At its regular meeting Monday evening, the Board of Trusteesof Southwestern Michigan College elected officers for the next two years.

Re-elected to their current positions were Dr. Fred Mathews, chairman; Keith McKenzie, vice chairman; Tom Jerdon, treasurer; and Bill White, secretary.

Mathews started his 49th year as board chairman.

He was elected as the board’s first chairman in 1964, the year the college was founded. He has been re-elected by his fellow trustees as chairman every two years since.

Mathews is  the longest-serving community college board chairman in the United States.

McKenzie, of Marcellus, was elected to the board of trustees in 1969, Jerdon, of

Dowagiac, in 1991, and White, of Jones, in 1992.

Chairman Mathews said, “I am very proud to serve with all the dedicated trustees of Southwestern Michigan College. Each and every one serves for the right reasons — service to students, the taxpayers and the community. The long-term service which all the officers represent gives the board great stability and experience, while

the other three newer Trustees Paul File, 2003; Beth Cripe, 2011; and Becky Moore, 2012; bring a balance and new perspectives to the board. Combine this board with a superior president, faculty, and administrative staff it is no wonder that Southwestern Michigan College is recognized a one of this nation’s premier community colleges.”