Dr. Kristi Woods

Dr. Kristi Woods is Dean of Instruction for the Division of Languages, Humanities and Social Sciences at Riverside City College where she earned tenure as a professor of history and ethnic studies. 

She received an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California as a Broadcast Journalism major.  Both her M.A. and Ph.D. in United States History were also awarded by USC. 

Kristi views her work as service leadership through a lens of equity-mindedness and a practice of cultural proficiency.  Indeed, Dr. Woods has been a engaged in the work of equity, diversity and anti-racism for over 30 years.  Her contributions in this field emerged when in graduate school at the University of Southern California she received the ProAct Award for Courage and Conviction in Areas of Diversity (Push Racism Out, Accept the Challenge Today).  At RCC Kristi has led the Student Equity Committee and several student equity initiatives including developing college Student Equity Plans and long service as the Umoja faculty coordinator.  Her work also extends beyond the campus to her work in the community—serving on the Riverside Unified School District Equity Task Force.  She is a co-chair of the Region 9 Student Equity Leaders Network.  Finally, Kristi joined The Village Demands as a member of the Student Equity Institute Task Force prior to joining the Board this year.

As dean, Dr. Woods sits on two Strategic Planning Councils:  the Teaching and Learning Leadership Council and Educational Program Oversight Committee.   She also serves on the following committees:  Accreditation Steering Committee, Enrollment Management Committee, Grants Advisory Council, Guided Pathways Committee, and the Student Equity Committee.  Dr.  Woods has been involved in the writing of several grants including serving as a co-director of recently awarded Title V HSI grant and a National Science Foundation STEM grant.  She has launched campus initiatives such as Tiger PERC, a community of practice for faculty committed to utilizing high impact practices in high enrollment introductory courses, the Student Equity RISERS program, and she also proposed and opened the first Student Engagement Center—known as the HOME Room–at RCC. 

Dr. Woods has twenty years’ experience in faculty leadership including serving as the chair of the Department of History, Humanities, Philosophy and Ethnic Studies at Riverside City College.  She has served on several District committees including the Academic Standards Committee, the District Diversity and EEO Committee, and the Professional Growth and Sabbatical Leave Committee.  She has been active in the Academic Senate and served as Secretary of the California Teachers Association, RCCD chapter.