Quigley to Step Down After Next Year

Columbia College Dean Austin Quigley will retire after next year, he announced in an email to CC students Wednesday afternoon. He has served as dean of the college since 1995.

In the email, Quigley gave no specific reason for retiring other than time. "Deciding when to move on from a position of responsibility is always a challenge, but wisdom is on the side of doing so when things continue to go well, so that a successor will have the opportunity to steer that positive momentum toward new priorities," Quigley wrote.

He also outlined some strides that CC has taken under him in areas such as admissions rates and fundraising, but emphasized the idea that the progress was due to a collective effort.

"It has been my good fortune to work closely with a talented College staff, a dedicated faculty, a creative and supportive university leadership, a deeply committed group of alumni and parents, and a remarkably talented student body," he said.

According to an email from President Lee Bollinger, Quigley will remain on Columbia's faculty as Brander Matthews Professor of Dramatic Literature and also serve as Special Advisor to the President for Undergraduate Education.