Riverside City College will celebrate the naming of Wolde-Ab Isaac, Ph.D., as the College’s 11th president on Wednesday, October 12, with a Presidential Investiture. The event, which is open to the public, will begin at 9 am in Landis Auditorium. Former Riverside Community College District Chancellor Salvatore Rotella will deliver the keynote address.

Isaac was named RCC’s president on April 21 after serving in an interim role since August of 2013. Prior to becoming president, Isaac served as vice president of Academic Affairs. He holds a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from the University of Michigan. A Fulbright Scholar, Isaac was born in Eritrea, East Africa, and graduated from Ethiopia’s Haile Selassie University. His graduate studies and work later took him to the University of Uppsala in Sweden before he returned to Eritrea to work as a government secretary of Human Resources. Prior to coming to California, he served as president of the University of Asmara in Eritrea.

Originally, the District hired Isaac as dean of Health Science Programs at Moreno Valley College in 2006. Under his leadership at MVC he developed and expanded programs in dental hygiene, physician assistant, emergency medical assisting, and dental assisting. Six years later he was selected as vice president of Academic Affairs at RCC. Isaac has also published over 25 scientific papers.

Parking fees will be waived until noon on October 12. Guests should park in any white stripped parking stall on the day of the event. Immediately following the investiture there will be a reception in the foyer of Landis Auditorium.