Alumni Updates

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

Carin Kaltschmidt

Computer Science, 1990

Ernst & Young LLP recently announced promotions of professionals based in its San Francisco office, including Humboldt alumnus Carin Kaltschmidt. Kaltschmidt was promoted to principal from senior manager. She is a member of Ernst & Young LLP’s Advisory practice and serves in its program management performance improvement practice, focusing on complex program management for enterprise transformation programs. Kaltschmidt has spent the majority of her 20-year career providing program and change management services to companies in the healthcare, technology and financial services industries. She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Science from Humboldt State University and is a certified Project Management Professional.

Larry Stephens

Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1990

Working for the California Department of Fish and Game for 12 years now enforcing hunting and fishing laws in the mountains of Southern California.

Eugene Charles Justus (Charlie)

Wildlife, 1989

Justus has Retired, after a 30 year career as a Conservation Officer with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. He retired at the rank of Regional Conservation Officer (Enforcement Manager/Lieutenant).

Justus received his BS in wildlife management in 1989. The broad educational experiences gained at HSU was a perfect fit for a career as a Conservation officer/game warden.

I'm filling my retirement time by working part time as a marine deputy for the Canyon County Sheriff, a small group leader at the local Celebrate Recovery, and documenting Herps on iNaturalist and my YouTube channel.

Eugene "Charlie" Justus

Wildlife, 1989

Charlie Justus has Retired from Idaho Fish and Game. After 30 years as a Conservation Officer, finishing his career as a Regional Conservation Officer (Lieutenant) Charlie has retired. He is working part time this summer as a Marine Deputy for the Canyon County Sheriff's Department while he figures out his next pursuit, or vacation or ... He is looking forward to spending time with his wife Sue (wildlife class of 89) exploring.

Diane Haase

Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1989

Haase ('89, Forestry) earned her M.S. in tree physiology at OSU in 1991. She then worked as the Associate Director of OSU's Nursery Technology Cooperative, researching seedling production, quality and outplanting. She now works for the USDA Forest Service as the Western Nursery Specialist on the national Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetics Resources team (RNGR.net). Diane provides technical support to forest and conservation nurseries in the western states and the American-affiliated Pacific islands through visits, publications, conferences and more. She also serves as the editor of Tree Planters' Notes, an applied journal for those who work in nurseries, reforestation and restoration.

Douglas Vogt

Biological Sciences, 1989

Since graduating from HSU in 1989 with a BS Degree in Biology I have had several jobs, with only one being remotely related to biology (a one year stint at molecular biology lab). Most of my jobs have been in the clinical and immunochemistry chemistry field. For the last 5 years my job as a lab technician and fluid analyst at John Deere in my hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, has been perhaps the most challenging. What I learned at HSU has provided me with the skills to adapt not only changing jobs, but also to jobs as they change. I recently was promoted to Program Manager so I will be given yet another chance to see what other skills I may have learned in college will be called upon to provide me with the ability to perform my new position to the best of my abilities. Just goes to show that a college education can provide you not only with the ability to perform specific jobs, but also the ability to perform many different types of jobs.
Thank You HSU!

Cristine Gill

Natural ResourcesMinor: Recreation Administration, 1989

Cristine Gilliland, Natural Resources, 1989, moved to New York City and worked as the Adult Development & Training Administrator for the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York. She left to become a Senior Administrator for a private independent camp in the Adirondacks. During that time, she worked on her Master of Arts in teaching and biology 7-12 credential. Gilliland spent the last 20 years in New York teaching science and ecology, in middle schools . She has now retired to Western Washington, where she has been working with the local college in their fish lab. Gilliland says she has mostly been enjoying retirement and exploring her new environment with her adventure cat and kayak.

Marshall Jett

Natural Resources, 1989

Marshall Jett, Natural Resources, 1989, has been living in Washington since leaving Humboldt's grad program in Biology in 1993. He worked as a park ranger for Olympic National Park and many other parks for years and was a science instructor at Catalina Island Marine Institute. In 2001, Marshall began teaching (K-8 elementary school) in Seattle after graduating with a teaching certificate from Western Washington University. His passion for cooking finally won over - and Marshall founded Veraci Pizza, Inc. in 2004. Marshall now has three busy Italian restaurants and a mobile catering department. He lives with his teenage daughter Olivia in Tacoma, Washington and is an avid sailor, gardener, and musician.