USU Appoints New Alumni Director

Utah State University has appointed Wallace S. Odd II as the new executive director of Alumni Relations effective May 1.

Odd’s selection comes after an extensive four-month search that resulted in nearly 70 candidate applications from across the nation. 

 

Odd’s background includes careers as a U.S. Air Force officer, White House official and corporate executive.

 

“His many and varied leadership roles in strategic planning, program leadership, personnel management, outreach programs and team building will serve Utah State well,” said M. Scott Mietchen, USU vice president for university advancement.

 

Odd graduated from USU in 1969 with a bachelor’s in political science. He earned a master’s in educational administration in 1971. As an undergraduate student at Utah State, Odd was involved in a variety of student leadership roles. He served as a member of the ASUSU Student Senate Executive Council, as a member of the ROTC Arnold Air Society and as president of the Sigma Nu Fraternity.

 

After graduation Odd entered the U.S. Air Force, eventually serving as squadron commander and as chief of the Strategic Air Defense Branch at the Pentagon. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Odd became a senior policy analyst for the Office of National Drug Control Policy on the White House staff of President George H.W. Bush. After leaving government employement, Odd entered the private sector where he held a number of leadership positions with federal government contractors.

 

“I want to offer particular thanks to former Alumni Association President Dennis L. Sessions and his search committee for the thorough and thoughtful process they developed and implemented which brought this outstanding appointment,” said Mietchen.