Alumni Updates

Joe Van Sambeek

Biological Sciences, 1993 Biology, Spanish, 1995 SS Teaching Credential

Joe is in his 28th year of teaching high school Science and Spanish in the Bay Area, still trying to make it relevant and "not boring" every day.  He says he still has a snake in his classroom, is still overextended, and is still causing headaches for his principal. Joe enjoys traveling and camping with his family and friends, having completed the Pan-American Highway last summer, 21 years after the first leg. He makes it up to Humboldt when possible and stays in touch with numerous friends from the Marching Lumberjacks. March or Die!

Janelle Thompson

Forestry & Wildland Resources, Forest Management, 1993

In 2019, after 28 years with the U.S. Forest Service in a position as a timber sale administrator, Janelle Thompson, Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1993, was promoted to Tahoe National Forest, Sierraville Ranger District Timber Management Officer. Thompson began her career in 1987 as a temporary employee on the timber marking crew at Sierraville. She received a permanent career appointment in 1991 as a forester with an emphasis in timber sale administration. During the last 20 years she has also worked as a support dispatcher (EDSD) for major wildland fires and other incidents across the United States. September of 2022 Thompson will be eligible to retire with over 31 years with the U.S. Forest Service.

Thierry Mann

Chemistry, 1993

Ph. D. University of Arizona 1998
Micromass/ Waters 1999-2003
Novartis Pharma 2003-present
Moved to Basel Switzerland 2011

Ken Russo

Fisheries Biology, 1993

After graduation, Ken moved to the Sacramento area and worked in the aquaculture industry for 18 years, raising white sturgeon for meat and caviar production. 
In 2011 he switched gears and went to work as a transportation biologist for Caltrans District 3. Ken is currently a Senior Resources Biologist working with staff on delivering projects, permitting, and addressing wildlife connectivity impacts and remediation.

Ken has also been married for 25 years to Tani Russo (Rutherford, Humboldt ‘92) and has one awesome son who just graduated from Chico State!

Christopher Scott Neamtzu

Natural Resources, Geography minor, 1993

Christopher Scott Neamtzu is currently serving as the Community Development Director at the City of Wilsonville in Oregon where he has been employed for 26 years starting as as Assistant Planner. He owes his initial start with the city to past HSU professor Stephen Lasbrook who originally hired Christopher on a temporary basis and to HSU for connecting him to such an amazing mentor. He lives with his wife of 23-years and fellow HSU alumni, Margot Fervia-Neamtzu, in Sherwood, Oregon, along with their son Jonathan Forest. Caring for and protecting the natural environment has consistently been the heart and soul of his professional career; a deep moral undertaking that is rooted in his time at HSU.

Carrie Leonard

Oceanography, 1992

Carrie has recently been name the Director of Advanced Concepts for BAE Systems in Honolulu. In this role she meets with the user community to develop technical solutions to their pressing needs. She has also been named the Vice President of the Society of Women Engineers Hawaiian Island Chapter. On a personal note, she's a soccer coach (U8 AYSO), baseball and water polo mom, and active triathlete.

Don Rowan

Fisheries Biology, 1992

Don Rowan, 1992 Fisheries Biology, is in his 17th year of science teaching. For the last three years, Rowan has been teaching Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, Biology, Biology 2, and AP Environmental Science at Bishop Union High School. He is also the Associated Student Body director and has recently been a peer reviewer for the “Journal of Fisheries and Wildlife Management.”

Carrie Leonard

Oceanography, 1992

After 20 plus years of research and managing research operations, Leonard has moved to implementing policy to address Climate Change and Racial Justice at the Oregon State Legislature. She's excited to move to implementing ideas instead of answering questions.

Jon Dohlin

Biological Sciences, 1992

After 25 years with the Wildlife Conservation Society-- including 12 as the Director of the New York Aquarium, Jon accepted a new position as CEO of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in Fresno CA

RICHARD MOORE

Environmental Resources Engineering, 1992

Richard has been working steadily as a civil engineer since he left HSU in 1991. He worked a variety of positions in consulting and local and Federal government. He has also ran a small consulting business full- and part-time since 1998; worked a few years for the Indian Health Service; worked 3 years doing fish habitat improvement projects for WA Conservation Districts; and, for the last year, has been a staff Civil Engineer with the Economic Development Administration in Seattle. It's a great job: everyone loves you when you have loads of money to give away. Well, almost everone.