Students excel at Southwestern, but they don’t compete in a cutthroat atmosphere. Instead, students thrive in a genuinely warm, welcoming community. It starts early: as soon as first-years arrive on campus, students, faculty, and staff are there to help them move in. Professors bring their families to watch movies with students at Cinematic Saturdays. Students teach their roommates how to ride a Pirate Bike around the Academic Mall. It’s no wonder that SU alumni reunite around the country 4, 18, and even 57 years after graduating to meet up with the lifelong friends they made on campus.

In our “Meet the Family” series, we’ll introduce you to members of the Southwestern community. First up is an SU favorite: our beloved Ms. Ella.