KYLE SCHECK
PHOTOGRAPHER
JORDAN FOX
COPY EDITOR
9/16/2024
In April 2024, Alma College president Jeff Abernathy announced that he would be stepping down from his role following the conclusion of the 2024-25 academic year. Abernathy began serving as president in 2010 and positively impacted both Alma and its community alike during his time.
Abernathy will not be leaving the college, however, as he plans to return as an English professor after going on a sabbatical for a year. He has multiple projects that he intends to work on during his time away.
“I will be on sabbatical in the 25-26 academic year. This will give me time to focus on my scholarship and to complete the manuscript I am working on. And I will continue to develop the Alma Prison Initiative,” said Abernathy.
“Next year will also be my son’s senior year at UM and my daughter’s senior year in high school, and I look forward to spending more time with them,” said Abernathy.
Much of his presidency was difficult and full of change as the college navigated unprecedented circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic and this year’s FAFSA delay.
“These have been years of considerable change. The demographic challenges all colleges face today have been our main focus throughout these fifteen years,” said Abernathy.
“We have focused on new program development in our undergraduate curriculum as well as the development of graduate offerings. Our faculty has been incredibly forward thinking in these years, adding over 25 new programs; on average, roughly a quarter of our graduates in the last few years have come from one of those new programs,” said Abernathy.
Despite the challenges, Abernathy highlights the many positive memories he has made throughout the years.
“I’ll remember every graduation in these 15 years. Graduation is always the highlight of each year and I remember each of them as special events; it’s a joy for me to go around and [take] selfies with students… and shake everyone’s hands a dozen times as all of us together share in the great joy of families so proud of their students. We share that pride and so every single graduation is a highlight for me,” said Abernathy.
At the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester, the search for Alma College’s next president began. The Presidential Search Committee has partnered with the executive search firm, Storbeck Search, and they are currently in the process of building the presidential candidate pool.
Earlier this month, consultants from Storbeck Search visited the campus to gather input from the campus community to learn more about Alma’s expectations for the newest president and the college’s future. In addition, they released a survey for community members to share their thoughts and ideas and held virtual listening sessions for those unable to attend in person.
“The Presidential Search Committee plans to finalize the search prospectus in late September… Early in 2025, we anticipate the top candidates will participate in finalist conversations… We hope and anticipate that the President-elect will be named in the early spring of 2025,” said Erika Powers Appelt (‘91), Trustee and Presidential Search Committee Chair.
The search committee has aimed to give everyone an equal voice in the selection process in hopes of finding the candidate that best represents Alma College’s values and will ensure a prosperous future for the institution.
The Almanian: News 
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