News

SMC Music Majors Hear Renowned Trombonist

Southwestern Michigan College music majors were treated Sept. 12 to a guest speaker, trombonist Tim Coffman. Coffman, a performer and educator in the Chicago area, was in town to perform Sept. 13 at the South Haven Jazz Festival with the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band through a Jupiter Music grant. Coffman began by playing a 1941 Billie Holiday ballad, “Lover Man,” accompanied by a play-along track on his laptop he pulled from YouTube.

SMC Accomplishments Reviewed

Interim President Brent Brewer detailed an “historic fall” Sept. 10 for the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees. From an economic impact study and three capital improvement projects to 1,100 students participating in 17 Welcome Week activities, SMC is “firing on all eight cylinders,” in 2025, as Chairman Tom Jerdon put it.

Make It a Laughing Matter

Automotive Professor Kyle Schrock isn’t ready to give up his seven-year day job, but at the same time he’s serious about nurturing his fledgling comedy career. Stand-up comedy implies a fusillade of jokes. That’s not Schrock. He’s more of a storyteller.

12 Moving Forward in SMC Presidential Search

The search for Southwestern Michigan College’s ninth president continues on schedule, the College reported today.

Meet SMC's Chief Assurance Officer

Native Texan Dr. Jeff Freels, Southwestern Michigan College’s new chief assurance officer, aims to position faculty for success the way he did for students while teaching history at community colleges.

Inspired to Share Her Passion for Teaching

Studying early childhood education with Ranee Conley at Southwestern Michigan College “put more fire in my passion,” Noemi Reyna-Adams, SMC ’21, said. Her career goal today is becoming a professor in early childhood education.

Robotics engineer hikes Appalachian Trail — 2,198 miles, from Ga. to Maine

Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring material known, which robotics control engineer Brooks Diamond (Class of 2014) certainly proved hiking the Appalachian Trail. Diamond, who grew up in Dowagiac, was hired right out of SMC by JR Automations in St. Joseph and in January 2020 followed his job to Nashville, where its headquarters is located. He’s traveled all over the globe for his job.

SMC Testing Center Recertified

Southwestern Michigan College’s testing center has been recertified by the National College Testing Association (NCTA) for five years. Coordinator Michelle Gibson began assembling a thick binder of documentation in February to meet rigorous criteria based on Madison, Wis.-based NCTA professional standards and guidelines.

Earning a Ride on the Law Enforcement Side

Cooper Christner experienced quite a year in 2024, earning his Southwestern Michigan College criminal justice degree, presenting a paper at the American Sociological Association conference in Montreal, finishing police academy and becoming a road officer with the Baroda-Lake Township Police Department in Berrien County. He’s 19.

Search Progresses for Next SMC President

Southwestern Michigan College provided an update today on the search for its ninth president. Director of Human Resources Nicole Lehman noted that the position was promoted on nine different professional job boards and attracted 128 applications over a six-week period which ended on Aug. 17.