Alumni Updates

Miranda Olberg

English, 2019

Since graduating from Humboldt, Miranda has worked closely with all ages—from infants to young adults—in various education roles across the country. Currently, she teaches at a forest school in northern Vermont. She is finishing a Master of Education at Antioch University New England with concentrations in place-based education, nature-based early childhood, and mindfulness integration. She is also working toward a teaching license with an endorsement in birth to third grade. Miranda hopes to continue furthering her education and research in the environmental humanities.

Ashley (Perez) Mezeske

Environmental StudiesEmphasis in second language proficiency, 2015

Ashley moved her family from Humboldt to rural Michigan in August of 2023. While living in Humboldt, Ashley worked briefly in the nonprofit sector, helping to provide resources for various aspects of childcare for a local organization. She has been a stay-at-home mother after having her first child in 2018. She plans to open up her own business with an interdisciplinary environmental lens this coming year. She says the concept of a “third place” and the loss we have of them in society has become very interesting to me lately. She loves Humboldt! 

Henry Mulak

Journalism , 1984

Henry Mulak is developing a branded media company following 40 years of reporting, including for the "Big Three" broadcasting networks in the United States. The Ah! Channel (https://ahchannel.com) focuses on artificial intelligence. This comes on the heels of some six years studying computer science and business in Stanford University's Continuing Studies program. Henry was ahead of the curve when OpenAI released ChatGPT in November of 2022, quickly joining a startup in the development of digital personas. "The potential for growth here is tremendous," Henry says, noting that business models in everything from media to healthcare are changing rapidly.

Chris Manning

JournalismPublic Relations, Art, 1990

Humboldt State University was one of the greatest decisions of Chris's life! He has since gone on to have an award-winning and successful career in music performing, production, sound engineering, and sound for film. He works at Skywalker Sound in Marin County on sound for major Blockbuster movies. Chris intends to return to Cal Poly Humboldt to help him finish a creative historical Novel he has been working on for 7 years. 

Virginia Howard Mullan

Anthropology MA American History, 1980, 2006

After teaching middle school, all subjects, at Bridgeville Elementary for 31 years, Virginia decided to put more time into her writing. In the last few years, the North Coast Journal, Senior News, The Sun, The Times-Standard, and The Eel River Valley DAR Newsletter have included her work in their publications. Virginia published a book entitled "What Remains: the People and Places of California's Expositions" about California World's Fairs in 2021.

Shiloh (Green) Soto

Environmental Studies, 2016

After graduating from Humboldt, Shiloh earned her M.A. in interdisciplinary humanities at UC Merced, where she will also graduate with her Ph.D. in the spring of 2024. Her graduate work is housed in the Department of History & Critical Race and Ethnic Studies and analyzes a public history project she directed with the San Joaquin Valley's city of Livingston. Shiloh moved back to Humboldt in 2022 and eventually found exciting work on campus in Cal Poly Humboldt's College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences as the College Graduate Programs & Recruitment Coordinator! 

Claire Roth

Environmental Studies, 2017

Claire lives in Eugene, Oregon, and works as a Program Manager with the educational nonprofit Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation (BEST). BEST advocates for better, more convenient, and safer transportation for everyone, no matter their mode of choice or ability, and believes that community partnership and collaboration are the keys to finding sustainable and equitable solutions to transportation challenges and that the voices of the most vulnerable users of the transportation system should be continuously elevated.

Claire also serves on two local nonprofit boards: Shift Community Cycles and the Whiteaker Community Council. She believes that nonprofits fill the gap that governments cannot cover.

Christian Vierra

Politics, 2016

Christian Vierra is the Associate Director of Government Relations for the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health System. Previously, he has served in various roles at the American Heart Association and the California State Assembly. 

Shiloh (Green) Soto

Environmental Studies, 2016

After graduating from Humboldt, Shiloh earned her M.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities at UC Merced, where she will also graduate with her Ph.D. in Spring 2024. Shiloh's graduate work is housed in the Department of History & Critical Race and Ethnic Studies and analyzes a public history project she directed about the San Joaquin Valley's City of Livingston. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shiloh and her spouse decided to move back to Humboldt with their child, and she found exciting work on campus in Cal Poly Humboldt's College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences as the College Graduate Programs & Recruitment Coordinator!

Kristin Coker

Communication, 1989

Kristin is a proud alum of the Speech Communication Department! After graduation, she worked as an Admissions Counselor for Heald Business College. She traveled to San Francisco East Bay high schools and spoke of the importance of staying in school and striving for a higher education. Kristin also worked for a nonprofit organization called Contra Costa ARC, where she was an HR recruiter. The agency was developed to employ and educate adults with developmental disabilities.  
 

Kristin says her degree was the best choice for me, as it opened many doors to many job market opportunities.