WHITTIER – Río Hondo College has announced four finalists for the position of superintendent/president after an extensive national search by the College’s Presidential Search Committee, which considered the applications of many professionals from across the country. The final four candidates are Marilyn Flores, Ph.D., Don Miller, Ph.D., Cynthia Olivo, Ph.D. and Tammy Robinson, Ed.D.

The search for the new superintendent/president started in November 2021 with a series of virtual open forums to solicit feedback from students, faculty, staff, and community members. An employment profile was created by the Search Committee and the Association of Community College Trustees. Upon their selection, Río Hondo College’s new leader will succeed Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss when she finishes her contract in June 2022.

The College will begin its final selection process, in which Flores, Miller, Olivo and Robinson will participate in a virtual public forum from 1 – 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22. The event, which will be held via Zoom, will provide 60 minutes to each of the finalists as they introduce themselves and their future goals.

“I feel confident that the Río Hondo College community will be in great hands when it appoints its new superintendent/president,” Dreyfuss said. “The process for selecting this position has been rigorous and the final four candidates all possess excellent qualifications to lead this great institution. I know that the new leader will make Río Hondo College proud and will continue its sterling lineage.”

Flores is currently the vice president of academic affairs at Santiago Canyon College in Orange County and previously served as interim president for Santa Ana College. Flores holds a master’s degree in education from the University of California, Los Angeles as well as a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies and doctorate of philosophy in institutional leadership and policy studies from the University of California, Riverside.

Miller is the vice president of academic affairs at Río Hondo College and previously served as interim president and vice president of instruction for College of Alameda. Miller holds a master’s degree in Spanish and a Bachelor of arts in Spanish from Brigham Young University, as well as a doctorate of philosophy in Spanish from the University of Virginia.

Olivo currently serves as assistant superintendent/vice president of student services at Pasadena City College and as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California. Previously, Olivo worked as the associate vice president of student affairs at Pasadena City College. Olivo holds both a master’s degree in educational counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, San Bernardino, as well as a doctorate of philosophy in education from Claremont Graduate University.

Robinson is the vice president of instruction at Cañada College in Redwood City, CA and previously served as dean of global learning programs and services, social sciences, and creative arts at Skyline College. Robinson holds an associate degree in social science from Cerritos College, a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, a master’s degree in English from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a doctorate of education in community college administration from the University of Southern California.

To join the virtual public forum on Tuesday, March 22 and learn more about the finalists, click here: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/s/6341288934.

The public is welcome to email candidate questions to Reneé Gallegos, Presidential Search Liaison at RDGallegos@riohondo.edu by 12 noon, on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Please specify which candidate your question is directed to.

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PUBLICFORUM: Río Hondo College and the Board of Trustees will host a virtual public forum with each of the four finalists for the superintendent/president position. The event, which will be held via Zoom, will run from 1 – 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22. Link to meeting: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/s/6341288934.