The Riverside Community College District has begun the search for the next president to take the helm at Riverside City College
The district is seeking a new leader after the RCCD Board of Trustees voted to terminate the former RCC President Claire Oliveros on June 17, 2023.
“The district is committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive and transparent national search that will attract a strong and diverse pool of candidates from throughout California and the nation,” RCCD Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac shared in a Feb. 20 email announcing the start of the search.
The first step in the hiring process is to develop a presidential profile by inviting members of the college community to share their input about the qualities, characteristics and qualifications they would like the next president to have, the email said. Members were invited to a public forum on Feb. 24-25 to share these thoughts.
According to an email sent by the Riverside Community College District Human Resources department, there are a total of 18 members in the presidential search committee. The email said that the committee’s job is to review confidential applications, interview semifinalist candidates and select final candidates who will be interviewing with the chancellor.
The hiring process is set to last a couple of months, starting in April by reviewing applications and lasting through the last week of May, when candidates will be welcomed to the RCC campus to participate in a public forum.
“It’s a full day for the finalists to come visit the college, to meet with leadership and to do a public forum and meet with the chancellor for the final interview,” said Norco College President Monica Green, who chairs the presidential search committee.
The search committee has also brought on Brad Ebersole, who is representing the Association for Community College Trustees. Ebersole said the association helps colleges around the United States with presidential and executive searches.
Students who had attended the forum reflected on Interim President Eric Bishop’s work and set him as a prime example of what the next president should be. Student Senator Adela Gonzales acknowledged the efforts that Bishop has made to address Immigration Customs Enforcement on campus and felt like he was doing his diligence as president to protect the students.
“He wrote out an entire email just listing numbers, emails, everything that students needed to hear to have that information,” Gonzales said. “So (we need to) continue to have a president that will do that and will stand up and (make) those difficult decisions for students to ensure their safety.
Vice President of the Associated Students of RCC Latiesha Williams said that the president that RCC needs is someone who’s going to be creating relationships with students.
“When you lead by example, the students on campus are looking at that and they’re willing to participate,” Williams said.
RCC Professional Development Coordinator, Natalie Halsell said that the institution needs to work on accountability. She wants a president that can teach faculty, instructors and the institution how to keep themselves accountable for following practices that are meant to be followed.
“Sometimes we set up a process, we don’t follow up on it, or we might follow up on it,” Halsell said. “So, somebody who can kind of create more structure (is wanted).”
The district said a presidential search website will be developing in upcoming weeks, which will include important information.
