RCCD Searches for the Next Chancellor
07/21/2026
The trustees of the Riverside Community College District (RCCD or the District) have announced the start of their search for candidates to succeed Wolde-Ab Isaac, Ph.D., the current chancellor who recently announced his retirement. The goal is to hire the next chancellor to begin serving the first of January, 2027.
Information about the search for a new chancellor is available at –RCCD.edu/chancellor_search – on the District’s website. The trustees have employed ACCT Searches to conduct the recruitment of qualified candidates. Applications and nominations will be accepted at www.acctsearches.org until August 28, 2026.
The District’s search committee will begin reviewing candidate applications in September, and conducting interviews with selected candidates in October. Following those interviews, finalists will be recommended to the RCCD Board of Trustees for further consideration. Local residents, students, college and District personnel will then be invited to attend public forums and meet the finalists. Once the trustees have reviewed public feedback and received input from the District’s different constituency groups, they will conduct final interviews. An announcement of their decision is expected at the regular monthly Board of Trustees meeting in November.
The next chancellor will be the fifth chancellor to serve as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the District. It is a short list of distinguished educators/leaders that began with Salvatore G. Rotella, Ph.D., who started as the RCC Superintendent and President in 1992. He was selected to be the first chancellor of the District after RCCD was organized in 2000.
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Gregory W. Gray, Ed.D. |
Michael L. Burke, Ph.D. |
Wolde-Ab Isaac, Ph.D. |
The District
More than a century before Wolde-Ab Isaac was appointed chancellor of the District, the Riverside Junior College was founded and began offering college courses in 1916. The initial cohort of 100 students started their college learning in classrooms on the Riverside Polytechnic High School campus. This became the Riverside Junior College campus when bond funding was secured in 1921 to build a separate high school campus.
The Riverside Junior College District was formed in 1964 and was separated from the Riverside City School system. Riverside Junior College was later renamed Riverside City College. The number of students grew dramatically, and two additional campuses were built to meet the demand. Those campuses in Moreno Valley and the City of Norco were granted accreditation as distinct colleges in January, 2010.
Now Moreno Valley College (MVC), Norco College (NC), and Riverside City College (RCC),
each have their own faculty, classified professional staff, and local management.
In 2024-25, MVC served 20,810 students, NC served 19,570 students, and RCC served
32,997 students. In June, 2026, the RCCD colleges awarded 6,691 graduates with associate
degrees and/or certificates.
Unique Community Colleges
The RCCD colleges offer a great variety of degree and certificate programs. Most of the associate degrees offered are Associate Degrees for Transfer that offer guaranteed transfer to California State Universities, and many private universities and Universities of California. Some courses of study are available at all three colleges, but each college also has many unique offerings. For example:
- MVC is well known for its public safety and first responder programs at the Ben Clark Training Center. The college also offers degree programs in social work, human services & counseling practices, community interpretation, and popular dentistry related programs that are not offered at the other two colleges.
- NC offers degrees in digital electronics, architecture, drafting, and an engineering program that is tied to Bourn’s College of Engineering at UC, Riverside. Other unique courses of study at the college include supply chain automation, and apprenticeship opportunities in manufacturing technology and construction.
- RCC offers exclusive programs in computer information systems, plus the number one automotive program in the state, and unique degree and certificate programs in cosmetology, culinary arts, nursing, management, paralegal studies, real estate, and technical theater – all unique to that college.
While the colleges have many different degree and certificates, students can take
classes at all three colleges and earn credits toward graduation at their home college.
The District leadership serves all three colleges, and provides the support needed
to accelerate student success.
Great Expectations
The next chancellor will continue championing the vision, mission, and values that have been established by the District. The strategy outlined in the RCCD 2025-2030 Strategic Plan will be executed, and the goals and objectives will still be in effect for the new leadership.
The Chancellor’s Prospectus is available online at – RCCD.edu/chancellor_search – where everyone can learn about the position, and it includes information about how to apply and key contacts. The Chancellor’s Profile is provided in the first seven pages of the document which outlines the role of the chancellor, potential challenges and opportunities, and the characteristics and qualifications of an ideal candidate. This summary was developed during the initial public forums and from community surveys that were available online prior to the development of the profile.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply!
Riverside Community College District is an equal opportunity employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the District’s nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity policies.
Published by External Relations & Strategic Communications