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Clark State president to retire next June

Clark State Community College President Karen Rafinski, has announced her retirement. She will end her 16-year tenure with the college next June.

During Rafinski's time as president, Clark State’s enrollment has grown to nearly 9,000 students from the 4,000 mark it was at when she took over in 1997.

The college's board of directors says Rafinski helped the school raise more than $100 million through the Clark State Foundation. Officials say the Foundation ranks first among all Ohio community colleges in its endowment funds per student.

Rafinski helped the college open a Greene County branch campus in Beavercreek, and worked with Springfield city officials to develop workforce training programs through Clark State to help one of the city's new employers, CodeBlue, grow its operations.

After a 41 year career in higher education, and 26 years serving as president of three colleges, Rafinski says she plans on enjoying her retirement, and travel, while remaining a resident of Springfield.

The college plans to start conducting a nationwide search to fill the position.