She Talks for a Living

Annette Hover Weston had wanted to be a journalist since she was 11. She remains one today, though made her way through print and news broadcasting coast to coast to reach her specialized perch — talk radio. Her future destination was prophesied in high school in Van Buren County, where she graduated with Lawrence’s Class of 1987.

SMC Hosts Fifth Bands Clinic with U-M Director

Southwestern Michigan College’s fifth annual Bands Clinic Day Feb. 14 featured six area school bands and almost 350 musicians critiqued by University of Michigan Director of Bands Jason K. Fettig to polish March Southwestern Michigan Band and Orchestra Association (SWMBOA) festival programs.

Timing is Everything for a Transport Nurse

Melissa “Lissa” (Hollis) Borders of Niles (’03) never intended to become a nurse. She thought it was “gross.” Today, she’s a pediatric critical care transport nurse who has been with Beacon Health System for 22 years.

SMC Enrollment Up For Sixth Straight Semester, Board Discusses Presidency

At its regular meeting on Feb.12, the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees set October as a target time to discuss selecting a permanent president. Last week on Feb. 6, the board accepted President Dr. Joe Odenwald’s resignation and unanimously appointed long-time administrator Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Brent Brewer as interim president, effective May 11.

SMC Board of Trustees Appoints Brent Brewer as Interim President

At a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees accepted President Dr. Joe Odenwald’s resignation with regret and unanimously appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Brent Brewer as interim president, effective May 11, 2025, subject to contract negotiations.

SMC Hosts Future Educators

Southwestern Michigan College’s Future Educators Day Jan. 31 was an intimate program for six prospective students from Edwardsburg and Three Rivers. Professor Ranee Conley was the keynote speaker in her classroom, Lyons 219, explaining SMC’s two degree paths, elementary and early childhood education. She directs both programs.

President Odenwald Resigns

Southwestern Michigan College President Dr. Joseph Odenwald has notified the SMC Board of Trustees that he has accepted the presidency of Alma College in Alma, Mich., effective June 1, 2025. Odenwald will remain in his current position stewarding the college through Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10.

Jones an Award-Winning Choir Director in Washington State

Before he became an award-winning choir director in Washington state, Niles’ James Jones was associated with Southwestern Michigan College theatrical productions for a decade, first as a student, then as an adjunct instructor. His job fulfills a “lifelong ambition.” Last year Jones won Richland School District’s 2024 Crystal Apple Award. He also took a group of high schoolers to Ireland for a week on a performance tour.

Faculty Recital Features Saxophone

Southwestern Michigan College’s first spring-semester instrumental recital Jan. 28 featured Leo Schlaifer, adjunct instructor of saxophone. Accompanying Schlaifer, who has been teaching at SMC since September 2023, were two other saxophonists, a composer who detests gossip and an unlikely flock of birds.

Bosch Community Fund Underwrites SMC STEM Camp

Southwestern Michigan College has been awarded another Bosch Community Fund grant for the seventh Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Summer Camp the third week of June on the Dowagiac campus. Math and Physics Professor Andrew Dohm, who writes the grants, said the popular free camps will be offered to area students entering grades 4-6 this fall.