EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is featured in the Fall 2024 edition of The Tartan magazine. Read more from The Tartan at alma.edu/tartan.
By Erika Powers Appelt ’91
Alma College has begun the search for its next president, who will assume the role following Jeff Abernathy’s departure in June 2025. A search committee composed of representatives from the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and students will provide guidance and structure for the search, interview and selection process.
Erika Powers Appelt leads the search committee as its chair. Currently the vice chair of the Alma College Board of Trustees, Erika has served on the board since 2013. She sat down with The Tartan recently to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the search process.
What does the campus community tell you they are looking for in the next president of Alma College?
One of the most interesting aspects of serving on the Board of Trustees is hearing from the Alma College community — alumni, faculty, staff, students, friends and so many more stakeholders, both near and far — who are united by their love of this institution.
Despite the differences in where they have come from, I’ve found feedback regarding this search process to be fairly consistent. As you know, the last time Alma College searched for a president was 15 years ago, and much has changed in the world of higher education since that time. The qualities we are searching for in our next president reflect the urgency of meeting the steep challenges faced by colleges and universities today. We are seeking a leader who displays innovation to deliver our unique brand of Alma College education to a broader range of prospective students, as the statewide — and national — pool of traditional college- bound high school graduates shrinks. This person will have knowledge, experience and skill in several key areas:
- Financial stability
- Academic quality
- Institutional culture
- Student success
- Development of new undergraduate and graduate programs
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
Where should the next president focus their vision and planning efforts?
The Vision 20/20 and Evergreen strategic plans initiated by President Abernathy were invaluable as Alma navigated the headwinds of the post-pandemic environment for higher education. We are looking for a leader equipped to build on those forward-thinking visions, to ensure Alma College’s viability for the next generation. There is now, and always will be, a place in the world for the college’s mission and core values. Our next president will be focused on aligning those qualities with the needs of the world in 2025 and beyond.
What is the timeline for the search?
This summer, we hired a national search firm to help advertise and identify top candidates for the role of Alma’s president. The position is being posted widely and the firm is proactively reaching out to leaders whose experience and skillsets align with our needs as an institution. We hope to begin interviews by late fall and identify a final candidate or candidates in early 2025. President Abernathy will work closely with his successor throughout the spring and summer to ensure a smooth transition.
— Erika Powers Appelt ’91 is the vice chair of the Alma College Board of Trustees. While at Alma, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and was a member of the choir. She is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, a business law firm, where she specializes in nationwide water quality issues.
