Breadcrumb
Alumni Updates
Jamey Brzezinski
Art, 1978
Jamey Brzezinski, 1978, Art, recently retired from teaching after a 32-year career as a professor of Studio Art for various California colleges and universities. For the last 20 years he taught for Merced College, chairing the Art, Music, and Drama departments for 12 of those years. Brzezinski was the editorial cartoonist for the Lumberjack from 1977 to 1978 and Northern California editor of Artweek Magazine from 1991 to 1992. He lives with his wife, also a retired art professor, in Pacifica, Calif. He spends his time making art, playing jazz ukulele and bass, writing, and curating art exhibits for the California State Court Building in San Francisco.
Joel D. Eis, MFA
Theatre, 1978
Joel Eis, MA, Theatre, '78, just published his 5th book, "Standin' in a Hard Rain, the Making a Revolutionary Life," with World BEYOND War Press in Charlottesville VA. (Available on Amazon.com). It's the life of a radial theatre activist (with an FBI file thick as a small city phonebook) from early teens through the current time. Says Eis, "The atmosphere in the theatre program at HSU in the '70's was a real engine. Risk-taking among a bunch of outlaws who knew their art. Professors with the wisdom to give good advice then get out of your way." Edgy, unbeatable.
Christina Paleno Ericksen
Art, 1978
CHRISTINA PALENO ERICKSEN, 1978 Art, is enjoying a rewarding career in graphic design with a successful national company—all while living in Humboldt County. It doesn't get any better.
Emily Kratzer
Journalism, 1976
Since 2018,Emily has been a featured freelancer for Autumn Years magazine, a Bergen County, N.J., publication celebrating the lives of people ages 60 and older. She volunteers with public-access WCTV.us and C.E.R.T. Active Unitarian-Universalist.
Greg Gottlieb
Politics, 1976
Gregory Gottlieb, Politics, 1976, retired in 2017 from the U.S.Agency for International Development as Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance. He's now a professor at Tufts University, and Director of the Feinstein International Center, which does research on international humanitarian assistance. We welcome all Lumberjacks.
Emily Kratzer
Journalism, 1976
Emily Kratzer, 1976 Journalism, accepted a buyout offer in 2012 during a round of Gannett Company layoffs. While enjoying retirement, Kratzer now volunteers with WCTV.us, community access TV, among other things.
Kristen Van Ausdall
Art, English, 1976
On Saturday Oct. 27, 2019 Professor of Art History Kristen Van Ausdall, Art, 1976, passed away. She died at the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California. While Van Ausdall had been on medical leave at the time of her death, her passing came as a shock to those who were close to her. She is survived by her husband, Scott Pringle. Van Ausdall had been a resident of Mount Vernon, Ohio, teaching at Kenyon College. After completing her B.A. in Studio Art and English at Humboldt State University in 1976 (inspired by Art History Professor Max Butler), she went on to attain an M.A. from the University of Oregon in 1981 and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1994.
Ronald C. Holcomb
Journalism, Special Major - Journalism, Natural Resources & Biology, 1976
After a 40-year career working for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Washington State Department of Ecology, Ron Holcomb ('76, Journalism, Natural Resources, Biology) wrote a book about his role in protecting the environment. "Constant Chaos - The Daily Battle to Protect the Environment" describes the life of a spill responder that at times is chaotic, difficult, and dangerous, and documents some of the most significant environmental disasters in Washington state. The book is available at: Constant Chaos by Author Ron Holcomb | Gorham Printing
Sylvia Anne Montgomery
English, German (double major), 1976
I am celebrating, this year, the 10th anniversary of a magazine I cofounded. BioProcess International is a peer-reviewed trade publication for 30,000+ readers in the biopharmaceutical industry. It's owned by Informa, a company based in London. I work from my small farm in Dexter, OR, where among other things, I provide a home for two or three geriatric llamas at a time.
Rodney L Merrill
Sociology, 1975
Earned the PhD in Social Science in 2011 at Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.