Each award-winner will offer a public lecture. Jackson will open the series with a talk titled “Challenges of Commercial Space Tourism,” scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 in the University Banquet Room. Freeman is scheduled to speak on “Writing and Impulse” at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 25 in Founders Hall, room 106. Yarnall concludes the series with her presentation, “Visual Storytelling at National Geographic–Process, Reach and Impact” at 1 p.m. Monday, April 28 in Founders Hall, room 118.
Recipients of HSU’s Distinguished Alumni Awards are selected for superior achievements in their fields or outstanding service to the community, nation or Humboldt State.
Following are brief biographies of this year’s honored alumni.
James A. Freeman (’80, MA, English)
James Freeman has used his remarkable gifts for writing and teaching during a 36-year career that includes publishing 18 books of fiction and poetry, along with authoring several textbooks. In 2006, he earned the prestigious Philadelphia Inquirer Editor’s Choice Award for his book, Ishi’s Journey from the Center to the Edge of the World, a work of historical fiction chronicling the life of Ishi, believed to have been the last living Yahi Indian.
In November 2013, Freeman published a book of poems titled Temporary Roses Dipped In Gold. Collaborating with Thomas Gage, HSU professor emeritus in English, he followed up that effort with the recently completed The Hyskos History of Biblical History, a book focused on debunking biblical myths and confirming ancient truths.
Freeman’s time at HSU, he says, provided the ideal foundation for his career, offering a “practical bridge from academic learning and learning- how-to- learn-for-a- lifetime, to a sustainable career of meaningful life’s work.”
An instructor at Bucks County Community College in Newton, Pa., since 1982, Freeman has taught classes ranging from children’s literature to brain physiology. He began his career in education as a lecturer at HSU, teaching English and serving as an instructor in the Upward Bound program from 1978 to 1981. He also taught at Southern Oregon University and Shasta College before taking the position at BCCC.
Along with his teaching responsibilities, Freeman also participates in a variety of conferences and workshops, including the Silomar California Teachers of English annual seminar, the Philadelphia Writing Conference and the Two Year College Northeast Region annual conference.
Freeman earned his Master of Arts in English from Humboldt State in 1980, with an emphasis on preparing college and high school teachers of writing.
Bruce Jackson (’84, Political Science)
Helping bring the private sector into the business of space travel, Bruce Jackson’s work as Vice President of Trade Controls and Export Strategy is critical to the future of Virgin Galactic, the world’s first space tourism company.
Jackson’s primary responsibility is to work in unison with federal agencies to protect the use of sensitive technology developed in the private sector while still encouraging development and innovation. Known as an expert in international trade, Jackson previously served as Vice President of JP Morgan’s Trade Management Consulting Group.
According to Jackson, his experiences at Humboldt State set his intended path in motion. “I knew going into college that I wanted to pursue a career with an international focus, and the opportunity to study abroad during my third year, and my time involved with Model UN while at Humboldt helped me prepare for that future,” Jackson said.
Jackson has more than 29 years in the export compliance field, having worked both in the government and private sectors. He was also recently appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the department’s Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC) and is also the current chair of the Export Controls Subcommittee of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF).
Prior to joining Virgin Galactic, Jackson was the Exports Practice Leader for J.P. Morgan’s Trade Management Consulting group in North America. J.P. Morgan acquired the software and consulting start-up Vastera Inc in 2005 where Jackson was also the Exports Practice Leader of the Trade Management Consulting Group. His clients included companies cutting across a wide range of industries, from Silicon Valley startups and “mom and pop” manufacturers of specialized industrial and aerospace components, to global 100 corporations.
Earlier in his career, Jackson worked for ABB Asea Brown Boveri, the Swiss-Swedish electrical engineering giant. He was based in Mannheim, Germany, for 10 years, arriving three weeks after the Berlin Wall came down. He also worked as a consultant in the international trade practice group of a major Wall Street law firm. He began his career at the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Export Administration.
Jackson graduated from HSU in 1984, earning a bachelor’s in Political Science. He has also studied at the Institute for East European Studies and the University of Uppsala, Sweden. Jackson resides in Las Cruces, N.M., with his wife and three children.
Kaitlin Yarnall (’05, Geography, Spanish)
Gaining prominence in her field in a very short time, Kaitlin Yarnall has worked as Deputy Creative Director for National Geographic magazine since 2011. Her role includes managing a staff of 25 editors, production designers and specialists, and researchers for one of the world’s most prestigious publications.
A summer internship with the magazine following her senior year at HSU opened the door for Yarnall’s career at National Geographic, which has included stints as Senior Research Editor for maps and Deputy Art Director. Yarnall has earned multiple awards, among them honors from the Society of News Design, the American Society of Magazine Editors and Society of Publications Design. She is a frequently sought after speaker on topics of cartographic and infographics design.
In her current role, one of Yarnall’s most prominent projects is serving as editorial lead and National Geographic project manager for the 2014 series, “The Future of Food,” produced in partnership with the United Nations.
In 2012, Yarnall was part of a team that profiled HSU Forestry Professor Steve Sillett’s research on the world’s tallest trees. For a recent issue on the Titanic, she worked with film director James Cameron and engineers from the U.S. Navy to create an interactive map of the ship’s remains. Also in 2012, she combed through world population data to create a profile of the world’s most typical person.
Kaitlin earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Geography and Spanish at Humboldt State, graduating summa cum laude in 2005. She continued her education at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., earning a Master of Arts in Geography in 2008.
While at HSU, Yarnall studied abroad in Quito, Equador while pursuing her Spanish degree. “This time and program, which included working in a hospital, prepared me to travel and operate within the developing world,” Yarnall said. “This prepared me for field research in graduate school and also for much of the travel I’ve had to do with National Geographic.”