This special edition of RiverTalk traces the College’s 65-year journey with two people who embody its history and mission. Dr. Mia Tignor, Associate Vice Provost of Academic Affairs and the College’s historian, explores pivotal moments—from the 1965 merger with Lincoln Junior College during integration, to the 2008 transition to a state college offering bachelor’s degrees, to recent transformations including a $45 million gift from MacKenzie Scott and the launch of the Promise Program.
Professor June Wells, who has taught at The River for 53 years and has impacted more than 12,000 students, reflects on what has changed—and what hasn’t—about teaching, students, and the College’s commitment to accessibile education. Named Faculty of the Year in 2009 and 2023, she shares what drives her passion after five decades in the classroom…