May 20, 2026 SuppleMentals Descriptions and Presenter Bio’s

 

Georgetown Public Library Hewlett Room
In Person

 Colleges are closing. Costs are rising. The traditional degree is being questioned. So why is Southwestern University investing, building, and growing after 186 years? This presentation pulls back the curtain on how one liberal arts university is rewriting its playbook—from a personalized four-year student roadmap to a bold 560-acre development designed to connect education, careers, and everyday life. You’ll leave with a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming to campus and Georgetown—and a clearer picture of what higher education may become in the next decade.

 

Dinah Ritchie is Vice President for Integrated Communications & Chief Marketing Officer at Southwestern University, where she leads brand strategy, storytelling, and public communication. She oversees how the University presents major initiatives, including the SU 560 and its four-year student roadmap, to students, families, and the community. Her work focuses on shaping SU’s visibility and explaining why the University is investing and growing at a time when many colleges are shrinking.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Byrnes will open with a brief overview of Rwandan history, the genocide, and Rwandan strategies for healing from this atrocity. This will include time for questions and discussion.

Dr. Msengi lived through the genocide, hiding in multiple homes to escape genocide perpetrators who were hunting for survivors. She will share lessons she learned during her three months in hiding. This portion of the session will be presented in a dialogue-style format designed to foster collective reflection and discussion, bringing forward meaningful insights and practical strategies.

 

Dr. Melissa Byrnes is professor of history at Southwestern University, where she teaches on the history of nationalism, race, and human rights. Her research focuses on migration, welfare, and activism in France.

Dr. Clementine M. Msengi is an award-winning educator, author, mentor, and survivor of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. She currently serves on the faculty of the Center for Doctoral Studies in Educational Leadership at Lamar University.