Alumni Updates

Drew Coe

Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1996

Drew Coe, Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1996, began working in the forest industry following graduation. After several years he returned to school, graduating with a MS in Watershed Science from Colorado State University. Coe currently works as the Forest Practice Monitoring Coordinator/Hydrologist in CALFIRE's Watershed Protection Program. He lives with his wife and two children in Redding, California.

Gage Dayton

Wildlife, 1996

Gage Dayton, 1996 Wildlife, was recently appointed to the Wilton W. Webster Jr. Presidential Chair for the UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves. Dayton has served as administrative director of the UCSC Natural Reserves since 2008.

Kristi Boring Shelton

Environmental Resources Engineering, Minor Speech Communication, 1996

Kristi Boring Shelton, 1996, Environmental Resources Engineering, worked for Montgomery Watson (now MWH) from 1996 to 2006 in the Federal Unit in Sacramento. Her work included groundwater and soil investigations at various Army and Air Force bases. Then Shelton worked at Secor (now Stantec) from 2006 to 2007 doing underground storage tank cleanups in the Sacramento area. Currently she is working as a water resources control engineer for the Central Valley Regional Water Board.

Michael William Ra

Oceanography, 1996

Michael William Raftery, Oceanography, 1996, worked for Lockheed Martin Technical Operations as a Satellite Engineer (1996-2000), Loral Skynet as a Spacecraft Orbit Analyst (2000-2004), Stevens Institute of Technology as a Research Engineer (2004-2012), received a Masters Degree in Ocean Engineering (Stevens 2009), and is the sole inventor on US Patent 8093736B2 (Wave Energy Harnessing Device) own by Stevens Board of Trustees. He's currently working for Martin & Ottaway in Tinton Falls, New Jersey working to commercialize the SurfWEHD based on US patent 8093736B2.

Kevin Morris

Biological Sciences, Molecular cellular biology, 1996

Kevin was leader of a team that recently developed the first-ever virus specific targeted therapy for treating COVID-19.

https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltex…
And the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYpKVs1fQg

And some of the press:

https://www.cityofhope.org/breakthroughs/city-of-hope-researcher-helps-…

https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dbgab/scientists-remove-covid-19-from-…

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9589611/Queensland-researchers…

The work is now being developed into a Phase 1 trial in Australia and works as a therapy for all beta coronaviruses.

David

Biological Sciences, 1996

David E. McLean, 1996, Biological Sciences, is the current president of the Vermont State Dental Society and a delegate to the American Dental Association. McLean earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2000 and now lives in South Burlington, Vt.

Katie Lyn Sherry

Physics & Astronomy, 1996

Katie Lyn Sherry, 1996 Physics & Astronomy, will be attending medical school at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biomedical Science. Sherry completed both post-baccalaureate and graduate programs to complete the prerequisites in biology and chemistry before entering medical school. Having gained admission at age 42, Sherry writes, "It's never too late to do what you should have done."

Jeffery Newborn

Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1996

Own A & D Tree Service

Tyler Smurr

Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1995

Tyler Smurr, Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1995, worked for Sierra Pacific Industries after graduating from Humboldt State but then met a girl and followed her to Texas. He taught middle school science for 14 years, and is currently an Assistant Principal for a San Antonio Middle School. Smurr says he uses his experience at Humboldt State to talk to students about finding the right place for them and seeing the beauty in the world.

David Justice

Fisheries Biology, Criminal Justice, 1995

David Justice, Fisheries Biology, 1995, moved back to southern California after graduating from Humboldt State and worked in retail as a regional ranager for aquatic systems at a large pet retailer. He then went back to school to earn a MBA in Finance. After graduating, he began a career in banking, starting as a teller and working his way up to the executive level. Last November, he was promoted to President/CEO of Alta Vista Credit Union. "Go Jacks!'