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
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.
Katelyn Middleton
Admissions Counselor
States: AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME MI, MN, MS, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Cell: (417) 298-3375 | Office: (417) 328-5281 Ext: 1825
Email: katelyn.middleton@SBUniv.edu
What does SBU mean to you? SBU has been a place of so much growth for me. As a student, I learned how to thrive spiritually, academically, and relationally. I have made lifelong friends, fostered relationships that helped me grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and earned my degree with the help of faculty who cared about more than just my academic success.
Tips for success in your first year at SBU: I am learning that much of your experience is self-determined. You will have so many choices to make at SBU, especially in your first year! Find something that means something to you and pursue it. When it comes to the path you take or the activities you choose to participate in, don't be afraid to change your mind. Work hard and seek chances to grow, but be gracious with yourself when you fall short! Most importantly, remember to lean on the Lord and the people he places in your life to help guide you.
Renae Welch
Admissions Counselor
Recruiting Territory: Missouri
States: MO
Missouri Counties: Camden, Christian, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Howell, Laclede, Ozark, Polk,
Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster, Wright
Cell: (417) 399-1508 | Office: (417) 328-5281 Ext: 1814
Email: renae.welch@sbuniv.edu
What sets SBU apart from other universities? SBU sees the need for Christian leaders in all fields and prepares them to have the skills they need to succeed and lead. One of the ways they do this is by navigating the intersection of faith and leading degree programs. Being able to complete a degree in Business, Graphic Design, Cyber Security, and many more fields at a Christian college is an unbelievable blessing.
Tips for success in your first year at SBU? Spend time with people outside of your major! Discussions about life, classes, and faith around the lunchroom table are some of my favorite memories during my time at university and it's where I met many lifelong friends.
Eli Cook
Admissions Counselor
States: AR, KS, NE, OK
Missouri Counties: Andrew, Atchison, Barry, Barton, Bates, Benton, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Cass,
Cedar, Clay, Clinton, Dade, Daviess, Dekalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Holt,
Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Livingston, McDonald, Mercer, Newton,
Nodaway, Pettis, Platte, Ray, Saline, St. Clair, Vernon, 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: IA, IL, KY, TN
Missouri Counties: Adair, Audrain, Bollinger, Boone, Butler, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Chariton,
Clark, Cole, Cooper ,Crawford, Dent, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Howard, Iron, Jefferson,
Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, Miller, Mississippi, Moniteau,
Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, New Madrid, Oregon, Osage, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pike,
Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Reynolds, Ripley, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shannon,
Shelby, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Genevieve, St. Louis, St. Louis City, Stoddard,
Sullivan, Warren, Washington, Wayne
Cell: (417) 327-5553 | Office: (417) 328-5281 Ext: 1829Email: 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.