Southwestern Michigan College’s first bond refinancing will provide students with a unique learning opportunity while saving more than a million dollars.

SMC’s bond underwriter, Brodie J. Killian, senior vice president with Raymond James and Associates, will double as a visiting professor during his visit to the Dowagiac campus Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 24 and 25.

Killian will speak about municipal bond capital markets, including an overview of SMC’s transaction, an overview of municipal bond markets, parties participating in a municipal bond issue and career paths.

Killian speaks to Chip Weeks’ intermediate accounting class at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Killian’s second talk takes place at 10:20 a.m. Wednesday, in room 454 of the Barbara Wood Building. Refreshments will be served.

SMC is refinancing about $11 million of bonds to lower the average interest rate from about 5.3 percent to 3.7 percent.

Depending on the market Jan. 25, the college anticipates saving $1.5 million to $1.9 million in interest costs over the bonds’ remaining 22 years.

Bonds totaling $14.22 million were issued in 2008 to finance construction of the first residence hall, Keith H. McKenzie Hall, and renovation of the Student Activity Center of the Charles O. Zollar Building.

Killian, a former University of Michigan football player from Dearborn, leads Raymond James’ Michigan K-12, community college and municipal bond banking efforts.

Prior to joining Raymond James, he was a senior banker with William Blair and Co. and the former deputy superintendent of finance and operations for Plymouth Canton Community Schools.

Killian, works in the Grand Rapids and Birmingham areas, has served as vice chairman of Dearborn’s Pension Board of Trustees and as a board member for the University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit and Vista Maria, a social services organization in Dearborn Heights.

He is an active member of Michigan School Business Officials, Michigan Association of School Administrators, Michigan Community College Business Officers Association and the Michigan Government Finance Officers Association.

He graduated from the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy in 2003, the Steven Ross School of Business in 2001 and the Michigan Leadership Institute 2007 Superintendent’s Academy.

Killian played for U of M’s 2001 squad as a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker.

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.