On April 28, Lisa Cardoza was announced as the new president of American River College in an email from Brian King, chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District. 

According to the email, the hiring is pending approval from the Los Rios Board of Trustees, during its upcoming May 10 meeting. 

Cardoza is expected to assume the role on July 15. 

Cardoza previously held the role of vice president for university advancement at California State University, Sacramento and executive officer for the university foundation at Sacramento State, according to the email. 

“Lisa is exceptionally qualified for this position, and brings a wealth of experiences in a variety of different capacities within higher education,” King said in the email. 

Cardoza earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s at Stanford University and her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Cardoza also served as Sac State President Robert Nelson’s chief of staff and was also the interim vice president of human resources. King has had the opportunity to work with Cardoza during this time. 

“I have had the great pleasure of working with Lisa on a number of projects while she was with Sac State over the years and have found her to be extraordinarily thoughtful and strategic,” King said in the email. “She understands the vital role that community colleges play in our communities and is deeply committed to seeing our students be successful.”

King acknowledged that Cardoza will have the benefit of an extraordinary team of faculty, staff and administrators at ARC. He also took time to thank the interim president.

“I’d like to specifically thank and acknowledge Frank Kobayashi, who has led the college with skill, grace and humility while serving in the role of Interim President since December,” King said.

King asked that the ARC and Los Rios family help him in welcoming Cardoza to the community.