Columbia College president announces retirement
NEWS-SUN STAFF REPORT January 10, 2013 6:52PM
Dr. Gerald T. Brouder
Updated: March 12, 2013 3:00AM
GURNEE — The president of Columbia College, Gerald Brouder, has announced his retirement as the 16th president of Columbia College.
“After more than 17 years leading this great institution, it is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement effective August 1, 2013,” Brouder said Thursday.
In his inaugural address, held Sept. 15, 1995, Brouder has been president of the college, which has a Lake County campus in Gurnee, since Sept. 15, 1995.
Daisy Grossnickle, chair of the Columbia College Board of Trustees, will soon put together a search committee to find the 17th president of Columbia College.
“Dr. Brouder’s goals and expectations have been met and exceeded,” said Grossnickle.
“I have been fortunate to serve on the board and watch as Dr. Brouder led this great institution with care and diligence. Though we are all sad to let him go, we know Columbia College will continue to excel based on the direction and leadership of Dr. Brouder.”
Prior to coming to Columbia College, Brouder spent 17 years at the University of Missouri in both faculty and administrative position, where he served as provost and interim chancellor.
Brouder has a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Texas-Austin.
Besides Gurnee, Columbia College of Missouri features three other campuses in Illinois, including Crystal Lake, Elgin and Freeport, and offers a variety of in-seat and online degrees.
In 1974, the college entered into an agreement to provide post-secondary education opportunities for sailors at Naval Station Great Lakes.
The college’s Illinois campuses serve more than 2,250 students annually. There are more than 4,700 Columbia College alumni in the state of Illinois, the third largest college alumni population in the nation.
