MSJC appoints Calvin Smith as newest trustee

Press release from Mt. San Jacinto College:

TEMECULA -- Calvin L. Smith was appointed on Monday by the Mt. San Jacinto College Board of Trustees to fill the Trustee Area 2 vacancy. Trustee Area 2, which takes in San Jacinto, Hemet, and surrounding communities, is one of five trustee areas for Mt. San Jacinto College. Trustee Smith resides in San Jacinto.

During the special meeting, the Board interviewed a total of seven qualified applicants seeking to fill the seat. Trustee Smith took the Oath of Office immediately after the selection.

The seat was left vacant after Joshua Rivera resigned on Sept. 15 because he was moving outside of Trustee Area 2. The board voted to appoint an individual to fill the vacancy rather than call for a costly special election.

Trustee Smith will serve the remainder of Rivera’s term, which ends in December 2024.

Smith, a San Jacinto High School alumnus, is the owner of C.L. Smith Hay & Grain. Trustee Smith's education includes aviation instrument and weather training from San Bernardino Valley College, and he obtained a private pilot's license. He also completed training from the Eastern Municipal Water District and the Citizens' Academy with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Smith's past and current public and community service includes volunteering for the Hemet and San Jacinto unified school districts' Career and Technical Education programs, Gettysburg Leadership Program, Hemet-San Jacinto Action Group, and he serves as vice president for the Valley Health Foundation.

Smith has received recognition from the Valley Wide Parks and Recreation District, San Jacinto Unified School District and is an honorary member of the Hemet and San Jacinto Future Farmers of America chapters.