CR's February 7, 2025 Times Standard Article - New Trustee Appointment

Feb 4 2025

CR’s January 10th Education Matters article discussed the critical role College of the Redwoods’ Board of Trustees plays in shaping the direction of the institution, setting policies, and ensuring our fiscal and academic integrity. Our trustees are responsible for making key decisions that underscore the College’s role in collaborating with the business community and economic development organizations to support a vibrant regional economy, ensuring that free speech and critical thinking remain foundational values of the institution, and in creating an educational community where all students—regardless of race, social economic status, and academic preparation—can feel welcome and find success. 

The article also touched upon my sincere belief that collaborating closely with board members – whose mission is to make the institution better and advocate for their constituents’ interests on the governing board – is one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my tenure as CR’s President. 

I am incredibly happy to share that CR’s Board of Trustees has completed the appointment process to fill vacancies for Area 2 and Area 5, which were made vacant due to resignations. By unanimous agreement the Board appointed Sara Dronkers to represent Area 5 and Jack Rice to serve the constituents of Area 2. Sara and Jack will add new experiences and expertise to CR’s seven-member board. We are excited to have their voices on our Board of Trustees.

Both of our new trustees are highly respected and committed to service. 

Sara Dronkers, a graduate from College of the Redwoods and Cal Poly Humboldt, has spent over two decades in service to our community through her work at the Humboldt Area Foundation (HAF). For the last five years, she has served as HAF’s Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer. In both senior executive positions, she was the primary liaison to the Foundation’s Board of Directors and had oversight of organization-wide decisions on policy, procedures, and human resources, as well as ensuring that HAF’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion values were incorporated into all aspects of the Foundation’s work. In her other positions with HAF, including Director of Grantmaking and Nonprofit Resources, she oversaw the Foundation’s overall grantmaking and scholarship programs, including the creation of the regional Scholarship Finder website and the Youth Engaged in Philanthropy program. 

Jack Rice grew up on a small hay and cattle operation in Southern Humboldt where he developed a deep love for working the land as well as a keen awareness of the value of education. After two years at Humboldt State University and three years at Cal Poly Luis Obispo where he earned a degree in Agribusiness, he returned home to continue working on the family farm. He later went to law school at UC Davis and worked for the California Farm Bureau Federation on water and natural resources matters. He has served on a few local agricultural trade organizations, the Humboldt County Farm Bureau, Humboldt/Del Norte Cattlemen's Association, and the Humboldt County Fair where he currently serves as the Treasurer of the Humboldt County Fair Association.

I think you will agree that their diverse but equally impressive backgrounds will be a great asset to the College. I want to thank the Board of Trustees for their foresight and wisdom in appointing Sara and Jack to the governing board. I believe that their experience will be a tremendous asset in helping the Board find solutions to complex problems and making important policy decisions in a collaborative manner. I am confident that these two new trustees will focus on policymaking, uphold the President’s authority to lead without interference, and will balance the interests of all constituencies while maintaining impartiality to act in the best interest of the College as a whole, while not being beholden to any institutional or community group.

I am extremely pleased to welcome Sara and Jack—leaders in their professional roles—to the College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees. We have very ambitious plans for the future of Redwoods, and I look forward to working closely with our newest and current trustees to bring our vision for the College to fruition.