Rudy Besikof Appointed as Fifth President of Moreno Valley College

Rudy Besikof, an accomplished leader in higher education, has been appointed as the fifth president of Moreno Valley College (MVC), effective June 17, 2025.

 

With a career spanning over three decades, Besikof has consistently focused on student achievement, community engagement, and institutional equity.

 

Prior to joining MVC, he served as president of Laney College in Oakland, where he spearheaded initiatives that led to significant enrollment growth and the expansion of student support services.

 

Under his leadership, Laney College was honored with the 2024 Outstanding Community Partner Award by the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.

 

Besikof's academic credentials include a doctorate in educational leadership from UCLA, where his dissertation on fundraising practices earned the School of Education’s Outstanding Dissertation Award.

 

He was also named a 2024–25 fellow of the UC Davis Wheelhouse Institute’s CEO Leadership Academy, reflecting his commitment to advancing higher education administration.

 

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Besikof stated, "I am honored to join Moreno Valley College and look forward to collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to further the college's mission of excellence and equity."

 

He succeeds Robin Steinback, who retired in June 2024 after a distinguished tenure as MVC's president.

 

Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac of the Riverside Community College District praised Besikof's appointment, noting his "strategic vision and dedication to inclusive student success" as key assets for MVC's future.

 

Besikof's extensive experience and proven leadership are expected to drive MVC's ongoing efforts in fostering academic excellence and community engagement.

A coalition of workers at an Amazon warehouse in Moreno Valley are pushing to join the Amazon Labor Union, led by Nannette Plascencia, a worker at the facility.

Plascencia started the United 4 Change ONT8 coalition during the pandemic to advocate for better wages and safer conditions.

The efforts gained momentum with workers showing support at a news conference despite the rain.

The unionization efforts, inspired by recent successes in other Amazon warehouses, aim to address workers' concerns and negotiate for better benefits and job security.

The push comes amid growing awareness of health and safety risks for front-line workers like those at Amazon.