Carole Tate, a member of the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees since 1991,and treasurer of the board since 2003, resigned from the board effective Sept. 1.
Mrs. Tate’s term expires on Dec. 31, 2010.

Mrs. Tate and her husband, David, live in Hamilton Township of Van Buren County.

Mrs. Tate is a retired school media specialist. Her husband, David, is the longtime director of Van Buren District Library.

The Tates own a home in Arizona and Mrs. Tate plans to spend more of her time there.
Mrs. Tate is a 1975 graduate of SMC.

She earned her teaching certificate and bachelor’s degree in English and her master’s degree in library science from Western Michigan University.

At the time of her retirement from education, Mrs. Tate was the media specialist in the Decatur Public Schools.

In her letter of resignation to Chairman Mathews and the Board of Trustees, Mrs. Tate said, “Working with this board, President David Mathews, faculty and staff has been a positive and life-changing experience for me.

“I want to thank you and my fellow trustees for your wonderful support and friendship.  Your dedication to SMC has been an inspiration to me and countless others. SMC changed my life forever and will continue to do the same for future generations.”

Dr. Fred Mathews, chairman of the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees said, “The Board of Trustees is saddened that Carole Tate will be retiring from the board. She has been an active, energetic and dedicated member of the board. Her education background provided the board with a perspective which was valuable in its policy deliberations.

“We appreciated having Carole as a colleague these past 18 years. We also appreciated and enjoyed her friendly personality, her sense of humor and her team player approach to her job as trustee. Carole Tate will be greatly missed as a fellow trustee and friend on the Board of Trustees.”