Sedgwick L. Harris, the new president of four-campus Bristol Community College in Fall River, Mass., effective March 1 came to Southwestern Michigan College from Albion in 1988-90 for general studies, looking to transfer after playing basketball for the Roadrunners.

“Never,” Harris said of whether he had any aspiration to lead a college someday.

“However,” he added, “as a first-generation student I struggled my first semester. It was Carol Churchill at SMC who taught me the process and kept me informed of the student support services and academic resources on campus. I think this relationship is what led me to returning to higher education and community colleges specifically.”

Harris selected SMC because “I was told that my classmates, Tiffany Dees and Dan Coleman, were going to be on the track and cross country teams. They had basketball and I knew I could play at this level as my local community college, Kellogg, was recruiting me to play. I also was encouraged by a university that this would be a good option to increase my academic and athletic outcomes.”

His time at SMC “didn’t start off great,” he recalls. “My first three days I lodged at the Skyline Motel (Castle Inn and Suites, M-51 South) due to Hamilton Square Apartments overbooking, but I did find housing in Eau Claire for the first semester. By spring, I was back in an apartment with my new basketball teammate, Jeff Goodman. Jeff and I are still friends to this day.

“I also remember working for Coach Ron Gunn in athletics and the fitness center, as well as my work-study job scoring wrestling matches for Coach (James) Judd,” Harris said. “I was exposed to Amtrak as we could catch the train back home or to Chicago.”

President David C. Briegel’s name now adorns the administration building. Residence halls were two decades in the future.

Harris went to Northwestern Oklahoma State University for a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a basketball scholarship opportunity.

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