Mical retiring after long career at college

When Connie Mical started at Columbia College as a student nearly 40 years ago, she wasn’t really sure what direction she was heading.

Now, after 18 years of working at the college, she is retiring as the vice president of administration.
  

“She truly is a Columbia College student success story,” said Joan Smith, college president.

“I’m living proof,” Mical said Tuesday from her office in Tamarack Hall.

Mical’s last day with the college is June 30. Her position will be filled by Michael Perez, vice president of administrative services at San Bernardino Valley College.

Mical decided to retire last fall but stayed on to help close the fiscal year, said Dennis Gervin, vice president of student learning.

Gervin said Mical has extensive knowledge and expertise and a certain “finesse.”

“She’s good with people, and that’s important,” Gervin said of Mical’s role as chief business official, which requires her to deal with sometimes difficult budget issues.

Mical first came to Columbia College in 1971 when she was 20 years old. Originally from Southern California, Mical had friends at Columbia who recommended it to her.

“There was something about it,” Mical said of the college when she arrived. “It just felt like home.”

While a liberal arts student, Mical met her future husband, Andy. They married and moved to San Francisco, where he was from.

“Life happened,” Mical said.

The couple ended up moving back to the Twain Harte area and started an upholstery and awning business they ran for nearly 10 years.

Her husband, who retired in January, was hired by the Modesto Irrigation District. Mical took some accounting classes and got a job at the Mother Lode Women’s Center, precursor to the Mountain Women’s Resource Center.

In 1991, Columbia College was awarded a grant to bring technology to the campus and strengthen the educational institutions. Mical was hired as administrative support because of her experience with grants.

“That was to be a three-year job and that was 18 years ago,” Mical said.

The college then received another grant to train elementary school teachers to teach science, the TOPS program, and Mical managed that. 

When that grant ended, Mical moved into the vice president of student services office. By that time she had completed her associate’s degree in business at Columbia.

In 1997, Columbia’s business manager was out on leave and Mical assisted during the interim. She completed her bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from University of Phoenix.

When the business manager didn’t return, Mical took over as the director of the business office.

“Through the years the position has evolved as the college has,” Mical said.

Besides being the college’s chief business official, Mical oversees the institutions that provide ongoing college-wide support such as financial aid, business services, health services, child care, foster care education, campus security, technology and media services and Measure E construction projects.

Measure E is a $326 million general obligation bond passed by voters in the Yosemite Community College District in 2004.

Mical said it has been fulfilling to be an integral part of the Measure E process and has learned a tremendous amount.

She has seen the college grow and change over the years, but said much has remained constant.

“This college is so much its place,” Mical said of the wooded college setting. “It’s endured ... Everyone who is a part of this feels tremendous stewardship to maintain this place.”

Mical said the college today “feels a lot like when I started as a student.”

Over the years Mical has taken many classes at Columbia for personal enrichment including Spanish, fitness and health classes.

She hopes to keep her connection to the college strong after retiring. Mical enjoys working in her yard, raising orchids, backpacking, canoeing and hiking.

"I love my job. I just can’t think of anyone who’s been more lucky than me,” Mical said. “We’re ready to move on to a new phase in our life.”

The Micals bought a home in Baja California, Mexico, and plan to spend time there.

“She’s a wonderful person. It’s kind of a bittersweet moment for us. We’re happy for Connie, sad for us,” Smith said. “She’s worked very hard, she deserves it.”