Posted: March 26, 2015 Updated: March 29, 2015 | Written by Crystal Olmedo
The final two candidates in the running for president of Riverside City College have been chosen. They include Wolde-Ab Isaac, interim president at RCC and Elmer Bugg, vice president of instruction at Merritt College.
A presidential candidate forum featuring Isaac was held in the Digital Library Auditorium on March 26.
Members of the student body, staff and faculty had the opportunity to ask Isaac questions about what his goals will be if he is appointed to the permanent position of RCC president.
Isaac spoke about his educational and professional background and experience with academic institutions. His educational background includes a Ph.D in Medicinal Chemistry, from the University of Michigan, which he earned in 1969.
Isaac previously served as the Dean of Health Science programs at Moreno Valley College in 2006 and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs at RCC from Jan. 2012 to Aug. 2013.
Isaac highlighted that one of his priorities is to focus on the planning aspect of the college’s functionality and progression.
“I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to have worked with the faculty at Riverside City College,” Isaac said. “The dedication, the vibrancy, the dynamism that exists in the faculty and staff and students will now be moved and channelled to reorganizing and restructuring our planning process.
Isaac spoke about initiatives he plans to implement at the the college, such as Pathways to Excellence, under Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Pathways to Excellence is meant to assist students in reaching their educational goals throughout their academic journey. He mentioned that he will be holding a meeting with counselors from Jurupa School District to discuss Pathways to Excellence on March 27.
Isaac says he plans on including ASRCC, staff, faculty and the student body in the “planning process,” and stressed a shared vision and shared governance, to ensure that it is “everyone’s plan.”
Elmer Bugg will be discussing his qualifications and answering questions at a second presidential forum in the RCC Digital Library Auditorium on April 2, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Link to Isaac’s presidential candidate forum, CV and Bio:
Forum – http://bit.ly/1CQ1kKp