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NEWS RELEASE

-- For Immediate Release --

Date: June 2, 2008

Contact: Doug Lau, Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Appointments of Columbia College administrators announced

The Yosemite Community College District (YCCD) Board of Trustees recently approved the appointments of Michael L. Torok to the position of dean of arts and sciences and Brian DeMoss as director of information technology and media services at Columbia College. Over the past year, both have served in their newly appointed posts in interim roles.

Michael Torok was dean of the science, mathematics and engineering division at Modesto Junior College for three years before joining Columbia College in May 2007 as interim dean. He was a full-time professor of biology, marine biology, and life sciences at MJC prior to that. His other teaching roles include part-time positions at CSU Stanislaus and UC Santa Cruz.

A native of Tuolumne County, Torok received a bachelor of science degree in biopsychology and a bachelor of arts degree in aquatic biology in 1988. Both degrees were with honors from UC Santa Barbara. He also received a master of science degree in marine science with honors in 1994 from CSU Stanislaus/Moss Landing Marine Laboratory.

In his present position, Torok will manage approximately 80 certificated (30 full-time and 50 adjunct) faculty and six classified staff. Along with developing and supervising instructional programs in diverse subject areas within his department, he also is the Columbia College athletic director and represents the college at the Central Valley Conference of California.

“I am very excited to receive the permanent position as head of the arts and sciences division at Columbia College,” said Torok. “This is a wonderful place to work, full of dedicated people who have a focused goal of serving students in our community.”

Brian DeMoss, who joined Columbia College in December 2007, was affiliated for the past ten years with the YCCD in Modesto as the Datatel system administrator in their information technology department. He brings to the college an extensive background in technology and familiarity with district-wide operations. Prior to that, he worked in the electrical engineering field in the Bay Area.

DeMoss holds an A.S. degree in electrical engineering from Clinton Community College in Clinton, Iowa and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota.

As the director of information technology and media services, DeMoss plans, organizes and supervises the college’s administrative computing resources, computer networking, telecommunications, and instructional support services systems and equipment through his department.

“As a team, our staff is looking forward to helping Columbia College prepare and move forward into the future,” said DeMoss. “The challenges are there and we will be providing the best technology that we can for the college.”

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News Release No. 049-08

June 2, 2008

For Immediate Release

Attachments: Photos of Torok and DeMoss