The Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees has named a new interim college president.
Current SMC President Joe Odenwald announced this week he’s leaving in June to take on the position of president at Alma College. Now, the board of trustees has appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Brent Brewer as interim president, effective May 11.
The SMC Board says after accepting Odenwald’s resignation, it “had a lengthy and thorough conversation involving all seven trustees regarding the best course forward.” The vote to appoint Brewer as interim president was unanimous, and the board says it will “continue discussions about the need and method of any future searches to fill the role of president on a more permanent basis.”
Brewer has worked for over 16 years at the college. He joined SMC in a professional role as Outreach Specialist in September 2008, and has also served as Director of Enrollment Management, Community Outreach Coordinator, Director of the Niles Campus, Associate Vice President for the Niles Campus, and more.
SMC Board Chair Thomas Jerdon says Brewer “has been an exceptional executive at SMC for nearly 17 years and has worked very closely with President Emeritus David Mathews and Dr. Odenwald in the day-to-day operations of the college.” He says the board is confident in his ability to lead.
