Citizens Opposed to Appointing Brent Brewer as President of Southwestern Michigan College call again for an immediate search to find the next president.
Once a president resigns, the hiring process begins. But, at a special meeting on February 6, 2025, immediately following their acceptance of Dr. Odenwald’s resignation, SMC’s Board of Trustees appointed Brewer as interim president. No formal search has begun or is scheduled to begin.
Instead, according to the college’s report published on February 7, 2025, explaining board action on February 6th, “They voted unanimously to appoint Brewer and to continue discussions about the need and method of any future searches to fill the role of president on a more permanent basis.”
Since it was clearly stated in that same report that Brewer was only appointed as interim president, the appropriate decision would have been to launch a national presidential search in conjunction with Brewer’s appointment.
By failing to immediately initiate and plan a national search, the board failed SMC’s employees, the taxpayers that support the college, and the community at large. Equally disturbing is the board’s decision to appoint an internal interim without transparency regarding the qualifications for an interim or a clear rationale for this decision.
With the hiring of Dr. Joe Odenwald and recent presidents, SMC has set a precedent for itself: presidents had a doctoral degree and held degrees and experience from more than one institution, bringing a variety of perspectives to the position of president. Brewer offers the minimum requirement of a master’s degree, and that is not in the field of education. Our college deserves the pinnacle of leadership, not the baseline.
The board should uphold its fiduciary responsibilities to the taxpayers by providing that exceptionally qualified candidates also be considered.
The Aspen Institute | College Excellence Program publication Hiring Exceptional Community College Presidents states, “There is no more important job for a board than hiring the individual who will lead the community college in the years to come.”
We have questions:
1. Will veteran, long-serving professors, particularly those with doctorates, entrust governance to Brewer? The Board of Trustees Manual Section II.4.1 Job Specifications for the President states, “doctoral degree strongly preferred.”
2. Can Brewer garner the necessary trust for collaboration with administrators, faculty and staff to build strong teams despite his controversy?
3. Is our community expected to ignore the existence of Brewer’s domestic violence history, while the Board Chairman minimizes these charges stating that they were dropped with Brewer pleading guilty to a lesser charge, thus inferring that the original charges were without merit.
4. Should our community allow SMC’s board of trustees to ignore its own ethical standards as stated in the board policy manual: “All Decisions and actions of the Trustees shall be made . . . for the sole purpose of advancing the best interests of the College and the public good. The College’s integrity must be protected at all times and the fiduciary duties of the Trustees must be respected in both actuality and appearance.” (Southwestern Michigan College Board Policy - Bylaws – Article VIII – Board of Trustees, Section 1)
And, as over 400 signatories on our petition attest, the people demand more from their elected board of trustees and from the forthcoming president.
Therefore, we vehemently oppose the appointment of Brent Brewer as president after his interim contract expires or is terminated. And we, supported by precedent, common practice, and appropriate board conduct, continue to fervently demand that a search for the next leader of Southwestern Michigan College begin TODAY, while a pool of excellent candidates still exists - not in October when a new academic year has begun, and the candidate pool will be virtually non-existent.