Dr. Michelle Allmendinger has spent her career helping students find their path forward.
Now, as Delta’s new president, she’s beginning a new chapter of her own. We sat down
with Allmendinger to talk about what brought her to Delta, the experiences that shaped
her and what she hopes comes next.
Q: What made Delta College the right next step in your career?
A: Becoming a college president has been a goal I've worked toward for more than a decade. Every step, from earning my doctorate at Michigan State University to serving as a dean and vice president of student affairs, helped prepare me for this opportunity. When I learned more about Delta, I immediately connected with its mission. Throughout my career, I've focused on finding innovative ways to support students and remove barriers to their success, and I saw that same commitment here. After spending a full day interviewing on campus, I left thinking, 'I really hope I get to come back.'
Q: You’ve described your leadership style as being shaped by coaching. What does that mean to you?
A: Coaching taught me that every person has an important role to play. Good leaders help people understand how their work connects to a larger mission and give them the support they need to succeed. If someone is new to a role or needs additional support, my instinct isn’t simply to evaluate them; it’s to coach them. Athletics also taught me resilience. You learn that growth takes effort; setbacks are part of the process and success comes from continuing to show up and do the work.
Q: As a first-generation college student yourself, how has your own experience shaped the way you support students today?
A: It changed the way I see higher education. I didn’t always know the language of college or understand how all the pieces fit together. Programs like the federally funded McNair Scholars Program opened my eyes to opportunities I didn’t know existed and helped me imagine possibilities beyond earning a bachelor’s degree. That experience reminds me that students often don’t know what they don’t know, and that’s okay. Our responsibility is to make the path clearer, help students navigate the process and remove unnecessary barriers so they can reach the goals that brought them here.
Q: Many Delta students arrive with very different goals and life experiences. How should the college continue evolving to meet them where they are?
A: Community colleges exist to serve their communities, which means listening carefully to students, employers and local partners. Education is changing quickly, and Delta must continue responding while maintaining the academic quality and career preparation it’s known for. I’m excited to spend time across the Great Lakes Bay Region asking one simple question: What do you need from Delta?
Q: Higher education often measures success through data. What does student success mean to you beyond the numbers?
A: Data helps us understand where we need to improve, but student success has always been about people. Throughout my career, I’ve looked for ways to build support systems that help students stay connected and continue toward graduation. Sometimes all it takes is helping someone navigate one challenge. Those small moments can change the trajectory of a student’s life.
Q: If you could sit down with a group of Delta students today, what’s the first question you’d ask?
A: I’d ask two questions: Why did you choose Delta? And would you choose Delta again? The answers tell us so much. If students would choose Delta again, I’d want to know what made their experience meaningful. If they wouldn’t, I’d want to understand what we could have done differently. Listening to students helps us continue creating the best possible experience.
Q: Delta College has served this region for 65 years. How do you balance honoring that legacy while bringing your own perspective as president?
A: My approach is to spend time listening and learning before making decisions. I’m not someone who comes in with a list of changes on day one. Sometimes leadership isn’t about changing direction. It’s about building on the momentum that’s already there.
Q: Years from now, what would make you feel you’ve made a meaningful difference at Delta?
A: I hope Delta continues to thrive and remains an essential part of this community. If years from now we can point to students who succeeded because we found better ways to support them, I’ll feel like I’ve made a meaningful contribution.
Q: What do you hope the Delta community comes to know about you—not just as president, but as a person?
A: I hope people know how excited I am to be here. I fell in love with Michigan years ago, and I’m looking forward to becoming part of this community and continuing to discover everything that makes this region unique.
Q: As you begin this next chapter, what’s one moment that’s already made the Great Lakes Bay Region feel like home?
A: Watching the Fourth of July fireworks from the roof of Delta’s Planetarium was unforgettable. But it’s also been the quieter moments—discovering local restaurants, settling into the college’s farmhouse and enjoying the wildlife—that have made me feel at home.
