Fairfield County's Community Foundation welcomes Bethel's Schmotter to its board of directors

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation is pleased to welcome James Schmotter of Bethel to its board of directors.

Mr. Schmotter was recently elected to serve a three-year term. He brings a wealth of nonprofit and business experience to help the Community Foundation make an impact throughout the region.

Schmotter is president – since 2004 – of Western Connecticut State University. During his tenure the school’s enrollment has grown 19 percent. More than $150 million in capital development projects have taken place on campus as well.

Schmotter is a former dean of the Hawthorne College of Business at Western Michigan University and the College of Business Economics at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Further, he was an associate dean and director of international studies at the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University where he also taught business history and international management.

Schmotter is a published author of numerous articles on international business and business education and has consulted for leading organizations such as IBM, TRW and the Institute for International Education. He is active in his community as Chair of the United Way of Western Connecticut, a director of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce and Ethan Allen Interiors, and a corporator of the Savings Bank of Danbury.

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards, and has awarded $180 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. For more information, visit www.FCCFoundation.org.