Craig W. Korpela, Ph.D., assistant professor of history, has taught at Olivet College since 2000.

His primary teaching responsibilities include United States history, United States diplomatic history, world history, Russian history and Michigan history. In addition, he has taught courses focused on colonialism, constitutional history, and various areas within the field of political science, including national government and state and local government. Korpela has also led groups of students to Michigan’s upper peninsula to study the development of mining communities and to the coast of Maine to study cultural development.

Professor Korpela has research interests in government scandals at the cabinet and sub-cabinet levels, Finnish history, upper Michigan mining communities and public policy regarding mental health issues. He serves as a trustee on the Pennfield Schools Educational Foundation Board, and when he is not playing tennis or biking with his wife and daughters, he likes to visit national or state parks. 
Korpela earned a bachelor's degree in general studies from The University of Michigan, a master’s degree in History from Oakland University, and a doctorate in public administration from Western Michigan University.
He is currently the advisor for the Olivet College chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society for undergraduate history majors.