Summer 2013 - Muskegon Community College

Alumni Profile: Annette Rose SmedleyMCC Alum Breaks Gender Barriers as Circuit Court JudgeBy Julie Weller,Alumni Relations ManagerAnnette Smedley, a 1995 graduateof Muskegon Community College,is the perfect example of what thepower of an education is capable of– combined with perseverance and alot of energy.Smedley, elected in November2012 as 14th Circuit Court Judge ofMuskegon, is the first female votedto that position and the epitome ofsuccess in the workplace and thehard work required to get there.Graciously, she credits MuskegonCommunity College with helping herattain her career goals.“The campaign trail was toughand long,” said Smedley, “but I hadwonderful help from some MCCstudents out of Mr. Troutman’s[political science] class, which bringsmy college career to full circle.I started at MCC and now havea wonderful job with the help ofMCC.” (see related story on page 7)When Smedley began at MCC, shewas married and had a child (sheand her husband Everett have beenmarried now over 32 years). Thenhe joined the U.S. Navy and theymoved to Virginia for eight yearsbefore returning to Michigan. Whenthe family moved back, Smedleyresumed classes at MCC, intent onfinishing her college education andalso getting a law degree.“Going to MCC for my first twoyears helped me to save time ontraveling because I now had threechildren and a full time job but waseven more determinedto get my degree,”said Smedley. “Myexperience at MCCwas amazing -- theprofessors were alwayswilling to work with me;the environment wasalways inviting whetherit was educational orentertainment. MCC hasa range of opportunitiesfor its students. I lookback fondly on my yearsthere.”Academically, she hasearned a degree inaccounting from KeyBusiness College, anAssociate’s in Artsdegree from MuskegonCommunity College, aBachelor’s in Political Science fromGrand Valley State University anda Juris Doctor from Thomas M.Cooley Law School.Smedly accomplished all that whileraising six children, working variousjobs, and commuting to Lansing onweekends to attend law school. It’ssomewhat exhausting just readingabout Smedley’s accomplishmentsand it begs the question of why andhow she set these lofty goals in thefirst place.“My reason for becoming anattorney was that I thought I wouldlove it and to my wonderful surpriseI love it more than I ever imagined,”said Smedley. “I decided to becomeJudge Smedley with husband Everett after theDecember 2012 swearing-in ceremonya judge when Judge Graves had toretire because of age, and there hadnot been an open seat in 30 years.I love being in the court room so Ithought this was a great opportunityto move up in my career and maybemake a difference in people’s lives.” •Photo credit: Diana L. Coleman, Muskegon County Legal News6 Summer 2013 | muskegoncc.edu