Southern Wesleyan University's Dr. Michael P. Keaton Releases New Book Aimed at Helping Students Navigate Their First Year of College
Feb 5, 2026 | Academics
CENTRAL, SC — Southern Wesleyan University alumnus (’93) and longtime faculty member Dr. Michael P. Keaton has written a new book designed to help students navigate their first year of college. Start College Strong: What Every First-Year Student Needs to Know. Published by Bloomsbury, the book was released on February 5, 2026.
A native of Seneca, South Carolina, Keaton is a tenured Professor of History at Southern Wesleyan University. He holds five college degrees, including an associate’s degree, two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree, and a PhD. He brings more than two decades of teaching experience in secondary and higher education into his writing.
Written as both a practical guide and an inside look at how college works, Start College Strong is designed to help incoming students understand academic expectations, campus systems, and the habits needed for success. The book can be read independently by students, adopted for first-year seminars, assigned as required summer reading, or used by academic departments and athletics programs as part of student success initiatives.
“Many students arrive at college without a clear understanding of how the academic system operates,” Keaton said. “This book is intended to help students make that transition with confidence and clarity.”
Keaton is also the author of the science fiction novel All Hail the Emperor. Southern Wesleyan University is pleased to celebrate Dr. Michael Keaton, a faculty member and alumni whose work supports student formation, academic excellence, and purposeful vocation.
Start College Strong: What Every First-Year Student Needs to Know is available through major booksellers beginning February 5, 2026. Additional information about the book, including where to order it, author Q&As and a media kit are available at StartCollegeStrong.com.
About Southern Wesleyan University
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused, faith-filled community that offers inventive learning experiences. The university endeavors to prepare its students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, go online to www.swu.edu.
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