Columbia College President To Assume New Role Next Year

Columbia, CA — Dr. Jim Riggs will be stepping down as Columbia College´s president in January 2007, and will assume a full-time faculty position in fall of that year.

Riggs says it has been a long-term goal of his and he made the announcement early to give the college and district ample time to conduct a search for the next president.

Riggs intends to remain available to the college and will keep active as a faculty member. With a 24-year career in college administration, Dr. Riggs has been the school´s top administrator since 1997.

During his tenure at Columbia College, the school´s enrollment has increased by more than 30 percent and voters in the Yosemite Community College District area passed Measure E to make provisions to accommodate that growth.

College officials say a committee will be assembled shortly to begin the process for a national search to facilitate a smooth transition.

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