Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald

ALMA — Alma College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald as its 14th president. Currently president of Southwestern Michigan College, Odenwald brings with him a wealth of expertise and years of academic leadership.

The appointment was unanimously approved by the Alma College Board of Trustees, based on the recommendation of the presidential search committee. Odenwald will assume his new role on June 1, 2025, succeeding interim president Eric Blackhurst ’83.

“The search committee was impressed by Dr. Odenwald’s leadership experience serving higher education and learners in the state of Michigan,” said Erika Powers Appelt ’91, vice chair of the Board of Trustees and chair of the presidential search committee. “He truly embraces Alma College’s mission and will bring both a spirit of innovation to the campus as well as a respect for our rich tradition as a leading residential liberal arts college.”

Board of Trustees Chairman Darryl Schimeck ’82 echoed Powers Appelt: “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. I look forward to welcoming Joe and his family to our Alma College community.”

Proven track record

Under Odenwald’s presidency, since 2020, Southwestern Michigan College (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.

“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,” Blackhurst said. “I’m excited to welcome him as Alma College’s 14th president.”

Shared vision

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 has deep experience in student affairs. As vice president of student services at SMC, he led the creation of new student leadership development opportunities, First Year Experience, New Student Orientation, Welcome Week and other initiatives. Recently, SMC announced its Grady Scholars Program, which aims to increase the number of underrepresented student leaders on campus. In 2019, in appreciation for its community-centered programming, the Dowagiac Area Chamber of Commerce awarded Odenwald with its “Partnership Award,” on behalf of SMC.

Odenwald lives in Dowagiac with wife Laura, son Joseph and nearly 14-year-old dog Eleanor.

“I am grateful to the presidential search committee and ultimately the Board of Trustees for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve as Alma College’s 14th president. Leading an institution the caliber of Alma is the fulfillment of a nearly-25-year dream,” Odenwald said. “Alma’s mission to ‘prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully, and live responsibly’ reminds me very much of my own liberal arts education. This mission is even more critical today than it was two decades ago. We cannot see the liberal arts mission as merely a ‘value-add,’ because the challenges we face are too difficult to overcome without a critical mass of college graduates who possess the skills and frameworks that can only be honed within the residential liberal arts setting.”