SWCC alumnus joins board of trustees

When Amy Mobley attended Southwestern Community College (SWCC) for nursing in the 90s, it was the camaraderie of her fellow students that kept her going and got her through the nursing program.

Now, 25 years later, Mobley is back where it all started. At the SWCC Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, the board unanimously approved the appointment of Mobley to the district 7 position vacancy left by Vicki Sickels after her resignation last month.

Mobley’s position as chief nursing officer with the Ringgold County Hospital has her working closely with the college on a number of projects. “Vicki Sickels, I had a conversation with her when she decided to leave,” Mobley said. “It felt like something I would be interested in. I’m a SWCC graduate, my child is a SWCC graduate. So I’m very familiar with the college.”

It was her history with SWCC and her overall desire to help improve the community that led her to apply for the position. “It’s important to continue to offer the services for education and trade for the members of our community so they can become better members of society,” Mobley said. “With my job, I hire a lot of SWCC graduates. Not just in nursing, but other areas of the hospital as well.”

Through her time in the health care field, Mobley has worked as a part of several different boards, so she’s interested to fall into the dynamics of this board.

One of the things Mobley recalls about her time at SWCC was the ability for her to learn from non-traditional students. “It was very good for me,” she said. “They have a lot of life experiences that I didn’t have.”

Mobley grew up in Grant City, Missouri, but eventually moved to rural Ringgold County where she lives on a farm with her husband of 29 years. The couple have three adult daughters together and love doing anything outdoors.

“I love camping, being outdoors,” she said. “Anything outdoors with animals.” She enjoys watching her daughters start their own lives and still finds quiet time with the family.

She will begin her time with the September board of trustees meeting.

“I’m just really excited most to learn more about what SWCC offers,” Mobley said. “I know about the nursing program, but I’m anxious to learn about other programs and what partnerships are available, not only for my county, Ringgold, but how we can better it for other counties as well.”