CIU president to resign over health concerns, university names interim leader
Columbia International University president Mark Smith has resigned following prolonged health issues, according to a news release from the school.
Smith is recovering from surgery in November, after a blood clot was found in his brain, according to the news release.
“We thank God for bringing Dr. Smith to us and for the energy he devoted to renewal and expansion of the university,” Hans Finzel, chair of CIU’s board of trustees, said in the news release.
Finzel requested prayer for Smith and his wife, Debbie, and prayer for direction in selecting the new leader of CIU, which is a private, Christian institution.
Under Smith’s five-year tenure, CIU experienced record enrollment, according to the news release. The student body has more than doubled from 1,000 in 2017 to 2,300. Smith also led facility improvements and the expansion of academic programs at the university, the school said.
The release said Rick Christman, who was named CIU’s acting president in December, is now interim president. Christman previously served as CIU’s executive vice president for three years.
“We have every confidence that our mission momentum will continue under his leadership,” Finzel said in the news release.
CIU’s board of trustees is in the process of forming a search committee to select the university’s next president.
