The College of Marin Board of Trustees, President, and Administration

Statement of Purpose:

We, the undersigned current students, alumni, and members of the Marin County community, are writing to express our unwavering support for longtime biology instructor Joe Mueller. For over 30 years, Professor Mueller has been an influential, dedicated, and transformative educator. His work has shaped generations of students and contributed deeply to the local environment and community.

Recently, public allegations and a Title IX misconduct investigation have recommended his termination, which Professor Mueller is currently actively appealing. While we respect the necessity of institutional oversight and safety policies, we strongly believe that an educator's entire career, character, and lifelong impact must not be overshadowed or dismissed without exhaustive due process. Many of us have known him for years—some for nearly two decades—and have only experienced a professional, safe, and deeply enriching mentorship under his guidance.

Our Demand:

We urge the College of Marin administration and the Board of Trustees to thoroughly, fairly, and impartially consider Professor Mueller’s formal appeal. We ask that the administration take into account the immense positive impact he has had on thousands of students, respect the ongoing legal and administrative process, and protect his right to a fair hearing before making any final decisions regarding his employment.

How you can help today:

    1    Sign and Share this petition 

    2    Leave a comment: Share a specific memory of how his classes, marine lab, natural history program, or field trips impacted your life.

    3    Share this link: Forward this to any other COM biology alumni, students, or community members who know Joe.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Sheet

Why are we organizing this petition?

We are a collective of current students and alumni—many of whom have known Professor Joe Mueller for up to two decades—standing up to protect his 30-year legacy of educational service and ensure he is granted full, impartial due process during his ongoing administrative appeal.  

What is the current situation?

As reported by the Marin Independent Journal, an internal Title IX investigation recommended Professor Mueller's termination following allegations of sexual harassment. Professor Mueller strongly denies the allegations and is currently actively appealing the findings.  The article included lengthy accusations, but failed to provide equal weight in Mueller's defense, outside of stating that numerous students have come out in support of Joe. 

Are you dismissing safety policies or institutional oversight?

Not at all. We fully respect the necessity of campus safety, institutional regulations, and thorough investigations. However, we firmly believe that an educator’s lifelong character, professional boundaries, and immense community impact must be given fair weight, and that his right to an exhaustive and unbiased hearing must be completely protected.

What are the petition’s specific demands?

We are calling on the College of Marin Board of Trustees and administration to thoroughly and impartially evaluate Professor Mueller’s formal appeal. We demand that they protect his right to a fair hearing and refrain from making any final employment decisions until all administrative and legal avenues are fully exhausted. Joe should also be able to provide character witnesses to support him regarding specifically accused  occurrences made against him.

How can I help?

You can sign the petition online, leave a personal testimony about your experiences in his classes or field trips, share the petition link with other alumni, and join us in person to speak during the public comment section at the next Board of Trustees meeting.

Thank you in advance if you decide to stand with us to support a professor who changed so many of our lives for the better.