Page Classification

Name

Sue Grigsby

Award or Scholarship

Awards

Title of project and host mentor

Sue Grigsby has always been a blur on the landscape, but it wasn't until she came to Humboldt State that her track career really took off. After high school in Los Altos, Grigsby had joined a community college men's track team. It was before women's sports began gaining equality under Title IX. "I was, fortunately or unfortunately, from an era when women were just starting out," she says. As she contemplated her next step, her coach made a fateful suggestion: "You ought to check out Humboldt." She did, and ran with it. By the time she graduated in 1979, Grigsby had left a trail of shattered records in her wake, in 800-, 1,500-, 3,000- and 5,000-meter events. Her accomplishments earned her admission to HSU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. And she's still on the move. Now a Physical Education, Health and Wellness instructor at Everett Community College, Grigsby's educational philosophy focuses less on teaching and more on leading - encouraging students to reach their personal best. That takes creativity and energy, things the enthusiastic Grigsby has in ample supply. She might hide poems around town and ask students literally run them down, or offer cryptic clues to area landmarks for students to locate. "In some of my classes, I'm largely a cheerleader," Grigsby says. She is also a mechanic, supplying students with the nuts and bolts of healthy living. "I don't teach 'PE,'" she says. "That sounds like you just throw out the ball and play. I teach physical education, health and wellness, where you teach the how-tos and the whys." Grigsby looks back in gratitude to her time at Humboldt State, and has never forgotten what instructor Larry Kerker told her: "You're on a scholarship from the State of California." She's since augmented that for today's students, setting up the Sue Grigsby Scholarship Endowment for HSU kinesiology majors and the Sue E. Grigsby Women's Distance Running Endowment. "I help students change their lives," she says. "It feels good."

Page Classification

Name

Michael Crooke

Award or Scholarship

Awards

Title of project and host mentor

Michael Crooke's journey through corporate boardrooms is guided by values rooted firmly in the Earth. Growing up in Oregon, he says he was always at home in the wilderness. "I was an outdoors person, always hunting, fishing, camping and hiking." Little wonder that he was drawn to Humboldt State's Forestry program, graduating in 1986. "I wanted to work outdoors," he says, and so he did - for a while. His career as a forester for the Pacific Lumber Co. ended during that company's acquisition by Maxxam Corp., a corporate maneuver he found unsettling - and interesting enough to draw him indoors. "It rattled my cage," Crooke says. "I really wanted to understand the business side." After earning an MBA from Humboldt State in 1989, he entered the corporate world, working for local outdoor equipment manufacturers Yakima and Moonstone, and later becoming CEO of Pearl Izumi, Revolution Living, Patagonia and prAna. Crooke has since earned a Ph.D. in management and is now a business consultant specializing in corporate turnarounds. But his environmental activism continues to inform his corporate work. "I found that I could incorporate my personal values into business," he says. His work is guided by what he calls "a mandala approach" of four equal principles: corporate citizenship, environmental responsibility, product/service quality and strong finances. "When you have those four corporate macro values in place, 'flow' often occurs," he says, defining "flow" as "a rare state of consciousness that focuses the energies of those who experience it and helps lift them to peak achievement levels." Crooke remains a board member of the Earth Day Network and has served as President of the Conservation Alliance. He remains an HSU supporter and delivered a rousing keynote address at the 2008 Commencement.

Page Classification

Name

Marla Spivak

Award or Scholarship

Awards

Title of project and host mentor

Beekeeping has long been a passion for Marla Spivak, an internationally renowned entomologist and expert on honeybee health. Spivak, who is currently a Distinguished McKnight Professor in Entomology at the University of Minnesota, recently received the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation "genius award" for her pioneering work to protect honeybees from decimation by disease. One of Spivak's most practical accomplishments has been the breeding of the Minnesota Hygienic, a strain of bees that uses olfaction to "sniff out" infected pupae and remove them from the hive before they can spread disease to the rest of the colony. In addition to supporting her research, the MacArthur award has enabled Spivak to launch the Bee Squad, a program that educates, trains and assists beekeepers and bee supporters in the Twin Cities area. Her goal is to restore healthy bee populations and pollinator landscapes by providing hands-on mentoring to people interested in supporting bees. During her undergraduate studies at HSU, Spivak took a semester off to volunteer with Steve Taber, a renowned honeybee researcher. Taber ignited Spivak's interest in studying bees, and as soon as she completed her degree, she traveled to South America to conduct bee research. Since then, her groundbreaking research has taken her around the world and earned her numerous accolades.

Page Classification

Name

Chester Mathis

Award or Scholarship

Awards

Title of project and host mentor

Chester Mathis came to HSU as pre-med student, but found he had a greater interest in chemistry than medical school. Still, he found a way to study both by pursuing medicinally related chemistry. His decision turned out pretty well for the field of Alzheimer's research. Mathis is currently an Endowed Chair Professor of Radiology and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of the Positron Emission Tomography-or PET-Facility at the University of Pittsburgh. Recently, he and his geriatric psychiatry research partner William Klunk developed a radiolabeled dye that makes it possible to identify amyloid-a substance found in the plaque associated with Alzheimer's disease-in a living brain. Mathis' research earned him a slew of awards, and he is continuing his work. He is now using the same technique to identify tau, another protein deposit found in the brain of Alzheimer's patients. Last year, the Michael J. Fox Foundation commissioned Mathis to develop a similar compound to identify alpha-synuclein, a protein deposit found in patients with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.

Page Classification

Name

Kenneth Davlin

Award or Scholarship

Awards

Title of project and host mentor

As a member of the University's Advancement Foundation Board, Kenneth Davlin is part of a team that helps increase charitable giving and manage the university's endowment. Davlin studied engineering at HSU from 1959-1962 and received a degree in civil engineering from the University of Utah. His engineering career has included work on hydroelectric, wastewater, housing and alternative energy projects. Davlin is President of Oscar Larson & Associates, a California-based engineering consulting firm. As part of the 29-member Advancement Foundation Board, Davlin is particularly interested in expanding the university's business and engineering programs. He says: "Both contribute to better future organizations, wiser infrastructure development and more sensible financing programs." Looking ahead, Davlin envisions a board that has a broader geographical base of membership. "I'd also like to see expansion of the Foundation so that it can better serve every department, college and facet of the university," he says.

Page Classification

Name

Dean Bresciani

Award or Scholarship

Awards

Page Classification

Name

Rick Rosenthal

Award or Scholarship

Awards

Title of project and host mentor

Rick Rosenthal (‘67, Zoology) is a multiple Emmy and BAFTA award winning cinematographer who specializes in natural history. Growing up in southern California, Rick learned to free dive at an early age. His first professional opportunity came when he was hired by Sea World to assist with the care and training of whales. While completing his undergraduate degree at HSU, he also served as the first dive instructor. Rosenthal later received an M.S. in marine biology from San Diego State University. After graduating from HSU, he was hired onto the scientific staffs at Westinghouse Ocean Research Laboratory in San Diego, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Some years later he relocated to Alaska, and worked as a consultant to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Office of the Governor, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As a scientist, he has written more than 40 research papers and popular articles on marine biology, ecology and animal behavior. Underwater camera work played a key part in his early research. Compelled to share his observations with a larger audience, he began working in television and filmmaking. In 1984, Rosenthal began a long association with the prestigious BBC/Natural History Unit in Bristol, England. This was a launching pad for many worldwide assignments that included being a principal cameraman for BBC’s landmark Blue Planet series, a nature documentary series described as the “first ever comprehensive series on the natural history of the world’s oceans.” Following this work he received commissions for three major films on the great whales, and key camera work for the BBC/Discovery blockbusters Planet Earth and Life. His latest Emmy (2011) was for the National Geographic television series Great Migrations. Rosenthal’s most recent film work is an integral part of two television specials: Superfish and Hot Tuna. Both films are currently being broadcast worldwide, and have been screened at HSU. His latest film project entitled The Dark Side of the Ocean is scheduled for production this year, and will most certainly push the boundaries of open ocean exploration and discovery.

Page Classification

Name

Robert Henry

Award or Scholarship

Awards

Title of project and host mentor

Robert Henry – One of California’s foremost education attorneys, Robert Henry evidenced his promising future in his accomplishments at HSU (’67, Social Science). Born in Washington State but reared in Humboldt County, Henry was twice elected HSU student body president, served as president of Tau Kappa Epsilon social fraternity and was honored as Humboldt State’s Man of the Year in 1967. He received his law degree in 1971 from the University of California-Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall). After serving as an attorney for the California State University, Henry formed a law firm in 1984 to represent schools and colleges. The new School and College of Legal Services of California became a notable success, growing to represent more than 200 educational entities—charter schools and school districts, community college districts and county offices of education. Henry’s career spans some 40 years of practice, in which he has successfully represented clients before every level of state, federal, appellate and supreme courts. He pioneered the Joint Powers Agreement, which unites diverse clients and provides them legal services that are accountable, economical and student-centered. Henry’s arguments have resulted in numerous precedent-setting decisions before the California Supreme Court and the Federal Court of Appeals. In the words of one long-time colleague, Henry redefined legal service for public education in northern California and “saved the taxpaying public millions of dollars and much time and anguish.” In addition to his legal work, Henry has presented hundreds of workshops around the state, training and informing school superintendents, boards of trustees and other education officials and staff about the frequent changes in the law. Despite retiring from full-time work in 2004, Henry has found his services in regular demand; he continues to serve with the School and College of Legal Services, which has offices in several northern California communities. In 2006, the Sonoma County Bar Association honored Henry with its Career of Distinction Award and he is also a recipient of the Rio Dell Elementary School District Distinguished Alumni Award.

Page Classification

Name

Ellie Cachette

Award or Scholarship

Awards

Title of project and host mentor

Ellie Cachette (’06, Political Science) is the first recipient of Humboldt State University’s Recent Distinguished Alumni Award. Passionate about public health, Cachette was recognized by the California State Senate as an “Outstanding Educator” in AIDS and public health, prior to attending Humboldt State and continues to be active in public health communities. She received several scholarships including KRON4’s Beating the Odds. After years of startup investing and experience, Cachette now specializes in early stage venture capital investing, often blogging about venture as an asset class or other trends on her website. In 2021 Cachette spearheaded a scholarship in her father’s memory available to Humboldt State students in need of support from low income backgrounds pursuing careers in public health. Cachette resides in Miami, Florida and collaborates often with Humboldt’s endowment and planning processes.

Page Classification

Name

Clifford Allenby

Award or Scholarship

Awards

Title of project and host mentor

A high-ranking state gubernatorial appointee across eight California administrations, Cliff Allenby (’59 Economics, Psychology) has also been a community activist for more than 20 years, including service to the Elk Grove Unified School District Governing Board. Allenby served a 23-year tenure with the California Department of Finance, where he rose to the position of deputy director and became the department’s top economic and tax advisor. He went on to work for then-Governor Jerry Brown in the same post, to which Gov. George Deukmejian named him again in 1983. Four years later, Deukmejian shifted Allenby to his Cabinet as Secretary of the Health and Welfare Agency, responsible for 11 departments and offices with more than 40,000 employees and budgets exceeding $28 million. Allenby took a break from state government in the early 1990s to work for the California Building Industry Association as senior staff vice president for governmental affairs. Late in 1997, Gov. Pete Wilson summoned him back to civic service to head the Department of Developmental Services, which he led for eight years. In succeeding years, Allenby became Gov. Gray Davis’s interim director of the Department of General Services and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s interim director of the Department of Social Services. Allenby stepped down in 2007 to chair the state’s Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and helped to create the Health Insurance Plan of California and Aid to Infants and Mothers. An attempt at retirement didn’t last long: early in 2011, Allenby was named to his present post, acting director of the California Department of Mental Health, where he oversees 12,000 employees and an annual budget of $6.4 billion. The recipient of many awards over the years, including “Outstanding Public Administrator” from the American Society of Public Administrators, Allenby was honored again in mid-2012 by the society’s Sacramento chapter with the Ross Clayton Lifetime Distinguished Public Service Award for a career that has spanned half a century. Allenby and his late wife Sandy were both graduates of Eureka High School and high school sweethearts and they were married for 50 years. At the end of 2010, they set up the Cliff and Sandy Allenby Endowment to benefit Humboldt State University.