Michelle Rainer, LCSW is currently the Pathway Project Coordintor and the Northern Region SERVE Coordinator at Cal Poly Humboldt.  Outreach is focused in Northern California tribal communities and in collaboration with Cal Poly Humboldt, Chico State University, and Sacramento State University.  This role also involves developing relationships with 55 tribes and numerous tribal organizations throughout northern California, facilitating development of social work internships in Tribal organizations, and supporting addition of curriculum regarding social work in Tribal communities. 

Her previous work includes working as a Child Welfare Worker and Adoptions Worker for Santa Clara County, California beginning in 1999. In 2003 she returned to Humboldt County to work for her own tribal community. She worked as a Clinician at United Indian Health Services from 2003- 2006. This position involved working in many settings, including clinic sites, schools, juvenile hall, etc.

She has been teaching in the Social Work program at Cal Poly Humboldt since 2005, both in the undergraduate and graduate programs. The program’s focus on tribal and rural communities, which are both important to her, motivated her to become a part of the faculty.