Columbia College appoints four new members to Board of Trustees

Columbia College Board of Trustees Chair Rev. Dr. Brad Stagg recently announced the appointments of four new members to the board, effective July 1, 2023.

Bill Seibert ’09, Greg Johnston ’91, Jake Black ’05 and Dr. Mary Beck will serve four-year terms as trustees through 2027, bringing valuable knowledge and career experiences as they help guide all aspects of the institution’s main campus and locations around the country.

With the additions of Seibert, Johnston, Black and Beck, there are currently 22 members on the board.

“I am pleased to welcome these four excellent leaders to the Board of Trustees and commend their commitment to continuing Columbia College’s mission of improving the lives of our students,” Stagg says. “These individuals bring wisdom, innovative spirit and exciting new energy to their roles, and they will help our institution embrace change to ensure a bright future of continuing to provide affordable quality education.”

Bill Seibert rose through the ranks of the Missouri State Highway Patrol to serve as assistant superintendent, overseeing daily operations of the 2,300-person agency, before retiring in 2006. Later serving as deputy police chief and interim police chief in O’Fallon, Missouri, he earned his bachelor’s degree online through Columbia College’s St. Louis location, finishing what he had started as one of the first African American students on the main campus in the 1970s. Seibert then worked for nearly a decade at the Missouri Gaming Commission, including four years as executive director. Today the Jefferson City resident is an ordained Catholic deacon. He is the 2023 recipient of the Columbia College Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award.

Greg Johnston is an entrepreneur and consultant with 32 years of experience in governmental and business relations. As president of Johnston & Associates, Inc., he advises a diverse group of clients, including Fortune 500 companies. Johnston is a founding member of Mar-Ston Development Group based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which is actively developing projects in opportunity zones throughout the country. Johnston previously directed legislative affairs for Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan. He was a founding owner and board member of BlueBird Network, a leading Missouri and Illinois telecommunications company. He earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Columbia College and received the CCAA Professional Achievement Award in 2014.

Jake Black is the president and chief executive officer of CFM Insurance, Inc. and Innovated Holdings, Inc. The Trenton, Missouri, native now resides in Columbia with his wife and three children. His corporate journey leverages extensive experience in collaborative leadership for a wide variety of organizations, with a record of success focusing on next-stage development, M&A, risk underwriting, technology and software, product development and pricing, government relations, and growth strategies. Black earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management Administration from Columbia College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Dr. Mary Beck retired in 2021 as chief nursing officer at University of Missouri Health Care, where she led all nursing practice across the health system and was responsible for nursing policies and initiatives while optimizing the recruitment and retention of approximately 1,200 nurses. She previously served for 16 years as vice president of patient care services and chief nurse executive at Boone Hospital Center. The Columbia resident’s professional experience started in critical care nursing in rural Missouri and evolved into critical care education. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Rush University.

Founded in 1851 in Columbia, Missouri, Columbia College has been helping students advance their lives through higher education for more than 170 years. As a private, nonprofit institution, the college takes pride in its small classes, experienced faculty and quality educational programs. Students can enroll in Day, Evening or Online classes. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Columbia College has more than 97,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit ccis.edu.