Zone 1
Zone 1
Farmer
Board Vice Chair
Elected May 2025
Term expires June 30, 2029
Email: rustj@lanecc.edu
Zone 1 represents the western part of the college district.
Jerry Rust brings decades of public service, international experience, and environmental advocacy to his role as a Lane Community College trustee. A graduate of Glide High School (Class of 1961), he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Oregon in 1965 and later received an Oxford English certificate for teaching English as a second language. He is fluent in English and Chinese.
Rust served as a Lane County Commissioner for 20 years, from 1977 to 1997, and was a Peace Corps volunteer in India earlier in his career. He was a founding member and the first president of Hoedads, a pioneering worker-owned tree planting cooperative known for its sustainable forestry practices and democratic workplace structure.
In addition to his public service and environmental work, Rust is an author and co-author of two books: Yew and The Covered Bridge Murders, a work of historical fiction. His diverse background and commitment to community, sustainability, and education reflect the values of Lane Community College and its mission to serve the region.