Columbia College names new president
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia College announced in a Monday press release that its Board of Trustees have named Toby Arquette as its next president.
Arquette will become the school’s 19th president on March 1, succeeding David Russell, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
The release says Arquette is currently at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, as the school’s vice president for strategic growth, marketing and digital transformation. He also has a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Wayne State University, a master of arts degree in communication studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in communication from Northwestern University, according to the release.
He also worked for 15 at Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois, the release says. He was selected from a field of more than 100 applicants, according to the release.
“I am deeply honored and grateful to be entrusted with the privilege of serving Columbia College at such a meaningful moment in its history,” Arquette said in the release. “As we approach our 175th anniversary in 2026, we have an opportunity to both celebrate a remarkable legacy and lean into the spirit of innovation that has defined this institution from the beginning. I am humbled by the trust the Board of Trustees has placed in me, and I look forward to listening, learning and working alongside everyone as we write the next chapter together.”
