Southwestern College traces its roots to the
Quimby Metaphysical Library, a library which has a large collection of religious and metaphysical books, and manuscripts of American
transcendentalist and the
Father of the New Thought Movement,
Phineas Parkhurst Quimby. The library was founded by
Neva Dell Hunter in 1945 in
Alamogordo, New Mexico. The library was eventually known as
Quimby Memorial Library. The school's vision, mission, philosophy, and programs are also influenced by
Rudolf Steiner,
Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Alice Bailey, perennial wisdom traditions, and Hindu scriptures. In 1976, the center was rededicated as
Quimby College by Robert Waterman, with Hunter as the guest of honor. Hunter's ideas were used by Waterman in founding the core curriculum of the college and its programs. The college's initial intention was to train
counselors who were well-versed and practiced in areas of
spirituality and
consciousness. In 1979, the college started to offer programs in Counseling. Quimby College later became Southwestern College. In 1996, Southwestern College became accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission. In 1998, the college's Master of Arts in Art Therapy/Counseling was approved by the
American Art Therapy Association. In 2006, James Michael Nolan was selected as the third president. Since 2006, the college has tripled the size of its campus, built an Art Therapy building, created the Tierra Nueva Counseling Center, and launched professional certificate training in Human Sexuality, Infant Mental Health, and Interpersonal Neurobiology. It has also created scholarships for Native Americans and other minority candidates. In February 2019, Ann Filemyr was selected as the fourth president of the college, serving until July 2024 until when she transitioned into Founder and Director of the PhD in Visionary Practice program which she designed. The university's fifth president is Thom D. Chesney. Since 1980, Southwestern College has offered the "Transformation & Healing Conference" on its campus in Santa Fe. ==Academics==