Monica Rathjen

Monica Rathjen was raised in Southern Oregon. She loved spending her childhood exploring the outdoors, participating in competitive sports, playing music and reading. After graduating from high school, she attended the Technological Institute of Costa Rica as a college foreign exchange student, where she became fluent in Spanish. She returned to Southern Oregon to complete a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at Southern Oregon University.

After graduation, she worked extensively with charitable organizations focused on helping children, including AmeriCorps VISTA, The Oregon Children’s Foundation, and the Start Making a Reader Today program. Following a move to Colorado, Monica taught Spanish at a private Waldorf school for several years. She later attended the University of Wyoming College of Law, where she gained experience representing disadvantaged children and families. After earning a Juris Doctor degree, she returned to Southern Oregon, became a member of the Oregon State Bar, and focused her law practice on immigration law.

She enjoys hiking, long distance running, skiing, reading, traveling, gardening and spending time with her family. She and her husband have two children who attend Madrone Trail. Monica has served as a board member at Madrone Trail since 2016, and as the board president since 2018.