We are here to help!
Your admissions counselor is here to help you learn what SBU has to offer, navigate the admissions and financial aid processes, and answer any questions you might have. Use the map below to meet your SBU admissions counselor!
Natalie Goatley
Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Call: (417) 328-1817
Email: natalie.goatley@SBUniv.edu
Tips for success in your first year at SBU: Get plugged in! The options for campus and community involvement are endless. Try new things and explore your options. Plug in to activities and groups on campus, but also be engaged in the Bolivar community. Finding a local church will powerfully enrich your college experience!
What sets SBU apart from other universities? Southwest Baptist University is unique in that the focus is preparing students to be successful in every area of their lives. Students receive an excellent education, while also being nurtured spiritually, emotionally and socially. I'm so thankful that God led me to a place that fostered growth in every facet of my life!
Denise Emert M.Ed
Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Recruited athletes who have committed to Southwest Baptist University
International Students
Cell: (417) 327-5554 | Office: (417) 328-5281 Ext: 3796
Email: denise.emert@SBUniv.edu
What sets SBU apart? At Southwest Baptist University, we are unapologetically Christian. From mandatory
Chapel attendance to the expectations we have for students and faculty, we strive
to let Jesus shine through everything that we do.
What does SBU mean to you? Southwest Baptist University feels like home. When I came here as a first-generation
college student from rural Missouri, I fell in love with Bolivar. The community felt
safe, and it was just the right distance from my parents. The staff and faculty at
SBU care about each student and are ready to welcome them to be part of the community.
SBU helped me learn how to be an adult and grow in my Christian faith in ways that
I never could have expected.
Rylee Casey
Admissions Counselor
Transfer Students
States: AR, OK
Cell: (417) 298-3375 | Office: (417) 328-5281 Ext: 1825
Email: rylee.casey@sbuniv.edu
What sets SBU apart from other universities? Southwest Baptist University is set apart by its Christ-centered education and close-knit community. Students are known personally, supported academically, and mentored by faculty and staff who are genuinely invested in their personal and spiritual growth. Relationships truly matter at SBU. Faculty and staff go beyond academics, intentionally investing in students’ lives to help them grow with confidence, purpose, and faith.
What does SBU mean to you? SBU means purpose and community. It is a place where everyone is supported and encouraged to grow in every aspect of life while staying grounded in their values. I have personally felt cared for, challenged, and encouraged by the people here, and that sense of belonging has shaped both who I am and who I am becoming.
Parker Fox
Admissions Counselor
State: MO
Missouri Counties: Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald,
Newton, Polk, Stone, Taney, Vernon
Cell: (417) 399-1508 | Office: (417) 328-5281 Ext: 1837
Email: parker.fox@sbuniv.edu
Tips for success in your first year at SBU: Put yourself in positions to meet new people! Something great about moving to college
is all the opportunities and events that take place on campus, making sure to be active
and involved can make your time much more enjoyable. Connect with your professors,
they will genuinely want to get to know you and help you through your academic journey.
Finally, set up a consistent time to read your Bible and to grow in your relationship
with the Lord, it will make all the difference.
What does SBU mean to you? SBU is such a great opportunity for individual growth. I have had the opportunity
to make lasting friendships, with both students, faculty and staff, have grown in
my faith, and have learned critical skills that will help me the rest of my life.
What sets SBU apart from other universities? SBU has the ability to give its students a larger university’s academic capabilities,
while still maintaining a smaller university’s community feel and the smaller classroom
connection to professors.
Eli Cook
Admissions Counselor
States: CO, CT, DE, DC, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Missouri Counties: Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, Dekalb, Franklin, Gasconade, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lafayette, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Nodaway, Perry, Pike, Platte, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Saint Charles, Saint Francois, Saint Louis, Saint Louis City, Sainte Genevieve, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Warren, Washington, Worth
Cell: (417) 327-9429 | Office: (417) 328-5281 Ext: 1631
Email: eli.cook@SBUniv.edu
Tips for success in your first year at SBU: Find a friend (or friends!!)! The most important part of any academic endeavor is finding people who support you—and whom you also support—along the way. People I met in my first few weeks on campus are now lifelong friends.
What does SBU mean to you? SBU is truly home for me. More than that, though, it's a cornerstone in a vast network of Christians around the world. It’s powerful to see how God brings together His people for His purpose!
What sets SBU apart from other universities? SBU is unique in its mission. I believe it's rare to find a group of people who emphasize serving others as much as SBU does. During your time here, you’ll see this in the classroom, chapel, sporting events, and more!
Elland Morris
Admissions Counselor
States: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MO, MS, NM, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX
Missouri Counties: Bates, Benton, Bollinger, Boone, Butler, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cass, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Henry, Hickory, Howell, Iron, Laclede, Madison, Maries, Miller, Mississippi, Moniteau, Morgan, New Madrid, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Pettis, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Saint Clair, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Wayne, Webster, Wright
Cell: (417) 327-5553 | Office: (417) 328-5281 Ext: 1829
Email: elland.morris@SBUniv.edu
Tips for success in your first year at SBU: Try New Things! College is a time to try new hobbies and get involved in clubs and organizations. Introduce yourself to new people and really put yourself out there! Find a local church and seek God every day.
What does SBU mean to you? SBU feels like one big family. During my time at Southwest Baptist University, I made so many great friendships and grew in my faith walk. The professors at SBU encouraged me, and although they were strangers when I started as a freshman, many became personal friends and mentors when I graduated. SBU helped me grow socially, professionally and most importantly spiritually.