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At their Oct. 9 meeting, Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees previewed the digitally driven “BoRN for This” nursing campaign, reviewed the third annual Futures Fair and presented three service pins.

Director of Marketing Michelle Orlaske reported on the grant-funded outreach to potential nursing and health-services students.

Orlaske said SMC aims to increase awareness of its nursing and health services programs in a 50-mile radius as part of a new BSN partnership with Andrews University.

Primary audiences are students right out of high school (ages 18-21, TikTok, Snapchat) and older adults (22-45, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), with messages tailored to each. The campaign also encompasses streaming audio, video and billboards.

“Dr. Melissa Kennedy (dean of nursing and health services) indicated their most successful student is somebody who wants to be a caregiver,” Orlaske said.

“We have lots of variations for social media,” she continued, playing trustees a couple of brief clips: “Nurses are born as much as they’re made. It’s in their DNA, an inherent desire to help and heal. If you were born for this, Southwestern Michigan College was built for you.”

In his President’s Report, Dr. Joseph Odenwald recapped the Sept. 25 Futures Fair organized by Career Development Manager Melinda Stockwell.

The “Choose Your Adventure” career exploration featured representatives from six key industries, with emphasis on how artificial intelligence and automation impact workplaces.

“One hundred and 63 students attended,” Odenwald said. “Many signed up for connections with industry partners. Six with Midwest Energy and Communications (MEC); 11 with Flowers Early Learning; 12 with Mid-West Family Radio; 35 with AEP (American Electric Power); seven with Lyons Industries; eight with C. Wimberley; and 10 with Big C Lumber.”

Trustee Skip Dyes presented Director of Campus Security and Student Conduct Lyndon Parrish of Cassopolis with his 10-year service pin.

Parrish came to SMC in September 2014 from 30 years in law enforcement, retiring as captain from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office after 27 years. He also served with the Marcellus Police Department and the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department after earning an associate degree in law enforcement from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Parrish also holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Bethel University.

Parrish started as the student/community standards coordinator and was promoted to his current position in 2016. He has been married for 38 years to his wife, Debra, and has children in Nashville, Tenn., Cassopolis and Aspen, Colo.

Technical Support Specialist Tiffany Brooks of Niles received her 10-year pin from Trustee Dr. Elaine Foster.

Brooks came to SMC as a student, transitioning from the automotive industry. She first obtained an associate degree in IT support in 2012, then another in networking in 2013. As a fulltime network technician in 2014, she specialized in software installations and software licensing administration.

In 2017, Brooks transitioned to technical support specialist and completed her bachelor’s degree in computer information technology through Ferris State University. She and Joshua, her husband of 24 years, have four children, including a recent SMC honors graduate.

Trustee Todd Obren awarded a 25-year pin to Math/Science Department Chair Ria Thomas of Niles.

Thomas started at SMC in 1995 as an adjunct math instructor, taking on additional roles of professional tutor and testing technician.

After 10 years of part-time teaching, Thomas transitioned to a fulltime position as Teaching and Learning Center coordinator while completing her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. A year later, she became a fulltime instructor in the Developmental Studies department, moving in 2014 to the Math/Science Department, which she has chaired for six years.

During the past year, Thomas spearheaded development of SMC’s new math pathways.

In honor of her instructional effectiveness, student support, professional development and service to her department and the college, she was awarded the 2011 Michigan Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges Teaching Excellence Award. She is married to Brian and serves on the Niles District Library Board of Trustees.

Trustees acknowledged seven gifts to the SMC Foundation totaling $16,344.66, including one for $10,000 from Jacqueline Bishop of Portage, whose husband was sixth President Dr. Marshall Bishop.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 13 at 8 a.m. at SMC’s Niles campus.