Southwestern Michigan College forms presidential search committee amid community concerns

Editor’s note: The story was updated (5/21/25, at 4:51 p.m.) to include a more accurate description of how the ad hoc committee will be comprised. Initially the story stated the committee would be comprised of board members, faculty, staff, students, and community representatives.

Southwestern Michigan College (SMC) has officially formed a presidential search committee, the college confirmed in a press release issued this week, marking a significant shift in response to weeks of public scrutiny over the appointment of interim president Brent Brewer.

The announcement comes after pressure from concerned citizens, including a petition with over 400 signatures, and growing criticism over what some community members described as a lack of transparency and due process in Brewer’s appointment.

Brewer was appointed interim president following the resignation of Dr. Joe Odenwald. Critics argued that his selection was made without a formal search process, sparking questions about governance, qualifications, and the direction of the college’s leadership.

According to the May 20 press release, the SMC Board of Trustees voted to initiate a formal presidential search and has established an ad hoc committee comprised of SMC Board of Trustees Chair Tom Jerdon, Vice Chairman Tracy Hertsel, Trustee Dr. Elaine Fort, former faculty association president Professor Jeff Dennis and SMC Foundation Vice Chair Tom Ellspermann.

“The Board of Trustees is committed to conducting a thorough, inclusive, and transparent process to identify the best candidate to lead Southwest Michigan College,” the release states.

Community pushback and concerns

Julie Dye, a local resident and one of the community members leading the call for transparency, said the interim appointment raised red flags — particularly due to Brewer’s limited professional experience outside of SMC and past charges related to domestic violence.

“Having someone with that kind of background leading an institution that serves students — some of whom may be survivors of domestic violence — sends the wrong message,” she said. “Beyond that, there was no clear public process, and that undermines trust.”

Back in April, Tim Mosier of ABC 57 reported that the college was aware of the past charges, and after further investigation learned the charges were dropped:

“The college is well aware of those past allegations,” Jerdon said. 

“After further investigation, all of the initial domestic violence charges were dropped. The SMC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Brewer as interim president. Trustees had the opportunity to meet with Mr. and Mrs. Brewer and have full confidence in his ability to effectively lead SMC. As we said in February, the Board of Trustees will discuss and determine next steps for filling the president’s position on a permanent basis in October.” — Excerpt from “Southwestern Michigan College facing backlash over hiring of new President” by Tim Mosier, ABC 57

Naomi Ludman, a retired SMC faculty member, echoed similar concerns. While acknowledging Brewer’s longtime service at the college, she emphasized that “best practice in higher education is to form a search committee immediately,” especially for leadership roles.

Ludman also raised concerns about academic credentials, noting that Brewer holds a master’s degree in business but lacks a doctoral degree — something historically expected of SMC presidents.

“Someone with the best qualifications for president is going to have experience at more than one institution,” Ludman said. “The college needs a leader with a breadth of experience and strong academic credentials.”

Board’s position

While the initial appointment drew criticism, the Board had previously stated it saw value in Brewer’s familiarity with the college. According to Jerdon, Brewer’s 19 years of experience at SMC was a major factor in the interim decision.

Still, critics feared the board might bypass a full search process altogether. At a March meeting, the board delayed the decision to conduct a national or regional search until October — something many argued would effectively limit the pool of qualified candidates.

A recent announcement confirms the search is now moving forward ahead of that timeline.

Community members have vowed to remain engaged. Dye confirmed that a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was filed on April 30 to obtain records related to the appointment process, with a deadline for the college’s response set for May 21.

“This is about accountability, not just about one person,” she said. “Taxpayers, students, and faculty deserve to know that the process is fair, transparent, and focused on what’s best for the college.”

Najifa Farhat is a staff reporter with Watershed Voice.