The president of Columbia College announced Thursday he will be stepping down in August. The president’s nearly two-decade-long tenure has been filled with some memorable achievements.
Applause filled the Atkins-Holman Student Commons at Columbia College as Gerald Brouder made the announcement. Brouder says there’s a couple of reasons why he decided to retire.
“The institution is in very fine shape both fiscally and otherwise – curricular wise,” he said. In a few weeks I’ll be turning 70 years old and that just seems like the right age to do something.
Brouder became the 16th president in 1995 and led the college through several years of growth, including an endowment that’s grown from $2.5 million in 1995 to more than $100 million today. And the school’s staff has cherished his leadership.
Michael Kateman is the director of development at Columbia College.
“The essence of his leadership is integrity, honesty, fairness and compassion,” Michael Kateman, director of development at the college, said.
Brouder’s retirement is set to take effect on Aug. 1, 2013 – just a few weeks before the fall 2013 semester begins.
The chair of the Columbia College Board of Trustees is tasked with putting together a search committee to find the next president.