Riverside City College - President

PRESIDENTIAL PROSPECTUS 2026The Riverside Community College District (RCCD) Chancellor invites applications and nominations for the position of President of Riverside City College (RCC). The Chancellor seeks a proven leader for this position with a solid commitment to the college mission, vision, and values. The new RCC President will be one of three college presidents reporting directly to the RCCD Chancellor who in turn reports to the District's Board of Trustees. The Board consists of five elected trustees who represent the residents living in the District's service area which includes the cities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Moreno Valley, Norco, Perris, and Riverside.HISTORY As the seventh oldest community college in California, RCC has served residents of the Inland Empire for 109 years. Originally, Riverside Junior College (the name when established) shared facilities with Riverside Polytechnic High School. In 1924, the College built its first two buildings which are now a part of the popular quadrangle, a central hub of student activity on the RCC campus to this day. In 1965 local voters passed an education bond providing funds to construct a new high school and Poly High School relocated a few miles away. This move provided RCC the opportunity to plan and build for future growth. Measure C, a $340 million bond measure, was approved in 2004 by voters in the Riverside Community College District. For the next 18 years, RCC benefited through construction of new facilities and modernization of classroom buildings. In 2024 voters approved a new bond, Measure CC, that will provide another $954 million for more construction at the three colleges, and to start building the Inland Empire Technical Trade Center, a new RCC satellite campus in Jurupa Valley. STUDENTSAt RCC, diversity is what brings our campus to life. Our students come from unique backgrounds and are all at different places in their lives. Some are the first in their families to attend college, some have full-time jobs, and some are raising families, and they are all at RCC for the same reason: to achieve their goals through education. RCC serves more than 33,000 students from all walks of life. In the 2024-25 academic year, 5,227 associate degrees and certificates were awarded. A significant number of these graduates transferred to four-year colleges and universities. RCC has educated members of one out of every three area families. And, on average, more than 70 percent of alumni from career technical programs who enter the workforce directly from RCC choose to live and work locally. RCC is known for its programs for veterans, disabled students, and underrepresented populations. It is also home to the Gateway to College and Career Academy, partnered with the City of Riverside on Completion Counts, and originated the first College Promise Program, Passport to College, which later served as a model for the national Gear Up early college awareness initiative.COMMUNITYRIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA AND THE SURROUNDING AREAThe city of Riverside is the 12th most populous city in California with nearly 330,000 people. It is the county seat of Riverside County. Riverside is part of the Inland Empire, the metropolitan area and region in southern California spanning from the Greater Los Angeles area to the Arizona border. As one of the fasting growing regions in California, Riverside County covers 7,208 square miles and Riverside County had a population of approximately 2.53 million people as of 2024. Geographically, the county is mostly desert in the central and eastern portions, and has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by rainy winters and dry, warm to hot summers, in the western portion. There are 19 official wilderness areas in Riverside County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System including most of Joshua Tree National Park and Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to RCC and the District, the City is home to many institutions of higher education including: Cal Baptist University (CBU), the University of California, Riverside (UCR), and La Sierra University (LSU). THE DISTRICT RCCD is the fifth largest multi-college District in California. RCCD colleges are located in the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Norco, representing key geographical and commerce points within the 450 sq. mile service area. The Riverside Community College District through its three colleges-Moreno Valley College (includes the Ben Clark Training Center), Norco College, and Riverside City College supported by the District Office-serves and enriches its diverse communities by offering certificates, degrees, and transfer programs that help students achieve their educational and career goals. The district strives to impact the social and economic mobility of its students by ensuring access, success, and equity for everyone who wishes to take advantage of the educational opportunities offered by the colleges. Riverside Community College District is connected to the community resulting in a high percentage of students coming from the local area. This connection has also created a strong sense of unity and partnerships with community organizations and K-12 school districts. Each of the three institutions that comprise the RCCD hold Regional Accreditation and are designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). The District has more than 3,600 faculty, staff and administrators. Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac, Ph.D. was unanimously appointed to his position in 2018 after having served as President of RCC.CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS EXPECTED QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS The next President of RCC will be a strategic, student-centered leader who advances the College's mission of transforming lives and strengthening the Riverside community. The following qualities reflect the leadership priorities of the College and its commitment to equity, excellence, and community impact. Visible, Accessible, and Relationship-Centered Leadership Maintains a strong, consistent presence across campus and in the community; is approachable and engaged with students, faculty, classified professionals, and administrators; builds trust through authentic interaction, active listening, and day-to-day engagement. Visionary, Strategic, and Action-Oriented Leadership Articulates a clear, shared vision for RCC and aligns institutional planning (Strategic Plan, Equity and BSI Plans, enrollment, accreditation, and resource strategies); translates plans into measurable results, strengthens systems and processes, and ensures effective implementation and long-term institutional stability. Collaborative Leadership and Shared Governance Fosters unity across classifications and reduces silos; values faculty expertise, classified professional knowledge, and student voice; understands California Community College governance, including the Academic Senate's role under Title 5 and the 10+1; leads through partnership while providing clear direction. Transparent, Accountable, and Courageous Management Communicates openly, consistently, and responsively regarding decisions, resources, and priorities; establishes clear expectations and boundaries; makes timely and sometimes difficult decisions; holds individuals and teams accountable while modeling integrity and personal responsibility. Student-Centered Advocate and Campus Climate Leader Prioritizes student success, safety, belonging, and well-being; engages directly with students and student government; communicates promptly during issues affecting student rights or safety; advocates for RCC students at the District, regional, and system levels. Equity-Minded and Culturally Proficient Leadership Demonstrates a sustained commitment to equity, anti-racism, accessibility, and inclusion; advances RCC's mission as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Black-Serving Institution (BSI) through evidence-based servingness; understands and reflects the diverse communities the college serves. Academic Credibility and Integrated Student Success Orientation Understands the classroom experience and the centrality of instruction; champions academic excellence while ensuring strong alignment among instruction, student services, and co-curricular learning; supports the resources and conditions necessary for teaching and learning. Institutional, District, and Community Advocacy with Long-Term Commitment Effectively navigates the District and California Community College system; advocates for RCC's resources and priorities; builds strong community and regional partnerships, including workforce and transfer pathways; demonstrates a clear commitment to continuity, stability, and long-term service to the college, with a strong commitment to inclusive community engagement and language access.CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS (cont.) QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED An earned doctorate from an accredited institution. Teaching experience in higher education. Record of progressively responsible senior administrative positions in higher education. Experience in managing the financial needs of a large multi-layered organization. Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and students. PREFERRED Knowledge of the California Community Colleges system.This is a confidential search process. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be received no later than March 30, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

Created: 2026-04-02