CR’s June 26, 2026 Times Standard Article: Meeting Community Needs By Hiring New Faculty

Published on Jun 18 2026

Let me start by stating the obvious: I believe that College of the Redwoods is an outstanding institution. That belief is reinforced when I attend classes, experience our outstanding faculty in action and learn alongside our students. I am reminded of how wonderful CR is every time I go out in the community wearing my College of the Redwoods apparel and current students and alumni stop and share stories of their experience at CR or tell me how a faculty member influenced their life. 

I am proud that, for more than any other reason, our students come to College of the Redwoods because of our faculty, who shape minds, inspire curiosity, and create a lifelong love of learning. 

Every time a student shares their story about our outstanding faculty, I am reminded of a quote attributed to an unknown author: “A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ambition within you than you see in yourself, and helps you unlock it.” 

Yes, our faculty are outstanding mentors. I also know that CR’s faculty are excellent scholars who have a significant impact on students’ learning experiences.

The faculty we hire are among the clearest indicators of where we are headed as an institution. Every new faculty position represents an investment in our students, our communities, and the programs we believe will be most critical to the future of our region. For Fall 2026, College of the Redwoods will be welcoming nine new full-time faculty members including two Nursing faculty members, a Respiratory Care Faculty/Director, a Native American Studies/CR Indigenous Language Institute (CRILI) Director, a Construction Technology/Electrical faculty member, an Addiction Studies/Social Work faculty member, and three new Counselors. 

Nursing: California’s Registered Nurse job market remains tight due to an aging population and ongoing shortages in clinical and faculty roles. Our new nursing faculty will support our program’s expansion from 64 to over 100 graduates per year and bring cross-program expertise to not only support the RN Program, but all other nursing related programs in our area (LVN, CNA, and MA). 

Respiratory Care Faculty/Director: Respiratory therapists play a vital role in caring for patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary conditions, from premature infants to older adults and emergency patients. CR is launching a new Respiratory Care program to help address critical healthcare workforce needs in our region. To support the program, we will hire two full-time faculty members over the next year. Our first hire will be the Program Director, who will lead the development of the program, curriculum, and instruction. A second faculty member will serve as the Clinical Coordinator, helping students gain hands-on experience in healthcare settings throughout the region. 

Native American Studies/CRILI: This full-time faculty position will provide instructional stability for our Native American Studies program, lead the development of a proposed Indigenous Language Teaching Certificate, and direct the emerging College of the Redwoods Indigenous Languages Institute (CRILI). The certificate will prepare community-based educators to teach Indigenous languages and language revitalization efforts, addressing a need identified by regional Tribal partners. CRILI will serve as a hub for Indigenous language education, professional learning, and Tribal collaboration, strengthening relationships between the College and Tribal Nations while supporting culturally responsive education throughout the region. 

Construction Technology/Electrician: We know that electricians are in high demand statewide and one of the few trades besides nursing that requires state certification. As California moves towards an all-electric grid, electricians will be in higher demand. The enrollment data, jobs growth data, wage data, and environmental data all support the expansion of our current program for future job opportunities and community needs. However, the lack of available, qualified instructors has prevented us from meeting the workforce needs of our region. 

Addiction Studies/Social Work: The integrated Social Work & Human Services and Addiction Studies programs are foundational to our mission to support regional workforce development in behavioral health and social services across the North Coast. As behavioral-health workforce shortages continue to intensify statewide and regionally, these programs represent a critical educational and community resource. We believe that an additional full-time faculty member is necessary to sustain current offerings and enable planned program expansion. 

Counselors: Our current counselor staffing levels constrain our ability to provide comprehensive educational planning, early alert interventions, transfer advising, and equity-centered outreach. We believe that hiring three full-time faculty counselors will help us expand our counseling capacity, strengthen proactive engagement, retention, completion, and transfer outcomes, and provide greater access to the College. 

I believe that CR is full of some of the most passionate, dedicated, and caring faculty in the California Community College System. It is a tremendous privilege to serve as president of an institution that believes that the influence our faculty have on students extends beyond the classroom.