Dr. Joseph Odenwald
14th President of Alma College
The Tartan Features
EDITOR
Tim Rath
DESIGNER
Cody Marecek
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ellie Anderson ’21
Dan Gaken
Steve Jessmore
Bruce William Maki
Morgan Marie Photography
Jason Willis
CONTRIBUTORS
Erika Powers Appelt ’91
Kevin Kingsland
Laura von Wallmenich
PRINTER
McKay Press
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ALMA COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OFFICERS 2024-25
Darryl G. Schimeck ’82
Chairman
Erika K. Powers Appelt ’91, Vice Chair
David A. Devine ’90, Secretary
ALMA COLLEGE
ALUMNI BOARD
OFFICERS 2024-25
Amy Pratt ’04, President
Sammy Bohy ’13, Vice President
Robyn Carr ’04, Secretary
T.J. Miller ’17, Membership Chair
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE alma.edu/tartan
OUR MISSION
Alma College’s mission is to prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations.
ON THE COVER
Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald has been appointed as the 14th president of Alma College, effective June 1, 2025.
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A New Leader for Alma College
Alma College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald, currently president of Southwestern Michigan College, as its 14th president, effective June 1, 2025.
Building on a Vision
Students at Alma College are using the skills they’re learning in the classroom to help save the home of the city of Alma’s — and Alma College’s — namesake, Ammi Wright.
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Solving the Shortage
Through innovation, collaboration and generosity, Alma College is developing new solutions to meet the nationwide demand for special education teachers.
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Legacy of Transformation
Jeff Abernathy’s 14-year tenure as Alma College president was utterly transformative in the history of this institution, marked by new academic programs, residence hall renovations, athletic teams and more.
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Getting their Hands Dirty
The Alma College Ecological Station, affectionately known on campus as “The Bog,” has for more than 130 years educated Scots on science-related subjects in a hands-on, getting-their-hands-dirty kind of way.
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From Campus to Community
Gary Peters ’80, Hugh Brenneman ’67, Dean Havelka ’79, Katie Meloche ’13, and Pat and Maurie Luetkemeier were honored as 2024 Alumni Award winners at Homecoming in September.
Pictured speaking at Alma College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Campus and Community Program this past January is Jackson Pollard, a sophomore marketing major.
A new leader for Alma College
It’s an exciting time to be a Scot.
You may have seen in November that Alma College’s 13th president, Jeff Abernathy, was named president emeritus, and Eric Blackhurst ’83 was named interim president. Dr. Abernathy’s list of accomplishments during his nearly 14 years as president — an impressively long tenure by today’s standards — is extensive, and his love of Alma College is evident in everything he did. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we deeply appreciate his service.
So too are we grateful for Eric Blackhurst, who has ably guided the college this academic year with candor, clear critical thinking and humor. There are few, if any, that can think of in the history of this institution who tell the story of Alma College quite like Eric, who began his journey at Alma 45 years ago and has remained involved ever since.
Now, we have the pleasure and privilege of announcing Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald as the 14th president of Alma College. This appointment was unanimously approved by the Alma College Board of Trustees, based on the recommendation of the presidential search committee. Joe, who currently serves as president of Southwestern Michigan College, will begin in his new role on June 1, 2025.
You might remember that in the Fall 2024 edition of The Tartan, discussed some of the qualities the committee was seeking in our new president. To our minds, the ideal candidate reflected the urgency of the steep challenges faced by colleges and universities today. We sought an innovative leader who had the skills to deliver our unique brand to a broader range of prospective students, as the traditional pool of college-bound high school graduates shrinks.
We believe we’ve found all that and more in Joe. He truly embraces Alma College’s mission and will bring new ideas to campus, as well as a respect for our rich tradition as a leading residential liberal arts college. We welcome Joe, his wife Laura, and their son Joseph to the Alma community. Please take a few moments to read his profile in this edition of The Tartan
There will be events on campus and elsewhere to introduce Joe to Alma alumni and friends. Stay tuned for more details on those events as time progresses.
In some ways, it’s hard to imagine this process only started about six months ago. The presidential search committee worked diligently and thoughtfully amid their many other obligations to make the best decision possible. We are grateful for their efforts, along with anyone who participated in the listening sessions that were hosted by our partners in this search, the Storbeck Search team, and shared their thoughts about the future of Alma College.
Finally, I’m reminded that in nearly 140 years, Alma College has had just 14 presidents. That is truly remarkable. As we move forward in this transition period, would encourage us to be thoughtful about our own roles. Whether it be alumni, students, trustees, administrators, faculty or staff members, or other community members, we each share responsibility for making our transition a transformational one.
Let’s continue to share stories of how this incredible place has changed our lives. In doing so, we can rise to meet this moment — an exciting new period in the history of Alma College.
— Erika Powers Appelt ’91 is the vice chair of the Alma College Board of Trustees, and served as chair of the presidential search committee. While at Alma, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with a minor in mathematics, and was a member of the choir. She is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, a business law firm, where she specializes in nationwide water quality issues.
Scan this QR code to watch a welcome video from Dr. Joseph Odenwald.
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Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald has been appointed as the 14th president of Alma College, effective June 1, 2025.
Alma College’s newest president has a wealth of expertise and years of academic leadership.
Dr. Joseph Odenwald comes to Alma College from Southwestern Michigan College (SMC), where he has served as president since 2020. Under Odenwald’s presidency, SMC developed an ambitious strategic framework with goals to develop and sustain purposeful academic programs to support enrollment, increase student retention and success, maintain financial stability, and enhance engagement with alumni as well as its local community of Dowagiac, Mich.
Notably, Odenwald led efforts to increase the college’s enrollment every year from fall 2022-24 (surpassing 2,000 total headcount for the first time since 2019), devise its 2020-23 and 2024-26 strategic plans, create the Offices of Institutional Advancement and Academic Affairs, retain an “AA Stable” credit rating from Standard and Poor’s and double its budget-stabilization fund. Under Odenwald’s leadership, SMC implemented its first fully online courses, added eight completely new academic programs, and revived its intercollegiate athletics program after a 25-year hiatus. Odenwald led fundraising efforts that went toward the $3.5-million renovation of an athletic facility and expanded campus residence hall capacity by 8 percent, using grants and institutional fund balances to cover the $3-million cost.
A first-generation college graduate, Odenwald in 2005 earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana College, a private university that enrolls about 1,100 students. He further earned his Master of Science degree from Mississippi College, Doctor of Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and master’s degree in management, strategy and leadership from Michigan State University. He also holds a Certificate in Fundraising Management from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Prior to his service at SMC, Odenwald served in a variety of key academic leadership roles. He worked for six years in student affairs at Mississippi College, ultimately serving as associate dean of students and an adjunct faculty member in the school of education. Odenwald moved on to the College of Engineering at Louisiana State University, where he served as assistant dean for academic affairs and student services, before joining SMC in 2017 as its vice president of student services.
Odenwald lives in Dowagiac with wife Laura, their son Joseph and nearly 14-year-old dog Eleanor.
Where did you grow up as a child?
A small town in Louisiana called Ferriday: rural, agricultural, a lot like mid-Michigan in some important ways.
What are your favorite memories from childhood?
Being on a farm with my dad and grandfather. I have a lot of photos in my office from that time and place. It was a formative part of my life.
Is there anything from Louisiana that you would like to bring with you to Michigan?
Mardi Gras! We try to go down for at least one weekend every year. I’ve also introduced a lot of students to Louisiana-style fish through the years.
Q&A Quotable
What are your favorite memories from college? was a resident advisor for three years and that had a big impact on my college experience.
What books are you currently reading?
“Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind,” by Yuval Noah Harari, “Citizen: My Life After the White House,” by Bill Clinton, and “A History of Alma College: Where Plaid and Pride Prevail,” by Gordon Beld and David McMacken.
What is your preferred streaming service, and what are you currently watching?
I’ve got to go with Hulu, because we love “Only Murders in the Building,” with Steve Martin and Martin Short. can’t believe how good they are together.
How did you meet your wife?
Laura and were both working at Louisiana State University; she was in communications and I was the assistant dean for academic affairs and student services. We were assigned to work on a project together. A year and a half later, we were married!
How has parenthood changed your life?
It’s humbled me like nothing else. There is no harder job than being a parent — but none is more rewarding, either. It’s led to a great deal of personal reflection for me. We are very excited for Joseph to grow up on a college campus.
What are your hobbies?
Right now, I’m working on a book. It’s a history of my alma mater, Louisiana College. It’s kind of an expansion on my dissertation, looking both backwards and forwards. love college history and think it’s very instructive to our present.
Why Alma? Why now?
wanted to go back to where I come from — a residential, liberal arts environment — even though all of the experts say it’s one of the hardest markets to work in right now. don’t believe that it has to be that way. think Alma and institutions like it are best-suited to solve some of the biggest problems in society today, including a lack of critical thinking and putting service above self. We can make a major difference in the world by producing a critical mass of Alma graduates.
Why the liberal arts?
We need the broad perspective of the liberal arts. In my own personal experience, the bachelor of arts degree that received from a liberal arts institution was the fulcrum that the rest of my education rested on. Getting that degree was absolutely critical for me to getting where I’m at today.
What is it like transitioning to a presidency?
It’s very exciting and a little scary. There are only about 5,000 colleges and universities in America and it’s a privilege to lead one of them.
Have you ever worn a kilt?
No, but I’m going to need to get one! can’t wait.
Q&A “ “
George
“We had an extraordinarily strong pool of both internal and external candidates from which to choose our 14th president. Our search committee, under the leadership of our board vice chair, went through a very thorough process of discerning who would be the best choice. Dr. Odenwald’s commitment to liberal arts education, experience as an impactful leader in higher education, and enthusiastic vision for the future of our alma mater made him the clear choice to be our next leader. look forward to welcoming Joe and his family to our Alma College community.”
— Board of Trustees Chairman Darryl Schimeck ’82
“(Joe) has an incredible passion for higher education and the liberal arts experience. He enthusiastically emphasized that he will be engaged with our students, while supporting them in all the opportunities Alma has to offer.”
— Head Football Coach Jason Couch ’97
“I am excited to have Dr. Odenwald as our next president! As a student representative on the search committee, worked to honor students’ desires for a president who is student-focused, wants to be directly involved with students, and transparent. believe Dr. Odenwald excels at each of these areas. He is positive, knowledgeable, personable, and passionate.”
— Toby Layson ’25
“I’m very excited for the future of Alma College under President Odenwald’s leadership. He immediately had a strong connection with the search committee, including faculty, staff, board members and a student. He has an understanding of the challenges that higher education institutions including Alma College are currently facing but never backed down from those challenges and had great ideas and experience on how to combat them.”
— Senior Director of Alumni & Community Engagement Sarah Dehring
“Joe’s integrity, skills and passion for the mission of Alma College have made him a pleasure to get to know. His proven track record in enrollment, budget and strategic planning make him the right leader at this critical juncture. I’m excited to welcome him as Alma College’s 14th president.”
— Interim President Eric Blackhurst ’83
Saundra
BUILDING ON A VISION
Over the past year, a group of dedicated volunteers have taken to saving the home of the city of Alma’s — and Alma College’s — namesake, Ammi Wright.
Students of Alma College can now count themselves among those volunteers, as classroom studies have been integrated with a restoration effort that has become well known city-wide.
This past fall, Andrew Sellers’ marketing class divided into groups and dedicated the entire term to creating sustainability plans that would allow the Wright House to not only survive following its restoration, but to thrive — either as a museum, an event space, a retail antique shop or other options that prove to be economically viable.
“We use a work-based learning model, which provides students with opportunities to apply their academic and technical skills to real-life applications,” Sellers said. “It’s exciting for these upper-level business and marketing students to take the theories they’ve studied and put them to use in a way that benefits the community around them.”
Previously, Sellers said, students in marketing worked with an energy-drink manufacturer, and in the future, they intend to work with other companies. All of the students’ projects are rooted in business and marketing theory. They make use of a “SWOT analysis,” which is a decisionmaking technique that identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organization or project.
“All of the students we’ve worked with have wowed us with their professionalism. They are organized, articulate and interested. They ask specific questions. It’s exciting for us to make these decisions, because we know they are coming from a place of passion and expertise.”
— Pat Benson, principal coordinator of the Wright House restoration project
“The client that you’re working with might change, but the steps still remain the same,” Sellers said. “Our students are going into every meeting asking questions like, ‘How is this business going to operate? What will it cost?’”
Pat Benson is a member of the nonprofit Gratiot County Historical and Genealogical Society (GCHGS) and one of the principal coordinators of the Wright House restoration project. She explained that the house was built for the family of Wright, a pivotal figure in Michigan’s lumber industry and one of the early industrial leaders in the history of mid-Michigan. It served that purpose for many years, Benson said, before being sold and converted into other uses.
However, the house has sat vacant for many years and fallen into disrepair. Many efforts have been made to restore it; however in 2024 one idea finally struck a chord with the community. Since then, volunteers have been hard at work to ensure its viability for years to come.
Left: The exterior of the Wright House, located at the intersection of North State and West Downie streets in Alma, is pictured.
Right: The interior of the Wright House is pictured.
“We believe it’s going to cost around $40,000 annually in order to simply keep the lights on in this house,” Benson said. “So, we were faced with the question, ‘How do we raise that money? What does the community want to see in this space, and what will they pay money for?’”
To answer those questions, the volunteers turned to Alma College students. Sellers’ class visited the Wright House on multiple occasions and spoke with volunteers to get a better understanding of the project. They pitched their ideas at the end of the term, and the nonprofit group is weighing its options moving forward.
“All of the students we’ve worked with have wowed us with their professionalism,” Benson said. “They are organized, articulate and interested. They ask specific questions. It’s exciting for us to make these decisions, because we know they are coming from a place of passion and expertise.”
Cohen Schroeder, an economics major from Westphalia, Mich., said he could imagine a future in which he returns to Alma College for homecoming after graduation and visits the Wright House, to ruminate on the impact that he made as a student.
“I plan to do this type of work after I leave Alma, so to have an opportunity to get some practice in the real world, before I graduate, is really valuable,” Schroeder said. “I’m grateful for that, as well as being able to contribute to this great project.”
What is the Wright House?
• Constructed in 1886-87 at 503 N. State St., lumber baron Ammi Wright and his second wife, Anna Case, moved in in 1888. The house was considered advanced for its time, in part due to having its own hot water system. Its grandeur includes seven ornately carved fireplaces, stained-glass windows and beautiful wood floors and doors.
• Owned by the Wright family until 1934, when it was converted to Smith Memorial Hospital.
• More than 7,000 babies were born there before the hospital became Northwood Institute (now Northwood University, in Midland, Mich.) in 1959.
• In February 2024, it was purchased by the Gratiot County Historical and Genealogical Society with the intent of restoring the house to its former glory.
Information provided by the Gratiot County Historical and Genealogical Society
GO SCOTS!
Five highlights from Scots’ Athletics for the Fall 2024 season
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The Scots’ football team saw a number of personal milestones: Josh Hernandez became the team’s all-time leading scorer by breaking Chris Clark’s record of 198 points set in 1969, Carter St. John became the team’s all-time leading touchdown passer and Devon Frenchko became the team’s all-time leading touchdown receiver.
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The Scots’ men’s soccer team posted its first winning season since 2016 with a 9-8-1 mark. Among the team leaders in 2024 were Ethan Swartzentruber and Christian Sweis, who posted five goals apiece, and Bradshaw Uhlmann, who started 12 games in net and had a 1.97 goals against average.
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The Scots’ volleyball team had a strong year, going 3-5 in the regular season and qualifying for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament as a sixth seed.
The Scots’ men’s golf team came away as team champions at the Hornet Fall Invitational, hosted by Kalamazoo College, on Oct. 21. It was the first men’s team, first-team victory in a decade. Leading the charge for the Scots were Owen Halstead and Andrew Skellenger, who posted scores of 75 (+4) and 76 (+5), respectively.
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The Scots’ women’s cross country team rewrote the record books at the Muskegon (Mich.) Jayhawk XC Invite on Oct. 12. Chloe Colton, who finished as Alma’s top finisher at the event, ran the ninth-fastest 5K in school history, with a time of 19 minutes, 9.34 seconds. Melanie Werner ran the 18th-fastest 5K and Sophia Dech moved into 19th. Caleigh Winters entered the list at 21st.
Visit almascots.com to stay up to date on Athletics action in the Fall 2025 season
Ammi Wright
Students in Andrew Sellers’ Marketing class are pictured in this fall 2024 photo.
SOLVING THE SHORTAGE
Paraeducators working in Michigan schools who aspire to become special education teachers can now achieve their goals through Alma College’s newly launched Bachelor of Arts program.
Specifically designed for working adults, the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher program provides a streamlined pathway to teacher licensure while accommodating the schedules of full-time paraeducators. The program has been approved by the Higher Learning Commission.
Participants in the program may qualify for the Alma College Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Scholarship, worth up to $33,000 annually. This generous financial support aims to remove
Through innovation, collaboration and generosity, Alma College is developing new solutions to meet the nationwide demand for special education teachers.
The program is part of Alma College’s commitment to addressing Michigan’s ongoing shortage of special education teachers, said interim president Eric Blackhurst. By empowering paraeducators with the skills and credentials necessary to support students with disabilities effectively, Blackhurst said, the college is helping get more qualified teachers in classrooms around the state.
“We are pleased to offer this program at Alma College, along with Mid, and grateful to Dr. Peggy Yates for her work in seeing it through,” Blackhurst said. “Paraeducators who are already working with students
with disabilities are well suited to help fill these critical roles, but they need degree options that fit into their lives. That’s where Alma College comes in—removing barriers to provide a pathway for paraeducators to achieve their goal of teacher licensure.”
Yates led development of the program based on her collaborative research and publication, which is focused on removing barriers and embedding essential supports to help paraeducators succeed in earning teacher licensure.
barriers and make higher education more accessible to dedicated paraprofessionals who are already working closely with students.
Peggy Yates, Alma’s director of special education teacher preparation, collaborated with Mid Michigan College faculty and staff; including Dean of Business and Professional Studies Amy Fisher, Associate Dean of Off-Campus Instruction Rick Smith, and Registrar Kristin Smith; along with Alma College staff and faculty to develop the program, which is focused on removing barriers and embedding essential supports to help paraeducators succeed in earning teacher licensure.
HELP WANTED
45%
The amount of schools nationwide that report having vacancies in special education instruction. 78% The amount of schools nationwide that report struggling to find special education teachers to fill their vacancies.
46,000 Special education teachers who leave public schools every year (compared with 30,000 who replace them).
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Number of states which have reported a special education staffing shortage every year for 20 years straight.
That’s
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where Alma College comes in—removing barriers to provide a pathway for paraeducators to achieve their goal of teacher licensure.
“Alma’s commitment to financial support through the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Scholarship addresses a significant barrier that often hinders program completion,” Yates said. “This generosity toward supporting future special education teachers holds the potential to make a profound, positive impact on students with disabilities across the state of Michigan.”
Alma College provides a streamlined pathway for paraeducators to become special education teachers through a four-year program that
includes student teaching. In May 2025 through April 2026, students will begin selected courses at Mid Michigan College, supplemented by a career development course through Alma College. For students who qualify, financial assistance through Michigan Reconnect may be available to cover Year 1 costs.
For more information on the Alma College Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Program, visit alma.edu/para-to-pro or call (989) 463-7139.
Pictured from left are representatives of Alma College; Peggy Yates, Stephanie Terrian, Mariah Orzolek, Tim Pinnow and Sean Burke; along with representatives from Mid Michigan College; Scott Mertes, Amy Fisher, Stevens Amidon, Richard Smith and Kristin Simon; at a signing between the two institutions Jan. 31.
Ask a student
We talked to six current students and asked: How has Alma College impacted your path in life? Here is what they told us.
Megan Neeley ’25 | Hometown: West Bloomfield, Mich.
Major: Accounting
Academically, the liberal arts education provided by Alma College allowed me to explore many different areas prior to deciding on my major. Even in picking the professional accounting major, am still able to explore my creative and intellectual passions that fall outside of the realm of accounting. For example, I’ve been able to feed my passion for journalism throughout my journey working with the team that produces the biweekly publication of The Almanian (student newspaper). have also been able to qualify for and successfully complete two internships during my time as a student, and earned an employment offer in September of my senior year.
Jake Lasceski ’26 | Hometown: St. Johns, Mich.
Major: Business leadership and management and political science
Alma College is always pushing me to be better. Academically, have developed critical thinking skills that go far beyond the classroom. A liberal arts education lets me study all of my interests rather than confining them to two majors. Personally, have grown through friendships and professional relationships. This institution thrives off diversity of thought and experience. Alma College afforded me opportunities to experience all aspects of academic and personal growth.
Tyler Hoag ’25 | Hometown:
Owosso, Mich.
Major: History and education
After college, I’m planning to be a social studies teacher in a secondary education class, and Alma has helped me prepare really well for that. Alma’s faculty help you get placed in a local classroom very early in your time with the program, so you can easily decide whether this is something you’re truly interested in pursuing before you graduate. All the teachers that I’ve gotten to learn under have been very influential in how want to be as a teacher myself.
Nayonikaa Singhaal ’27 | Hometown: Delhi, India
Major: Political science and economics
Alma College is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before, particularly with regard to experiential learning. As a high school student in India, I had no idea what this meant. Now, know there is a lot to your education that goes beyond the classroom. My friends back home tell me am extremely lucky to be here. agree with them.
Lucas Storm ’27 | Hometown: Fenton, Mich.
Major: Marketing
The class sizes are a little smaller — maybe 15 students in each class — than you’ll find at the big state schools. Your professor knows you by name and if you need help, you can always get in touch with them. Some professors even give you their cell phone number in case you want to text with them. Professor Andy Singer is one of those great professors. started my own landscaping business this past summer and went to him for advice. He has no problem making time for his students.
Alyssa Evans MFA ’26 | Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
The Alma MFA program offers three different concentrations: poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction. I’m concentrating my studies in poetry and creative nonfiction, and both of my faculty mentors, Shonda Buchanan and Leslie Contreras Schwartz, are world-class poets. It’s been really interesting to read their writing and learn about their interests, but they also offer incredibly insightful feedback on my work. look back on the writing did before joined this program and what I’m doing now and the difference is truly noticeable.
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The trajectory of my life changed when I got an internship, with support from faculty, while I was a student at Alma College. That’s why I give today — in order to provide students with opportunities for life-changing experiences.
Support Our Scots
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• Enjoy ample work spaces, allowing for projects to continue without pause
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Ainsley Kinney, foreground, is pictured performing with the Kiltie Marching Band in November 2024
After 14 years, Jeff Abernathy was named president emeritus of Alma College in November. His impact on Alma College will endure for many, many years to come.
Transformation Legacy of
The cover story of the Fall 2020 edition of The Tartan magazine highlighted Jeff Abernathy on his 10-year anniversary as Alma College President. In it, Abernathy is quoted as saying: “It’s not in our DNA to brag about ourselves, but we need to be willing to tell the great story of Alma College. think we’ve made some strides in that department, but we still have a ways to go.”
On the occasion of Abernathy’s departure as college president, let’s brag about a tenure that has been utterly transformative in the nearly-140-year history of Alma College.
Necessary change
To be clear, Abernathy’s time as president has not always been easy. He came into the role in 2010, on the heels of the Great Recession, a period of great economic challenges across the globe that threatened many small colleges like Alma. There was at the time, and remains to this day, an ongoing national dialogue about the value of traditional higher education institutions in a changing marketplace.
At the time, Alma College had not added a new major in 17 years, and had not added a new sport in 25 years. Abernathy responded by working with faculty to create new, pre-professional programs like nursing, engineering and new media studies, which over time have integrated seamlessly into the liberal arts culture of Alma. He also facilitated the introduction of new sports that have proven very popular among incoming students, including eSports, dance and competitive cheer. Some 70 percent of first-year students at Alma College now play a sport.
Room to grow
Abernathy’s legacy extends beyond the classroom and the field of play — the physical structures that make up Alma College look dramatically different than they did in 2010.
Abernathy led the successful “Our Time is Now” philanthropic campaign that raised more than $125 million for Alma College. It enabled the college to renovate key buildings, including student housing, the Hamilton Commons dining hall, the Hogan Center for athletics and the Greg Hatcher Learning Commons.
The Wright Leppien Opera House in downtown Alma was renovated as a shared space for campus and community events, and student apartments. The Andrus Family Field House provides space for the college’s athletic teams, marching band, and summer camps, among other uses.
by the numbers
Change
17,655 square feet of public and retail space created in downtown Alma 446 residence hall rooms renovated 27 new undergraduate programs and a new core curriculum launched 9 new intercollegiate, varsity athletic teams 4 graduate programs, the first in the history of Alma College
Building a sense of community
Abernathy understood that the impact of Alma College does not end at the campus' physical borders. In that vein, he made strides to improve "town-and-gown" relationships with the city of Alma and other community stakeholders, modeling positive citizenship for students along the way.
The Center for College and Community Engagement (3CE) was launched in 2021, actively assisting faculty within the classroom and connecting students with hands-on volunteer activities outside of it. The Alma College Community Engagement (ACE) Scholarship Program provided full-tuition awards to students in Gratiot, Isabella and Montcalm counties, in order to foster a sense of belonging among local students.
“Alma Aspires” was launched in 2019 in order to bring civic leadership together to develop and execute a visionary strategy to position Alma for renewed success. It attracted a range of community stakeholders, including leaders at Alma College, City of Alma, MyMichigan Medical Center-Alma, Masonic Pathways, Greater Gratiot Development, Inc. and Alma Public Schools, to improve the “People, Place and Prosperity” of the city of Alma and greater Gratiot County area.
Back to where he started
Abernathy intends to return to the Alma College faculty — returning to his roots, as a former English professor turned administrator — following a one-year sabbatical that begins July 1, 2025.
“Serving as Alma’s president has been a great privilege. I’m so proud of this community and all we have accomplished together. Despite the challenges before all colleges today, our future is bright,” Abernathy said.
A Game-Changer for Alma College Athletics
Inside the Andrus Family Field House
Alma College’s newest facility will serve as a practice space for its athletic teams, marching band, summer camps and much, much more.
The Andrus Family Field House was completed in January 2025 after roughly a year of construction. Along with Klenk Park and Scotland Yard, the new facility comprises the Hatcher Athletics Campus. A ribbon-cutting is expected to take place later in the year, when the space is fully functional.
RYAN
The 78,080-square-foot facility includes a regulation indoor track, dedicated jump areas, and an LED videoboard. Also included are drop-down batting cages, locker room space for four teams and a visiting team locker room. The building also houses office spaces for members of the Alma College coaching staff, a team meeting room and satellite weight training and athletic training spaces.
See what students have to say about their new home:
This facility is the best thing to happen to the Alma College baseball team in a long time. We treasure the opportunity to use our new locker room every day before we practice on the beautifully constructed turf field. In recent years, we were at a disadvantage when we went down south for our first games, because we hadn’t been able to truly simulate a game feel. This is no longer the case. The Andrus Family Field House has completely rejuvenated the experience of being an Alma College athlete.
BREE MCCLUSKEY, WOMEN’S SOCCER
The new field house will provide a new turf field, which will be a great surface for the women’s and men’s soccer teams to play on for the winter sessions. am extra excited about getting the opportunity to lift in the new gym and having our own women’s soccer team locker room. This field house will be a huge benefit for Alma College because we will be able to host local events, community programs and ID camps for recruiters, creating a stronger connection between the college and Alma’s community.
TATENDA MUKUDU, MEN’S SOCCER
The new field house is a game-changer! It gives us a dedicated space to train, bond, and grow together as a team — a huge win for the program. Having a locker room we can call home year-round will keep us connected to the sport and strengthen our team camaraderie. Being within view of Scotland Yard will elevate the game day atmosphere, grounding us in our goals and making them feel even more realistic and attainable.
Tackling ‘wicked
problems’
In fall 2024, Alma’s First-Year Seminar introduced the Wicked Problems Challenge — an innovative capstone assignment designed to encourage students to collaborate and deepen their research and critical thinking skills.
First-Year Seminar (FYS) is a one-term course that most students at Alma take, providing a unique opportunity designed around topics that spark their interest. Students are in class with peers who live in their residence hall, giving them a chance to build meaningful connections. Supportive faculty members guide students as they learn to explore campus and build the skills needed to succeed in college.
The Wicked Problems Challenge provides an effective academic capstone to FYS and integrates well with all the other outcomes for FYS. In this assignment, students learn about what makes a problem a "wicked" one, choose one they are interested in, and work in teams to define a research question — then work to answer the question.
Throughout the assignment, we focus on developing information literacy, performing background research, gathering and evaluating qualitative and quantitative forms of evidence, determining appropriate analyses methods, interpreting results and drawing conclusions. We expect incoming students to vary in their familiarity
By Kevin Kingsland and Laura von Wallmenich
with scholarly research and develop scaffolded assignments accordingly.
To ensure student engagement, we gamified the challenge, by making it a contest among FYS class sections. Each class section voted to send their top two teams to the second round, competing with the top teams from their partner class section. The winning team from that round advanced to the finals. The winner and two runners-up were then selected by a panel of judges consisting of Alma College administrators.
The feedback we’ve received from students about this change to FYS has so far been positive. The FYS working group is now busy backward-designing the class around this assignment to better integrate it throughout the term. One task will be to revise lessons for other FYS course outcomes that also apply to the Wicked Problems Challenge, in order to eliminate redundancies and demonstrate the utility of the lessons beyond FYS. We’re looking forward to seeing this become a tradition that initiates each new class into their journey as scholars.
— Kevin Kingsland is coordinator of First-Year Seminar and instructor of biology and environmental sciences at Alma College. Laura von Wallmenich is an associate professor of English and associate provost.
72.97% percent of students surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that the Wicked Problems Challenge helped develop their teamwork skills.
72.43% percent of students surveyed agreed the Wicked Problems Challenge developed speaking and presenting skills they will need in other classes.
51.35% percent of students surveyed agreed the competition part of the Wicked Problems Challenge added to their FYS experience.
KRACHT, BASEBALL
MFA students and alumni compete for publishing contract
Students and alumni in the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program at Alma College have an opportunity to earn a book contract in a new, annual contest. The Alma College MFA Book Award, being held in partnership with Running Wild Publishing, opened in January 2025 and will accept submissions through June 2025.
Partnership allows high schoolers
to skip application
process
A new partnership with Niche and its direct admissions program will provide real-time acceptance and scholarship offers to prospective students. Based on the information in their Niche Profile, high school seniors who meet the criteria for enrolling at Alma College will immediately be notified that Alma wants them to join its incoming class.
Alma partners with U-M Flint on grad admissions
Alma College has partnered with the University of Michigan-Flint to create a pathway for students to pursue graduate degrees in UM-Flint’s Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.
As part of the agreement, Alma will nominate two qualified candidates for guaranteed, conditional acceptance every year for the next five years.
Student duo to appear on ‘American Idol’
Kaylee Vonderau and Frank Karl, a pair of Alma College music majors, will appear on ABC’s "American Idol" when the singing competition TV series opens for its 23rd season. Vonderau is the singer of the group and Karl is the guitarist. The pair played together for the first time at Alma College, where they both perform as part of the Kiltie Marching Band and other musical acts.
Grant secured to benefit cultural programming
A $10,000 grant from the Michigan Humanities Council will go toward “Three Nights of Arab-American Culture,” an event slated to take place in 2025 that is open to the public and offers people of all backgrounds the chance to learn about and appreciate the unique contributions of Arab-Americans to Michigan’s cultural landscape.
Great Lakes Watershed Institute to benefit from earmark
Alma College’s Great Lakes Watershed Institute (GLWI) will benefit from an $850,000 earmark in the federal government funding bill signed in 2024, which is going, in part, toward development of a state-of-the-art environmental laboratory. The GLWI will leverage the laboratory to offer real-world experiences to students at Alma and partner institutions.
Religious studies professor explores Persian Gulf in article
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Matthew J. Smith contributed an article to a special edition of "Religions," titled "Religion in Extractive Zones." Smith’s article, "The Changing Muslim World: Energy, Extraction, and the Racialization of Islam in Protestant Missions," sheds new light on the complex intersections of race, religion, and energy dynamics in the early 20th-century Persian Gulf.
Theatre director selected for prestigious award
Assistant Professor and Director of Theatre Kelli Crump was selected to receive the "Acting Teacher of Excellence" Award by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Selection Committee. This recognition highlights her dedication to theater education and her impact on students both on and off the stage.
$1.5-m endowed chair in English announced
Alma College has announced the creation of a $1.5-million endowed chair of English to honor Joseph J. Zimmerman ’61. The Joseph J. Zimmerman ’61 Endowed Chair in English is intended to attract or recognize an esteemed faculty member in English who demonstrates a distinguished record of academic excellence and enriches the institution’s history.
iGEM team wins bronze medal in in Paris, France
The Alma College International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team continued its run of excellence at the iGEM Grand Jamboree, in Paris, France, Oct. 28-31, taking home a bronze medal for their project dedicated to helping local bat populations. This year’s Grand Jamboree brought together more than 400 multidisciplinary teams from 60-plus countries.
GETTING THEIR HANDS DIRTY
The Alma College Ecological Station offers opportunities for hands-on learning in the great outdoors.
One of the hidden gems of Alma College can, ironically, be found in the great outdoors.
The Alma College Ecological Station, affectionately known on campus as “The Bog,” has for more than 130 years educated Scots on sciencerelated subjects in a hands-on, getting-their-hands-dirty kind of way.
The Bog, located near the town of Vestaburg, Mich., may be located a long distance from what is traditionally considered “Alma College,” but students, staff and faculty who have been there agree that there are few facilities that embody our mission and values more.
“To the mid-Michigan area, The Bog may be sort of a hidden gem,” said Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry Brian Doyle. “But for years and years, faculty have taken students out to the property for a number of classes and research experiences. We study everything from ecology to chemistry to biology out there. And it’s often the case that when we ask students, after they graduate, about their favorite experiences during their time at Alma, they mention their time at The Bog.
“It’s true that when they’re at The Bog, our students are learning relevant scientific skills that they can take with them into the professional world. What sticks out more, think, is that they are having hands-on experiences, knee-deep in the muck,” Doyle added.
What is “The Bog,” exactly? It’s a piece of property that Alma College students have been studying at since the late 19th century. It was acquired by Alma College in 1966 and has gradually increased in size, currently totaling 222 acres. The actual “bog” lies within the central feature of this property: a kettle lake that was carved by glaciers that acted like massive bulldozers during the Ice Age.
The bog is immediately surrounded by more-common wetlands, mature forests with some old-growth characteristics, secondary forested areas and abandoned agricultural fields. The property also features a research station, where students and faculty pursue studies of biology and other related disciplines, including zoology and ecology.
Some recent research projects include one on how habitat affects the eastern bluebird and another on thermal and spatial ecology of eastern garter snakes. For many of those projects, students are working hand-in-hand with faculty like John Rowe, William R. Angell Professor of Biology — and, true to Doyle’s comments, the students report having transformative experiences doing so.
“I helped to host a ‘Bog-a-Palooza’ event for the college’s environmental club, L.E.A.P.S,” said Charlotte Howald, an environmental science major. “We hiked and canoed, learning about the local flora and
fauna of Michigan’s wetland ecosystems, thanks to our knowledgeable guide, Dr. Rowe. I’d like to be able to work at a nature center one day, so the Bog is a great natural ecosystem for me to experience hands-on learning.”
Added Skye Wilcox, a biology major: “When went to the bog with Dr. Rowe’s ecology class, got to learn to identify native plants and to understand ecological succession. I love coming to The Bog; it has such diverse wildlife. can’t wait for bird banding to start back up again soon.”
This past year, Alma College undertook forest management activity at The Bog, in collaboration with Natural Capital Forestry, an East Lansing-based forestry consulting firm that focuses on maximizing long-term forest health. The goal is to restore a more diverse, native ecological community to The Bog, which will preserve and improve it for generations to come.
Currently, Rowe explained, large areas of the forest are composed of deteriorating Bigtooth Aspen trees, a sparse amount of forest plants and an overabundance of tree species that thrive in shady, static conditions, such as American Beech and Red Maple trees.
If no management is performed, Rowe said, these trees will continue to dominate other species in the forest. However, if a sustainable removal of declining trees is performed, a richer diversity of
tree, shrub and plant species of different ages will develop in areas where sunlight is allowed to reach the forest floor and a flush of dynamic, new growth can occur.
Rowe said that a primary goal is to add more native oaks, hickories and other tree, shrub and plant species — both through natural means and planting — that provide outsized benefits to the entire food chain.
“Up to this point, we’ve had a pretty hands-off take on management practices in The Bog, but the trend worldwide is now to embrace a more proactive approach to address the myriad challenges faced today by our forestlands,” Rowe said. “A more diverse environment means a healthier environment, which will create a more sustainable Bog to serve our students years into the future.”
Scan this QR code to watch a video featuring Alma College students and faculty at The Bog.
HOMECOMING 2024
From campus to community
2024 Alumni Award winners celebrated at Homecoming
Gary Peters ’80, Hugh Brenneman ’67, Dean Havelka ’79, Katie Meloche ’13, and Pat and Maurie Luetkemeier were honored as 2024 Alumni Award winners at Homecoming in September.
Peters was the winner of the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor presented to alumni. This award recognizes those who have brought distinction to the college through their professions, set strong examples for others, and served their communities through personal accomplishments that enhance the prestige of the college.
Peters has served the state of Michigan in the United States Senate since 2015. He is the current chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee — the Senate’s top oversight committee — as well as the Armed Services Committee and the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Brenneman was given the Hebert Award, presented to alumni for their loyalty and service to Alma College and the college’s Alumni Association. Brenneman retired from the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan after 35 years as a magistrate judge.
Havelka was the winner of the Smith Distinguished Service Award, presented to a graduate who believes in Alma College and has assisted with student recruitment, provided career steps to students or served on a college council or board. Havelka’s career in public school administration took him all over the state of Michigan; he notably served for seven years as a high school principal in Breckenridge.
Meloche was given the Young Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni of the past five to 15 years who are following through on the values of Alma College while attaining a high level of professional accomplishment and volunteer service. Meloche is a senior sales engineer at UiPath, a software company.
The Luetkemeiers were named Grand Marshals of the Homecoming parade, as people who represent the essence of Alma College. Maurie Luetkemeier retired as a professor of nutrition, physiology and exercise physiology in the Integrative Physiology and Health Science (IPHS) department. Pat Luetkemeier taught in the Alma College nursing program, lectured in physiology courses and accompanied her husband on bicycle trips with students.
Honoring our departed Scots
Alma College mourns the loss of alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students who have passed away. This page specifically honors the lives of the college community members whose passing we have become aware of since the last issue of The Tartan. To continue paying meaningful tribute to those we have lost, we have created a webpage where you can view full obituaries for each person. Visit alma.edu/in-memoriam to learn more.
1940s
Anna Bertille Tobin Kreft ’48
1950s
Phyllis Hines Hebert ’50
June Mary Towersey Schmelzer ’52
Peggy Jean Smith Stuckey ’54
Edward M. Kinkema ’55
Richard H. Schluckbier ’57
Thomas G. Rasmussen ’58
Dorothy Drummond Rathje ’58
1960s
Ronald L. Rowe ’61
Gayle Root Tanton ’61
Gretchen Mantey Amstutz ’64
Rexalee Westhauser Goecker ’64
Janet Tucker Adams ’66
Margaret Geiger Gould ’66
Terry A. McKinnon ’66
Priscilla Briggs Sprague ’66
James R. Magee ’68
1970s
Candace Mundt Myers ’70
Frederick V. Eveleigh ’71
Thomas R. Cousineau ’74
Lynnea Rabideau Matthews ’74
John Payne ’75
1980s
Bruce Chittick ’86
1990s
Jason P. Swain ’97
Former Faculty and Staff
Carol Slater
Friends of the College
Christie L. Alton
Gerrit Brunelle
Linda Brunelle
Jeffrey L. Cook
Janice Marion Granger
Lonnie R. Holton
Charles B. House Jr.
Louise J. Newman
Leon Schmelzer
Duane Sherman
Jean S. Simutis
Quintele Ray Woods
Gary Peters ’80
Dean Havelka ’79
Maurie Luetkemeier
Hugh Brenneman ’67
Katie Meloche ’13
Pat Luetkemeier
ALUMNInotes
Tell us what’s new!
Charles Williams ’51 had a memorable 2024: celebrating 70 years of marriage with his wife, his 95th birthday and the graduation of his granddaughter Claire Williams ’24 (daughter of Michaleen ’85 and Keith Williams ’84) from Alma College. Charles keeps busy taking care of his home in Skaneateles, New York, and his cottage in Owasco Lake, New York, as well as volunteering through the Rotary Club and serving as a go-to handyman for his church’s mission.
Brian Hampton ’65 published his first book at the age of 81: “It’s a Great Life If You Don’t Weaken: How to Deal with the Ups and Downs in Life and the Jerks In-Between,” through Morgan James Publishing.
Richard Douglass ’68 briefed the Michigan State Advisory Council on new research on the lack of non-emergency medical transportation for rural elders in Iosco County in August 2024.
The Tartan and your friends want to know what you are doing these days. Submit your news online at alma.edu/alumni-notes.
W. Robert Schultz III ’77 was one of 22 inductees in the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame this past August. Schultz works as a campaign organizer for the Active Transportation Alliance, whose mission is to advocate for walking, bicycling and public transit to create healthy, sustainable and equitable communities. He has been a leader in activist efforts in Illinois ranging from the successful effort to repeal the death penalty to marriage equality.
Melissa Weber Kelley ’91 received the Career Innovator Award — a juried global award given every seven years from Career Directors International — for her work onboarding clients and writing the first draft of their resumes. The irony in this, she points out, is that her new process compensates for long-COVID-related cognitive decline.
Brad Guigar ’91 won the Ringo Award for Best Humor Webcomic. For the second year in a row, the National Cartoonists Society nominated Guigar for a Silver Reuben Award in the Best Longform Online Comic category.
Enos M. Bacon III ’97 was named superintendent of East Jordan (Mich.) Public Schools. He is excited to serve the community in which he was raised.
Betsy Pilon ’03 was asked to serve on the inaugural National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s Neonatal Research Network community engagement panel for her work with Hope for HIE (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy) and has been a co-author on several published academic journals advancing advocacy and research.
Kellie (Nugent) Kuipers ’06 and husband Josh welcomed their first child, Gabriel, in April 2024.
Carrie Commissaris ’11 and her husband recently relocated to Boston, where Carrie is assistant director of the Harvard-Affiliated Emergency Medicine residency program. The couple also recently welcomed their first child in fall 2023.
Emily Havelka ’12 recently accepted a new role with GE Vernova as the marketing and communications leader of advanced research.
Mabel “Bel” Martin ’12 joins Dykema, a leading national law firm, as a government policy advisor in the firm’s Lansing office. Martin joins Dykema after nearly three years with Ascension Health as state policy and advocacy manager. Prior to that, she spent five years on the staffs of various Michigan State senators and representatives.
Ashley Yuill ’13 and Matthew (Yettaw) Yuill ’15 joyfully welcomed the birth of their first child, Bruce Paul, this summer 2024. The newly minted family of three is doing well and Bruce has graciously tolerated the Alma onesie his parents have already squeezed him into.
Ross Richard ’14 was named principal at HT Smith Elementary School in Fowlerville, Mich.
Katie (Bush) Reid ’19 and Andrew Reid ’19 got married June 15, 2024, in Traverse City, Mich.
Several classmates and teammates were present, including Lucas Foust ’19, Brianna Zimmer ’19, Dorothy Buening ’18, Justin Johnson ’19, Elizabeth Putti ’18, Jake Geary ’19 and David Viguilla ’20, as well as many other Alma alumni. Andrew and Katie began dating during their junior year, when Andrew studied finance and Katie studied nursing.
In June 2024, Emily Carter ’19 became the first and only American Highland Dancer to perform in the Basel Tattoo in Basel, Switzerland. “After dancing for most of my life, becoming a Kiltie Dancer helped me realize how much I enjoy the performance part of dance and it has helped me in my success of dancing around the world,” Carter said.
Forest Oliver (MFA) ’24 has produced regular articles through Zoetic Press’s journal, NonBinary Review. As part of a 12-part series, “Zoetic Zodiac” works as a literary horoscope, collecting authors born under the same star sign and sussing out similarities between their most timeless works.
Pictured at left, the Alma College Class of 1974 poses for a photo at its 50th reunion Homecoming.
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Tartan
The Odenwald family — Dr. Joseph Odenwald, wife Laura and son Joseph — are pictured in the Wright Leppien Opera House in February 2025.