Alumni Updates

Danny Recendez

Anthropology, 2002

Since graduating from HSU, Danny moved back to the Central Valley, where he grew up. He worked as an archaeology field tech and then decided to pursue a career in teaching. He has been teaching middle school since 2005. Danny still enjoys traveling back to Humboldt County for vacation and has family who live in Eureka. 

Eileen Bostwick

Sociology, 1971

After graduating, Eileen had an interesting career path. Briefly, she was with the Humboldt County Office of Education, which led to a position as Director of Environment Services at General Hospital for almost 10 years. During that time, she started a family. 

Next, she joined Daly’s Department Store in Human Resources. Life changed, and she was hired by North Coast Opportunities in Ukiah to direct the Foster Grandparent Program in Humboldt, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. She expanded that service area to include Del Norte and northern Sonoma Counties and added a Senior Companion Program. 

Eileen served on a national board in Washington, DC, for 22 years and was responsible for changing legislation. She was offered a scholarship for a Master’s degree in Gerontology and graduated from the University of Indianapolis.  With the knowledge and experience I gained, she was able to enrich the quality of programming offered across the programs she directed. Currently, she's retired but stays active as a governing board member of our Area Agency on Aging, a Regional Advisor and Advisory Council member of her Community Foundation, and a volunteer with United Disaster Relief of Northern California. She appreciates Humboldt State University, especially Dr. Dennis Winters and Kathryn Corbett, for the excellent education she received. 
 

Stacy Bricco

Sociology, 2013

Stacy is a social worker for the county of Humboldt. 

Philip Ross DeMontigny

History, 1995

Philip attended Humboldt State University from 1992 to 1995, where he was a student athlete competing in cross-country and track. He currently serves as a Brigadier General in the Oregon National Guard, having recently completed a tour as Chief of Staff for NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR). In his civilian career, he is the Agency Risk and Emergency Manager for the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, overseeing enterprise risk management, safety, and emergency preparedness for the state capital campus. He lives with his family in Olympia, Washington.

James Smith

Sociology, 1971

James just published a new book- American Insomniac: Reflections on the Future of a Dying Democracy.  A collection of articles and essays on freedom, democracy, and other issues facing America today. Available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

Richard Caldwell

Music, 1969

Richard retired in 2015 after 20 years as a Navy musician, followed by 25 years of band instrument repair in the Seattle area. He made the trip to Humboldt in 2018 for the Marching Lumberjack band's 50-year celebration.

Bonnie D Gavey Napier

Sociology, 1967

After Humboldt, Bonnie went on to other degrees, and later became an Occupational Therapist and professor of occupational therapy and physical therapy. The third edition of her textbook, The Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Survival Guide 3rd Edition, will be out this fall. 

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. 

Ryan Villafuerte

International Studies, 2021

After graduating from Cal Poly Humboldt (HSU), Ryan pursued a Master's degree in International Relations, focusing on Russia and the Soviet Sphere and the rise of Putinism during the War in Ukraine. He graduated with a distinction from the University of Kent Canterbury, and he decided to stay in the United Kingdom and entered the hospitality industry. 

He worked in different high-end 4 to 5-star hotels in London, ranging from corporate hotels in the City of London, and now he currently works in East London, dealing with different high-profile clients in and around Canary Wharf and East London. 

Being Trilingual English (native), French (Fluent C2), Spanish (professional C1), and having an international background helped him gain the skills and knowledge that he has learned from his time in Humboldt, as well as in Kent, the negotiation skills and multilingual skills when dealing with high profiled clients. Especially the high-profile corporations located in London. 

He currently deals with hotel Revenue and Reservations and helps the Sales team bring business to his main hotel, making it one of the most popular hotels in the London Docklands area. 

Brandon Chapin

Politics, 2010

Brandon joined the California Conservation Corps (CCC) in May 2025 as Deputy Director for Legislative and External Affairs. In this role Brandon is focused on strengthening the CCC’s legislative presence and sharing the inspiring stories of the corps members, deepening connections with external and local partners, and also serves as the CCC’s Tribal Liaison.