Post by Richland Community College

Join us in congratulating & wishing farewell to Dr. Isaac Zúñiga as he moves to Chicago to become the next President of Richard J Daley College! Over the past eight years, Dr. Zúñiga has been a champion for our students and a pillar in our community. In his position as Executive Vice President of Academics and Student Success, he has been focused on safeguarding the academic excellence of our institution while increasing student enrollment and retention. He is the past president of the Illinois Community College Diversity Commission, and he serves on the board of El Concilio, the National Community College Hispanic Council. His work has led to him being accepted into the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) for the 2024-25 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship. Dr. Z also was a 2025 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Rising Star Executive finalist, and he won the 2024 Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) Lifetime Achievement Award. In the community, Dr. Zúñiga is the co-founder of CHICO (Centro for Hispanic and Immigrant Opportunities), a nonprofit in Decatur supporting Latino and immigrant families. He also has been Board Chair of the Boys & Girls Club of Decatur and an elected school board member of the Maroa-Forsyth School District #2. Aside from these achievements, our graduates recognize him as the magnetic personality wishing them well from the day they step on campus to commencement day - where he leads everyone in a unifying chant, “Who are we? R-C-C!” We’re sad to see Dr. Zúñiga leave Richland, but we are proud to watch as he brings his expertise and innovative energy to the City Colleges of Chicago. Congrats, Dr. Z!