The Inauguration of Dr. Toby Arquette, 19th President of Columbia College
Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 | Columbia, Missouri
Inauguration Schedule
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – Ceremony on Bass Commons
12:30 - 2 p.m. – Reception in Dulany Hall
About the Ceremony
Since starting as Columbia College’s 19th President on March 2, 2026, Dr. Toby Arquette has energized students, faculty and staff with his strong vision for the institution. His arrival has coincided with the College’s 175th anniversary and the milestone of eclipsing 100,000 alumni around the world.
President Arquette treated his first summer leading Columbia College as an opportunity to both learn and look ahead. Ahead of the 2026-27 academic year, he traveled to several of the college’s locations around the country to celebrate graduation ceremonies, connect with students, faculty, staff and alumni, and see firsthand the talent and commitment that define the Columbia College community.
He also spent time with fellow higher education leaders from across the country through two national leadership programs: the EAB New Presidents Intensive in Washington, D.C., and the Harvard Seminar for New Presidents in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For Arquette, the experiences reinforced the value of lifelong learning.
Nearly eight months into his presidency, Columbia College will officially celebrate the inauguration of Toby J. Arquette on Oct. 16, 2026.
