Michael Deschamp, an English instructor in Southwestern Michigan College’s Communications Department, has been selected as an NEH Summer Scholar from a national applicant pool to attend one of 23 seminars and institutes supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Endowment is a federal agency that each summer supports these enrichment opportunities at colleges, universities and cultural institutions so faculty can work in collaboration and study with experts in humanities disciplines.

Deschamp, of Kalamazoo, will participate in the summer institute “Moral Psychology and Education: Putting the Humanities to Work.”

This four-week program will be at Grand Valley State University and co-directed by Dr. Deborah Mower, Youngstown State University professor of philosophy and religion, and Dr. Phyllis Vandenberg, Grand Valley professor of philosophy.

The 25 scholars selected to participate each receive a $3,300 stipend to cover travel, study and living expenses.

Deschamp, who has taught at SMC for a year, is in his 29th year of teaching.

He did undergraduate work at North Dakota State University and graduate work at Fordham, University of California Berkeley and Collegio Seraphicum (Rome).

He holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Louisiana.

The 521 NEH Summer Scholars who participate in these 23 programs will teach more than 91,175 American students the following year.

Southwestern Michigan College is a public, residential and commuter, community college, founded in 1964. The college averages in the top 10 percent nationally for student academic success based upon the National Community College Benchmark Project. Southwestern Michigan College strives to be the college of first choice, to provide the programs and services to meet the needs of students, and to serve our community. The college is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.