Alma College President

11/20/2024

I’m grateful to my friend Eric Blackhurst (‘83), who is today stepping into the role of Interim President as we prepare for the arrival of Alma’s 14th president! Eric has been a great leader for Alma as a board member. He was Barlow winner at Alma, and has had an incredibly successful career. We are fortunate that he is willing to take on this critical work.

I am on to my work as Director of the Alma Prison Initiative and to a book project that will be the focus of my sabbatical year.

Serving as Alma’s President has been a great privilege and honor, and I will always be ready to support Alma College in any way I can. Go Scots!

08/02/2024

Dr. Sharon Varallo is doing incredible work as Founding Director of the Augustana College Prison Education Program. She has built their model program from the ground up.

I’m learning so much from her as I work with Provost Sean Burke to establish a prison education program at Alma College. I’m in conversation with MDOC so that I can begin to teach in a local prison this year, with the aim of working with my faculty colleagues to build a program in the years to come.

The impact of prison ed programs across the country is enormous, for students and communities alike. Nationally, 10-year recidivism rates are over 80%. For students who earn a bachelor’s degree in prison, that figure is 6%.

https://augieprisoneducation.org/

07/12/2024

First of Many Lasts

In preparing for our last Becoming a Scot Day of the year, I realized this will be my last BASD as president. Along with so many other milestone days – Opening Convocation, Traditions Dinner, Homecoming, Honors Day, Commencement, to name just a few –this day is a highlight of every year. What a joy to meet and welcome our newest Scots and their families!

I am eager to return to the classroom and my role as an English professor in a year. But I will miss occasions like this! Go Scots!

05/27/2024

I’m grateful for all who served and all who sacrificed.

05/26/2024

What a joy to have Highland Festival back on Alma’s campus. Thanks to Andi Whitmore and the HF board for all they do to bring this wonderful event to Alma!

05/25/2024

So happy for Ed Osowski ‘87 and Hugh Snook, who were married yesterday in Portland. They are great friends of mine and of Alma, and we are fortunate to have Ed on our board. Cheers!

05/09/2024

Alma's fourth graduate program, the M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, will equip students to promote healing, resilience, and empowerment in diverse communities.

Students will gain the skills needed to pursue a career in mental health, human services and private practice, as part of the new Alma College Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program. Read more about our newest graduate degree offering at https://bit.ly/4buF7F8

04/22/2024

I shared with the campus community today that I will step down at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. Serving as Alma’s president has been a great privilege, and I'm so proud of all we have accomplished together.

ALMA — Alma College President Jeff Abernathy has announced he will step down at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. After nearly 14 years in the role, he shared

04/19/2024

So proud of the Class of '24! What a talented and resilient group they are! Senior year in high school was cut short for them, and college didn't look like what they expected through those years of Covid.

And, still, they achieved so much. Congratulations, all!

02/12/2024

New agreements with several organizations in India make it easier for international students to attend Alma College, and create exchange opportunities for faculty.

HYDERABAD, India — It will be easier for international students to attend Alma College for graduate and undergraduate degrees, thanks to agreements signed by college officials with three organizations in