Southwestern University announces its 2021–2026 Tactical Plan.
more informationParent Leadership Gift Council members and fellow parent volunteers warmly welcome new students and their families to Southwestern at send-off parties across the state.
more informationHang out with SU first-year Aransas as she explores Georgetown.
more informationEmilie Moeller ’18 shares how her time at Southwestern transformed her from a shy Unicorn Handler to a confident sorority president and tennis team captain.
more informationTo give you a glimpse into one student’s recent Friday night, Keyshaan Castle ’20 , takes us behind the scenes of a blacklight dodgeball tournament, hosted by Zeta Tau Alpha and SIRA.
more informationSophomore students participate in a three-day professional development summit.
more informationBoard of Trustees member Sylvia Kerrigan ’86 shares her sorority experience.
more informationThe transformative power of Fraternity & Sorority Life at Southwestern.
more informationNarrowing down your college short list is not easy. Here are six tips to help.
more informationBoard of Trustees member Mary Medley ’74 recalls her time at Southwestern.
more informationBrad Reagan’s ’94 journey from Southwestern to The Wall Street Journal.
more informationKarim Clarke ’26 shares his eye-opening Houston Methodist Research Institute internship journey.
more informationSouthwestern University announces its 2021–2026 Tactical Plan.
more informationQuincy Holland ’19 is the nineteenth recipient from SU to earn the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators
more informationAlejandro Medina ’24 demonstrates outstanding potential in computing research by the Computing Research Association.
more informationStudent’s study unveils the connections between education, gender, and belief in conspiracy theories.
more informationSophomore students participate in a three-day professional development summit.
more informationBoard of Trustees member Sylvia Kerrigan ’86 shares her sorority experience.
more informationThe transformative power of Fraternity & Sorority Life at Southwestern.
more informationBoard of Trustees member Mary Medley ’74 recalls her time at Southwestern.
more informationBrad Reagan’s ’94 journey from Southwestern to The Wall Street Journal.
more informationKarim Clarke ’26 shares his eye-opening Houston Methodist Research Institute internship journey.
more informationSouthwestern’s Late-Night Breakfast is the ultimate study break.
more informationChris Vela will study the Southern Hemisphere’s skies and environment.
more informationSouthwestern University announces its 2021–2026 Tactical Plan.
more informationParent Leadership Gift Council members and fellow parent volunteers warmly welcome new students and their families to Southwestern at send-off parties across the state.
more informationEmilie Moeller ’18 shares how her time at Southwestern transformed her from a shy Unicorn Handler to a confident sorority president and tennis team captain.
more informationTo give you a glimpse into one student’s recent Friday night, Keyshaan Castle ’20 , takes us behind the scenes of a blacklight dodgeball tournament, hosted by Zeta Tau Alpha and SIRA.
more informationAlejandro Medina ’24 demonstrates outstanding potential in computing research by the Computing Research Association.
more informationSophomore students participate in a three-day professional development summit.
more informationBoard of Trustees member Sylvia Kerrigan ’86 shares her sorority experience.
more informationThe transformative power of Fraternity & Sorority Life at Southwestern.
more informationNarrowing down your college short list is not easy. Here are six tips to help.
more informationKarim Clarke ’26 shares his eye-opening Houston Methodist Research Institute internship journey.
more informationSouthwestern’s Late-Night Breakfast is the ultimate study break.
more informationSouthwestern University announces its 2021–2026 Tactical Plan.
more informationAlejandro Medina ’24 demonstrates outstanding potential in computing research by the Computing Research Association.
more informationThe University will receive over $1 million to support the humanities curriculum.
more informationSU celebrates four campus community members with the 2024 Mundy Awards and recognizes those who have achieved milestone anniversaries with the University.
more informationSouthwestern’s Late-Night Breakfast is the ultimate study break.
more informationSU Business Club collaborates with Houston Methodist Hospital in annual case study competition.
more informationEmbark on a transformative academic journey where excellence meets experience.
more informationA group of students attended a conference focused on empowering and developing Hispanic leadership.
more informationA conversation with Associate Professor of Art Heidi Hogden.
more informationLearn more about Cooper Philips’ research on insect biodiversity.
more informationLearn more about this collaborative student-faculty SCOPE project.
more informationStudents work with faculty and staff to create an interactive digital map of Southwestern’s campus.
more informationSouthwestern University announces its 2021–2026 Tactical Plan.
more informationParent Leadership Gift Council members and fellow parent volunteers warmly welcome new students and their families to Southwestern at send-off parties across the state.
more informationSophomore students participate in a three-day professional development summit.
more informationBoard of Trustees member Sylvia Kerrigan ’86 shares her sorority experience.
more informationBoard of Trustees member Mary Medley ’74 recalls her time at Southwestern.
more informationBrad Reagan’s ’94 journey from Southwestern to The Wall Street Journal.
more informationAn alumna advocates for women, giving back, and making a lasting impact.
more informationAn alumna’s journey from student to architectural conservator and historian.
more informationA conversation with Associate Professor of Art Heidi Hogden.
more informationLearn more about this collaborative student-faculty SCOPE project.
more informationStudents work with faculty and staff to create an interactive digital map of Southwestern’s campus.
more information
Dr. Laura Skandera Trombley is the 16th president of Southwestern University and its first woman president. In her inaugural year she led the development of a 5-Year Tactical Plan that has already resulted in many key improvements on campus ranging from student recruitment, advising and retention to major upgrades in student recreational, dining and housing amenities. She also led the development of a master plan that is transforming the campus with multiple enhancements to the built environment.
She recently led the university in a successful $80 million bond issuance that will help fund more than $120 million in improvements to campus including two new mixed-use residence halls, a baseball/softball fieldhouse, a new mixed-use Athletics Complex, and a major remodeling of historic Mood-Bridwell Hall.
This fall, after two years as president, Dr. Trombley welcomed one of SU’s largest incoming classes ever, while graduates from 2021 reported that 98 percent of them were employed, in graduate school, or volunteering. Under her leadership SU has also risen dramatically among the best liberal arts institutions in the nation, recently moving up 13 places in U.S. News & World Report’s2023 Best Colleges rankings—the biggest single-year jump in school history—while also being recognized as a top school for advancing the social mobility of recent graduates.
Prior to joining Southwestern Dr. Trombley served as the president of the University of Bridgeport. Under her leadership U.S. News & World Reportranked the University of Bridgeport for the first time among the top 381 national universities. She is also president emerita of Pitzer College, where she served for 13 years, and The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Previously, she served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
A tenured professor in SU’s Department of English, Dr. Trombley is the author of five books and is widely recognized as one of the most distinguished Mark Twain scholars in the world. A recipient of many awards for her scholarship, Dr. Trombley was recognized by The Mark Twain Journalas a Legacy Scholar in spring 2019 for her efforts in rehabilitating the intellectual reputations of the women who surrounded Mark Twain. In 2017 she won the Louis J. Budd Award for her contributions to Mark Twain studies.
Dr. Trombley graduated summa cum laude with a master of arts in English from Pepperdine University. She received her doctorate in English from the University of Southern California.