Columbia College-Lake of the Ozarks alumnus and faculty member honored by the Columbia College Alumni Association (CCAA)

Jim Pasley '87

The Columbia College Alumni Association (CCAA) honored James “Jim” Pasley ’87 with the 2012 Columbia College Service Award for significant contributions and service to the college.

“Jim is a true asset for the college and particularly the Lake campus,” said Dr. John Keeney, director of Columbia College-Lake of the Ozarks. “His commitment and service to the college are exemplary.”

Pasley began taking classes at Columbia College-Jefferson City in 1984 as a 30-year-old construction worker. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he pursued a master’s degree with Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., and subsequently pursued a successful career with Missouri state government. While working for the state, Pasley began teaching history classes at the Jefferson City campus in 1990 and then at the Lake of the Ozarks campus in 1996. He’s since taught more than 200 history courses in 22 years of teaching and is a favorite among students. In 1992 and 1996, he was named Columbia College-Jefferson City Professor of the Year.

Pasley is a member of the Columbia College-Lake of the Ozarks Advisory Committee and has served as chairman since 2009. He currently serves as a senior advisor to the Missouri State Homeland Security Agency and is a sought-after expert on history, regularly appearing and speaking on radio stations, at schools and in the community.

Pasley resides in Lake Ozark, Mo., with his wife, Karen, a 2001 graduate of Columbia College-Lake of the Ozarks. They have two sons, Scott and Jimmy. Jimmy and his wife, Melissa, are both graduates of the Columbia College main campus in Columbia.