Charles Toomajian retired last December after nearly 50 years of service in higher education. Charlie joined AACRAO in the early 1970’s and has since helped author and co-author several publications involving registration issues, including the 2011 Academic Record and Transcript Guide. His service to AACRAO is not limited only to authorship. Charlie has also served on multiple AACRAO committees including the 2003 Audit Committee and, most recently, the Awards Committee.
Upon graduating from Bowdoin College, Charlie stayed on at the college serving as an Administrative Assistant to the Dean. After Bowdoin, enrolled in Cornell University where he earned two degrees; an M.A. and a Ph.D., both in Educational Administration. After being awarded his Doctorate, Charlie spent nearly a decade at the College of William and Mary in Virginia where he would ultimately serve as Registrar. After William and Mary, Charlie took a brief break from higher education when he took a foray into the culinary world as owner and chef of a crab restaurant in Yorktown, VA, situated at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
Charlie closes his illustrious career at Williams College, where he began in 1986 as Registrar of the College. After 10 years with Williams, Charlie assumed the role of Associate Dean of the College while still maintaining his position as Registrar. He would hold both roles for the remainder of his tenure with the College. Always an advocate for small college issues, Charlie led Williams through implementing and updating its first computerized student information system. He further distinguished himself at Williams as a specialist with the programs tailored to disabled students and those returning from medical or psychological leaves of absence.
Charlie has been a sought-after consultant for small colleges looking to overhaul their registration offices. His most notable consulting venture came in 1993 when he spent six weeks with the American University of Armenia where he helped set up a registration system that would meet American standards. Charlie is also a founding member and Chairman of the Board of the Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter School; a public preparatory school that vows to graduate independent thinkers, dynamic workers and active citizens for life.
This spring, Charlie and his wife Liz will settle to her home town of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We look forward to his continued involvement with AACRAO and wish him the very best in his retirement!