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DOWAGIAC – A Change.org petition has been created that calls for a nationwide search be conducted to find the next Southwestern Michigan College president and is opposed to hiring SMC Senior Vice President Brent Brewer as the new president.

      Current SMC President Dr. Joseph Odenwald announced his resignation earlier this year to take the presidency position at Alma College. He will leave SMC in early May and take over at Alma June 1. The SMC Board of Trustees announced in February that they were appointing Brewer as interim president effective May 11.

      Brewer, who is also the college’s Chief Strategy Officer, has worked for over 16 years at the college. He earned an Associate in Arts from SMC, then a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management and a Master of Business Administration from Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Brewer joined SMC and has served as Director of Enrollment Management, Community Outreach Coordinator, Director of Niles Campus, Associate Vice President for the Niles Campus, Chief of Staff, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Campus Life and Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives.

In appointing Brewer to the presidency on an interim basis, board members said in February that they would be continuing discussions on how to fill the post on a permanent basis.

The Change.org petition was established Wednesday by a group called Citizens Opposed to Appointing Brent Brewer as President of Southwestern Michigan College. A press release from the group indicated that the petition is available for persons in objection to his appointment to sign and share with others.

The press release noted that the SMC Board of Trustees voted to appoint Brewer as the interim president on Feb. 6 “even as serious concerns persist regarding Brewer’s qualifications and past allegations of domestic violence.”

“This citizen group has significant apprehension about Mr. Brewer’s leadership qualifications, character and integrity,” the press release stated.

Concerns raised included the fact that Brewer does not hold a doctoral degree. “Dr. Odenwald and the two previous SMC presidents held doctoral degrees,” the release stated. “His higher education experience is limited solely to his tenure at SMC, reducing the broadest perspective and expertise gained through leadership in multiple educational institutions.”

The press release also noted published reports that Brewer was arrested and charged with Domestic Violence and Disorderly Person—Disturbing the Peace less than two years ago and that the domestic violence charge was dropped with Brewer pleading guilty to the lesser charge.

“Brewer’s appointment will send a dangerous message to survivors—that their victimization does not matter,” the release stated. “Citizens opposed to Brewer’s appointment believe the Board of Trustees must conduct a national search to ensure the most qualified and reputable candidate is selected to lead the institution.”

The Change.org petition can be accessed through this link. More than 140 people had signed the petition as of midday Friday.

Both Brewer and SMC Board Chairman Tom Jerdon released statements Thursday afternoon.

“The college is well aware of those past allegations,” Jerdon said. “After further investigation, all of the initial domestic violence charges were dropped. The SMC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Brewer as interim president.”

“Trustees had the opportunity to meet with Mr. and Mrs. Brewer and have full confidence in his ability to effectively lead SMC. As we said in February, the Board of Trustees will discuss and determine next steps for filling the president’s position on a permanent basis in October.”

Brewer thanked the college and the prosecutor’s office for their handling of his personal situation. 

“I’m incredibly grateful that both the prosecutor’s office and the college conducted thorough reviews in the matter, allowing the truth to come out,” he said. “That chapter is behind me, and I’m excited for this new role and the opportunity to lead this institution forward as interim president.”