This is an exciting time to be at the College of the Redwoods. We have the opportunity to transform our Eureka campus and enhance the depth and breadth of our faculty base across the college.

Our new creative arts building is taking shape and is on schedule to be completed in time for the start of the fall semester. We are also poised to begin the process of constructing new, state-of-the-art residence halls, building a new physical education athletics complex, and renovating our community stadium. These new capital projects represent our commitment to creating exceptional facilities that give students expanded opportunities for academic growth, improving physical fitness and mental wellness, and providing new spaces for campus events and student gatherings, as well as practice and training spaces for our athletic teams. In case you’re curious, you can find updates on our major capital projects at Redwoods.edu/About-Us/Projects.

While the Eureka campus is physically changing, we remain dedicated to providing accessible and relevant education programs that promote student academic achievement. That unswerving commitment is demonstrated through the hiring of new faculty to add to our highly engaged and collaborative community of scholars. While several faculty searches are in different stages of completion, I am honored to share the backgrounds of a few of the new faculty hires. Joining us in fall 2023 are Dr. Stacey Baterina Salinas, assistant professor of ethnic studies, Mr. J Lupe Galvan, assistant professor of art and Dr. Laurrie McKendry, assistant professor of business for Del Norte/Pelican Bay State Prison. With these new faculty hires, College of the Redwoods will further broaden our impact and provide students with extraordinary educational experiences.

Dr. Salinas received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine and received her master’s degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, both in American history. Her research focused on Asian American history centering on the roles of Asian American women and their impact on America’s Civil Rights Movement(s) and contributions to the diversity of the American woman’s experience. Her doctorate is from the University of California, Davis in cultural studies, with an emphasis on Asian American studies, American history, women’s gender and sexuality studies, BIPOC feminisms, and critical Filipinx studies.

Dr. Salinas is a talented author, having published two books — “Philippines’ Resistance: The Last Allied Stronghold in the Pacific in 2017” and “Pinay Guerrilleras: The Unsung Heroics of Filipina Resistance Fighters During the Pacific War in 2022,” and has contributed to several scholarly articles related to Filipino/Filipina American studies.

Mr. Galvan has a master’s degree in fine arts from The New York Academy of Art and a bachelor of arts in illustration from Boise State University. His experience includes teaching a variety of classes at Boise State University, Southern Oregon University, Yavapai College, Neumann University, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Mr. Galvan has exhibited work at several venues including the Schneider Museum of Art in Ashland, Oregon; the Mills Pond Gallery in St. James, New York; the Lancaster Museum of Art in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; the Fairbanks Studio in Murray, Kentucky; and the Lady Base Gallery in San Antonio, Texas. As a bonus, Mr. Galvan is fluent in Spanish and has some fluency in French.

Dr. McKendry received her bachelor of aArts in critical studies of race and ethnicity and women’s studies from St. Catherine University, a master’s degree of business administration from also from St. Catherine University, and a doctorate in leadership from St. Mary’s University.

On behalf of the entire faculty, staff, and students, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new faculty members. We are excited to have them join our community as we look forward into the next era of College of the Redwoods.

Dr. Keith Flamer is the president of the College of the Redwoods.