News Releases

Trustees Appoint Officers, Welcome New Members

Alma College trustees have elected officers for 2008-09, effective July 1, and welcomed two new trustees to the 31-member Board.

Candace C. Dugan of Douglas was elected chair of the Board. Dugan, senior counsel in the Holland office of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, joined the Alma Board in 2003 and has served as vice chair since 2005. A graduate of Alma High School, she has a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College, a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and a law degree from the University of Michigan.

 

Candace C. Dugan

Active professionally and within the community, Dugan is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association, Product Liability Advisory Council and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. She is a frequent speaker and writer on products liability issues.

Dugan also serves on the boards of West Michigan Strategic Alliance, the John Ball Zoo and Holland Hospital as past chair. She is a former board member of Holland Historical Trust, Holland Community Health Center and Center for Women in Transition. She has been recognized by The Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of the “50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan,” by Super Lawyers as one of the top Michigan attorneys and in Best Lawyers in America.

 

Ron R. Sexton

Ron R. Sexton ’68 of Midland was elected vice chair. Sexton, treasurer of the Dow Corning Corp. for 28 years before retiring in 2005, was appointed to the Alma Board in 2004. A graduate of Midland High School, he has a bachelor’s degree from Alma College and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

 

Larry R. Andrus

Larry R. Andrus ’72 of Grand Rapids was chosen as secretary. Andrus, chief executive officer of Trivalent Group Inc. in Grandville, has served on the Alma Board since 2004. A graduate of Sparta High School, he has a bachelor’s degree from Alma College.

Outgoing chair Dave Provost of Birmingham, who served for three years, will remain on the Board as a trustee. Elected to the Board in 1994, he is a 1976 graduate of Alma College.

The election of officers takes place annually at the May board meeting. Officers may serve up to three one-year terms.

The two newest members of the Board are Greg Hatcher ’83 and D. Michael Sherman ‘74.

“We are very pleased to welcome Greg and Mike as our newest Board members,” said Alma College President Saundra Tracy. “They bring expertise and an impressive set of accomplishments that will be extremely valuable to Alma College’s Board.”

Hatcher is chief executive officer of The Hatcher Agency in Little Rock, Ark. He also has served as past president of the Little Rock Rotary Club and Baptist Health Board, president of the Arkansas Wrestling Association Board, past chairman of the Little Rock Marathon and Arthritis Foundation Board, chairman of the Mighty Bluebird Foundation, and member of the Centers for Youth and Families Board.

Sherman is chief executive officer of Dawson Companies in Naples, Fla. and has worked at Dawson Companies in various positions since 1978. He also is currently active with the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, Independent Insurance Agents’ Association, National Association of Surety Bond Producers, and the Bobby Nichols/Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation. He has a Master of Business Administration degree from Baldwin Wallace.

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Alma College graduates have extraordinary placement rates into medical and law schools. Alma’s 84 percent placement rate into medical school compares to a 46.3 percent national average. Alma’s placement rate for law school is 86.9 percent, compared to a 66.8 percent national average.

 

Graduate Profile

Amy Doucette
Graduation: 1995
Major: Exercise and Health Science, Art and Design

Through her experiences at Alma College, Amy Doucette learned that occupational therapy is more than a profession — it’s a philosophy.

“It is about helping people regain balance and meaning in their lives after a setback, whether physical, mental or social — the scope of treatment is huge,” the 1995 graduate says. “It involves teaching, adapting, promoting recovery, providing resources and rehabilitating the upper extremity in helping people return to their activities of daily living.”