Class Notes

1960s

Sanford “Sandy” Wilbur, 1963, Wildlife, columnist for The Lumberjack from 1960-1962, is at work on a new novel, tentatively titled Vic and Greg: a Wildlife Refuge Romance

Rick M. Gardner, 1965, Psychology, met the woman of his dreams in graduate school. They were married in 1967. Their happy marriage lasted 50 years until her death in 2017. Rick has two children, a boy and a girl.

Robert Lackey, 1967, Fisheries Biology, is a professor at Oregon State University. In 2008, he retired after 27 years with the Environmental Protection Agency’s 350-person national research laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon. He served as deputy director, associate director for science, and in other senior science leadership positions. His current “gig” is part-time and involves teaching ecological policy and advising a few graduate students. He and his wife, Lana Apparius Lackey (who also attended Humboldt), live in Corvallis, Oregon.

1970s

David Clark, 1971, History, migrated to Australia in 1972 and taught high school until retirement in 2007.

Theodore “Ted” Smith, 1972, Geology, retired as supervising geologist with the California Geological Survey in 2001 following a 30-year career. Since then he earned a Ph.D. in Education (specialization: teaching & training online), and for 18 years has taught courses online, mostly with Baker College (located in Michigan). In 2019, Ted moved to Whidbey Island, Washington and recently was appointed to the Board of Directors of Geology in the Public Interest, a nonprofit that focuses on use of geology for the public good in sustainable ways.

Christopher Rush, 1974, Natural Resources, completed hiking the Pacific Crest Trail Mexico-to-Canada in 2016 after hiking it in sections post-retirement. After working the first half of his career with USDA & USDI (USFS-Willamette NF & BLM-California Desert), he spent the last half with the Environmental Office at Edwards Air Force Base, where he retired as chief of the conservation branch in 2005. He is married to Carol (Kohlenberger) Rush, a 1974 Humboldt grad.

Richard T. Sayre, 1974, Biological Sciences, was elected to the National Academy of Inventors.

Bob Freeman, 1976, Biological Sciences, is retired from Imperial County as a public health lab director, He is also supporting his laboratory information system while writing more sci-fi novels: H2LiftShips Vol 1-3 Beyond Luna H2LiftShips Vol 4 A Back Story And Vol 5 is a slow slog forward. The stories take place in the desert, Humboldt, Yosemite, Phobos, the Asteroid Belt, and beyond with solar sail ships and a few rockets thrown in for good measure.

Emily Kratzer, 1976, Journalism, has been a featured freelancer for Autumn Years magazine, a Bergen County, New Jersey publication celebrating the lives of people ages 60 and older, since 2018. She volunteers with public-access WCTV.us and C.E.R.T. Active Unitarian-Universalist.

Lester B. Garrison, 1978, Chemistry, retired after a successful career in clinical chemistry where he developed tests for inborn errors of metabolism in newborn infants. His training in chemical oceanography was a good basis for his subsequent work in clinical chemistry. Driven by a passion for applying enzymology to solving clinical chemistry diagnostic issues, he was pleased to develop a method to diagnose galactosemia by measuring the lack of activity of the enzyme Galactose 1 Phosphate Uridyltransferase. This changed the accuracy of the previous galactosemia test from 60-70% reliable to 99%+ reliable, a great step forward in screening.

Barbara Scaroni, 1978, Forestry & Wildland Resources, has managed to stay a dirt forester over the many years. Scaroni is still out marking and cruising timber, administering timber sales, running property lines, and writing environmental assessments, timber sale contracts, and researching the land use history of timber sale areas. During college, Scaroni worked summers for the BLM in Ukiah, Missoula, Montana, Rawlins, Wyoming, and Susanville. Scaroni worked USFS in Cave Junction, Oregon and Willows. Scaroni had permanent jobs after graduation with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs 1980-1990; Malheur National Forest, Burns, Oregon, 1990-1993; Coeur d’Alene Tribe, 1993-present.

Neil L. Aaland, 1979, Sociology, recently retired after 16 years as a sole proprietor environmental/natural resources planner and 25 years in local and state government service in Washington state. After obtaining his B.A. from Humboldt, he spent a year in Ohio at Bowling Green State University where he received an M.A. in Geography. He has fond memories of his time at Humboldt and intends to visit in retirement.

Mary Christine Rohn Hartman (Cris), 1979, Natural Resources, lives in Northern California. She worked as a law enforcement ranger for 30 years after initially working for a private consultant in range/wilderness impact issues directly after graduation. She is still using her college degree while working as an expedition leader for a travel company that markets to alumni associations, leading tours and teaching guests about natural and cultural resources and the history of the areas she travels to. She says it is the perfect retirement job.

1980s

Cindy Purnell Frakes, 1981, Biological Sciences, retired from her most recent position of 13 years as senior director of Information Development at Oracle after 33 years in the high-tech industry. Her career journey prior to that included stints at Borland, PeopleSoft, Computer Associates, and the Paradigm Group. She’s now happily retired, living in Ferndale, Washington, and has picked up her binoculars to pursue bird #485 and beyond to add to her life list.

Rex Morgan, 1982, Journalism, has worked as a middle manager, assisted-living staffer, public school teacher, and nurse since graduating from Humboldt. Morgan earned M.Ed and ASN degrees. They credit any academic or career success to the details-and-deadlines ethos instilled by their teachers and peers in the Humboldt Journalism school. Most recently, Morgan had served as a vaccinator with the Missouri Medical Reserve Corps.

Rich Torquemada, 1982, Fisheries Biology, recently stepped down after four years as a board director of the Montana Grape and Winery Association, serving as president for three years. Torquemada continues to own and operate Luna Llena Vineyards, producing cold-climate hybrid wine grapes to several local wineries and cideries in western Montana. Prior to establishing Luna Llena, he enjoyed a 34-year career as a fisheries biologist and field supervisor with the Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, working throughout the western U.S.

Brian D. Wiesner, 1982, History, is currently the president of the Claremont Stars Soccer Club.

David J. Fisher, 1983, Biological Sciences, received his DVM from Washington State University after graduating from Humboldt, and practiced at a small-animal clinic prior to his residency in clinical pathology at the University of California, Davis. Following board certification, he was a clinical pathology instructor at the University of Wisconsin. In 1995, he started working for IDEXX at the company’s reference laboratory in West Sacramento. Dave was recently awarded the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to the profession.

Vince Smith, 1984, Environment & Community, recently retired after 36 years working for a private nonprofit organization caring for and assisting individuals with intellectual disabilities. He and his wife, Deb, left Northern California in 1984 and settled in New Mexico. He credits Humboldt’s professors with steering him on a life journey of compassion and care for others.

Frank Scherf, 1985, Wildlife, has retired at long last after 35 years in Snohomish County, Washington as a biologist, senior planner, and shoreline planner. He worked for the USFS in Challis, Idaho before that. Scherf is now in the Rogue River Valley in Oregon and loving it.

Brian Woodland, 1986, Liberal Studies Elementary Education, has retired from teaching eighth grade history after 34 years. He taught for three years in Sacramento County, then taught at the same junior high in Placer County for 31 years. Woodland also taught various subjects including English, journalism, video production, and psychology. Although teaching eighth graders can be quite challenging, that age can also be the most rewarding to teach. His years at Humboldt were very influential to his career and life, and he can’t imagine attending any other college because of the small, family-like atmosphere. More cycling, travel, and genealogy research are planned for his retirement.

Meg Godlewski, 1988, Journalism, has accepted a new position as senior writer for Flying Magazine.

Eugene Charles Justus (Charlie), 1989, Wildlife, has retired after a 30-year career as a conservation officer with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. He retired at the rank of regional conservation officer (enforcement manager/lieutenant). Justus received his B.S. in wildlife management in 1989. The broad educational experiences gained at Humboldt was a perfect fit for a career as a conservation officer/game warden. Justus is filling his retirement time by working part-time as a marine deputy for the Canyon County Sheriff, a small group leader at the local Celebrate Recovery, and documenting herps on iNaturalist and his YouTube channel.

1990s

Louis A. Richards, 1990, Theatre, retired and is living the good life in Marina. After a career in the U.S. Navy, service in the Peace Corps, and years in other vocations, it’s now his time to enjoy a life of relaxation.

Mohsin Aziz, 1992, Business, has worked in IT since graduating from Humboldt. In 1997 he started his own IT services company, NYLEX.Net, which is now the most prominent IT services company in Humboldt County. The company has hired numerous Humboldt graduates as IT support technicians and engineers as it continues its growth.

Jon Dohlin, 1992, Biological Sciences, After 25 years with the Wildlife Conservation Society, including 12 as the director of the New York Aquarium, Dohlin accepted a new position as CEO of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

Erik Kramer-Webb, 1992, Natural Resources, taught environmental education at schools, summer camps, Outward Bound, and NOLS after graduating from Humboldt. He eventually settled down in Joshua Tree where he and his wife Theresa had a son and built a straw bale house. Together, they also started California Climbing School in 2017 to lead adventures in Joshua Tree and the San Jacinto Range and to promote diversity in the outdoors.

Richard Moore, 1992, Environmental Resources Engineering, has been working steadily as a civil engineer since he left Humboldt. He worked a variety of positions in consulting, and local and federal government. He also ran a small consulting business full and part-time since 1998; worked a few years for the Indian Health Service; worked three years doing fish habitat improvement projects for Washington conservation districts; and, for the last year, has been a staff civil engineer with the Economic Development Administration in Seattle. It’s a great job: everyone loves you when you have loads of money to give away. Well, almost everyone.

Jade Bristol, 1993, English, was named chief development officer of Giving Docs, a revolutionary online platform that is democratizing the estate planning process and making it easier for individuals who want to make an impact by leaving a gift to charity in their will. Bristol is a 2001 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and has spent the last decade helping nonprofits fund their missions through planned giving.

G Shellye Horowitz, 1995 and 1998, Psychology, was named associate director of education of the Hemophilia Federation of America. Shellye Horowitz recently coordinated a national webinar addressing outdated scientific nomenclature of “dominant” and “recessive” in reference to x-linked diseases. This terminology is a barrier to diagnosis and treatment for women who are heterozygous carriers and manifest x-linked diseases. Patients, healthcare providers, and advocates will continue the conversation on a national level to reduce health disparities and increase access to appropriate care for female carriers of x-linked diseases.

Kevin Morris, 1996, Biological Sciences, was leader of a team that recently developed the first-ever virus-specific targeted therapy for treating COVID-19. The work is now being developed into a phase 1 trial in Australia and works as a therapy for all beta coronaviruses.

Nikki Jardin, 1999, Environmental Studies, recently launched an online and print publication created for people experiencing dementia-related illness, brain trauma, or other cognitive impairment. Mirador Magazine is the first leisure-oriented magazine created specifically for this community. Jardin was inspired to create Mirador when she couldn’t find accessible, magazine-type reading materials for her aunt who had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. You can learn more at miradormagazine.com.

Mark A. Rayner, 1999, Kinesiology & Recreation Administration, moved on to his final career as Parks and Recreation exhibit designer/builder in a city of one million people six years ago after spending 15 years as a park ranger. Rayner’s responsibilities include designing creative park features, including graphic design and engineering, signage, restoring historical features, and theming entire amusement park rides. This career continues to challenge both his creative and administrative education and backgrounds all while affording his family a life living in the beautiful redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains

Samuel Yudin, 1999, German, is currently a California Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major of the 340th Brigade Support Battalion in Seaside. Yudin is also the U.S. Army Europe Federated Intelligence Program mission coordinator in Los Alamitos. Yudin was recently selected as an adjunct scholar/fellow for the Modern War Institute at the United States Military Academy West Point for the 2021-2022 academic year.

2000s

Jane Bardolf, 2001, Wildlife, who after 35 years of public service including U.S. Peace Corps, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, retired after working six years at Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Kristina Elizabeth Ryan, 2003, Politics, married James Catlin (2002, Political Science and Economics) after meeting in Humboldt some 20 years ago. They have been married since 2010 and have two children. Catlin is the chief macroeconomist at Value Investors Edge where he specializes in research and analysis of maritime trade. Ryan works for the State of California at the Department of Social Services. They currently reside in Southern California. They both share fond memories of their days as Humboldt students. Catlin misses surfing alongside redwood-lined cliffs, and Smug’s Pizza. Ryan misses all the amazing natural scenery. They can’t wait to have their children visit Humboldt when they are older.

Tim Kellison, 2005, Biological Sciences, began working for the U.S. Forest Service after a brief stint with the National Park Service,. He had spent the last 15 years working as a botanist on the Lassen and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests. The past five years he has lived in Carson City, Nevada, working as the Sierra Zone botanist for the Humboldt-Toiyabe managing rare plants, native plant community and pollinator habitat, and native plant materials program development on the Bridgeport and Carson Ranger Districts.

Leigh-Ann King, 2005, Biological Sciences, transferred after 2003 to Fresno State and majored in Natural Science with a teaching credential obtained from Fresno State. She is now teaching Biology, Honors Biology, and AP Biology at her old high school in the Central Valley of California.

Jason Storlie, 2007, Wildlife, began a new position with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as deputy project leader of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge in January 2021. Previous positions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service include wildlife biologist with the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex and manager of Bitter Creek and Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuges.

Chad Kaufman, 2008, World Languages & Cultures, moved down to Cholula, Mexico to pursue a Master’s degree after graduating from Humboldt in 2008 and working in a bilingual school for a bit. In 2011, he graduated with an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from La Universidad de las Americas Puebla, Mexico. After graduating, he moved back to Minnesota with his amazing spouse to be close to family. Kaufman is going on eight years working as a full-time Spanish interpreter at Children’s Minnesota: a fantastic system of pediatric clinics and hospitals.

Joni McAtee, MD, 2008, Chemistry, attended UC Davis School of Medicine after Humboldt. McAtee did her residency in Family Medicine in Duluth, Minnesota. McAtee returned to Humboldt County to work in a broad spectrum family medicine with obstetrics. McAtee opened a business in Fortuna, Ikigai Physician Group, with a clinic. McAtee continues working as a hospitalist in Fortuna and Eureka and working with Hospice of Humboldt.

Gloria Miranda, 2008, Art, is now a graduate of Claremont Graduate University Masters of Science in Information Systems Technology in Data Science as well as a Masters of Business for the Arts through Sotheby’s Institute of Art at Claremont Graduate Universi

Aydee Zielke, 2008, Environmental Science & Management, recently obtained her dream job, joining the San Dieguito River Park JPA, taking on the role as the park’s environmental planner. Her work includes habitat conservation, preservation, planning, permitting, and mitigation for trails and parkland. She is also using her cartography skills to create map exhibits, and maintain and update GIS data. She had worked for various private consulting firms and earned a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii (2015). She met her husband while studying at Humboldt and they have more recently taken on the role of parents, raising their two outgoing toddlers in Coastal North County San Diego.

Jeff Hernandez, 2009, Social Work, celebrated his 12th anniversary serving in the U.S. Army. He was promoted to Warrant Officer II (Chief) at the Fort Riley Criminal Investigation Command (CID). Jeff’s current job in the army is a team chief to investigate felony level crimes with military subjects. He is able to use the knowledge gained from obtaining a degree in Social Work to help assist victims in their time of need, direct them to appropriate services, and enable them to have a voice to speak out against wrongdoings.

Monica Topping, 2009, Journalism, was named City of Eureka’s 2020 Artist of the Year.

2010s

Rae Miller, 2010, Business, and her husband quit their jobs and hit the road to travel in an RV full-time. They started a blog (getawaycouple.com) and began sharing everything we’ve learned about RVing there. Along the way, they’ve made incredible friends that live the same lifestyle and they created a business with them called RV Masterclass. This is an online education platform for new RVers who wanted to learn how they too can live life full-time on the road. They recently sold their first business, RV Masterclass. She gives credit to her Business degree for helping her live this exciting lifestyle.

Jessie Perez, 2010, Biological Sciences, recently founded a company to help provide clean air during the global pandemic, spreading the word about a new technology that can keep people safe in the spaces they work, learn, and live

Garrett Rains, 2010, Politics, is working as an AI developer for Samsung Electronics in Seoul, South Korea. He is creating colloquial English speech for Samsung’s voice assistant, Bixby.

James Caton, 2011, History, The flexibility of Humboldt’s B.A. in History afforded Caton the opportunity to chart a path for the future by exploring topics that interested him. Upon completing his degree, he began studying economic theory. He completed an M.A. in Economics from San Jose State University in 2013 where he studied monetary theory and history. He completed a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University in 2017 where he focused on non-equilibrium, agent-based models of systems of exchange. As of fall 2017, he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University, where he teaches macroeconomics, entrepreneurship, economic computation, and economic development.

Brittany Britton, 2012, Art, received her Master of Fine Arts in Craft from the Oregon College of Art and Craft in 2015. Britton moved back home to Humboldt County and worked as an art history lecturer at the College of the Redwoods at the Klamath-Trinity Instructional Site in Hoopa. From 2018 to 2020 Britton was the curator/registrar of the Native American Collection at the Clarke Historical Museum. In June 2020, Britton became the gallery director of the Reese Bullen Gallery and Goudi’ni Native American Arts Gallery at Cal Poly Humboldt.

Salina Cuddy, 2012, English, was recently awarded a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of York. Her research focuses on language, gender, and sexuality. She will be starting a position as a lecturer in Sociolinguistics at Queen Mary University London.

Joseph Estens, 2013, Kinesiology & Recreation Administration, has been working in the legal cannabis industry and has moved up to the buyer level at a company. Estens’ recreation degree aided in having the leadership skills needed for such an important position.

Shannon Barger, 2014, Kinesiology & Recreation Administration, After six years working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Barger has gone back to get a Master’s in Education from the University of Washington in addition to a graduate certificate in Education for the Environment and Community at Islandwood on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Eddie Shin, 2014, Psychology, just started working as a marriage and family therapist with children and adolescents who have gone through trauma of various levels, as well as working with their families. Shin explains that it’s been a really rewarding job so far and that the impact respect and hope have in helping a child or teenager is incredible. Shin finds it has been challenging, but well worth it.

Rae Slason, 2015, Environmental Studies, met their sweetie, moved to Portland and is experiencing the greatest authenticity yet. The ENST program taught them how incredibly interconnected all of their interests are and how to take an interdisciplinary approach to problem analysis. Slason became passionate about improving access to healing and joy in all types of environments that we exist in, including our homes, schools, and communities, as well as our natural surroundings. They are currently earning a Master’s of Science in Recreational Therapy and are super excited to increase inclusion, accessibility, and diversity acceptance in their community.

Kimiko Nishitsuji, 2016, Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies, spent three years as a county eligibility worker at the County of Humboldt after graduation. Prior to that, she served as the patient benefits coordinator at Mad River Community Hospital. She recently relocated back to Los Angeles County and is the Medi-Cal Enrollment Specialist for WelbeHealth PACE, providing case management for medically complex at-risk elders. She lives with her partner Patrick Notthoff (2012) and her cat Mr. Mochi.

Rosie Slentz, 2016, Anthropology, earned a 2020 Ed.D from University of New England in Transformational Leadership.

Clayton Kelley, 2017, Recreation Administration, has worked for Alpine County as the building and grounds supervisor. He oversees all buildings, parks, and open spaces in Alpine County. He is also a captain with Alpine County Fire and spent this summer on the Tamarack and condors.

Holly Lemyre, 2017, Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies, has had the unique pleasure of applying the toolkit gained in her CRGS degree to a field she’d never heard of before graduation: pelvic health. She’s spent the last two and a half years working at Origin, a femtech startup committed to changing the future of health for individuals with a vaginal pelvic floor.

Alexis Puerto-Holmes, 2017, Kinesiology & Recreation Administration, is now a full-time recreation park programs assistant with Sonoma County Regional Parks. She has led a variety of programs for Sonoma County Parks. Alexis thinks she has the best job—she gets paid to take people kayaking, surfing, and hiking, present about inequity in the outdoors, lead outreach, and so much more. She is forever grateful to those at Humboldt who supported her (shout out to Professor Gen Marchand).

Ryan Ward, 2017, History, obtained a teaching credential from San Jose State University and was hired as a government and economics teacher at Westmont High School. After teaching two classes for the 2020-21 academic year, he was hired to a full-time position for the 2021-22 school year.

Nicholas Fassl, 2019, Kinesiology & Recreation Administration, is currently an afloat recreation specialist aka “fun boss” on an aircraft carrier for the U.S. Navy. He organizes daily activities, large events, and schedules trips/tours for 5,500 Navy sailors and personnel in San Diego and foreign ports.

Liam Hazelton, 2019, Environmental Studies, searched for jobs after graduation in the Bay Area but did not have any luck for a year and a half. In December 2020, he received help from a local professional who sent him information about an internship that dealt with restoring and mitigating damage done in riparian areas by humans. He was selected to join the program in February of 2021 and also has a future job in the pipeline.

Casey Tran, 2018, Computer Science, finds pleasure in taking on any difficult intellectual activity. It has kept him open minded when he approaches difficult subjects. Taking Philosophy 420 with Professor Goodman gave Tran the language to talk about his own foundations of knowledge, metaphysical theories, science, and epistemology, which are tools he uses every day in tackling his professional and social relationships. Tran fondly remembers taking classes in modern philosophy with Professor Heise and having his world turned upside down everyday, as well as his first A on a Hegel paper with Lecturer Cannon. He is now publishing papers in Ph.D. Computer Science with a relentless thirst for knowledge. The Philosophy degree is a compass for life.

2020s

Ashley Michelle Armas, 2020, Zoology, has received a job at the local wildlife rehabilitation center in her hometown of San Diego. She gets to use all the information and skills she learned while getting her degree. While she didn’t have any hands-on experience with wildlife before getting hired, her organization saw that she was a Humboldt alumna and picked her for the role. She later learned that two of her coworkers are also Humboldt alumni, so the organization must view Humboldt favorably. She is thankful to Humboldt for helping her become the person she is today, and for giving her the skills needed to get a career in her field. Arcata will always be her home away from home.

Trent Garrett, 2020, Politics, began working for California Assemblymember Cristina Garica (AD 58) as a legislative aide. For the previous six months, Garrett worked for Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (AD 76).

Kacie Hallahan, 2020, Kinesiology & Recreation Administration, accepted a full-time permanent position with the Air Force in San Pedro. As a recreation specialist, she will be planning and leading outdoor recreation programs for military members and their families, including backpacking, rafting, skydiving, deep sea fishing, and more. She thanks the REC fam.

Timothy Rupiper, 2020, Liberal Studies Elementary Education, received a job as an outreach advisor for Academic Talent Search at Sonoma State University. Rupiper is responsible for providing consistent, accurate, academic advising services to first-generation, low-income, college-bound 6th-to-12th-grade students. Advising includes exploring academic requirements of a specific program or major and assisting students in exploring careers, evaluating academic abilities, and setting goals.

Danielle Dornan, 2021, English, is heading into an online master’s program through Syracuse University for Marriage and Family Therapy. She just moved to Santa Cruz, and is working as a barista/hostess and as a cheesemonger.

Lauren Werner, 2021, International Studies, is enjoying a position as an AmeriCorps VISTA outreach specialist, and community harm reduction and youth educator with the Sacramento County Opioid Coalition. Werner also recently accepted a position with the Peace Corps as a community educator in Mongolia. Werner is extremely thankful for the multitude of absolutely fantastic opportunities delivered to her after graduation from Humboldt, despite the many fluctuations that have recently taken place. International Studies has proven to be the most flexible major option, providing freedom in all of her professional pursuits and educational explorations.