Provost Communication, Monday, August 25, 2025

Good morning and happy first day of school! I hope your day goes well, and the vibrancy the students bring to campus gives you as much joy as it gives me. 

Thank you

I wanted to send a special shout-out to Enoch Hale, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and all of the folx who presented, facilitated, and supported Professional Development Day this past Friday. I found the day super meaningful and enjoyed the conversations about AI. I learned a ton. Thank you!

Well Done

Congratulations to our very own library for being recognized as a leader in sustainability by the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI), becoming only the fourth academic library in the country and the second in the California State University (CSU) system to earn the initiative’s award-winning Sustainable Library Certification. Special acknowledgement to Morgan Barker, our Sustainability Librarian. You can read more about this accomplishment here. 

Academic Affairs Comings and Goings (Staff and Administrators) Since June 1, 2025

A few times a year, I like to share with you all about employees who have arrived, departed, or shifted positions within academic affairs. There has been a lot of movement, and so the following includes staff and administrators only. Next week, I will share our faculty comings and goings. 

Arrivals

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS)

• Kerry Gonzales, Study Abroad Coordinator (coming from the College of Extended Education (CEE) to the CAHSS Dean’s Office)

• Abigail Smithson, Podcast Coordinator

College of Extended Education (CEE)

• Mairead Sardina, OLLI Program Specialist, moved over from Campus Recreation

College of Professional Studies (CPS)

• Lydia Crabb, Afternoon Head Teacher, Child Development Lab

• Naomi Grogan-Hurlich, Program Coordinator, Liberal Studies Elementary Education

• Calla Peltier-Olson, Community Placement and Practicum Education Coordinator, Social Work

Learning Center

• Xander Roberts, ASC 

Departures

Academic Programs

• Carmen Bustos-Works, Associate Vice President of Academic Programs and Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Students, left to become Dean of Science at CSU East Bay

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS)

• John Chernoff, Staff Accompanist, Retired

• Brian Schwartzberg, Music Department Instrument Technician, is pursuing new opportunities

College of Natural Resources and Sciences (CNRS)

• Jim Long, Captain, Research Vessel Northwind/Research Vessel Coral Sea, Retired

College of Professional Studies (CPS)

• Scott Raby, ASC I Social Work, New Opportunity at Chico State 

Information Technology Services (ITS)

• Billie Herman, Lead, ITS Project Office | Web Support, Retired

• Dale Sanford, Admissions and Records IT Specialist, Retired

Changes 

Academic Personnel Services (APS)

• Megan Siems - now the (permanent) Director of Academic Personnel and Labor Relations 

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS)

• Joice Chang moved from Chair of the Department of Politics to Interim Associate Dean in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS)

• Alyssa Hughlett, ASC for the Department of World Languages and Cultures, moved into the role of Graduate Programs Coordinator and Administrative Analyst in the CAHSS Dean’s Office

• Heather Madar moved from Associate Dean in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences to the Interim Associate Vice President for Academic Programs and Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies

• Michelle Ezra Stone, Gallery Assistant for the Reese Bullen Gallery and Goudi'ni Native American Arts Gallery, moved into a full-time position as the ASA for the Department of Art + Film

College of Extended Education (CEE)

• Megan Mefford, International Student Advisor, is joining the Office of the Registrar on September 1.

College of Natural Resources and Sciences (CNRS)

• Kyle Weis, Interim Captain, RVNW/RVCS, elevated from Engineer/Reserve Captain

College of Professional Studies (CPS)

• Kevin Colando, Program Analyst and Office Coordinator of the School of Business (previously Program Analyst for Nursing and Graduate Program Coordinator for Psychology)

• Aylea Maxwell-Miller, Dean’s Office Coordinator, and now also Psychology Graduate Program Coordinator 

Learning Center

• Maxinne Mota, Tutoring Coordinator, transitioned to a new role within the Learning Center

Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI)/Provost Office

• Pearl Podgorniak- Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, now serving both ODEI and the Provost’s office.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

• *With Bethany Gilden’s continued appointment as Chief of Staff to the President, there are several temporary positions and team reassignments.

• Cade Webb continues as Acting Chief Information Officer (CIO) and, following Billie Herman’s retirement, leads the project office.

• Duncan Hughes, Acting Chief Technology Officer (CTO), is also backfilling for Cade Webb, who was dually assigned CTO and Deputy CIO. 

• Michael Le has been temporarily reassigned to Acting Chief Data Officer

• Breck Robinson, Acting Deputy CIO, temporary reassignment replacing Cade Webb.

Did we miss someone? If so, please reach out to lauren.lynch@humboldt.edu, and we will include that employee in a future provost communication. 

Have a terrific day!

Jenn Capps