Coffee Chats
What are Coffee Chats?
The Southwestern College Institutional Advancement Office is launching a new online series aimed to help alumni and friends engage and connect. Coffee Chats will serve as an opportunity to learn about various programs and initiatives through the lens of college faculty and staff.
Upcoming Coffee Chat
To Be Announced
Date: TBD
Guest: TBDCheck back here for the next scheduled Coffee Chat!
Email alumni@sckans.edu or call (620)229-6155 to request the link to participate online – or to reserve a seat to attend in person.
Miss a Coffee Chat? View the Archive
Deets Library
Date: Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:30 a.m. (CST)
Guest: Emily Hedges, Library DirectorEmily Hedges serves as the Library Director at Southwestern College, where she works at the intersection of teaching, technology, and student success. She is especially interested in how generative AI and emerging technologies are reshaping higher education, research and information literacy.
She is always eager to hear ideas about how Deets Library can better serve alumni—whether through programs, resources, gatherings, or new ways of staying connected.
Library Director, Emily Hedges
Emily’s professional path has included work in secondary education as an English teacher and library media specialist, as well as journalism and marketing communications. She cares deeply about helping students think critically, ask better questions, and connect their education to a larger sense of purpose.
Physician Associate Studies Program Update
Date: Friday, November 14, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. CST
Guests:
- Chandra Lynch (Associate Professor of Physician Associate Studies, Director of the PA Studies Program)
- Dr. Elizabeth Frombgen (President)
- Dr. J.K. Campbell (Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty)
- Dr. Tammy McEwen (Professor of Biology, Chair, Division of Natural Science)
Kaydee Riggs-Johnson' 11 (Vice President for Advancement, Communications, and Marketing) will host the video call.
Watch to learn about the exciting progress toward opening and earning specialized accreditation for the Physician Associate Studies Program!
Leadership & Discipleship
Date: Friday, October 18, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. CST
Guests: Dr. Jackson Lashier (Director of Discipleship; Professor of Religious Studies) & Brae Wood (Director of Service Learning)Learn about the exciting changes happening in the Leadership and Discipleship Teams!
The Progress with Enrollment & Retention
Date: Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CST
Guests: Elizabeth Frombgen (President), Stephannie DeLong (Vice President for Enrollment Management), & Adrienne Wyatt (Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs)Learn about the incredible work being done here at SC around enrollment and retention!
The Return of Nursing with Shona Turner
Date: Friday, May 23, 2024
Guest: Shona Turner, Director of the BSN ProgramWe are so excited about the return of the Nursing program to SC! Join us to learn about the progress and the vision for Southwestern Nursing.
Coffee Chat with Education at SC
Date: Friday, March 8, 2024, 10:30 a.m. (CST)
Guest: Dr. Mark WhitenerJoin us for a conversation with Dr. Mark Whitener, chair of the Education division, as he shares the various state and regional initiatives to help graduate the next generation of Builder teachers!
Coffee Chat with Performing Arts at SC
Friday, February 9, 2024, 10:30 a.m. (CST)
Guests: Jeremy Kirk, Simon Hill, Jordan Burford, David Koller, Rae Lynne BakerThere have been a lot of changes happening in the Performing Arts corner of campus. Join us as a group of staff and students from the Peforming Arts share the exciting things that are taking place at SC this year!
Spring Update on Southwestern College
Friday, January 12, 2024, 10:30 a.m. (CST)
Guest: President Liz FrombgenWant to know about how things are here on the hill? Get a progress report on the pulse of Southwestern College from the President herself.
Connecting Learning & Play | New Approaches with Honors Program
Monday, December 8, 2023, 10:30 a.m. (CST)
Guest: Dr. Patrick RossLearn about the innovative approaches to learning being implemented in the newly created Southwestern Honors Program.
What are the Most Common Mistakes in Estate Planning?
Monday, November 6, 2023, 10:30 a.m. (CST)
Guest: John GriffinAfter nearly thirty-three years in the business of designing, drafting, and implementing estate plans, John Griffin repeatedly sees the same problems and errors in estate planning documents -- which can increase taxes and create unnecessary family disharmony.
