CR's November 28, 2025 Times Standard Education Matters Article--A Sincere Thank You

Published on Nov 21 2025

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. I hope you took time to relax. I had planned to take it easy and enjoy my family, both human and furry, and, although I did slow down a bit, I also spent time reflecting on how profoundly grateful I am to work alongside outstanding faculty, staff, managers, administrators, and Board of Trustees colleagues in service to CR. I believe that their extraordinary dedication to the College has put us on a trajectory of success and achievement. I want to express my appreciation to the community for supporting us. 

We have all heard the adage ‘No man is an island'. I believe that this also applies to institutions. I am thankful for Interim Cal Poly Humboldt President Dr. Michael Spagna’s commitment to collaborate with CR to serve students and our community. Our successful CR/Cal Poly intersegmental collaboration is an example of what we can accomplish if we work together. 

Thanks to all those who supported the $120 million Measure I general obligation bond, we will be able to improve student life, strengthen academic programs, and create spaces that reflect CR’s commitment to growth and community. With these funds we will construct a state-of-the-art healthcare training building on our Del Norte Campus and renovate the campus’ main building with much-needed upgrades. 

Building on this Measure I funding, I appreciate the one-million-dollar contribution from the Del Norte Healthcare District that will support our new healthcare pathways education facility on the Crescent City campus. Thanks to their vision, we will be able to meet our goal of graduating more LVNs and RNs to serve the local community and provide our Del Norte County students and faculty access to modern instructional tools, such as high-quality simulation labs and advanced healthcare equipment. 

I am immensely thankful to Senator Mike McGuire for his unfailing support for CR and the North Coast. With Senator McGuire’s support, CR was provided with $10.5 million to help build the joint CR/Cal Poly Humboldt Healthcare Education Hub in Arcata. Additionally, thanks to Senator McGuire, CR received $28.4 million for affordable student housing. We will combine the $28.4 million in state funds with some of our Measure I bond funds to build a new 240-bed housing complex, complete with wellness spaces, a student lounge, and a dining hall on the Eureka Campus 

To my CR colleagues, I want to extend my deepest appreciation for the way they embraced our shared vision to partner with Tribal communities and uplift Indigenous-led initiatives. One of the most significant steps forward was to host the Live Your Language Alliance (LYLA), a grassroots initiative that brought together elders, parents, youth, and language practitioners to share strategies, celebrate successes, and strengthen networks for language education. It will serve as the springboard for CR’s new Indigenous Language Institute (CR ILI), a collaborative effort rooted in the same vision as LYLA: to sustain and celebrate Indigenous language and culture.

Additionally, to foster cultural understanding, our Del Norte Campus is displaying a series of photographs from the Setting of the Stones event, part of the Tolowa Cultural Trail, in the student commons. The exhibit highlights the rich heritage and traditions of the Tolowa people and offers students and community members a meaningful connection to local Indigenous history.

I am thankful that the College was able to partner with Food for People to step in and help families in need during the government shutdown. At the same time, our Basic Needs Center committed to increasing access to our food pantry and organized our own emergency food drives to ensure that CR students have consistent access to meals. 

I am proud that our Fire Technology Program received state accreditation and can now offer a State Fire Training curriculum that leads to Fire Fighter I and other professional fire service certifications recognized across California. This accreditation will allow us to serve as a regional training hub and support fire agencies across Humboldt, Del Norte, and Mendocino counties. 

Lastly, during this time of gratitude, I want to express my thanks to all our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. They all contribute in countless ways to make CR a truly special institution.  At a time when we are challenged by unprecedented events beyond our control, I see our college community growing stronger together. 

While this season can be joyful, I know that this time of year may be challenging for some. Along with joy, the holidays may be a time of sorrow, reflection, loneliness, and tension. It is important to remember that we are not unconnected; we are, in fact, interconnected. I encourage everyone to take care of others who may need support and encouragement during the upcoming holiday season.