Mid-life return to college opens door to city management career for Nichole Rutherford

Feb 27, 2026 | Alumni, News

Nichole Rutherford knows what it means to show up for your community. As City Manager for the city of Coos Bay, she spends her days working alongside elected officials, city staff, and residents to shape the future of the place she calls home.

Her leadership is grounded in service.

“Community continues to inspire me,” Nichole says. “We all play a role in making Coos Bay a great place to live, work, and recreate.”

Nichole’s path to this role didn’t follow a straight line.

She grew up in the tiny southern Oregon town of Butte Falls, eventually moving and graduating from Reedsport High School. She started her college journey at Southern Oregon University. A year later, she transferred to SWOCC. Her decision was driven by practicality. SWOCC offered an affordable option close to home that allowed her to save and stay close to her support system.

Nichole didn’t complete her degree right away. Her life took another direction. She got married, started a family, and put her college plans on hold. Nearly 15 years later, Nichole returned to SWOCC to finish what she started.

“From high school graduation to earning my bachelor’s degree, twenty years passed by,” Nichole says. “Returning to school as an adult raising a young family, made the process accessible and doable. I took one course a term.”

SWOCC was affordable, but more than anything at SWOCC, Nichole felt seen and supported.

“The class sizes and the professors were more accessible — like real people,” she recalls. “It felt like the SWOCC team met me where I was.”

Ultimately, Nichole earned her Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree and completed her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She’s grateful for the flexibility and care SWOCC offered throughout her journey.

Today, as City Manager, Nichole sees the vital role community colleges continue to play. And not just in individual lives, but in building strong local infrastructure.

“SWOCC is a key part of what the Coos Bay of tomorrow looks like,” she says. “The college has heard the needs of the community and is developing training programs to help fill employment gaps — like the diesel mechanic curriculum and the partnership with local fire departments on the fire tower.”

Nichole believes more people should know how accessible SWOCC is.

“Access to quality college education at an affordable rate is available just outside our back door,” she says. “Because of SWOCC, I enjoy an engaging and fulfilling career.”

It’s a path she hopes inspires others to explore their own educational or professional goals.

Rushal Sedlemyer’s journey to self-sufficiency and a career she loves

Feb 23, 2026 | Alumni, News

Photo courtesy of Brian Fowler, Park Manager, South Beach Management Unit

“I grew up thinking, and telling myself, that there were a lot of things in life I would never be able to do or have,” says Rushal Sedlemyer. College, a career, and homeownership. They were not part of what she could imagine for herself.

Like many first-generation college students, Rushal grew up without clear examples of people who followed college or career pathways. Raised in rural Oregon, she had limited financial resources. Yet she made her way to SWOCC knowing she wanted more.

A new story

A graduate of Southwestern, Rushal is now the South Coast Natural Resource Specialist for Oregon State Parks and Recreation – a role that once sounded like a dream job. She owns her own home, holds a college degree, and has built a career she’s passionate about. And it all began with one brave step toward education.

When Rushal enrolled at SWOCC, she didn’t have a clear sense of where she was headed. She was interested in biology, but didn’t realize the wide range of possible careers, from ecology and geomorphology to stewardship coordination and habitat restoration.
What she did know was that she wanted something better for herself, and she believed college was the key.

The path wasn’t easy. Rushal faced major financial challenges and leaned on every resource available to her. She found TRIO, a federally funded program designed to support first-generation students. With TRIO, she found mentorship, encouragement, and a sense of belonging.
“It helped me be more engaged and less scared about going to college.” She also found that SWOCC’s smaller campus and class sizes were the right fit. “It felt manageable and welcoming compared to a big university.”

While at SWOCC, Rushal enrolled in an ecology class that made a lasting impression. She began volunteering with the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and sought out hands-on projects wherever she could find them.

Rushal graduated from SWOCC in 2013 with her Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree. At the time, SWOCC did not yet offer a Natural Resources degree path, and Rushal was still unsure what her future held. But a simple flyer on campus changed everything.

It advertised an internship opportunity with the Coos Watershed Association. She applied and was accepted. During her time there, the Watershed staff encouraged Rushal to pursue a degree in Natural Resources. The experience opened her eyes to a new world — working outdoors, studying ecosystems, and protecting natural spaces now felt possible and exciting.

She eventually took advantage of SWOCC’s dual enrollment partnership with Oregon State University, earning her bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources in 2017. By completing many of her courses at SWOCC, she saved money, reduced travel, and continued using campus resources like the library and tutoring center.

Job Opportunities

Rushal continued building experience through volunteer work and seasonal field positions with organizations such as the Coos and Coquille Watershed Associations, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and local conservation districts.
Her first full-time job was as a Watershed Technician with the Coquille Watershed Association. Over time, she grew into a Restoration Project Manager role and spent seven years developing her skills, confidence, and leadership.

Then came a full-circle moment.

“Seven years ago, I met the person who was in the job I have now,” Rushal recalled. “When I heard her talk about her work, I thought, ‘Wow, that sounds like a cool job.’”

Today, Rushal oversees natural resource projects for Oregon State Parks along the coast from Newport to Brookings. She collaborates on habitat restoration, erosion control, and environmental planning. “Our state parks are special places,” she said. “I’m honored to be the local voice advocating for them.”

Looking back, Rushal is proud not only of where she is, but of how far she’s come. All those things she once thought were impossible – college, a career, homeownership – are now part of her life.

“SWOCC was definitely my launch pad,” she said. “It set me up for success in a lot of areas of life.”

Rushal Sedlemyer’s story is a powerful reminder that with support, opportunity, and determination, even uncertain beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Her journey reflects grit, curiosity, and a belief that something better was possible.

Beach photo courtesy of Rob Brazie, Bullards Beach Management Unit