Dorcas Giles, new executive director of the Shepherd's Center of Columbia Photo by Amanda Taylor

Carol Spivey has retired as executive director of the Shepherd's Center of Columbia. She served for eight years in this position. During this time Spivey increased enrollment at the Shepherd's Center to nearly 400 registered students. Spivey welcomed senior students over 50 years of age and encouraged younger participants to sign up with this national educational program.

Another leader is taking over as head of the Shepherd's Center of Columbia. The new director is Dorcas Giles. She brings over 30 years of teaching with a B.A. and masters in secondary education and an advanced teacher specialist degree to her new job. She taught English, social studies, and was a guidance counselor during the 15 years spent at Dreher High School.

After teaching at Brookland-Cayce High School for 15 years, Giles was a corporate trainer for ten years at Wachovia/SCN. This job entailed instruction in customer service and other business practices.

At Midlands Tech, Giles was an adjunct professor and taught four years in night school.

As a volunteer at the Shepherd's Center of Saint Andrews, Giles was a board member and also served as president. She is already busy in her new position getting ready for the Summer Session of the Shepherd's Center of Columbia which will start Wednesday, July 12 and run through August 2, 2006, Wednesdays only. There will be seven subjects available for study. Tuition will be $10 for the entire session and a sandwich lunch will be available for $3 each week. The Shepherd's Center of Columbia is located in the Leisure Ministries Building of the Trenholm Road United Methodist Church. For more info call 779-4449.