Reflecting on his almost year at the helm of Southwestern Michigan College, Interim President Brent Brewer told the Board of Trustees March 11 that serving “has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. It stretched me, challenged me and reminded me of why I chose to work in higher education — to make a difference in people’s lives and to be part of something bigger than myself.”

SMC’s ninth president, Dr. Klint Pleasant, officially starts April 6.

“I stepped into this position with humility, a strong sense of responsibility and a deep commitment to this college,” Brewer said. “I understood the moment we were in — a period of transition, with real challenges in front of us.

“We had two major projects in the works,” he said. “We had HLC reaffirmation and organizational change and the weight of leading an institution that means so much to so many people. But I also knew that this was a college worth the effort and energy. Over the past year, together we have accomplished a tremendous amount of work that matters not just on paper, but in the lives of our students and the future of this institution.

“We successfully passed the accreditation reaffirmation process, which is no small feat,” Brewer said. “It speaks volumes about the quality, rigor and integrity of our academic enterprise.

“We maintained our AA stable credit rating, reinforcing our financial stewardship and our institutional credibility,” he said. “We were named Leader Publications’ Best of the Best College in Southwest Michigan, a recognition that reflects the collective effort of our faculty, our staff and leadership to deliver excellence every day.

“We also had two major strides in growth and opportunities for students,” he said. “We launched women’s wrestling alongside men’s and women’s track and field, expanding access and opening doors for more student-athletes.

“We broke ground and have since completed an 11,000-square-foot wrestling facility — a project that symbolizes both momentum and belief in where we are headed.

“We completed the 24 remaining of 36 beds for student housing, strengthening our residential experience and positioning us for continued enrollment growth,” Brewer said.

“Academically and organizationally, we took bold steps,” he said. “We reorganized our academic division to better align our structure with student needs and institutional priorities. We launched phase one of the Lyons renovation project, investing in spaces that support learning, creativity and community. As of Friday, even in the midst of storms, we began shaping our 2026-29 strategic plan, ensuring that the future is not left to chance, but guided by vision.”

Enrollment “tells a powerful story,” Brewer said. “We ranked in the top five in the state for growth for both Fall and Spring. That kind of sustained momentum doesn’t happen just by luck.”

Board Chair Tom Jerdon communicated that “Brent has just been a real trouper. SMC has not lost any momentum because of Brent’s willingness to step in at a time of an unanticipated vacancy with little notice. He and the leadership team function so well in part because we are a mission-driven campus that focuses on the strategic plan. Perhaps even more impressively, he has done double the workload for nearly a year. I have enjoyed working with Brent because he is extremely efficient with his and my time. On behalf of the entire board, we thank him for his hard work, advancement of student success, and his loyalty to our college.”

Brewer thanked board members for their trust, counsel, leadership and “your willingness to both support and challenge me. While I may be the voice sitting at this table, the success of this past year belongs to my senior leadership colleagues who showed up every day with professionalism, honesty and dedication. They navigated change, solved problems, supported one another and kept their focus where it belongs — on students and the mission. I also want to thank (Executive Assistant to the President) Diana (Bosch) for her partnership, professionalism, organization, judgment, discretion and unwavering support.

“During this time of transition, I saw resilience and heart from our faculty and staff. They stepped up, leaned in and cared deeply. This college is stronger because of it. The institution is on stronger footing, the trajectory is positive, the foundation has been reinforced and, most important, the mission remains clear and unwavering.”

Trustee Becky Moore awarded Building and Grounds Coordinator Andrea Swartz of Marcellus her 10-year service pin.

Swartz, who began working for the college as a student in 2012, also worked in human resources while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in human resource management through Ferris State University before joining the staff fulltime in 2016.

“Her institutional knowledge and positive attitude have made her an important resource for colleagues across the campus,” Brewer said.

Swartz has been married for seven years and has a 13-month-old daughter.

Trustees accepted a $5,000 donation from Honor Credit Union, Berrien Springs, as Steve’s Run’s primary sponsor.

The board also acknowledged 16 gifts to the SMC Foundation totaling $34,651.