By Staff
DOWAGIAC - Southwestern Michigan College announced Monday that Dan Wyant, president and chief operating officer (COO) of the Edward Lowe Foundation, will speak at the April 29 graduation ceremonies.
The Lowe Foundation is an operating foundation that champions the entrepreneurial spirit by assisting second-stage business owners and the organizations that serve them.
The foundation's headquarters are on 2,500 acres of farmland and forestland in Cassopolis.
Wyant has served on the Board of Trustees of the Edward Lowe Foundation since January 1998.
Having grown up on a family farm in Cass County, Wyant has strong roots in southwestern Michigan.
Wyant recently completed a nine-year tenure as director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, serving in the administrations of Gov. John Engler and Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
While director, he was a member of the State Fair Advisor Council and was appointed by Gov. Granholm to the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council.
Wyant's service in both the public and private sectors and in the not-for-profit arena was extended in 2004 with his election to the Board of Directors of the Council of Michigan Foundations.
Wyant holds a bachelor of science degree in food systems management from Michigan State University (MSU) and an MBA from American University in Washington D.C. He resides in East Lansing with his wife, Kathy, and children, Monica and Jordan.
SMC's 39th commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 29, at 11 a.m. in the Zollar Sports Center on the Dowagiac campus.