SEASON 2, Ep. 14 Building Trust and Driving Change with Thom D. Chesney, President of Southwestern College (NM)
04/29/25 • 35 min
In this episode of Higher Ed Leaders, Thom D. Chesney, President of Southwestern College, offers an in-depth look at his 40-year journey through higher education and the leadership lessons he has learned along the way. Now in his third presidency, Thom reflects on his path from faculty roles to executive leadership, the influence of his humanities background, and the value of servant leadership and curiosity in building a strong campus culture. He explains how Southwestern College's mission to transform consciousness through education shapes every part of its graduate programs, including art therapy, counseling, and visionary leadership.
Thom also discusses the college’s strategic focus on sustainable growth, the expansion of its continuing education offerings, and the ways it supports students and staff through a values-driven model centered on partnership, empowerment, mindfulness, and love. With a clear commitment to maintaining a sense of belonging while managing growth, Thom shares what it means to lead a purpose-driven institution in today’s higher education environment. This episode is filled with insights for anyone interested in leadership, campus culture, and creating meaningful impact in higher education.
This podcast is sponsored by Viv Higher Education
About Viv Higher Education
Viv Higher Education is a Boston-based, female-owned comprehensive marketing agency specializing in higher education. With expertise in strategic planning, creative asset development, and media campaigns, we focus on enrollment-centric initiatives. Our approach is grounded in industry best practices, ensuring precision in reaching target audiences. We have extensive experience in marketing to diverse groups, including high school students, Hispanic, military, LGBTQ+, international students, and online learners. Navigating the complex landscapes of university environments is second nature to us, and we prioritize fostering collaborations that yield mutually beneficial outcomes. With a personable, nimble, and highly responsive approach, we deliver tailored solutions to empower organizations to achieve their objectives.
Website: https://vivhied.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viv-higher-ed/
In this episode of Higher Ed Leaders, Thom D. Chesney, President of Southwestern College, offers an in-depth look at his 40-year journey through higher education and the leadership lessons he has learned along the way. Now in his third presidency, Thom reflects on his path from faculty roles to executive leadership, the influence of his humanities background, and the value of servant leadership and curiosity in building a strong campus culture. He explains how Southwestern College's mission to transform consciousness through education shapes every part of its graduate programs, including art therapy, counseling, and visionary leadership.
Thom also discusses the college’s strategic focus on sustainable growth, the expansion of its continuing education offerings, and the ways it supports students and staff through a values-driven model centered on partnership, empowerment, mindfulness, and love. With a clear commitment to maintaining a sense of belonging while managing growth, Thom shares what it means to lead a purpose-driven institution in today’s higher education environment. This episode is filled with insights for anyone interested in leadership, campus culture, and creating meaningful impact in higher education.
This podcast is sponsored by Viv Higher Education
About Viv Higher Education
Viv Higher Education is a Boston-based, female-owned comprehensive marketing agency specializing in higher education. With expertise in strategic planning, creative asset development, and media campaigns, we focus on enrollment-centric initiatives. Our approach is grounded in industry best practices, ensuring precision in reaching target audiences. We have extensive experience in marketing to diverse groups, including high school students, Hispanic, military, LGBTQ+, international students, and online learners. Navigating the complex landscapes of university environments is second nature to us, and we prioritize fostering collaborations that yield mutually beneficial outcomes. With a personable, nimble, and highly responsive approach, we deliver tailored solutions to empower organizations to achieve their objectives.
Website: https://vivhied.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viv-higher-ed/
Previous Episode
SEASON 2, Ep. 13 Faith, Innovation, and the Future of Higher Education with Michael Hammond, President of Gordon College
In this episode, President Michael Hammond of Gordon College shares his unconventional path into higher education leadership. His journey was not the result of a set career plan, but rather a desire to combine intellectual inquiry with meaningful community engagement.
He reflects on Gordon’s founding mission to provide education to marginalized individuals and to integrate Christian service with rigorous academic and professional preparation. As he discusses the current challenges facing Christian higher education, including the demographic cliff and evolving job markets, President Hammond emphasizes the importance of innovation, adaptability, and a clear Christian identity. He also highlights the value of giving faculty and deans greater autonomy to lead program development.
Throughout the conversation, he speaks to the importance of trust, collaborative leadership, and in-person connection in building a strong campus culture. He closes with optimism, believing institutions that offer both moral grounding and professional excellence will continue to be relevant. He also shares how the principle of “Unreasonable Hospitality” shapes his leadership, encouraging a culture of empathy, generosity, and care.
This podcast is sponsored by Viv Higher Education
About Viv Higher Education
Viv Higher Education is a Boston-based, female-owned comprehensive marketing agency specializing in higher education. With expertise in strategic planning, creative asset development, and media campaigns, we focus on enrollment-centric initiatives. Our approach is grounded in industry best practices, ensuring precision in reaching target audiences. We have extensive experience in marketing to diverse groups, including high school students, Hispanic, military, LGBTQ+, international students, and online learners. Navigating the complex landscapes of university environments is second nature to us, and we prioritize fostering collaborations that yield mutually beneficial outcomes. With a personable, nimble, and highly responsive approach, we deliver tailored solutions to empower organizations to achieve their objectives.
Website: https://vivhied.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viv-higher-ed/
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher Education - SEASON 2, Ep. 14 Building Trust and Driving Change with Thom D. Chesney, President of Southwestern College (NM)
Transcript
Tom, welcome to the podcast. It's so great to have you. How are you today? I am doing great, Suzanne. It is great to be a part of this. Thanks for the invitation. Yes, super excited to start out by hearing about your higher ed journey.
You are on your third presidency right now at Southwestern College. So can you tell us about your journey and how you ended up in the role you have right now? There'd be a delight to do so. I've, shared in a number of settings over the years what I call my c
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