President

Rockland Community College (RCC) seeks a dynamic, engaging, and visionary leader with proven skills and dedication to serve as its next president. Recognized by the Aspen Institute and designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), RCC is a leader in preparing students for the next stage of their lives, whether in a four-year institution or the workforce. In its next president, RCC seeks a leader with a deep understanding of complex factors facing higher education at this unique moment, and the central role of community colleges in providing education and workforce development for their communities. Deeply committed to the College’s mission to provide purpose-driven educational opportunities and guidance in a diverse, affordable, and accessible environment, and to empower individuals to positively transform themselves and their communities, RCC’s next president will develop and energize the community around a forward-thinking vision for the College’s next era. 

Founded in 1959, Rockland Community College is one of the 64-campus State University of New York (SUNY) system colleges, nestled in New York’s picturesque Hudson Valley less than an hour north of New York City. In the last five years, RCC has embarked on a transformative reimagining of its academic programs and instruction delivery to better equip students to continue their educational journey with the implementation of Guided Pathways and the development of the College’s Economic Mobility and Workforce Innovation division (EMWI). With academic programs spanning the arts, business, health professions, liberal arts, and technologies, RCC enrolls nearly 6,000 full-time and part-time students per year. Almost 800 high school students also enroll in credit courses. The College employs over 400 full- and part-time faculty and 130 full- and part-time staff and has an annual operating budget of approximately $58 million. 

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the president will work with the campus community to advance the College’s strategic plan and steward the integration of several high-priority initiatives to ensure Rockland Community College meets the evolving needs of its students and Rockland County through academic excellence and workforce development. To ensure that the college continues to be a dynamic learning resource that empowers students to succeed, the next president will continue an ongoing assessment of existing academic programs and student services, and the creation of new opportunities while increasing student enrollment and retention. It is critically important that this leader be an integral, engaged, and welcoming member of the Rockland community. As the chief ambassador for RCC, this leader will maintain a presence and voice in conversations about higher education at the county, state, and national levels. They will also provide robust and transparent leadership in managing the College’s budget, generating and stewarding its financial resources from diverse revenue sources.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications (including CVs and two- to three-page letters of interest responding to the opportunities, challenges, and qualifications outlined above) should be submitted electronically below.

Kate Barry and Kennedy Kearney-Fischer are leading this search with Quizayra Gonzalez and Kaitlin Cruz.

Rockland Community College is an equal employment opportunity, affirmative action employer. Employment decisions at the College are made on the basis of merit, fitness, and equality of opportunity and without unlawful discrimination. The College is committed to developing and maintaining avenues of entry and advancement for qualified individuals regardless of their age, alienage, color, creed, dis/ability, familial status, gender/sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, prior non-job related record of conviction, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. To that end, the College actively recruits and promotes individuals in an effort to reflect the basic composition of Rockland County’s general labor force.