Member, Board of Trustees
Sworn in as a member of Southwestern Community College’s Board of Trustees on July 22, 2025, J.K. Coward, Jr., was appointed by the N.C. House of Representatives.
Mr. Coward is an attorney and partner with Coward, Hicks & Siler, P.A., in Jackson County. He’s a Sylva-Webster High School graduate, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts from Davidson College. He earned his Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law.
His extensive community service includes terms on the Jackson County Rescue Squad, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners (1994-98), Harris Regional Hospital Board of Directors (1995-97), the N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching Foundation Board (1998-2010) and the Baptist Children’s Homes of N.C. (2004-2012).
He’s also served on the Sylva First Baptist Church Board of Deacons and/or Trustees since 1990, and he was a member of the SCC Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1984-86.
Mr. Coward and his wife Renee have two daughters (Natalie Anderson and Rebecca Coward), one son (Dylan Coward) and two grandsons (Desmond and Leon).
Mr. Coward’s term on SCC’s Board of Trustees runs through 2029.
Mr. Coward is an attorney and partner with Coward, Hicks & Siler, P.A., in Jackson County. He’s a Sylva-Webster High School graduate, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts from Davidson College. He earned his Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law.
His extensive community service includes terms on the Jackson County Rescue Squad, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners (1994-98), Harris Regional Hospital Board of Directors (1995-97), the N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching Foundation Board (1998-2010) and the Baptist Children’s Homes of N.C. (2004-2012).
He’s also served on the Sylva First Baptist Church Board of Deacons and/or Trustees since 1990, and he was a member of the SCC Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1984-86.
Mr. Coward and his wife Renee have two daughters (Natalie Anderson and Rebecca Coward), one son (Dylan Coward) and two grandsons (Desmond and Leon).
Mr. Coward’s term on SCC’s Board of Trustees runs through 2029.
