Faculty Inspire Next Generation of Leaders

A collaboration between Seattle University administrative leaders, faculty and strategic campus marketers has generated a one-stop site for the incoming class of 2024, prospective students in high school and current SU students.

Known as the Faculty Spotlight, this innovative resource highlights Seattle U faculty who care passionately about the success of every student—along with current student testimonials and student support services, including technology resources and mental health access.

The sense of uncertainty students are experiencing because of the pandemic inspired campus leaders to assemble and create the site in order to better illustrate the consistent quality of a Seattle U education—whether it’s online or in a classroom. Faculty-scholar research, student perspectives, photography, quotes, videos, existing SU Newsroom stories and web content have been curated specifically for students seeking the information they need as they research their higher education options, from undergraduate to graduate school.

Designed to integrate with Slate, a higher education customer relationship management (CRM) tool, once students specify their area(s) of interest, they’re seamlessly connected to the Faculty Spotlight site and faculty representing the student’s program(s) of choice. Here they can explore multiple program options by linking directly to the different colleges, thereby eliminating searches on individual program websites.

“While the quality of our academic experience at Seattle U is top notch, the real difference for our students is the relationships they develop with faculty,” says James Miller, director of undergraduate admissions. “The ability to marry student academic interests dynamically with faculty stories that can extend and deepen the external understanding of our programs is crucial.”

Colleges from Arts & Sciences to Albers, Nursing to Science & Engineering and Law to Education are featured on the site. As faculty accomplishments and research continues to evolve, so will the page’s content.

The second phase of the site will build on its student-focused content, including customizations for individuals identifying as first-generation in college, graduate-level, international and transfer students.  

“Faculty Spotlight will be a crucial piece of our recruitment efforts moving forward. The relationship between student and faculty is at the center of the Seattle U experience and, in fact, is what makes an education here one-of-a-kind,” says Miller. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to tell those stories more specifically to our prospective students and their supporters.”