Alumni Updates

Adrianna Simone

EnglishMA, 2010

I'm currently applying for Ph.D. programs and helping out my community by volunteering. I'm a library volunteer at the Eureka branch. I assist with the English and Spanish story times by reading books and helping the children and parents with the weekly crafts. I also volunteer at Sacred Heart Church as a religious education instructor for 7th and 8th grade students.

John P Hill

History, 2010

I was accepted into the University of Oregon's Historic Preservation Program, which is a M.S. Degree. I also received a competitive scholarship based on "academic achievement and diligence."

Kacie Erin Flynn

ArtDouble Emphasis - Art Ed/Studio Art, 2010

During my undergraduate years with HSU I held an internship at Morris Graves Museum of Art. I was soon brought on staff to teach art lessons as part of the Second Saturady Family Arts Day. I graduated Summa Cum Laude and since then have become the Museum Manager at Morris Graves in charge of special programs and events. I was also invited to show in the Young Alumni Exhibition "Fresh Meat" at First Street Gallery last August. In addition to my job with MGMA I now work on campus in the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs as a Grant Coordinator. In my free time I volunteer as a Club Adivsor to Delta Phi Epsilon as well as serve on Staff Council. I paint/sketch in my studio in Arcata and have works scheduled to exhibit in 2012. I <3 the HSU ART DEPARTMENT!!! Thank you for the wonderful education and the amazing professors!

Mark Castro

AnthropologyMinor in Geography, 2010

Castro ('10, Anthropology) is a Co-Director of the Cultural Resources Facility at Cal Poly Humboldt and has been with the organization for 5 years. Castro has a holistic work experience through his time with multiple agencies including the BLM working on museum collections and archaeological field surveys, the Eldorado National Forest as a field technician, and the Northwest Information Center (Sonoma State University). 

He received his Master's in Cultural Resources Management at Sonoma State, is a Board Member of the Humboldt County Historical Society, and is the Co-Lead for the Pride (LGBTQ+) Taskforce for Coalition for Diversity in California Archaeology. 

Rory Shane Kalin

History, 2010

Rory Shane Kalin, 2010 History, is happy to announce he and his wife will be returning to Humboldt County where they met. Kalin is starting a position with the Office of the Humboldt County Counsel as a deputy county counsel in April.

Monica Topping

Journalism, 2009

Monica Topping, 2009 Journalism, launched the Small Town Big Art calendar project after successfully funding the project via KickStarter. The calendar profiles prominent Humboldt County artists. Topping was inspired to start the project the U.S. Census published a statistic that Humboldt County has more working artists per capita than any other county in California.

Jason Atherton

Communication, 2009

After graduating HSU in 2009, Jason went to graduate school at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. He lived with his HSU classmate while studying Educational Leadership and Policy. After completing his Masters degree, Jason held positions at universities in Florida, Michigan, and Utah. In 2019, Jason won Outstanding Academic Advisor for the local, state, and national advising conferences. He now lives in Salt Lake City and works with two other HSU Alumni who share his same birthday. Jason appreciates how ahead HSU was in diversity and social justice issues and is amazed how conversations that were happening in Arcata 10 years ago are now in public discourse. Go Jacks!

Monica Topping

Journalism, 2009

City of Eureka's 2020 Artist of the Year (announced in April 2021)

Jenine Torres formerly Prus

International StudiesGlobalization, 2009

Jenine Torres, International Studies, 2009, is from Grand Rapids, MI, where she has been living since 2009. After receiving her BA from HSU while studying abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, she received her Masters of Public Administration from Grand Valley State University in 2014. She is a member of the Leadership Grand Rapids Class of 2016, GR Area Chamber of Commerce, Center for Community Leadership. Currently, she has the privilege of being a Development Officer at Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Michigan's oldest community foundation. She was married in June 2017 and has three stepchildren.

Shannon Edam

International Studies, 2009

Shannon Edam, 2009 International Studies, is passionate about human rights, social justice, and international affairs. She graduated from American University's School of International Service with a master's degree in ethics, peace and global affairs in 2014, and earned a master's in education from Lesley University in May 2016. She studied abroad in Belgium, Ghana, Cuba, and Mexico, focusing on international studies and human rights, then shifted her focus to 'bringing human rights home' by teaching in inner city schools for free in 2014. Edam currently serves individuals with mental illness and a history of chronic homelessness through her work at Pathways to Housing, DC.