Dr. Kiandra Jimenez

Dean of College Equity, Inclusion, and Engagement

 

 

 

Education         

Ph.D. Philosophy, Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California

Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Antioch University, Los Angeles, California

Bachelor of Arts, English Language and Literature, General
California Baptist University, Riverside, California

 

Experience

A proud Riverside Community College District alumna, Dr. Jimenez brings more than 25 years in education, 12 years in higher education, and six years of dedicated service to Norco College and RCCD. At Norco College, Dr. Jimenez has served as Associate Professor with dual Faculty Service Areas in English and Ethnic Studies and as Umoja Co-Coordinator since 2019. Over her tenure at Norco, Dr. Jimenez has been a committed leader and advocate for advancing equity initiatives. This has included serving as Faculty Co-Chair within the Student Equity Plan Initiative workgroup, and most recently as Student Equity Plan Faculty Lead where she co-wrote Norco’s 2025-2028 SEP, leading the thematic research, writing, and cohesive bridge between previous SEP iterations.

Dr. Jimenez’s professional development and fellowship record complement her faculty and program work. She is an Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA) Social Justice & Leadership Fellow (2025), completed the Modern Language Association (MLA) Reading & Writing Pedagogy Fellowship focused on Hispanic-Serving Institutions and community college students, is a current participant in Leading From the Middle, and completed Open Educational Resources and accessibility training through the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (OERI). She led Norco’s participation in the Open for Antiracism (OFAR) project and served as project lead and co-author/editor of the Introduction to African American Studies OER (2023–2025), work that advances affordability, accessibility, and antiracist curricula in support of Vision 2030.

Her deep ties with Riverside’s Art Community, spanning over 20 years of community service and activism, facilitated her work with RCCD’s Center for Social Justice, where she has and continues to serve as an artist in residence for the annual Body of Freedom art show collaboration between local K12 schools, RCCD, and community artists. She was integral with bringing a community artist to install Norco’s first mosaic mural, highlighting the diverse students at Norco. A first-generation college student and parent of two RCCD alumni, Dr. Jimenez combines lived experience with deep institutional knowledge and strong community partnerships — most notably understanding the challenges non-traditional and first-year students experience. She holds a Bachelor’s in English, MFA in Creative Writing, and a PhD in Cultural Studies. In her free time, she is an avid gardener, writer, and fiber artist who loves to read, listen to music, and be active outdoors. 

Dr. Jimenez is eager to walk alongside her Norco “family,” continuing all the passionate work and strides we’ve collectively taken to advance a culture of belonging, inclusivity, diversity, and equity to advance our students’ lives and uplift our local community.