Southwestern College Santa Fe, NM
Today we held our Second Annual Faculty Retreat, an exercise in Appreciative Inquiry, and a look into the potential futures of Southwestern College/New Earth Institute.
Before we actually began, I said to Robert Waterman “You know, this could be a meeting people look back on in ten years and say, that was a pivotal day in the history of Southwestern College/New Earth Institute…”
And I think it probably was that day. In addition to looking backwards, into the recent past, and assessing how well we had done as an institution of higher education, we looked forward, toward new possible programs and certificates, with ideas about the benefits and positive aspects of the four primary options we entertained (others can and will be entertained, but these were the focus today…)
Great input from EVERYONE, no exception, truly. Really strong ideas were supported really powerfully, and we all walked away, at the end of 5 hours of focus, feeling energized, optimistic, and ready to move toward the next steps in creating the future of Southwestern College/New Earth Institute…
I am honored to work with Ann Filemyr (who coordinated and delivered the day), Katherine Ninos, Robert Waterman, Debbie Schroder, Laura Lansrud-Lopez, Dru Phoenix, Emilah De Toro, Heather Leigh, and Shara Moscinska. These were today’s participants. There will be others as we move ahead.
I’m pretty sure something big happened today. Time will tell. But I’m pretty sure.
written by Jim Nolan, Ph.D., former President at Southwestern College
About the Moderator
Jim Nolan was the President of Southwestern College from 2006 - 2018. He holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, and has a private practice in Santa Fe. He went to graduate school in Irish and English literature, too, and reads a lot of books, takes a lot of photos and plays guitar. Sort of. His best friend of all times, a Wire Haired Fox Terrier named Barney, recently passed into non-physical. Barney was a true guru. Jim is the opposite of a guru, whatever that is called. He doesn't know anything, and he knows that. It seems to work out...
