President

Alma College seeks a dynamic, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as its 14th President, and invites nominations for and expressions of interest in the position. The next President will sustain and build upon a record of success at Alma, promote the distinctive quality of the institution in a competitive landscape, and develop a shared vision for growth and sustainability. This will be an exciting opportunity for a leader who can think innovatively and creatively about the challenges and opportunities in higher education and lead the College into a thriving future.

Alma College has a long history of providing transformative opportunities and access to social mobility for students in the region and beyond. The next President will have the opportunity to expand the Alma brand and visibility while continuing to promote its values of academic excellence and leadership. The successful candidate will demonstrate a deep commitment to students, the institution’s mission, and community engagement.

Alma College is a private, four-year liberal arts institution located in the city of Alma in the geographic center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The College is situated on 125 acres and owns a 200-acre ecological research station.

Enrollment averages 40 graduate students and 1,250 undergraduate students, typically drawn from approximately 25 states and 10 countries. The average high school GPA of entering students is 3.5. Most of Alma’s students are of traditional college age and live in campus housing.

The College currently awards nine degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Music, Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Master of Science in Communication and Information Technology, Master of Arts in Special Education with Learning Disabilities Endorsement, and Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The faculty have designed over 45 programs of study, including the addition of more than 18 new majors since 2010.

The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the College and principal advisor to the Board of Trustees and is an ex-officio member of all Board and College governance committees. The President provides empowering leadership and direction for the management of all external and internal affairs of the College in keeping with its mission to prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully, and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations. This includes the direct supervision of a leadership team overseeing the areas of Operations and Strategic Initiatives, Enrollment, Communication and Marketing, Academic Affairs, Finance, Student Affairs, Advancement, and Athletics.

The successful candidate will preferably possess an advanced/terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution and display demonstrated success in senior leadership roles in a college/university setting or comparably complex organizations, such as private industry, finance, law, government agencies, or healthcare. The Board of Trustees and the Search Committee are open to considering candidates with leadership experience that may go beyond the traditional higher education setting. The candidate of choice will embrace the College’s academic portfolio, where a strong liberal arts core curriculum is combined with professional programs.

This is a full-time position that will be performed on-site in Michigan. Salary is competitive, commensurate with experience, and will be accompanied by a generous benefits package. There is also a well-appointed and entertainment-ready President’s home on campus.

It is anticipated that the next President of Alma College will assume responsibilities in summer 2025. All applications and nominations for the search will be held confidential. The committee will begin reviewing materials in late October 2024.

To express interest in this role please submit a compelling cover letter and resume directly through the Talent Profile. If you wish to nominate a prospective candidate or inquire regarding the role, please use [email protected].

For more information, please see the full position profile at: https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/21326-alma-college-president

Julie E. Tea, Managing Director

Alma College adheres to all federal and state civil rights laws banning discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Alma College will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment, student or applicant for admission on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, age, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, parental status, pregnancy or related condition, arrest record, genetic information, or any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal laws; including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies.