Summary of the October 3, 2026 Board of Trustees Special Meeting
Published on Oct 3 2026Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that College of the Redwoods is located on the unceded territory of the Wiyot, Hupa, Karuk, Mattole, Tolowa, Wailaki, and Yurok people where they have resided from time immemorial. We encourage all to gain a deeper understanding of their history and thriving culture. As an expression of our gratitude we are genuinely committed to developing trusting, reciprocal, and long lasting partnerships with the Wiyot people as well as all of our neighboring tribes.
Board Business
The Board interviewed three applicants to fill the Area 5 trustee seat. I am very pleased to share that the College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees took action today to appoint Ms. Jasmine Rafferty to fill the Area 5 Trustee seat. Trustee Elect Rafferty will be sworn in on December 15, 2026.
Here is a summary of Trustee Elect Rafferty’s background for your information.
She came to College of the Redwoods after an extremely challenging upbringing that left her uncertain if higher education was within reach. Through programs like CARE, EOPS, and the LIGHT Center, as well as dedicated counselors, CR provided the support she needed to thrive. That foundation enabled her to pursue her Bachelor’s in Social Work at Cal Poly Humboldt State and proceed into graduate studies.
Her professional career in social work has been dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate homelessness, substance use, developmental disabilities, and mental health crises. Collaborating with public agencies, healthcare systems, courts, and community organizations has taught her how system-level decisions directly impact individual success.
As a trustee, she will be committed to ensuring that CR remains a place of opportunity and hope for all students in our District. This collaborative, community-focused perspective is what she will bring to the Board.
Because of the foundation CR gave her, Jasmine was able to build a safer and more hopeful life for herself and her daughter.
She has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Masters of Social Work from Cal Poly Humboldt and an Associates of Behavioral and Social Science from College of the Redwoods.
Her experience includes the following:
Adult Unit Service Coordinator, Redwood Coast Regional Center Eureka, CA: Develop/ensure implementation of person-centered Individual Program Plans (IPPs) for all Clients assigned to the 70+ caseload, consistent with current agency philosophy, processes, and documentation standards. Monitor the status and implementation of IPPs for entire caseload, completing required case documentation.
Lead Case Manager, Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation Arcata, CA: Helped families/individuals establish short-term goals and identify barriers to stabilizing their lives. Provided support services such as emotional support, substance use services, re-establish identifying documents, referrals to social services, goal setting, budgeting, resume writing, job searching, interview skills, and problem-solving. Build community relationships on behalf of the site.
Reentry Case Manager, Yurok Wellness Court Intern (2 semesters) Eureka, CA: Conducted initial intake assessments to prospective participants. Verify program eligibility, appropriateness, and provide referrals for alternative services when necessary.
Certified Rape Crisis Counselor Verity Intern (2 semesters) Santa Rosa, CA: Took an active part in the development/delivery of counseling services for sexual abuse survivors and their families. Provided counseling/intake services, crisis care for clients who become suicidal or threaten harm to others.
Clinical Intake Coordinator/Detox Counselor Waterfront Recovery Eureka, CA: Conducted clinical interviews with prospective clients, gather clinical information from the individual/ family, triage the patient for continued services. Coordinated services with referrals/community resources to ensure timeliness of treatment. Provided on-call crisis hotline services.