ALMA — Alma College marked a milestone this month as the 20th cohort of Posey Global (P-Global) Fellows gathered to share the results of their summer projects, representing a program
Currently president of Southwestern Michigan College, Odenwald brings with him a wealth of expertise and years of academic leadership. 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.
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.
