Our goal is to enhance the value of the Alma student experience.

Joe L. Odenwald

President

The appointment of the 14th president of Alma College was made unanimously by the Alma College Board of Trustees, based on the recommendation of the presidential search committee. 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 Southwestern Michigan College, 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.

Damon Brown

Vice President for Student Affairs

Damon Brown oversees a broad administrative portfolio that includes residence life, career and personal development, academic support and tutoring, disability support and services, and student health, wellness and counseling services. He joined Alma’s leadership team in September 2020, after 23 years of student affairs experience, most recently as the director of the Office of Student Activities and Involvement at Central Michigan University (CMU). Brown holds a master’s degree in sports administration from CMU, as well as two bachelor’s degrees from Ohio University.

Sean Burke

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Sean Burke serves as the senior academic administrator at Alma College, with oversight of more than 50 undergraduate and three graduate programs of study. He joined Alma’s leadership team in 2023 after 15 years of service at Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa, most recently as associate provost. Previously, Burke had served at Luther as associate dean and as head of the religion department. Burke has a doctoral degree in biblical studies from Graduate Theological Union, in Berkeley, California, a Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary, in Philadelphia, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College, in Bronxville, New York.

James Carman

Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Business Affairs

James Carman is responsible for all aspects of the college’s finances with oversight of the operating and capital budgets. He joined Alma’s leadership team in 2021 after more than 20 years of work in the private sector, most recently at XALT Energy, where he served as vice president of finance. Carman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business and accounting from Olivet College.

Kari Chrenka

Senior Director of Marketing

Kari Chrenka serves as the Senior Director of Marketing at Alma College, where she provides strategic leadership for the institution’s communication and marketing efforts. She joined the college in October 2023, following more than a decade of professional experience in marketing, website management, and social media at Central Michigan University. Chrenka holds a Master of Science in Administration with a concentration in General Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree, both awarded by Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Douglas Freed

Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications

Douglas Freed leads the college’s admissions, financial aid and marketing and communications teams. He joined Alma College’s leadership team in 2025 after six years of service at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, where he served as director of admissions and enrollment services. In that role, he led the development and implementation of recruitment and enrollment strategies that resulted in measurable improvements to enrollment and academic outcomes. Prior to his service at Western Illinois, among other colleges and universities, Freed worked at Wayne State University in Detroit for a total of 20 years and Henry College in Dearborn, Mich., for a total of 10 years, in various capacities, as well as at Delta College. Freed has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a Master of Arts degree in public relations/organizational communication from Wayne State.

Phil Miller

Director of Athletics

Phil Miller is responsible for the overall development and general management of Alma’s NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics program, which features 30 varsity sports. He joined Alma’s leadership team in 2025 after more than a decade of experience at colleges in NCAA Divisions I, II and III; most recently at Franklin and Marshall College (Penn.), where he served as associate director of athletics for operations and facilities. Miller holds a bachelor degree from Edinboro University, master’s degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Slippery Rock, and a doctorate from East Stroudsburg.

Bob Murray

Vice President for Advancement

Robert W. Murray heads an advancement staff charged with leading efforts to build, enhance, and steward the relationships and partnerships in support of Alma College’s mission. The advancement function includes responsibility for alumni and parent engagement, the Alma Fund, foundation relations, major and planned gifts, endowment and campaign initiatives, donor stewardship, and prospect research. Murray, a member of the Alma College Class of 1988, previously served Alma College’s Advancement Office for more than 22 years; first as director of planned giving and later as senior director of planned giving. In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree from Alma College, Murray holds a Master’s of Science degree from Central Michigan University and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from North Park (Ill.) University.