LIBERAL, Kan. — Through seasons of change and unexpected circumstances like a global pandemic, institutional growth continues. That principle is reflected in the announcement that Seward County Community College has named the Rev. Kyle Woodrow as Chief Development Officer, in tandem with the SCCC Foundation, which Woodrow will head as director.
A Southwest Kansas native, Woodrow graduated from Liberal High School and completed concurrent college-credit classes in the process. Those credits provided a head start when he enrolled at Southwestern College in Winfield, graduating summa cum laude in 1999 with BS degrees in biochemistry and business administration. While his intention at the time was to pursue a career in the medical field, he subsequently felt called to the ministry and earned a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
“It is surprising how transferrable the skills of a minister are to business and education,” he stated. “I have used these skills wherever I have found myself.”
Woodrow’s professional journey led him to a church post in Arizona, where, he recalled, “I made strong connections into community boards, with trustees of various foundations, CEO of major airlines and businesses, community developers, and generally learned the value of partnerships between business, philanthropy and fundraising, and education.”
A subsequent job in South Africa as a member of a team of consultants focused on business expansion gave him an even broader perspective about connecting resources and human capital.
“I spent over a year with Expand into Africa working mostly in Angola. Our core business was business intelligence and helping companies expand their footprint in Africa,” he stated.
Upon his return to the U.S., Woodrow accepted a chaplain position at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. During his time at Mount Union, his role has been “to keep us accountable to our
institutional mission and where needed to forge a strategy to get us back on track. Additionally, I work directly with our Advancement Office on programs and with key donors, as well as our Alumni Office for the same. All in all, the experience has been fruitful, engaged, and progressive.”
Woodrow has made regular visits to Liberal throughout the years to visit friends and maintain his status as a diehard Saints Booster.
“I remain connected to several of SCCC’s former men’s and women’s basketball coaches and players who I have met through booster events and simply following games. Liberal is still the place I call home,” he stated.
Through the lens of CDO, Woodrow views SCCC as a prime example of community service, innovation, and educational equity.
“After serving in a four-year institution, I am more and more convinced that community colleges have a much larger role to play in the future of education than ever before,” he stated. “The way SCCC connects education and community development to real needs and opportunities for students and the community is inspiring to me and hopeful as a model moving forward.”
On a personal note, he added, “being part of the team, being given an opportunity to help lead and journey with people making such a difference in the lives of the community and those who it serves — well that is just exciting!”
Woodrow’s employment was approved at the May 4 meeting of the SCCC Board of Trustees. He will begin work at the college in July.
