Alma Rutledge named Dean of Students
By Student Affairs Staff
Southwest Tennessee Community College announced Alma Rutledge as the new dean of students April 4, 2023.
Rutledge will lead the College’s student engagement efforts, which includes oversight of functional areas that provide an array of wraparound support services, including mental health counseling, social services programs (e.g., food pantry, referrals to community resources), student disability services, BETA, student leadership and activities, and student conduct. The Dean of Students Office will focus on supporting and advocating for students while providing them with the tools to become self-advocates. As a first-generation college graduate, Rutledge believes in advocating for students and creating a more equitable environment to foster their success.
Rutledge earned her Bachelor of Science and M.B.A. from Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and is working on her Ed.D. in higher and adult education at the University of Memphis. She has experience working in the departments of Career Services, the Center for Access (formerly Student Disability Services), Retention & Student Success, and most recently, on the Title III IDEAS grant. She serves as the chair of the Equity & Inclusion Sub-Council and is a member of various committees at Southwest.
Over the last five years at Southwest, Rutledge has been a valuable member of the student affairs team. As a program specialist, she increased student support for adult learners through the Saluqi Success Pathway for Adult Learners (SSPAL), the “Reconnector Roundtable” event, and book scholarships provided through a Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) grant. As the project activities director for the Title III grant, Rutledge has partnered with various areas throughout the college, including Academic Affairs and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE).
She has collaborated with faculty and staff partners to review courses and programs through an equity lens and take actionable steps toward a more inclusive college. Additionally, she has trained and prepared peer mentors and success coaches to provide wraparound support to students.
Rutledge’s passion for students led her to co-advise the Southwest chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and the mentor program for tnAchieves. Undoubtedly, her professional experiences and commitment to student success have prepared her well for her new role as Dean of Students.
Congratulations, Alma, on your deanship!
In This Issue...
- From the President
- Dr. Shelia Bouie named to Memphis Business Journal’s Woman Leading in Nursing
- Welcome Aboard!
- Southwest introduces new offboarding policy
- Southwest athletics continue to rack up post-season accolades
- Southwest reimagines career pathways; launches Southwest Workforce Solutions Center
- Southwest’s Chris Camp receives the distinguished Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition Award
- Southwest physical therapist assistant student Eboni Benson finds purpose in helping others
- Stan Bell returns to Southwest as master of ceremonies for the 2023 Faculty and Staff Awards
- Communication, Fine Arts and Graphics department expands curriculum with sought-after industry credentials
- Go Red at Southwest campaign yields a year of heart-smart choices
- Southwest celebrates Saluqi baseball’s record-breaking season
- Southwest’s Entrepreneurship Day celebrates local businesses in Memphis
- HONORS ACADEMY ALUMNI: Where Are They Now?
- Southwest welcomes 39 inductees into the National Society of Leadership and Success
- Southwest taps Dr. Carol Ash as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development
- Southwest hires Jeremy Shirley as Associate Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications
- Alma Rutledge named Dean of Students
- Summer Institute 2023 focuses on reimagining Southwest
- Southwest’s Phi Theta Kappa inducts 16 members in candlelight ceremony
- Project M.O.S.T. celebrates the 11th annual Men in Black Awards
- Q & A with Admissions Recruiter Elizabeth Clark
- More than 1200 credentials conferred at twenty-fifth Commencement
- Southwest Professor Dr. Marcia Hunter debuts book on fulfilling one’s dreams
- Employees preview a reimagined student experience at College’s Gallery Walk
- Southwest’s stellar scholars honored at 2023 Student Honors & Awards Convocation
- Memphis Light, Gas & Water, AT&T and Comcast launch workforce pipeline partnership with Southwest
- President Tracy D. Hall named a top 100 Leader in the Memphis community
- Southwest hosts caring conversations in wake of Tyre Nichols’ death