Texan Mosaic

Editor’s note:  Students in Newswriting COMM 2311-151 and 601 contributed to this story.  They contributed to conducting interviews, choosing quotes, and organizing the story.  Students in Photography 1 COMM 1318 illustrated the story, and photographer names are on the files.

Say “Hello” to Phebe Dowels.  She is the new South Plains College director of Student Life.  She came on board in October.

 “No two days are ever the same,” she says.  “And that’s what I love about this role of being here at SPC.”

Dowels’ Student Life office is located inside the Student Center on the Levelland campus.  Admittedly though, she’s in and out of her office a lot.

 “Some days I’m planning large-scale events like homecoming,” she says, “while others I’m meeting with student leaders to develop leadership and engagement opportunities.”

The “student leaders” Dowels refers to are work-study students.  Dowels is the one who developed the “leader” title to attach to them.  There are 23 of them now.  Dowels says she met with the team of them as soon as she arrived at SPC.

 “We love to make sure that anything we’re building or that we’re doing we’re getting students’ input,” Dowels says, “because they can relate directly to the student body. Someone such as myself, I’m almost in my mid-30s, so I might not relate typically with someone who’s 17, a 20-year-old, a 21-year old, when it comes to life experiences because that was a while ago.”

Student leader Shaylyn Thomas, who’s in her third semester at SPC, describes Dowels as “caring”.

“I love having her,” Thomas says.  “Not only does she come up with great ideas, she listens to student input.”

Student leader Macario Rodriquez says he’s been a part of Student Life since 2023 when he first came to SPC.

“Usually students can find me at the Creative Arts Building which is where I attend classes,” he says, “or they can find me here at Student Life where the game room is.”

Both Thomas and Rodriquez say they open the game room to students at eight each weekday morning.

“It’s pretty chill in the morning,” Thomas says.  “Not many students are coming in because they either have early classes or they’re sleeping in.”   Lunch hour, Thomas says, is when the game room is busiest.

“Any time a student comes,” Rodriquez says, “they usually ask questions though like where can we get an i.d.?  Can we check out any games?  Can you tell us a little about clubs or a little bit about organizations that take place here on campus?”

Already this semester, Student Life hosted several events for Welcome Week including a Grab ‘n Go Breakfast, HTeaO Refreshment Hour and Game Night Meet & Greets.

Dowels says Homecoming Week 2025 is approaching this semester along with basketball games. 

“Our student leadership team,” Dowels says, “they are working hard for the basketball game halftime shows to provide students different options for entertainment.”

Additionally, Dowels says Mock-a-Ritaville happens on March 11. 

“Mock-a-Ritaville is a fun, interactive event,” she explains, “that simulates a tropical-themed experience where students can enjoy mocktail (non-alcoholic) beverages, music, and activities in a safe and engaging environment.”

February includes activities for Black History Month.  Also on the event calendar is an end-of-the-year block party with animals and HTea0 back on campus.

Dowels admits that learning about SPC’s unique student population was one of her biggest challenges when she arrived at Student Life.  For instance, she says it was a bit of a surprise to find not every student naturally gravitates towards extracurricular activities even if they do live on campus.

“Well, another surprise,” she says, “came that most of those students who live here on campus, they leave campus after class on Thursdays and they may return like on early Monday morning.”

In the end, Dowels says Student Life is taking it day by day, month by month.  At every event, she says, the Student Life team wants students to come and have something to take away,

“Maybe they meet a new friend,” she says.  “Maybe they have questions answered.  Maybe they made a professional contact.  Maybe they networked personally.  Maybe they now have a friend to go to the mall with…to go to the gym with and workout with.  Or study with.  So, we’re just looking to make sure that students feel seen.  That they feel heard.  That they feel valued here.”

The game room is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and then on the weekend from 12 to 8 p.m.   The Student Life office is open and staffed from 8 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

And the “Student Life” section of the SPC main webpage offers more contact info.