Columbia College announces Dr. John Dozier as 21st president

COLUMBIA—Dr. John Dozier has been tapped as the 21st president of Columbia College.

On April 20, the Columbia College Board of Trustees announced the appointment. He will assume the role July 17.

Dozier draws on more than two decades of experience in leadership positions at a range of colleges and universities to lead Columbia College into the future. As the institute community and equity officer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, chief diversity officer and senior associate provost at the University of South Carolina, and president of Kennedy-King College in Chicago, Dozier has proven leadership skills, complemented by a passion for building caring communities in higher education.

“Columbia College has called me home, and I cannot be more humbled or grateful,” Dozier said. “The college is poised for a bright future, and I’m honored for the opportunity to be a part of its growth.

“With a committed faculty and staff and a student body marked by innovation and community service, I’m excited to see where we can go together.”

Chair of Columbia College Board of Trustees Ben Rex said Columbia College has great momentum and is positioned for growth.

“After a dynamic presidential search process led by Cathy Adams and Vivia Fowler in partnership with Witt Kieffer, we are proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Dozier. His wealth of experience and passion for the mission of Columbia College will empower our community as we continue to impact the world through the lives and experiences of our students and graduates.”

Dozier received his Bachelor of Science in marketing from South Carolina State University and was presented a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015. He went on to earn both a Master of Business Administration and a Doctor of Education degrees from DePaul University in Chicago. His wife, Victoria, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of South Carolina and Master of Business Administration degree from Belmont University. From 2011 to 2020 they owned and operated The Language Buzz, Columbia’s first world-language learning center.

In addition to his extensive experience in higher education, Dozier has deep roots in the Columbia community.

A graduate of Columbia High School, his sister, Renata Brown (1997), is an alumna of Columbia College.

As president, Dozier said he will strengthen connections with the community he loves and continue building strong, productive relationships between the college and its neighbors.