News
SMC Presidential Finalist Interviews Slated Oct. 21-22
Published on October 13, 2025 - 1 p.m.
Southwestern Michigan College has scheduled on-campus interviews for the three finalists for president. The interviews will be conducted in the Fred L. Mathews Library and Conference Center West conference room on the Dowagiac Campus, and while audience questions will not be taken during these sessions, they are open for public viewing.
Once all three have concluded, videos of the interviews will be available on the SMC YouTube channel on Thursday, Oct. 23.
Dr. Jonathan Swarts – Tuesday, Oct. 21, 3:30 p.m.
Dr. Jonathan Swarts earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Akron, plus an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from The Ohio State University. He has held a series of positions at Purdue University’s regional campuses, beginning with Academic Programs Coordinator for the Department of Social Sciences at Purdue North Central in 2011. In 2014, he became Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate, and in 2016 was named Chair of the Department of Political Science, Economics and World Languages and Cultures at Purdue Northwest. From 2018 to 2020, Swarts served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Purdue Northwest, and since 2020, has worked as the Founding Dean of University College and Dean of the Honors College at Purdue Northwest.
Billy Franklin – Wednesday, Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m.
Billy D. Franklin received a Bachelor of Science in History from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Management and Technology in Arlington, Va. He has held a series of positions with the U.S. Navy, beginning with Commanding Officer in Indiana from 2014 to 2016. In 2016, he became Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff for the 5th Fleet in Manama, Bahrain. In 2019, Franklin moved to Chief Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the Navy Operational Support Center in Great Lakes, Ill. From 2021 to 2023, he was CEO and Commanding Officer of the Reserve Component Command Mid-Atlantic Region, and since 2023 has served as the CEO and Chief of Staff of the Navy Reserve at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C
Dr. Kevin McCaskey – Wednesday, Oct. 22, 3:30 p.m.
Dr. Kevin McCaskey has earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Arts in Security Studies from American Public University, a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College and a Ph.D. in Security Studies from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. From 2014 to 2017, while at the Air Force Academy, McCaskey served as an Assistant Professor and Academic Department Head in the Department of Strategic Studies. From 2016 to 2018, he was the International Military Education and Training team lead at the center for Civil-Military Relations in Monterrey, Calif. From 2017 to 2021, he was Associate Professor and Director of the Provost’s Action Group at the Air Force Academy. Since 2023, he has served as the U.S. Transportation Command Liaison to European Command, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
