Board of Trustees Announces that Dr. Irving Hendrick Will Assume Interim Chancellor Role; New Chancellor Search Will be Launched
At its regular meeting, the Board of Trustees of Riverside Community College District announced that Irving Hendrick, Ed.D. will serve as interim chancellor as the District continues its search for a new chancellor. Hendrick, who most recently headed the District's Moreno Valley Campus, replaces Dr. Jim Buysse as interim chancellor.
"Dr. Buysse has done an excellent job as interim chancellor," said Board President Mary Figueroa. "Given the continuing economic downturn in California, however, and the anticipated effects on community colleges, the Board felt that it was important to have someone of Dr. Buysse's experience back in his role as chief business officer for the District. His financial stewardship has helped keep this District in a very stable and solid financial position for the past 15 years."
The Board's action follows its decision earlier this month to suspend the current chancellor search. Several factors went in to that decision, including the Board's determination to select the right person for the job in order to best serve students and the community.
"RCCD is on the verge of tremendous change. It is critical that we choose a leader who is capable of guiding us through that change. One with a vision for the future as well as the practical experience to make those visions a reality," Figueroa said.
The selection of Dr. Hendrick will provide continued stability as RCCD campuses in Moreno Valley and Norco prepare for accreditation as separate colleges in 2009, and as capital projects funded through the state and Measure C resources are constructed on the two campuses and at Riverside City College. A longtime university educator and administrator, Dr. Hendrick came to Riverside Community College District in 2001, following his retirement from UC Riverside. At RCCD, he first served as Dean of the School of Education before being appointed interim president of the Moreno Valley Campus in 2006. A graduate of Mt. San Antonio Community College, he earned his bachelor and masters degrees from Whittier College and his doctorate from UCLA. At UC Riverside, Dr. Hendrick served as a professor, associate dean and dean of the School of Education, and Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor of Development.
"We were fortunate that Dr. Hendrick will delay his anticipated retirement from Riverside Community College District," said Figueroa. "His educational leadership and his experience in both the UC and community college systems will be to our benefit as we continue the search for a permanent chancellor."
Dr. Hendrick will assume his new duties on July 1, 2008.
View the full biography of Dr. Hendrick here.
