College President to Retire
***UPDATE 6:52 P.M.***The search for a new Columbia College president is underway as Dr. Gerald Brouder calls is quits after nearly two decades. Brouder says he’s retiring effective August 1st. He worked for 17 years at the University of Missouri as provost and interim chancellor before becoming the 16th president of Columbia College in 1995.A search committee is being put together right now to start a nation wide search. The person heading the committee hasn’t given an exact timeline other than it should start soon. College leaders say it’s going to be a big task replacing Brouder.When Gerald Brouder took over Columbia College he vowed to improve sciences, expand curriculum and get more donations. College leaders say he achieved every one of those goals.Brouder tells ABC 17 News he’s getting older and now would be the best time for the college to transition into another president.”It has to do with everything coalescing, really kind of predicted the timing of a lot of stuff now, the place is in fine shape for whomever takes it over,” Brouder says.During Brouder’s time donations have increased from $2.5-million to $100-million. The college also has about $175-million in assets, and no debt.Leaders say they only found out late Tuesday he was retiring. They tell us the chair of the board of trustees is going to lead the search efforts.”Will put together a search committee, she stated that it will include members of the faculty, students, alumni, administrators, trustees to search for the new president,” Columbia College Executive Director of Development, Alumni & Public Relations Michael Kateman explains. Brouder tells us he’s not going to have any effect on the search process, but hopes the next president will take the next step. “What we want is a person who can take what’s there and expand upon it. We need to go up another level, I’ve taken it a level, we need to go to the next level,” Brouder says.Brouder tells us if there is no president hired by August 1st, he will remain president until one is found.***ORIGINAL STORY***On Thursday, the president of Columbia College will announce his retirement after 18 years on the job.Dr. Gerald Brouder’s retirement will be effective August 1, 2013.A search committee will soon be appointed to find a replacement for Brouder.
