkey ’24 analyzed the role that soul music played in the Civil Rights Movement, and Mofe Ariyo ’24 presented on using the small molecule nintedanib as a potential inhibitor in cancer treatment. Student creativity was on full display during the Chalk It Up portion, where research projects were brought to life through chalk art. In addition to poster and oral presentations, live performances also highlighted some of the best acts from the theatre, music, and dance programs.
This year, we also have invested in a renewed focus on our Greek system, beginning with the hiring of Jeff Doyle as the new director of fraternity and sorority life. Compared to spring 2023, participation in fraternity and sorority life has increased by 27%. This number will grow as 24 young men recently attended an interest session for Alpha Phi Alpha, one of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities.
Our Outdoor Adventure program saw an increase in participation as well, with 107 students embarking on at least one adventure. From skiing and ice climbing in Colorado and camping in Oklahoma to
climbing Africa’s tallest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Outdoor Adventure program allowed students to experience nature in fun and unique ways. Assistant Director for Outdoor Adventure Branndon Bargo is busy planning excursions for next year with a new mountain to climb in January for some fortunate students.
Southwestern student-athletes had a lot to be proud of this year as the baseball, softball, volleyball, men’s soccer, and women’s soccer teams all earned spots in their respective Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) tournaments. Men’s and women’s tennis each advanced to the championship match. The men’s golf team secured two tournament victories in 2023–2024 while the women’s golf team finished runner-up at the SCAC tournament. Baseball collected three wins over top 25 ranked opponents and softball knocked off rival #11 Texas Lutheran. Southwestern also laid claim to three National Team of the Week awards, and a new chapter began for Pirates football as the team transitioned into the Southern Athletic Association.
Individually, Jamal Maxey ’25 earned a championship for men’s track in the long jump while four women’s track student-athletes earned championships: Leandra Motelet ’26 in pole vault, Arden Neff ’25 in 400 meter hurdles, and Taylor Hubbard ’24 in javelin. Forty student-athletes earned Conference Player of the Week honors while another 38 were awarded with national academic awards. Student-athletes also set 35 new school records this past year. Congratulations to all.
Our faculty continued their record of great accomplishment. Associate Professor of Theatre Kerry Bechtel led costume design for a mid-century classical musical in Brenham, TX and served as a costume buyer for Amazon Pictures’ new series “Fallout.” Associate Professor of German Erika Berroth represented Southwestern on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program National Screening Committee while Professor of English Eileen Cleere was elected President of the Interdisciplinary Nineteenth-Century Studies Association. Assistant Professor of Anthropology Naomi Reed also wrote and produced an
eight-episode podcast about the Sugar Land 95 for Austin’s NPR station.
Associate Professor of Communications Studies Lamiyah Bahrainwala was honored with a Top Paper Award from the National Communication Association, and Professor of Spanish Laura Senio Blair was appointed as a Mellon Academic Leadership Fellow by the Associated Colleges of the South. Faculty also showed off their musical talents as Part-Time Assistant Professor of Music Katherine Altobello performed at the International Summer Music Festival in Louisiana, and Professor of Music Kiyoshi Tamagawa performed at the Austin Symphony Orchestra and at the City of Lakeway’s Sunday Concert Series.
Other faculty from Southwestern displayed their expertise through presentations, panel discussions, and keynote speeches across the country and around the world. From Assistant Professor of Physics Cody Crosby’s discussion on bioprinting at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium to Professor of Political Science Bob Snyder’s presentation on the fall of Afghanistan at the International Studies Association and panel participation at the American Theatre in Higher Education conference by Assistant Professor of Theatre Gabriel Peña, Southwestern faculty were consistently sought out for their knowledge.
I also want to take a moment to recognize members of our faculty and staff who are retiring this year:
- Thomas Howe, Art & Art History
- Helyne Knauth, Facilities Management
- Pat Murray, Police Department
- John Ore, Theatre
- Ben Pierce, Biology
- Joe Ribar, Police Department
- Kiyoshi Tamagawa, Music
Thrive: The Campaign for Southwestern continues to add to its impressive total. A recent $5 million estate commitment and a $3 million challenge match pushed the campaign total to $138 million, the largest amount raised in Southwestern’s history. The campaign is nearing completion of its goal to raise $150 million to support student success, academic excellence, building for tomorrow, and ongoing operational needs.
On April 8, we watched the
total solar eclipse on the Academic Mall, witnessing the awe and beauty of the eclipse as the cloudy skies miraculously parted for our three minutes of totality. Thank you to everyone who attended, and to all who made the event such a memorable experience. Special thanks to Professor of Physics Mark Bottorff and his students, SUPD, Aramark, and all the dogs that joined us. The event garnered international media attention thanks to Georgetown’s prime geographic location to view the celestial phenomenon.
In fact, Southwestern has seen a substantial increase in national and international media coverage as the Marketing and Communications team has placed a greater emphasis on enhanced media presence. The University has received over $550,000 in earned media exposure since October. The MarCom team continues their innovative approach to sharing our narrative and establishing Southwestern as an institution without equal in higher education.
Finally, with summer knocking on the door, I am excited to host our 2024 Commencement Convocation on campus at the practice football field. Under a large, beautiful tent, this location will allow for families, guests, and our entire Southwestern community to celebrate the achievements of our graduates in the Class of 2024.
After commencement, we will roll up our sleeves and prepare for a new academic year, one that will usher in transformational change for Southwestern University’s campus.
Building for Tomorrow
Over the past year, we have been giving great consideration to the development of the University-owned land adjacent to campus. This land has been discussed as a destination, a statement about the liberal arts in practice, a model of sustainable development, and an additional source of revenue for the University. Our intention is to seamlessly integrate the existing campus with this additional acreage to create a unified Southwestern University where our students, the community, and visitors can live, learn, work, and shop.
An opportunity like this is unique in higher education. With careful management and strategy, this project will solidify our national reputation and create a singular sense of place and purpose. The creation of a successful liberal arts community will ensure the financial foundation and viability of Southwestern University for generations to come. Over the past four years, we have forged excellent working relationships with the mayor and city manager, and more recently, with C3 Presents, a division of Live Nation, who is interested in partnering with us by constructing a music venue where future commencements would be held. We have been working with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners, the City of Georgetown, and C3 Presents to cast a vision for this development.
Meanwhile, several other projects are already underway to further enhance our campus. We are working on negotiations for a land lease to bring a restaurant to the corner of University Avenue and Maple Street. The restaurant is currently scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2025. The major
renovations to Mood-Bridwell Hall are on schedule to be completed by February 2025. Using funds from an $80 million bond that was issued two years ago, construction of
two new mixed-use residence halls and a new welcome center will start this summer and are on track to open during the fall 2025 semester. To counter the rising and unpredictable cost of construction in today’s economy, we have secured guaranteed maximum price contracts for these projects and have hired a third-party construction project manager. This will help keep costs in line and construction timelines on track.
Ruter Hall will be taken down in the summer of 2026 and Clark Hall will remain to allow for an increased number of students to live on campus. The Board of Trustees passed a three-year, on-campus residency requirement in 2019, and with the new residence halls the University will be able to fulfill it starting in fall 2026 for first-year, sophomore, and junior students.
Barnes & Noble is coming to Southwestern this summer as our new bookstore operator. The presence of America’s largest bookseller will bring a significant enhancement to our campus bookstore services. This partnership also launches the new Black & Gold Advantage program, an initiative that provides affordable access to all course materials for all students by the first day of classes. As part of the transition to Barnes & Noble, construction is scheduled to begin on May 13 to relocate the bookstore to a newly remodeled space on the first floor of the McCombs Campus Center. The Shilling Rooms are being transformed to accommodate the new storefront, ensuring a dynamic and accessible location for our university merchandise and academic resources. The Shilling names will be retained. The project will be completed by the start of the fall 2024 semester.
Thanks to a generous donation, the Professor John Score Learning Commons will be created this summer. Scheduled to debut in August 2024, this innovative hub integrates the Debby Ellis Writing Center and a new Tutoring Center. Located within the Smith Library Center, the Learning Commons will serve as a centralized resource for academic support and collaboration, enhancing student learning and success.
Welcoming a New Academic Year
There is much to look forward to on the horizon. This summer, Southwestern is offering faculty-led study abroad programs to Buenos Aires, Paris, Granada, Croatia, Ireland, Czech Republic, and Belize. Two exciting new partnerships also kick off in earnest this summer.
Our partnership with Houston Methodist Hospital will allow students to take part in interdisciplinary and research internships, as well as observership programs and experiential learning courses. In Mexico City, a cohort of students will take part in a five-week international summer program at the Colegio de México. These students will have the unique opportunity to engage with renowned faculty at one of Mexico’s most prestigious institutions.
Looking ahead to the next class of Pirates, Southwestern received over 6,200 applications for the Class of 2028, the second-highest total in University history. While we are still in the process of finalizing admissions, I want to extend my gratitude to the Office of Financial Aid.
Their dedication throughout the FAFSA fiasco has been instrumental in providing financial support to both incoming and current students.
On the eve of concluding my “senior” year at Southwestern, I am filled with gratitude to be a part of this most special and admirable community of educators.
Sincerely,
