Bio

Riverside City College selected Jennifer Spalding to serve as the new Dean of Instruction, Kinesiology/Athletic Director in August of 2025, becoming the first woman to hold the title. Spalding returns to where her collegiate athletic career began, bringing a wealth of knowledge at the junior college level.

Spalding, who grew up in Riverside and attended Arlington High School, is no stranger to RCC after playing water polo for the Tigers from 1999-2001. As an All-American goalie, Spalding helped take Riverside to the 3C2A State Championship both years and was named the Conference Player of the Year and earned All-State honors.

After her time as a Tiger, Spalding went on to finish her playing career at UC Irvine before turning to coaching. Spalding spent five seasons as the Head Women’s Water Polo Coach at Chaffey College before coaching the Owls for eight seasons at Citrus, where she was also a faculty member in the department of kinesiology.

In the summer of 2024, Spalding was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for the Owls, where she handled all aspects of travel, event organization, game management, and student-athlete wellbeing. She also compiled the Coaches Handbook and assisted in revising the Student-Athlete Handbook.

Spalding earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in education from UCI in 2003, her master’s in physical education at Azusa Pacific University, and is currently working on a doctorate in sports leadership.