Richardson

student program, Kemp said, with a specific focus on marketing toward that student population in an effort to bolster recruitment, enrollment and retention.

Prior to Richardson's hiring, Kemp said there was no dedicated director charged with managing LBCC's international student program.

Richardson will serve a one-year term, with a $115,000 salary.

After the interim term ends in February 2024, LBCC will launch a separate application and hiring process to find a permanent director, Kemp

said, noting that Richardson will be welcome to apply but won't be guaranteed the job.

For the interim position, the human resources department forwarded candidates who met the minimum qualifications to the hiring manager and the relevant vice president, who then invited the best candidates in for interviews before making a final selection.

It's unclear how many applicants were considered for the role because the district keeps that information private.

But Richardson came out on top.

The newly appointed director is well-known in the community, including among many members

of the Board of Trustees, Kemp said. The trustees approved her contract unanimously and with no discussion Wednesday evening.

Richardson has also had a long career in higher education.

She started at Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2004 — where she worked as a technology assistant for about three years, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Richardson later joined USC's Rossier School of Education as an assistant director of its doctoral program. In 2013, she started work as a student services advisor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Most recently, Richardson worked as the associate director of the master's

business analytics program at USC's Marshall School of Business, her LinkedIn profile shows, a position she's held for the past five years.

She also recently earned a doctorate in education from USC — adding to her bachelor's degree in business administration from CSUDH and a master's in post-secondary administration and student affairs from USC.

“Dr. Richardson has implemented innovated strategies for increasing international student populations at higher education institutions,” Kemp said, “and we look forward to her contributions to LBCC's efforts in developing this important program.”

Richardson could not be reached for comment.