Thom Chesney, PhD

Thom joined SWC as president in July 2024, following presidencies at Clarke University (IA) and Brookhaven College (TX) and prior roles as Associate Professor of Humanities and Associate Provost for Student Success and Assessment, The University of Texas at Dallas; District VP of Academic Affairs and Provost, Collin College (TX); and various faculty and staff positions at Pennsylvania College of Technology, Texas Wesleyan University, East Tennessee State University, and Whitman College.

He earned an A.B. degree in Spanish at Washington University in St. Louis, an M.A. in Creative Writing at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a Ph.D. in English Literature from Florida State University where he was among the first group of teaching assistants to incorporate student-centered, experiential and service learning into the curriculum, an approach he has used ever since in and beyond the classroom.

An avid and accessible mentor and coach to aspiring education and community leaders and governing boards, Thom has been recognized for his transparent approach to personal and institutional storytelling on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram.

A staunch practitioner of life/work balance, Thom reenergizes outdoors through planting and caring for trees and landscapes, hiking and biking, and caring for Creation. Indoor pursuits include cooking for others, tasting and reviewing craft beers, playing poker, and watching English Premier League football and American soccer.

Thom’s wife Noelle is an accomplished college educator, award-winning performer and producer of musical theatre and opera, and a mission-living non-profit executive. Together they have two adult children and a small support team of canine and feline housemates who are as much rescuers as they are rescued.