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Liberia's Cuttington University College appoints new president
2002-190-6
8/9/2002
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[Episcopal News Service]
The board of trustees for Cutting University College in Liberia has appointed Dr. Henrique F. Topka as president, succeeding Dr. Melvin Mason who has retired. Topka is the former vice president for administration. The appointment was announced by Bishop Edward Neufville, bishop of the Episcopal Church of Liberia and president of the board, at ceremonies in the capital city of Monrovia marking the 41st commencement convocation.
The college was forced to abandon its campus last May in the face of renewed fighting in the country's civil war. Although no one was killed or injured, the rebel forces looted the campus and heavily damaged many of the buildings. The college set up temporary facilities in Monrovia and finished the academic year with graduation ceremonies for about 86 students on July 28. It was the first graduating class since the campus reopened in October 1998.
The college was forced to close in 1990 when it had 900 students on campus. The rebels stripped the campus clean and the school was just beginning to recover when the latest round of fighting forced the students and faculty to flee for their lives.
Mason served as fifth president of Cuttington, beginning in February of 1988 until his retirement at the end of July. The college is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the nation and its graduates have assumed positions of high leadership during a turbulent era. Because of its location near the center of the country, it has been deeply affected by the civil war.
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