Breadcrumb
Alumni Updates
Sarah Lewers
Communication, 2005
I'm living in Geyserville, CA, and happily employed as a plaintiff's-side civil litigator with the Law Offices of Peter Goldstone in Santa Rosa. While I handle a wide variety of cases, I specialize in landlord-tenant work, easement disputes, and wrongful foreclosure cases.
Mellisa Hannum
Journalism, 2005
Mellisa graduated with a B.A. in Journalism in 2005 and Liberal Studies/Elementary Education in 1999. She volunteered at many libraries including the Arcata Branch of the Humboldt County Public Library system. After working in many library roles in Nevada County, she was hired as the Branch Librarian for Coast Community Library in Mendocino County. Mellisa is now the Library Director for Mendocino County's public libraries. She works to support the Library's mission of enriching lives through free and equitable access to materials and programs centered on education, culture, and entertainment.
Joe Newnam
Music, 2005
Joe Newnam, 2005 Music, moved to Mammoth Lakes, Calif, upon receiving his music teaching credential. Newnam rebuilt a district-wide public school music program, which resulted in developing middle and high school jazz bands and choirs. After marrying his soulmate in 2009, the couple purchased a small ranch in Trinity County, where Newnam again rebuilt a very successful district wide music program. During this same time, Newnam released “Sitar Joe, Venus Tribe.” Selections from the album have been featured on syndicated radio shows, and broadcast worldwide from the Middle East to India and the U.S. Last year Newnam and his wife moved to a mountain forest log home on 20 acres in Washington, where the couple raises organic food and animals while caring for their lush forest. Newnam is currently the owner and lead instructor of a private music instruction studio in Washington, plays and studies Kirtan music with a working ensemble, and works professionally as an actor for a SyFy Channel series currently being filmed.
Manolo Platin Morales
Politics, 2005
Manolo Platin Morales, 2005 Politics, recently began a new job. Morales is the vice president for State Government & Industry Affairs with Chubb North America
Melanie Bettenhausen
Sociology, 2005
Promoted to Outreach Director at the North Coast Co-op. Now responsible for Marketing & Membership. I use my background in Sociology (specifically what I learned at HSU) to inform my work in the community around access issues (food, bathroom, exercise, etc.)
Carleigh Kude
Politics, 2005
Carleigh Kude, 2005, Politics, has been working in advocacy, accessibility and ADA compliance since leaving HSU. Kude earned an Masters of Public Administration from CSU Long Beach in 2014 and was honored to be named on the Dean's List of Arts and Humanities Scholars. She is currently working at Holy Names University, a diverse, public-service and social justice-oriented private University in Oakland, Calif.
Kate Nixon
Journalism, 2005
Since graduating and spending a life-changing week in New Zealand, Kate Nixon ('05, Journalism) has survived 11 years in broadcast news, working their way up from Humboldt County to Southern Oregon as a newscast director, technical supervisor, and eventually accomplished producing a 3-part series about school teachers and the costume department at the world-renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival. After a few years back in their native San Francisco Bay Area where they served as an apprenticeship manager, they finally moved cross country to live in Asheville, NC, where they now run a national conference on the historic Arts & Crafts Movement.
Andy Powell
Philosophy, 2005
Still residing in Humboldt, Andy Powell ('05, Philosophy) finds that his degree in Philosophy easily influences not only his day-to-day being in the world but also his varied professional life since 2005. Powell started Powell Consulting in 2018, offering financial consulting for local businesses and specifically focusing on the local cannabis industry. Detailed analytical thought is quite useful when trying to take a long-term approach to financial regulation and planning as is asking his clients "What is the Good Life, really?" and "Is rapid accumulation of wealth a goal in itself?" He expects to be out of business by 2024.
Kyle C. Knopp
Politics, 2005
Kyle Knopp (2005) works as a Senior Analyst for budget policy and intergovernmental relations in the Executive Office of the County of Mendocino. Received his Masters in Public Administration in 2009 at SSU.
Devin Theobald
Politics, 2004
After 20 years of service working with the County of Humboldt, Devin moved to rural Northern Alabama with his wife and two daughters, where he started a small family farm raising pigs, turkeys, chickens, and produce. For his 'retirement job', he oversees operations at a small landfill.