Columbia College announces new Board of Trustees leadership for 2025–2026

Columbia College announces new leadership for its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees elected Tim Arnold Chair (pictured left) and Rodrick Shiver Vice Chair for the 2025–2026 term. Outgoing Chair Ben Rex, who has faithfully served in this role for the past three years, will continue on the Board as Immediate Past Chair. 

President John H. Dozier shared, “Columbia College is fortunate to have leaders of such caliber guiding our Board of Trustees. Tim Arnold and Rodrick Shiver bring deep professional expertise and a strong record of civic commitment that will sustain our momentum as we advance the College’s mission. I am grateful for Ben Rex’s steady and visionary leadership over the past three years, and I look forward to working with Tim, Rodrick, and the rest of our Board of Trustees as we move into this next chapter.” 

Rodrick Shiver

Tim Arnold joined Colonial Life in 2011 following a 26-year career with Unum. He served in a variety of senior roles at Colonial Life, including Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and ultimately as President and CEO. He was also named Executive Vice President of Voluntary Benefits for Unum in 2020. Beyond his corporate career, Arnold has demonstrated an enduring passion for community and board service, having chaired the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, and the American Heart Association Midlands Heart Ball. He currently serves on several regional and national boards, including the American Heart Association, University of Tennessee Chattanooga Foundation Board of Trustees, Midlands Business Leadership Group, and the Palmetto Business Forum. Arnold earned both his bachelor’s degree in management and an MBA in finance from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. 

Rodrick Shiver, a Certified Public Accountant, is the Managing Partner of Shiver Certified Public Accountants, where he provides a wide range of services, including bookkeeping, payroll, consulting, and acting as an external CFO for businesses of all sizes. His prior experience as a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers afforded him the opportunity to advise Fortune 100 companies across multiple industries. Indicative of his love for his hometown, Columbia, its foundation, as well as its future, he has also served on the boards of several nonprofits, including Historic Columbia, Columbia Empowerment Zone, and Tri-City Visionaries. Shiver earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Auburn University–Montgomery, where he was also a Fulbright Scholar, and later completed his MBA in Finance at the University of Connecticut. 

As the College’s governing body, the Board of Trustees is responsible for the educational mission and fiscal policies of the institution. Members are endorsed by the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, serve four-year terms, and may serve up to three consecutive terms. 

2025–2026 Columbia College Board of Trustees 

• Mr. Tim Arnold, Chair 
• Mr. Rodrick Shiver, Vice Chair/Secretary 
• Mr. Ben Rex, Immediate Past Chair 
• Ms. Cathy Calloway Adams 
• Ms. Melisa Underwood Caughman ’95 
• Ms. Ruth Anne McCarter Collins ’68 
• Dr. Vivia Lawton Fowler ’76 
• Mr. W. Scott Graves 
• Dr. Teri Grieb ’93 
• Bishop Jonathan Holston 
• Mr. W. Anthony Jackson 
• Mr. Marion A. “Lex” Knox, Jr. 
• Mr. John Marshall Mosser 
• Dr. Ershela L. Sims 
• Mr. Mark Timbes 
• Ms. Robin Waites 
• The Honorable Kaymani D. West ’97 
• Ms. Jada Willis 
• Dr. Kristin N. Wilson ’17 – Alumni Association Representative 
• Mr. M. Edward Sellers – Trustee Emeritus 

About Columbia College 

Founded in 1854, Columbia College educates women and men to build successful careers and live lives of impact. The College’s liberal arts foundation ensures that students learn to think critically, develop their curiosity, and nurture a love for learning. With a 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, Columbia College students benefit from individualized support, engaged instruction, and personal mentorship. With more than 30 undergraduate programs and eight graduate programs, students can discover and pursue their passion and purpose.