Irvine

Ronald A. Kong, president of Irvine Valley College since 1987, has resigned to become president of the College of Alameda, one of four schools in the Oakland-based Peralta Community College District.

An interim president is expected to be named within the next few weeks, and a search will be initiated for a permanent president, according to Diane Riopka, spokeswoman for Saddleback Community College District. The district governs Irvine Valley, which was established in 1985, and Saddleback College.

Kong, 51, presided over Irvine Valley during a period of rapid growth, including a 24% enrollment spurt to 7,087 students last fall. He is expected to begin work July 1 at the College of Alameda, which has about 5,000 students.

Kong, who was an instructor and administrator for more than 20 years at Los Rios Community College District in Sacramento, said he was anxious to return to Northern California, where three of his five children live.