Columbia State Community College recently hosted a naming ceremony and unveiled a plaque to honor retired English professor, Dr. James “Jim” Senefeld.

Senefeld, who taught at Columbia State for 31 years, was an integral part of the Humanities Division. Mainly teaching English, he also taught other courses, including literature, Arts and Culture: An Introduction to Humanities and Introduction to Film Studies.

Alongside his decades of educating college students, Senefeld was also heavily involved with and contributed to several college clubs and events, including the Celebrating Our American Heritage presentation series, Film Club, Socratic Club, the Baptist Student Union and study abroad trips.

Outside of his teachings and service to Columbia State, he was also a recurring presenter and contributor to “Polk’s America,” a monthly educational program as part of the James K. Polk Home that showcased the wide-reaching impact of President Polk’s term in office. 

The naming ceremony kicked off with Columbia Mayor and Columbia State alumnus Chaz Molder proclaiming Oct. 17, 2025, as "Dr. James L. Senefeld Day" for the city of Columbia. 

Molder, who grew up near the Senefeld’s home, recalls him being a man with a great mind and kind demeanor, both in and out of the classroom.

“When I think about our college professors at Columbia State Community College, I think about the intellectual prowess that they represent in our community, the promotion and exchange of ideas and conversations and dialogues that they're creating, not just on this campus, but also in our community as a whole,” Molder said. “Whether or not Dr. Senefeld was on this campus, educating minds, whether or not he's out in the community, speaking at events like the Polk’s Home series or whether he's walking his dog on a Saturday morning, he was always going to say hello and be kind.”

Educating young minds included his own daughter, Rachel Senefeld Kromer, who was once a student in her father’s class. She said that since her dad grew up as an only child on an Indiana farm, and in a family with a passion for reading, that helped spark his interest in literature and English. She recalled a memory of him in his Columbia State office that perfectly sums up his mentoring heart. 

“I think my dad's mentorship of students could really be summed up with one image, and that was his rocking chair in his office,” Senefeld Kromer said. “I really hope that my dad will be remembered for those rocking chair conversations, putting the community in Columbia State Community College. He’ll be remembered for encouraging those kids who, like him, might have been the first in their families to go to college, for making the wonderful education provided in these halls accessible to learners and inspiring those people as well.”

Senefeld’s passion for teaching and being a steward of local education not only influenced his many students but also his colleagues as well. 

“I can't even begin to explain how important Jim Senefeld has been to Columbia State, to our students, to his colleagues and to me personally,” said Dr. Barry Gidcomb, Columbia State dean of the Humanities and Social Sciences Division and professor of history. “Jim and I actually started to work here on the same day, on Sept. 9, 1985. That was our work anniversary together here at Columbia State. And it has been an incredibly wonderful ride. I've never known anyone at Columbia State more beloved than Jim Senefeld, and I'm so happy that I was here. I'm so happy that I've been along on the ride. And you mean everything to us, Jim.”

The impact he had during the early decades of Columbia State’s history is now ingrained in the legacies of both the college and himself.

“The foundation of anything — whether it’s a college or a business — is built by those who come first and give, and those who follow and continue to give,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. You have laid a foundation of instruction, care for students and commitment to their success that has helped build this college into what it is today. That contribution is so meaningful, it’s hard to put into words. If I had to choose the biggest words I could find, they would be: ‘You made a difference.’ You made a difference in the lives of your students. You made a difference in the lives of your colleagues. As I reflect on legacies and contributions, some people seek grand legacies — what they’ve built, what they’ve done. But I believe there’s no greater legacy than knowing you changed someone’s life for the better. And you have done that many times.”

A plaque now sits outside the Clement 114 classroom dedicated to Senefeld’s contributions to Columbia State.

Columbia State thanks Dr. Senefeld for his many years of service and the impact he made in the lives of students and colleagues alike.