Denise Richardson was named the permanent President of Berkeley City College in California. She has been working as interim president since July 1, 2023.
Berkeley City College enrolls just over 6,100 students, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 16 percent of the student body.
“I’m so grateful to the board of trustees for choosing me to continue to lead the incredible team of faculty, classified professionals, and administrators at Berkeley City College,” said Dr. Richardson. “We are already making great progress on my top three priorities, which are cultivating a collaborative campus community, closing the student achievement gap for Black and Brown students, and strengthening the identity of Berkeley City College as a hub for academic excellence and social justice.”
Earlier, Dr. Richardson was the vice president of instruction at Merritt College in Oakland, a role she began in March 2020. She has been an employee of the Peralta Community College District for over 20 years, starting as a faculty member at Laney College in Oakland in 2001.
Dr. Richardson is a graduate of Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, where she majored in communication. She holds a master’s degree in political science from San Francisco State University and a master’s degree and a doctorate in educational leadership from Mills College in Oakland, which is now part of Northeastern University.
