Rudy Besikof, Ed.D., Named Fifth President of Moreno Valley College
06/20/2025
The Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees has appointed Rudy Besikof, Ed.D., as the fifth president of Moreno Valley College. The appointment was announced during the board’s regular meeting on June 17, following a national search.
Besikof brings more than 30 years of experience in education, including senior leadership roles with a focus on student achievement, community engagement, and institutional equity. Since 2018, he has served at Laney College, first as vice president of instruction and later as president. Under his leadership, the college grew enrollment, expanded student support services, and was recognized with the 2024 Outstanding Community Partner Award from the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.
“Rudy Besikof is a proven leader who is deeply committed to the mission of California’s community colleges,” said Riverside Community College District Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac, Ph.D. “His strategic vision, collaborative approach, and dedication to inclusive student success make him the right choice for Moreno Valley College. I look forward to working with him as he builds on the strong foundation already in place.”
The selection process was led by the Association of Community College Trustees and included open forums and opportunities for campuswide input. Besikof was recommended by the chancellor to the Board of Trustees after a review of community feedback and finalist interviews.
An educator since 1990, Besikof began his career teaching in France and Japan before returning to the United States. He taught at Long Beach City College for seven years and held faculty leadership roles before transitioning to administration in 2011, following the completion of his doctorate at UCLA. He has since led strategic enrollment, accreditation, and equity initiatives, including the launch of a free college program at Laney College that addressed tuition, food insecurity, and the digital divide.
Besikof succeeds Robin Steinback, Ph.D., who retired in June 2024 after serving as president since 2017. FeRita Carter, Ph.D., vice president of student services at Riverside City College, has served as interim president since June 2024.
“I want to express my sincere appreciation to FeRita Carter for her steady leadership and commitment to Moreno Valley College during this time of transition,” Isaac said.
Moreno Valley College serves more than 17,000 students annually in one of California’s most diverse regions and remains committed to its mission of education, empowerment, equity, and service.
Besikof holds a doctorate in educational leadership from UCLA, where his dissertation on fundraising practices earned the School of Education’s Outstanding Dissertation Award. He was recently named a 2024–25 fellow of the UC Davis Wheelhouse Institute’s CEO Leadership Academy.
Published by External Relations & Strategic Communications