DOWAGIAC — The Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees unanimously approved a motion to interview all four internal candidates with one to succeed Dr. David Mathews as the eighth president of SMC during its meeting Monday evening.
During the meeting, the board of trustees invited members of the public to share what they believe is important in a candidate. The public responded with 12 speakers, who each made their way to the podium to discuss their support or disapproval with the board’s decision to keep the search internal. The speakers included members of SMC’s faculty, taxpayers, alumni and a county commissioner, all who shared their thoughts and ideas regarding the college’s next president.
Before the public input, Chairman Thomas Jerdon said the Michigan constitution, Michigan Community College Act and the board of trustees’ bylaws all stated only the board of trustees selects and appoints a president.
After hearing the public’s comments, Jerdon announced motion to move forward with interviewing one to four of the internal candidates: Dr. David Fleming, SMC’s vice president of instruction since 2011; Dr. Lucian Leone, SMC’s current director of admissions; Dr. Joseph Odenwald, SMC’s vice president of student services since 2017; and Dr. Stacy Young, SMC’s dean of the School of Business and Advanced Technology since 2013.
A motion was made by Treasurer Becky Moore to interview all four candidates and seconded by Secretary William White. There was no discussion from any member of the board of trustees on the qualities or qualifications of any of the four candidates.
Three members during public input brought up the need for a search committee composed of faculty, students and taxpayers, but there were no motions by any member of the board to create one.
The interviews for the four internal candidates will be hosted by the board of trustees on Monday, Sept. 30 and open to the public. The official time of the interviews was not announced at the time of publication.