Sherri Babcock ’70
SU major: American Studies
Career path: Education
Future Gift Impact: Academic scholarships to need-based students
Sherri Babcock ’70 admits that she planned to leave Southwestern after a year to follow a boyfriend, but stayed after being invited to join a five-semester Humanities seminar taught by wonderful professors. She loved her classes, made fabulous friends, and at a time when women were not broadly encouraged, she was offered leadership opportunities. She credits Southwestern with giving her confidence and “teaching her how to think.” She was VP and Dean of Students at Southwestern for 11 years, worked in advertising and ran a consulting business that served national liberal arts universities in student affairs.
Southwestern has meant a lot to Sherri over the years. From her time as a student, to being a member of the staff, to volunteering with various campus offices throughout her lifetime, Sherri acknowledges that “Southwestern’s gift to me is incalculable, and naming Southwestern as beneficiary of my retirement plan is a way I can give forward to try to pay back SU’s investment in me.”
Sherri continues, “I know that I am a different person because of my SU education. I believe that students who make the most of their SU education also make opportunities for themselves, and they better the world. I want others to have this amazing education, and I want SU to continue to improve.”
Sherri encourages her fellow alumni to “consider what your SU education means/meant to you, and give back/pay forward as you can. Choose something that you treasure about your SU experience (your academic department, a career-encouraging opportunity, a high-impact experience, scholarships, your social connections) and make it available to current students. Or choose something you wish SU had offered to you. Planned giving is a way to pay back and pay forward even if your estate is small.”
Interested in learning more about how to include Southwestern University in your will, trust or retirement plan? Contact the Development Office at 512-863-1211 to learn about gift options and opportunities.
If you have already named Southwestern University as a beneficiary, please let us know of your plans. This will enable us to show our appreciation of your generosity, and to include your support in planning for the future of Southwestern.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.