President's Office

Alma College’s 13th President: Jeff Abernathy



Jeff Abernathy, Alma College’s 13th president, arrived on campus in June 2010 with a strong commitment to the values of a liberal arts education—values that celebrate student achievement, excellent teaching, service and citizenship.

President Abernathy talks informally with students in his office

In his first year at Alma, Dr. Abernathy launched a strategic planning process to guide the College in the next five to seven years. The process includes the establishment of goals that address the development of new programs, bolster enrollment, enhance retention and build added opportunities for student growth.

Dr. Abernathy also has expressed his interest in engaging new audiences with the Alma story and continues to reach out to students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater community through social media, campus involvement and alumni gatherings.

He is a leading authority on important issues in higher education, particularly those faced by small liberal arts colleges. As an active participant with the Midwestern Alliance for Learning in the Liberal Arts, Dr. Abernathy advocates focusing faculty work around essential areas of student learning, such as critical thinking, complex reasoning and writing.

Facebook logo     Twitter icon Connect with Dr. Abernathy on Facebook and Twitter.

Alma Mater Blog Title Read President Jeff Abernathy's blog, Alma Mater, on InsideHigherEd.com.


E-mail Jeff Abernathy


Contact:
Sandee Gadde, Executive Assistant to the President
Reid-Knox Administration Building
Phone: (989) 463-7146
Fax: (989) 463-7094

 

Ninety-four percent of Alma College’s 2011 graduates reported working in full-time positions or attending graduate school within six months of graduation.

 

Leadership Profile

Alex Sprague

Alex Sprague
Graduation: 2015
Major: Religious Studies and Political Science

As a Student Ministry Coordinator and the vice president of the Interfaith Council at Alma College, Delaware sophomore Alex Sprague knows a thing or two about leadership.

“I never would have thought I’d be vice president of a club as a sophomore, which speaks to the small school atmosphere,” he says. “Leadership isn’t based on seniority here, but rather on your own interests and ability to lead. You are able to have many experiences.”