College of Marin has become a flashpoint over campus harassment and accountability as it investigates a sexual‑harassment complaint against a longtime professor, with a closed Title IX hearing set for May 22. The allegation has sparked student demonstrations on the Kentfield campus and prompted the college to commission an internal review that, according to filings, did not reach a final recommendation. The professor at the center of the case denies the accusations, and the district says it will issue a written decision after the hearing concludes.
Allegations and hearing
The complaint was filed by 34‑year‑old student Babette Papineau, who says she dated the instructor between late 2024 and May 2025, as per The Press Democrat. Papineau filed a formal grievance with the college in July and later helped organize on‑campus demonstrations that she says gave other students a platform to share their own experiences. The school’s notice of allegations sets a closed hearing for May 22 and states that the college will issue a written decision after the proceeding.
College procedure and faculty background
The district’s Title IX administrative procedures outline how reports are handled, including the Title IX coordinator’s authority to initiate a formal complaint and the right of both parties to have advisors during hearings, per the district’s policy. Those procedures also call for investigations and hearings to produce a written report, a determination by a decision‑maker, and supportive measures for impacted students.
College records list Joseph Mueller as a biology instructor at College of Marin, and he appears on faculty rosters dating back to the 1990s.
Student reaction and faculty response
Papineau has been among the students pressing campus leaders for clarity and change, saying she seeks to amplify other students’ experiences, according to The Press Democrat. The professor named in the complaint has denied all allegations.
College of Marin’s director of marketing and communications, Nicole Cruz, told the same outlet that the school does not comment on student or employment matters. Trustee Wanden Treanor said it would not be appropriate for a board member to weigh in while the investigation is underway, according to the reporting.
What comes next
The May 22 hearing is closed to the public. Under federal Title IX rules, both parties may be represented by advisors and the college must provide supportive measures to those affected. Title IX requires institutions that receive federal funds to address sex‑based discrimination and to establish grievance procedures, per the U.S. Department of Education. The college has not released additional details about potential sanctions or appeal timelines once a decision is issued.
