Dear Southwestern Community,
As we bring the academic year to a close, I find myself reflective. We are living through a turbulent era for higher education, where uncertainty often seems to outpace stability, and where each decision carries consequences that are sometimes only visible in hindsight. I worry that higher education, as we know it, is slowly being dismantled, not by one sweeping act but by the steady accumulation of decisions, among them potentially reducing student financial aid, taxing endowments, restricting access for international students and faculty, and dismantling DEI.
Southwestern will endure and continues to strengthen, buoyed by our core values. Beyond preparing students for careers, beyond fueling discovery across disciplines, beyond serving as an anchor for our region, we are a place where independent thought is valued, where ideas are challenged, and where common ground is thoughtfully and patiently built. We are a University that welcomes and affirms.
This year, I’ve found hope in our students. Speaking with those preparing for Commencement, I am struck by their optimism and resilience. They are not naïve; they are ready. Our students were all in while they spent their college years with us, and they will be all in after commencement. I believe this generation of talented, caring, and courageous students will be among our finest alumni.
A Year of Achievement
Across campus, that spirit has been matched by achievement and momentum. This has been a superb year in the fine arts, filled with performances that showcased the talent of our faculty and students. I particularly enjoyed A Night of Chekhov, which had every corner of the theater laughing, and the “Salute to Spring!” concert featuring students and seven of our distinguished music faculty.
Two members of our faculty published books this year. Assistant Professor of Sociology Amanda Hernandez’s Intersectional Identities of Christian Women in the United States: Faith, Race, and Feminism (Lexington Books) is a compelling study that challenges the perceived divide between faith and feminism through the lived experiences of over forty Christian women. Professor of Music Michael Cooper published Margaret Bonds (Oxford University Press), the first full-length biography of this brilliant composer, pianist, and activist.
Professor of Mathematics Fumiko Futamura and Professor of Religion and Environmental Studies Laura Hobgood organized a remarkable
42nd Brown Symposium, Visualizing the Abstract. The event brought together artists, scholars, and creators who use visual storytelling, metaphor, and craft to illuminate complex ideas. Every element of the symposium was thoughtfully designed, but what I found most memorable was the SU community’s collaborative creation of mathematical sculptures with artist George Hart, now permanently displayed in the Fondren–Jones Science Center Atrium. It was a quintessential Paideia moment, where math and art converged to inspire wonder and understanding.
This year, 155 students completed academic internships across a wide range of fields. Through the SU London Program, Juan Martinez ’26 and Santiago Cuevas Gonzalez ’26 interned at the
Financial Times, while Molly Dowe ’26 worked at the Royal Philatelic Society. In Austin and Washington, D.C., Nandni Patel ’26 interned with Congresswoman Kay Granger, and Fernando Cruz Rivera ’26 served with both Congressman Lloyd Doggett and Texas State Senator Sarah Eckhardt. In the arts and humanities, Michelle Siegel ’27 interned at the Dallas Museum of Art, and Warren Mullinnix ’26 completed a funded placement with Heartbeat Opera. Students also contributed to community organizations like
ROCK, where Gabby Guinn ’25 worked with therapeutic equestrian programs, and
Grand Living, where Abi Walker ’25 led senior wellness initiatives. In the health sciences, Christian Melillo ’25 joined the BRAINS Summer Research Program at UT Health Houston, Scott Malcolm Johnson ’26 conducted research at the Vitanza Lab at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Sean Lade ’25 completed
a research internship at Houston Methodist Hospital.
Study abroad thrived this year, with 136 students participating in programs around the world. Last summer, students explored sport and culture through a
faculty-led program at the Paris Olympics. Four students earned the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to support their travel and study.
Leslie Gabino Benitez ’27 spent the spring at the Universidad de Murcia in Spain, focusing on international business and Spanish language immersion.
Sophia Trifilio ’25 studied Spanish and Argentinian culture in Buenos Aires last summer while creating a video diary of her experience.
Addison Gifford ’26 completed coursework and an internship in London focused on British life, theater, and the psychology of wellbeing, and
Wafa Bhayani ’25 participated in Southwestern’s European Cultural Exploration program, traveling to Ireland, Croatia, and the Czech Republic while studying travel communication and cross-cultural psychology.
Southwestern students also gave back through public engagement, with 265 students participating in community-based initiatives and research. In the
Southwestern Mentoring Program, SU students served as mentors and tutors at local elementary schools in partnership with Georgetown ISD. Assistant Professor of Sociology Adriana Ponce led a year-long community research initiative, The Stepparent Study, in partnership with The Carver Center for Families, collaborating with Chelsey Rocha ’25 and Isabella Bahamon ’25 to support local family programs. Guided by a feminist approach, the team built a reciprocal relationship with the center, volunteering regularly, hosting a holiday donation drive in collaboration with OASIS, and participating in outreach events like the WIC National Nutrition Month celebration.
Additionally, 129 students participated in undergraduate research projects this year. Some created instructional videos for classical guitar learners with Associate Professor David Asbury, while others investigated how race and ecology shaped early colonial settlements in Belize and Honduras with Professor of Anthropology Melissa Johnson. Under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Mathematics John Ross, one team used mathematical modeling of bubbles to explore spatial optimization, bridging chemistry and mathematics. Another group, guided by Assistant Professor of Philosophy Jorge Lizarzaburu, contributed to a forthcoming publication on structural inequities in philosophy, centering perspectives from underrepresented communities.
Our student-athletes broke institutional records and set new standards of excellence, both on and off the field. Arden Neff ’25 made history by winning her fourth consecutive SCAC title in the 400-meter hurdles, becoming the first Southwestern athlete to do so, while also breaking the conference record in the event. Cade McDonald ’25, a standout on the men’s lacrosse team, became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 150 career goals, and baseball’s James Vaquero ’24 reached an impressive milestone with his 200th career hit in a Pirate uniform.
This momentum carried across teams. Men’s soccer, women’s soccer, and volleyball all earned berths in the SCAC tournament, with volleyball spending the season ranked in the national top 25 and earning a signature win over #15 Trinity. Men’s soccer reached a program-high national ranking of #18, the first time the team has ever broken into the top 25, and men’s golf climbed to #13 in the country. Men’s lacrosse also opened a new chapter, advancing to the SAA semifinals for the first time in program history.
Tactical Plan
These successes are the result of careful planning, bold vision, and shared commitment embodied in our
Five-Year Tactical Plan, which is now 89% complete. The Plan prioritized the student experience, and its results are evident across campus. Students now benefit from expanded amenities, increased access to paid high-impact opportunities, and a vibrant co-curricular landscape that helps them find their place and purpose.
Faculty and staff have also benefited from new professional development initiatives and pathways to improved compensation. The Tactical Plan has also provided clear direction for our fundraising efforts. Since 2020, our fundraising revenue has increased by 167%, and we will be celebrating the conclusion of our 150 million “Thrive” campaign at Homecoming in the fall.
Student life is flourishing. This year,
Pirate Adventures brought more than 400 students on 20 curated trips, from NASCAR at COTA to Meow Wolf in Houston.
Outdoor Adventure offered 22 trips this year, serving 199 participants, including an unforgettable backpacking expedition to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Our campus feels alive, connected, and deeply engaged with the world beyond our walls. Students also embraced intramural sports with great enthusiasm, leading to record participation across events. And the campus showed up to cheer them on, over 3,500 student spectators turned out this year to support their fellow Pirates.
These efforts have not gone unnoticed. Our national rankings are on the rise, and our distinctive story is being heard more widely than ever before. This fall, U.S. News & World Report ranked Southwestern #83 among National Liberal Arts Colleges—a 19-spot jump in just four years. Forbes named us the #2 liberal arts college in Texas, and #284 nationally—our highest placement since 2018. And The Princeton Review listed us among their “Best Colleges for 2025” and ranked Southwestern #2 in the nation for Best Career Services.
Southwestern’s Inflection Point
This brings us to where we are now: Southwestern’s inflection point.
We welcome a new generation of faculty, staff, and leadership, even as some of the finest members of our community prepare for retirement. Their contributions have laid the foundation upon which we are now building. This year, we welcomed
Rich Madonna as Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer.
Shelley Story and
Robin Currey will join us this summer as Vice President for Student Life and Vice President for Academic Affairs, respectively. I extend sincere thanks to the VPAA search committee for their thoughtful and dedicated work: Associate Professor of German Erika Berroth, Associate Professor of Business Gaby Flores, Associate Professor of Art Ron Geibel, Professor of Mathematics Kendall Richards, Associate Professor of Mathematics John Ross, Chair of the Academic Affairs Board Committee Claire Peel ’72, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Tom Delahunt, and Academic Success & Registrar Sean Smith. Also, Gerald Jones will take on the expanded role of Dean of Students starting this summer, while continuing to serve as Associate Vice President for Student Life.
Our academic offerings continue to grow, with new certificates in
Spanish for Healthcare Professions,
CAD & 3D Printing, and
Legal Studies broadening opportunities for students to specialize in high-demand fields. We also established new articulation agreements to streamline access to graduate and professional education through partnerships with
Texas A&M’s Mays Business School (MS in analytics, finance, marketing, human resource management, and real estate, or MBA),
Texas Tech University (mechanical engineering), and
Baylor (nursing).
One of the most ambitious elements of our future planning is SU 560. This year marked a series of critical milestones in bringing it to life.
At the Spring Board of Trustees meeting, the Board unanimously approved moving forward with Arterra Development, formerly Catellus, as our master development partner. Although the University has been working with Arterra on an interim basis for the past two years, this official endorsement signals the true launch of the SU 560 project. The City of Georgetown has also formally committed its team to move ahead with the design-build process of a new Customer Service Center on SU 560 land. Our collaboration with C3 Presents for a concert hall, hotel, and conference center has intensified, progressing to weekly meetings. We expect to finalize an official agreement with C3 in the coming months. Within the next 14 months, a pad site will be delivered to the City for construction of their new facility, and we anticipate the first buildings at SU 560 opening in 2027, a transformative moment for Southwestern University and our broader community.
Meanwhile, construction, under the new leadership of Associate Vice President for Facilities Management
Amanda Barber, continues apace here on campus. Mood-Bridwell will reopen this fall with new spaces for learning and connection, including the Lord Café and a beautiful new atrium. We recently celebrated the “topping out” of our new residence halls and Welcome Center, key infrastructure for supporting our growing student body. Work on the Maple Street parking lot has started back up under the guidance of Kitchell, our facilities project manager, and we welcomed Yellowstone Landscape as our new landscape partner, just in time to prepare for Commencement.
And in a moment when so many colleges are making cuts, Southwestern is investing. This year, we introduced a
new paid parental leave policy because we believe that supporting families is essential to building a community of care and excellence.
As I watch my First-Year Seminar students prepare to walk across the Commencement stage, I am reminded just how quickly time passes. I have watched their journey as Pirates over the past four years, and it has been an honor to witness their growth and joy during their time at Southwestern. They, and all our students, are constant reminders of why our work matters.
Thank you for being part of our 185th year. I look forward to the years to come.
Sincerely,
