New President Selected For Southwestern Michigan College

dr-joseph-odenwald

A new president for Southwestern Michigan College has been selected by the SMC Board of Trustees. The board on Monday voted unanimously to hire Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald to succeed Dr. David Mathews. Odenwald has served as SMC’s Vice President of Student Services since 2017, coming to Dowagiac after working as assistant dean for academic affairs at Louisiana State University College of Engineering. Odenwald earned his Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana College, a Master of Science from Mississippi College, and his Doctor of Education from The University of Southern Mississippi. SMC Board of Trustees Chair Thomas Jerdon says the four candidates the board considered for the position were all impressive, but after much deliberation, the body decided Odenwald is the best fit. SMC President David Mathews will retire at the end of the year. Once the board approves Odenwald’s contract, he will begin transition work and officially assume his duties as president on January 1, 2020.