Overview: Eric Bishop, Ed.D has been appointed as the interim president of Riverside City College (RCC) in August 2025, bringing with him over 20 years of experience in administrative and teaching roles. Bishop, who grew up in a poor background in Los Angeles, has a passion for education and believes that it is an equalizer. He has served in leadership roles at various universities and colleges, and in his new position, he hopes to inspire students and lead RCC on its mission to foster equity, innovation, and student success for its almost 30,000 students.
Alyssah Hall
With over 20 years of administrative and teaching experience, Eric Bishop, Ed.D became the interim president of Riverside City College (RCC) in August 2025. Bishop previously held the position of interim vice chancellor of the Riverside Community College District (RCCD).
Throughout his career he has served in other leadership and faculty roles at the University of La Verne (UNLV), Chaffey College, San Diego State University, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino. Bishop has a doctorate of education in organizational leadership, a masters in communications and a bachelors in journalism, all earned from UNLV.
“It was really an accident. I would never have thought in my younger days that I would be sitting in this type of seat,” Bishop confided.
Bishop shared how he grew up very poor in Los Angeles. “I’ve always loved school, but I’ve learned that education is a kind of equalizer, and it levels the playing field. It’s really the one thing that no one can take from you. Historically, we’ve always said an education will give you opportunity, and I think that’s still true,” Bishop said.
After graduating from UNLV, Bishop began to work at the university as a classified communications assistant. In that role, Bishop found a passion for working with students and helping them navigate the school system. He developed the belief that everyone deserves access to a quality education. This led him to teaching, advising and eventually leadership roles such as interim vice president of enrollment management at the University of La Verne, and dean of the Fontana Chaffey Campus. As interim president of RCC, Bishop oversees the operations, vision, and direction of the college.
“I think the benefits [of going to community college] are innumerable. We’re the primary drivers of the frontline workforce in our society. It’s where people come and get certificates, it’s where they get jobs. It’s where people get associates,” Bishop stated.
Bishop shared the benefits of attending community college and RCC, noting an example that a lot of nurses obtain their associates degree from community colleges to get into the nursing field. Bishop noted that community colleges are also an accessible and affordable way to achieve a higher education.
“I think there’s never been a greater time to need courage and education. I think we’re being led by people who don’t value it and who mock it and who want to destroy it, because their greatest ally are people who don’t want to think, and so they’re bullies,” Bishop said.
In his new position, Bishop enjoys having the opportunity to try to make a difference and give out tools that are needed to serve RCC’s students. As someone in a leadership role, Bishop hopes his presence inspires others to recognize their ability to also be in a similar role.
“I enjoy the presence and busyness of a college…that we get to do it over and over again. Every semester, every year, we get to start all over and keep educating and keep bringing new people in, and keep saying to people, ‘you belong and you have the right to higher education,’” Bishop said.
As interim president, Bishop will lead RCC in its mission to foster equity, innovation and student success for its almost 30,000 students. He hopes that within the region of RCC, it will be people’s first thought in higher education.
“It will be the place that people know they belong and that they’ll get a good education, but also that our community and our employers will know it’s the place I want them to look to when they’re looking for a trained workforce and educated workforce,” Bishop stated.