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At its regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the contract of Dr. Klint Pleasant, incoming ninth president of SMC.

Board Chair Thomas F. Jerdon said that trustees have reviewed extensive compensation data from the other Michigan community colleges as well as national data. While the national figures show a higher average for base salary, in-state data was used to adjust and review other items. The contract was also reviewed extensively by the college attorney.

“The goal here was to craft a contract that is fair and competitive,” Jerdon said. “Dr. Pleasant’s contract provides for a base salary of $219,600, as well as health care that is the same as all other employees, retirement contributions and other fringe benefits common to other Michigan community college CEOs. This base salary aligns with what we advertised in our national search.”    

During the national search conducted in 2025, SMC evaluated 128 applications that resulted in the selection of Dr. Pleasant.   

The three-year contract starts April 6, 2026, and runs to April of 2029 with an option for a one-year extension.   During that time, Dr. Pleasant will be eligible for salary increases at the same rate as other employees at the college.

Dr. Pleasant, a lifetime Michigander, has worked in higher education for 28 years and has spent the last 20 years in administration. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Lipscomb University, a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Tennessee and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Strategic Change from Lipscomb University. Since 2017, he has served as the Senior Vice President and Special Assistant to the President at Rochester Christian University (RCU) in Rochester Hills, Mich. Since 2005, Pleasant has spent time managing enrollment, development and athletics. Additionally, he has been involved with strategic planning, student mentoring, student retention and community relations. Lastly, he has served as an instructor in the classroom and is a published author.  

In addition to Pleasant's expertise in higher education administration, he has also been a highly successful college basketball coach, as he was recently inducted into the Michigan Basketball Hall of Fame. He is one of the top 25 winningest coaches in the NAIA and has captured numerous "Coach of the Year" awards while leading his teams to both conference and national championships. Pleasant's teams have been known not only for their performance on the hardwood, but also in the classroom and in the community. Pleasant, along with his father and brother, manage the largest basketball camp in the state of Michigan which also is known for teaching life skills such as character and attitude. He has also made coaching stops at Wayne State University, Abilene Christian University and Kent State University, where he helped lead the Golden Flashes to an NCAA I Elite Eight appearance.

Pleasant is a sought-after speaker and has led numerous leadership retreats, along with speaking regularly at conferences.

Pleasant managed a transition at RCU, transforming the Athletic Department into an extension of the Enrollment Office. Under his leadership, the student-athlete population grew from 135 to 430, growing the athletic department from eight varsity sports to 23 and bringing critical net tuition revenue dollars to the institution. He also led the Enrollment Office (both student-athletes and non-student-athletes) to its highest headcount total in the 65-year history of the institution, while also maintaining a fundraising portfolio and securing multiple major gifts over the years. He and his wife have a passion for the arts and appreciate the importance of performing and visual arts on SMC's campus. 

Pleasant will replace Dr. Joe Odenwald, who is now president at Alma College. Brent Brewer has served as Interim President since May 2025.