Two additions to the Southwestern Michigan College Foundation Board for three-year terms are former South Bend Community School Corp. Superintendent Carole Schmidt, Ph.D., and Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce President Kim MacGregor.

Schmidt, of Magician Lake, retired in June 2016 after five years as South Bend superintendent and three years each in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.

Her career began in 1968 teaching English at Dowagiac Central Middle School.

In August she will celebrate 50 years of marriage to Larry Schmidt, Dowagiac Board of Education president.

Schmidt’s parents, William and Alberta McGrew, both Dowagiac educators, moved to Tucson in 1964.

Her father had been Dowagiac Junior High School principal.

Schmidt attended Arizona State University for three years, but graduated from Central Michigan University.

Schmidt has been an adjunct instructor at Indiana University South Bend, Western Michigan University and the University of Arizona, from which she earned a master’s degree in counseling and guidance and her doctorate in teaching and teacher education.

Schmidt, returning in 1999 after three decades in Arizona, chaired the United Way of Southwest Michigan campaign and served as board president during seven years on the National Staff Development Council.

“SMC is key to growth in this community and region,” Schmidt said. “It has an incredible record of growth and success. Contributing to SMC is a way to give back and be engaged in this community.”

MacGregor, a Sturgis resident who has been Edward D. Jones’ financial advisor at in  Dowagiac  since December 2010, said the college benefits the community.

“The foundation has a great leader in Eileen Toney, who gets the word out and brings in the community. I believe Southwestern Michigan College is a great asset and want to do what I can to assist with its continuation,” MacGregor said.

MacGregor, an Accredited Asset Management Specialist and has won Jones’ Eagle and Entrepreneurial awards.

She was Chamber Member of the Year in Angola, Ind., past Kiwanis president in Branch County, a founding member of Cass County 100 Women Who Care in 2013 and serves on The Timbers Community Advisory Board.

She attended Austin Community College in Texas, where she lived for seven years.

“If Dowagiac succeeds, I succeed,” MacGregor said. “It’s to everyone’s benefit to volunteer. It gives an opportunity to have a voice and to make a difference in making things better.”

Southwestern Michigan College Foundation ensures all eligible students have financial access to college education.

This non-profit, tax-exempt corporation established in 1970 bridges the financial gap between students’ needs and resources with scholarships.

This year the foundation embarked on a $2.6 million major gift initiative to provide funding for the Nursing and Health Education Building expansion on the Dowagiac campus.    

To learn more about the foundation’s major gift initiative and support changing lives, visit www.swmich.edu/giving.

Or, contact Toney at: SMC Foundation, 58900 Cherry Grove Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047; (269) 782-1301; or etoney@swmich.edu.