Student Organizations
Special Interest
Below is a list of special interest organizations at Southwestern.
ACTIVE MINDS
Contact: Ava Harper
Advisor: Kimberly McArthur
Purpose: to promote mental health awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Through advocacy, education, and open conversations, we strive to create a supportive campus environment where all students feel empowered to prioritize their mental well-being and seek help when needed.
ALPHA PHI OMEGA
Contact: Rebecca George
Advisor: Jenny Roberts
Purpose: to develop leadership, promote friendship and provide service to humanity.
AMERICAN MEDICAL WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Contact: Alivia Hardman
Advisor: Cody Crosby
Purpose: to advance women in medicine, advocate for equity in healthcare, and improve the health of women and their communities. Through leadership development, mentorship, education, and policy engagement, AMWA empowers women healthcare workers at every stage of their careers.
ASIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION
Contact: Sofia Bastaki
Advisor: Allison R. Miller
Purpose: to revive and maintain campus-wide interest, activity, and exploration within the distinctive cultures of Asia, and to provide a space to support Asian and Pacific Islander students .
BAND OF PIRATES
Contact: Emelia Bruton
Advisor: Patrick Creek
Purpose: to support the Southwestern community, football and beyond, by bringing energy and music to games and events.
BEE-CO
Contact: James Cosman
Advisor: Laura Hobgood
Purpose: to facilitate a mutual relationship between students and the environment by piquing their interest in bees and beekeeping, growing knowledge on pollinators’ importance, and by instilling lifelong pollinator-focused sustainability practices that carry beyond the bee yard.
BLACK STUDENT UNION
Contact: Raven Waugh
Advisor: TBD
Purpose: to promote unity among African Americans and the SU community; greater awareness and appreciation of the diverse African American culture by emphasizing acceptance not tolerance, and breaking stereotypes.
CAT PARTNERS
Contact: Jaelyn Matthews
Advisor: Loren Galloway Bowans
Purpose: dedicated to the care and safety of the campus cats.
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COALITION OF CHRONIC ILLNESS
Contact: Matthew Nixon-Hoxie
Advisor: Amanda Hernandez
Purpose: to create a network of shared experiences amongst students in order for them to encourage and advocate for each other. Through critical conversations with professors, administrators, and students we aim to keep chronically ill students connected academically and socially.
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
Contact: TBD
Advisor: Kent Huntsman
Purpose: to promote and discuss Republican issues and candidates, to encourage a more politically active campus community.
DELTA OMICRON
Contact: Maeve McCarthy
Advisor: Bruce Cain
Purpose: to create and foster fellowship through music, to give music students an opportunity to meet with one another, and to promote local, national, and international music and musicians.
E.M.P.I.R.E.
Contact: Davin Ratliff
Advisor: Ron Swain
Purpose: to provide positive social and political context that will influence the success of African American males at Southwestern.
EXERCISE IS MEDICINE
Contact: Raghav Sharma
Advisor: Vanessa Mikan
Purpose: to advocate for cultivating a healthy mind, body, and soul through physical activity.
FIBER ARTS CLUB
Contact: Sarah Berver
Advisor: Fumiko Futamura
Purpose: Fiber arts is the umbrella term for sewing, crochet, embroidery, and so much more. This club is a weekly sewing circle where members can practice and teach each other their craft.
GLOBAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION
Contact: Iva Irabor-Ighedosa
Advisor: Bryan Kauma
Purpose: to connect students of all backgrounds through interactive events, exchange of views and volunteering.
MASK & WIG
Contact: Marley Wickersham
Advisor: Debika Sihi
Purpose: a student-run organization committed to exposing the campus community to Theatre by giving students more opportunities to participate and perform in productions.
MATH CLUB
Contact & Advisor: Will Tran
Purpose: TBD
NIA
Contact: Raven Waugh
Advisor: Alicia Moore
Purpose: to promote the academic, social, and cultural interests of Black women on the Southwestern University campus, foster a sense of community, advocate for issues affecting Black women, and educate the wider student body about Black culture, misognynoir, womanist theories, and other experiences.
PIRATE BUDDIES
Contact: Kate Dennis
Advisor: Debbie Shepherd
Purpose: to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and development disabilities by providing opportunities for mutually enriching friendships and integrated employment.
PIRATES FOR PRIDE (P4P)
Contact: Maglor Williams
Advisors: Randall Ischy
Purpose: to promote education, communication, and understanding among all sexual orientations in order to unify the Southwestern community. We seek to provide a safe space for discussion of LGBTQ/sexual orientation issues, both personal and political.
PIRATES’ PUPS
Contact: Julianna Truitt
Advisors: Catherine Bourland Ross
Purpose: to create a fun and supportive environment where students who adore and own/don’t own dogs can connect and share their experiences.
PRE-HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Contact: Rachael Ng
Advisor: Martin Gonzalez
Purpose: to encourage excellence in scholarship, promote cooperation among pre-health students and faculty, and bring together students with similar interests in order to stimulate appreciation and preparation for health professional education.
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ALLIANCE
Contact: Alissa Perez
Advisor: Elaine Craddock
Purpose: to promote an understanding of reproductive justice on campus, which includes economic justice, the environment, immigrants’ rights, disability rights, discrimination based on race and sexual orientation, and a host of other community centered concerns. We also provide resources on these subjects.
ROTARACT CLUB OF SOUTHWESTERN
Contact: Elizabeth Ayalew
Advisor: Ron Swain
Purpose: to connect students who are passionate about service, peace, and fellowship, and to provide opportunities for personal growth and global understanding.
The Rotaract Club is a student-led service organization officially inducted into the global Rotary International network. Our members take part in meaningful community service projects, connect and collaborate with local Rotarians, and develop leadership skills through hands-on experiences. By being part of an international database of Rotaract clubs, we gain unique opportunities for networking, professional growth, and making a lasting impact both locally and worldwide.
SOUTHWESTERN BUSINESS CLUB
Contact: Michelle Manzanares
Advisor: Debika Sihi
Purpose: to bring together students interest in all aspects of the business world be it investments, economics & finance, marketing, internships, and more.
SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY GARDEN
Contact: Natalie Ritchey
Advisor: Laura Hobgood
Purpose: to bring the Southwestern community together to explore sustainable food cultivation and the joy of growing. We aim to create shared spaces that foster connection, learning, and appreciation for the many ways plants can nourish both people and community.
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY CREATIVE WRITING CLUB
Contact: Maglor Williams
Advisor: Maurice Wilson
Purpose: a student-run organization acting as a workshop to share and receive feedback for works of creative writing of all genres and formats, as well as improve members’ general writing craft.
STUDENT PHILANTHROPY COUNCIL
Contact: Joy Clayton
Advisor: Stephanie Abe
Purpose: to raise awareness among Southwestern University students about the importance of giving the University.
SU CHESS CLUB
Contact: Elena Easley
Advisor: Carl Robertson
Purpose: to improve and preserve the chess playing abilities of the individual and to prepare them for higher level playing.
SU ENVIRONMENTALISTS
Contact: Emma Berndt
Advisor: Laura Hobgood
Purpose: We believe that sustainability is for everyone and that a sustainable society is one that honors the earth and all its inhabitants. We strive to create this society by educating ourselves and others on our connection to the planet and on the local and global impacts we have on its vital systems. We aim to disrupt consumptive mindsets, advance environmental justice, and foster a more sustainable future for all.
SU HISTORY UNION
Contact: Josh Tenorio
Advisor: Melissa Byrnes
Purpose: to foster a vast student interest in history and participate in activities that promote leadership, scholarship, and community.
SU NATIVE
Contact: Aspen Coriz-Romero
Advisor: Ken Mello
Purpose: to raise awareness of Native American and indigenous teachings, values, and cultures to build a connection between the SU community and native issues in the Georgetown area.
SU SOCIALISTS
Contact: Aris Morgan
Advisor: Zoe Moss
Purpose: to engage in political activism centered on socialist ideals, propagate socialist messages both on and off Southwestern campus, and analyze and discuss socialism in both literature and current events.
SU TABLETOP
Contact: Emilio “Alex” Martinez
Advisor: Arjun Chandrasekhar
Purpose: to foster a creative community of like-minded students through the shared interest of tabletop gaming.
THE GAME (GROOVE AND MOVEMENT EXPLORATION)
Contact: Lara Alswafta
Advisor: Gabriel Peña
Purpose: to foster a space for creativity, artistry, and movement through dance, with a focus on Hip-Hop style. The GAME is open to everyone and is beginner-friendly.