Steven M. Corey, Ph.D.

Phone: 269-749-7642

Steven M. Corey, Ph.D., joined Olivet College as its 23rd president in the fall of 2010. Olivet College, located in southcentral Michigan, is a private liberal arts institution guided by its values-based motto, Education for Individual and Social Responsibility. As the first college in Michigan to admit women and persons of color on a co-equal basis with white men, it has become known for successfully preparing a diverse and inclusive student community for not only success in professions and graduate school, but also for equipping students to make a positive difference in their local and global communities.

With his guidance and leadership, the College has recently established the Olivet College 2030: A Vision for a Prosperous Future strategic plan, setting the course to become a more comprehensive institution offering a robust portfolio of undergraduate, adult professional, graduate, and workforce development programs by the end of the next decade.

In the past decade, he led the development and successful execution of the Olivet College of 2020 and Beyond plan that set the foundation for the future of Olivet in the decades ahead. He also inspired and led the establishment of the Olivet College ADVANTAGE, which guarantees students graduate in four years and opportunities for study abroad, internships and research experiences, and community service. Dr. Corey has also established a college commitment to leadership development by initiating the President’s Leadership Institute, Employee Leadership Academy, and the Women’s Leadership Institute at Olivet College.

Under his leadership, the college has completely redesigned its enrollment strategy, achieving four of the five largest entering classes in college history, increasing the number of on-campus residents, more than doubling the percentage of minority students, and achieving a four-year graduation rate higher than the benchmark for similar student bodies.

The college has also dramatically increased its financial strength, increasing total net assets by 98 percent, endowment by 114%, total enrollment-related revenue by 21 percent, and achieving the highest financial responsibility score possible for consecutive years. Dr. Corey has also led a record-setting fundraising effort, launching the college’s first comprehensive campaign, which raised over $47 million in four years, more than double any previous campaign in college history. He also secured the largest single gift in college history at $17.5 million, led the college to achieve fundraising records in four successive years, and secured planned gift commitments that double the future expectancy of the endowment. The campaign radically transformed the campus with millions of dollars invested in renovation and new construction projects across campus. During this same period, the college also accomplished unprecedented new program development, launching 12 new academic and 14 new athletic and co-curricular programs.

Dr. Corey has also ensured the college’s strong commitment to the greater community through the establishment of the ONE Olivet Initiative, recognizing that a strong and thriving college is dependent upon a strong, thriving and sustaining community.

Prior to joining Olivet College, Dr. Corey served as executive vice president at Prescott College. He was responsible for planning and directing all aspects of the college’s administrative and operational policies, objectives and initiatives. While at Prescott College, he also served as an associate Ph.D. faculty member and an adjunct faculty member in higher education finance, higher education organization and administration, nonprofit management, and other business management-related areas.

Before joining Prescott College, Dr. Corey held the position of fellow for administrative collaboratives with the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association. Previously to TICUA, he spent 10 years with Cumberland University, where he held the positions of vice president for administration, vice president for athletics, director of sports medicine, and was a member of the teaching faculty.

In 2006, Dr. Corey was appointed by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and reappointed by Governor Brewer to serve on the Arizona State Commission for Postsecondary Education, where he served as chair of the commission for three years.

He holds a doctorate in higher education finance from the University of Arizona, a Master of Business Administration from Cumberland University, a Master of Science from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Science from California State University at Fresno.

Dr. Corey was born and raised in Clovis, California and has one daughter, Karli (23).