Georgianne Hewett's ideal job has always been one that allows her to work for something she believes in and helps contribute to the world around her. In returning to her alma mater to work with fellow alumni, she has found just that. "This is a rewarding job because I meet so many amazing people and learn about their lives, families and interests."

With an ever-expanding alumni program under her direction, she and her staff are working to create more opportunities for alumni to reconnect with Southwestern by volunteering or holding leadership positions within the association. She says, "When I arrived in the Fall 2000, we had a solid alumni program. We knew that there was untapped potential in alumni who wanted to get involved but didn't know how."

At the recommendation of last year's Alumni Self-Study Commission, Hewett's position was elevated from director-level to associate vice president. It was a move she says "raises the level of alumni interest within the organizational structure of the University." It was just the first of many changes that alumni will notice in the coming months and years.

Another result of the Alumni Self-Study recommendations was the March opening of the Alumni Center, a newly renovated space on the second floor of the Cullen Building funded by the Cullen Trust. Not only will the Center give alumni a place to congregate during visits to campus, but it also provides opportunities for the University to highlight alumni achievements. As part of the opening celebration, the Center hosted Distinguished Alumnus Red McCombs '49 for a promotional signing of his new biography, "The Red Zone."

Hewett says there is much more to look forward to, including a new focus on homecoming and reunions, increased emphasis on lifelong learning, alumni access to the Robertson Athletic Center on campus and a web site that provides innovative ways for alumni to reconnect. "We have raised our vision of what this association can be. Because of the quality of our alumni leadership, I have no doubt that whatever we set our minds to will get done."

Hewett is now enjoying her third stay at Southwestern, once as a student and twice as a staff member. A native of Freeport, a shrimping community south of Houston, she attended Southwestern because she had "grown up United Methodist and was looking for a university that was interested in the development of the whole person and academically challenging." While she majored in art with an emphasis on photography, she also finished just three hours shy of a degree in communication. She pledged Tri Delta, served as a resident assistant, taught aerobics and interned with the University's Publication Office.

After graduating, she accepted a position with Park Plaza Hospital in Houston because of her desire to promote the work of a healthcare organization. Her duties included public relations, special event coordination and community outreach. In 1993, she joined Southwestern's Alumni Office as assistant director for alumni and parent relations and stayed for two years. She went on to work for the Texas Methodist Foundation as director of foundation relations before she was lured back to Southwestern in 2000.

"What ultimately made me decide to come back was my deep feelings for this place and the people associated with it. It's not 'work' because I love it, and I admire the people I work with. My devotion increases every time I hear a story about how a Southwestern faculty member or an out-of-classroom experience has positively influenced a life."

Hewett lives in Georgetown and attends church in Austin. She is a member of Community of Hope, which allows her to serve as a lay minister for people in need of pastoral care. She enjoys running and competes in half-marathons and triathlons, even though she admits, "I don't have natural athletic ability or a competitive bone in my body. My high school tennis coach would keel over if he knew I could run 13 miles now." She remains close to many of her old Southwestern classmates. Those that live in Austin meet for dinner every Thursday night, and Hewett joins them as often as possible.

"I have discovered that it doesn't matter when you graduated; there is an unusually strong connection among Southwestern alumni. The more I travel and meet alumni, the more convinced I am that there is something distinctive about Southwestern graduates--they are intellectually aware of the world in which they live, as are many liberal arts graduates, but their compassion leads them to use their knowledge to better their communities. It is very inspiring."