Columbia College Celebrates 175 Years and Inaugurates a New President

Columbia College celebrates 175 years and inaugurates a new president

Columbia College inaugurated its 19th president while highlighting 175 years and 100,000 alumni since its founding.

Columbia College has formal inauguration

• Columbia College formally inaugurated Toby Arquette as its 19th president Friday at Launer Auditorium as the school marked 175 years. Arquette, who came from St. Ambrose University in Iowa, took over in March. The college was founded in 1851…

Columbia College's president to be inaugurated Friday on-campus

Look for lots of vehicular and pedestrian traffic Friday morning near Columbia College’s (CC) historic campus north of downtown. Dr. Toby Arquette addresses Columbia College faculty members in December 2025 on-campus. He started as president on March 1, 2026 (file photo courtesy of Columbia College spokesman Sam Fleury) Homecoming activities continue this morning and CC will conclude its 175th anniversary with the formal inauguration of college …