DOWAGIAC — Southwestern Michigan College Foundation announced four new people on its leadership team.

Nathan Swords will be director of development, Tom Swartz and Deborah Hackworth are now directors, and Carol Schmidt is its new president.

Schmidt, of Magician Lake in Cass County, became president in March.

She is a retired superintendent of South Bend Community Schools, Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. Her career began in 1968 teaching English at Dowagiac Central Middle School.

She has also chaired the United Way of Southwest Michigan campaign.

She is a Central Michigan University graduate. She earned her master’s degree in counseling and guidance and her doctorate in teaching and teacher education from the University of Arizona.

“My goals are to support the new director of development and to strengthen the foundation’s connection with the students, perhaps as mentors,” she said. “I would like to have the foundation be able to offer grants for specific student learning projects that may need extra support. Our donors are very generous, so we would like to have a broader impact and connection to the SMC community.”

Hackworth, of Dowagiac, is the foundation’s newest director. She has been director of advocacy services for Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services since 2016. She first joined the Three Rivers-based agency in 2011.

“I am excited about the opportunity to help young people reach their academic and life goals in a significant way,” Hackworth said.

She is an ordained Faith Bible Church minister and certified life coach. She has been active with the Minority Coalition of Cass County since 2008.

Swords, of Stevensville, became director of development in August. He earned a bachelor’s in organizational communication with a management minor and a master’s degree, both cum laude, from Western Michigan University in 2012 and 2014. He taught public speaking at WMU.

Swords’ previous work experiences are in recruitment, management and supervision, sales, training and development and translational writing and public relations.

“I think SMC saw in me somebody who’s really motivated,” Swords said. “I’m in a position in my life professionally where I’ve come to understand how much I love higher education, community colleges specifically. College can transform an individual. Community college represents a unique opportunity for those who may not have opportunities elsewhere.

He said he loves building relationships, engaging with people and getting involved with the community. His new position encapsulates those skill sets, he said.

Swartz, of Cassopolis, joined the SMC Foundation board in 2004, serving as vice president, from 2004 to 2009, and president, from 2009-2013. He returns as a director this year.

Swartz retired from the University of Notre Dame after 45 years as a faculty member. The economics professor was a founding member and chair of its Faculty Senate, helped establish its London undergraduate program and founded the London Summer Program.

He taught more than 15,000 students and received Notre Dame’s three most prestigious teaching awards.

Swartz holds a doctorate from Indiana University, a master’s degree from Ohio University and a bachelor’s degree from Philadelphia’s LaSalle University.

He served for more than 10 years as Cass County Planning Commission vice chair.

The SMC Foundation has provided the College with $2.6 million in scholarships since 1990, including $250,000 during the 2018-19 academic year.