CR Faculty Profiles

Alissa Sarvinski is a Humboldt County native who grew up on her family’s organic dairy farm in Ferndale, which also produces fruits and vegetables from their Pepperwood farm along the Avenue of the Giants. She taught high school agriculture for 15 years at Santa Rosa and Eureka High Schools before...

Dr. Justine Shaw holds both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Before joining College of the Redwoods, she taught part-time at several colleges and universities in the greater Dallas–Fort Worth area. An accomplished archaeologist, Dr. Shaw...

The beauty of the redwoods first drew Lupe Galvan to College of the Redwoods. During his first visit to the area in 2012 for a plein air painting trip, he was immediately captivated by the landscape’s unique character and natural inspiration. His background is in painting, with a particular focus...

I appreciate the fact that I have a solid foundation in Humanities beyond the Visual Arts. My Bachelors from Hunter College is in English Literature, so when I decided to pursue my education beyond the undergraduate level, I already had the language and critical skills to consider important connections...

My undergraduate and Ph.D. research looked at the possibility that there was once life on Mars by studying Martian glaciers and climate change in the distant past.

I graduated from a trade school with a degree in automotive technology and I've worked in the automotive field as a technician for 10 years. After graduating from trade school I worked at both dealerships and independent shops before starting my teaching career.

I have worked for nine years in the automotive field, working on everything from small engine repair to heavy diesel equipment. I have worked as a repair technician and shop foreman in an independent repair facility as well as a journeyman master mechanic at an institutional facility.

Wendy Riggs has always known she wanted to be a teacher. When she arrived at Humboldt State University in 1994, she planned to teach elementary school, until her first biology class inspired her to change her major. After completing her student teaching at Eureka High School, she stepped directly...

In grad school, I studied fungal genetics and diseases of forest trees. Currently, I am surveying the fungal diversity of the north coast region.

Dr. Laurrie McKendry was drawn to College of the Redwoods because of its strong commitment to access, equity, and second-chance education—values that deeply align with her own. Before joining CR, she taught business and diversity courses at St. Catherine University, where she also earned her BA...

Elyse Elizondo is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at College of the Redwoods, where she teaches courses in public speaking, interpersonal communication, communication theory, small group communication, and other areas of the communication discipline. Her work at CR includes teaching...

I have a General Contractor's license and have worked in construction since 2001. I enjoy remodeling and building homes. This work is meaningful and rewarding.