RCC Announces Jennifer Spalding as Dean of Kinesiology/Director of Athletics

Riverside City College has selected Jennifer Spalding to serve as the new Dean of Instruction, Kinesiology/Athletic Director, becoming the first woman to hold the title. Spalding is set to lead the Tigers on August 20, returning to where her collegiate athletic career began and bringing a wealth of knowledge at the two-year college level.

"Returning to RCC is a full-circle moment for me," said Spalding. "This is where my journey truly began, and it's an honor to now serve in a role that will shape the next generation of students, student-athletes and future leaders. I'm excited to work alongside dedicated coaches, faculty, and staff to continue building a culture of excellence both on and off the field."

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 led Riverside to the 3C2A State Championship both years and was named the Conference Player of the Year and earned All-State honors.

"This is more than a career step—it's a homecoming," added Spalding. "RCC is where my dreams started taking shape, and now I have the privilege of giving back to the place that gave me my start. I'm excited to work alongside our incredible faculty, coaches, and staff to help our student-athletes succeed, both in competition and in the classroom."

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 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.