Vice President From Cosumnes River College Selected as the Next President of Riverside City College

Wolde-Ab Isaac, Ph.D., chancellor of Riverside Community College District, announced the hiring of Claire Oliveros, Ph.D., as Riverside City College’s 13th president. 

Oliveros, the vice president of Institutional Equity & Research and Planning at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from Western Oregon University; Master of Science in Educational Policy, Foundations and Administrative Studies from Portland State University; and a doctorate in Education from Oregon State University. 

A first-generation college student and a Filipino American who was raised in the Pacific Northwest, Oliveros has sought out leadership positions that centered on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, access and student success. She is also a community activist. She was the founding chair of the Portland Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines and served as a board member of the Multnomah County Commission on Children, Families, and Community. She received the award for Outstanding Administrator by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Chemeketa Community College, Salem, and was honored as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the United States by the Filipina Women's Network.

During her career, Oliveros has overseen a number of Student Services divisions, including enrollment management, financial aid, outreach and orientation, counseling services, Umoja, Puente Program, TRIO Upward Bound, Extended Opportunities Program and Services, and Disability Support Programs & Services. 

“Within each role I have led and championed equity-minded practices and embedded equity into policies, practices, and procedures in support of teaching and learning, student services and college resources. Moreover, I understand the lived experiences of first-generation students entering, adjusting, and succeeding in higher education due in large part to my own journey in higher education,” she said.

Oliveros has extensive experience overseeing large and complex divisions with multi-million-dollar budgets that include general operating funds, state categorical funded programs, Federal grants, and foundation accounts. 

“Dr. Oliveros is a highly qualified leader in a number of important education areas,” Isaac said. “When selecting the new president of Riverside City College, which has such a venerated and distinguished history, it was important to focus on the need of the communities the College serves. Dr. Oliveros’ experience in such a vast number of student centered service areas and her professional experience, commitment to student equity, and community engagement highlighted her passion for students to succeed. Her leadership qualities and characteristics further stood out when I envisioned a leader for Riverside City College.”

Before relocating to California, Oliveros was the assistant provost for Student Success Initiatives at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, VA, and the executive dean of Student Development and Learning Resources at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR.

“Throughout my 28 years of professional experience in higher education, I have demonstrated a commitment to student access and success; teaching and learning; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and training and development in various leadership roles,” Oliveros said. “As a community college educator, it is important to be visible and engaged with local and community efforts on behalf of higher education. Through community engagement and connections, I help increase the visibility of the college, academic programs, student services, and innovative initiatives between higher education and community partners.”

The Board of Trustees confirmed her appointment at its regular meeting on June 20. Oliveros will assume leadership of Riverside City College on July 10 with an annual salary of $275,919.

“The Board of Trustees is excited to have attracted such a quality candidate as Dr. Oliveros,” Bill Hedrick, president of the Board of Trustees, said. “As the District continues to work to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, it was important to secure a leader who understands the critical role our colleges play in moving the economic needle for the region.”