Breadcrumb
Alumni Updates
Brian Galvez
Fisheries Biology, 2014
Brian Galvez, Fisheries Biology, 2014, graduated from Delaware State University with a M.S. in Natural Resources with a focus on Fisheries Biology. His thesis was titled "Trophic ecology of juvenile Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) from the Delaware Bay using stomach content and stable isotope analyses". He is currently writing a manuscript for publication in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society with the work presented in his thesis. He represented Humboldt State Fisheries Biology Department by having the best thesis defense in the Delaware State University Natural Resources Graduate Program according to multiple people, including a Delaware State fish biologist and the department chair of his program.
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.
Dr. Jessica K. Rendon
Environmental Science & Management, 2008
Dr. Jessica Rendon Environmental Science, 2008, recently received her PhD. in Entomology from the University of Idaho. She currently works for the Oregon Department of Agriculture, working to protect Oregon’s agriculture and natural resources from invasive species. She was recently promoted to Japanese Beetle Eradication Specialist. She says: "Experiencing HSU education, student life, and its inspirations greatly shaped my desire for further education, and future career, which I so enjoy. It also made me fall in love with the Pacific Northwest." Starting volunteering experiences at HSU, she continues to volunteer on habitat and riparian restoration.
Richard Mattson
Fisheries Biology, 1971
Richard Mattson, Fisheries Biology, 1971, retired after 30+ years with Douglas Island Pink & Chum, Inc. (DIPAC) in Juneau Alaska. DIPAC is a major producer of hatchery chum, king, and coho salmon in southeast Alaska. He began in fish culture there and then spend most my career as an aquarist maintaining the visitor center marine aquariums and conducting our education programs. He still works part-time maintaining aquariums on contract to the NOAA Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute in Juneau. He also volunteers for various organizations and will be continuing to do more with his extra time. Travel with his wife Peggy is definitely on tap, and he also just enjoys reading, learning Finnish, and outdoor activities.
Carl S. Chavez
Wildlife, 1966
Carl S. Chavez, Wildlife, 1966, retired in 1998 after a 33-year with California State Parks. Among his many assignments, he was Superintendent of Humboldt Redwoods State Park from 1979-87 as well as all the other redwood parks south of Eureka. In 1985 he was named the department's first Superintendent of the Year. Leaving the redwoods he was appoint Northern Regional Director and later Northern Division Chief. He authored "A Pathway Through Parks" and co-authored with his wife Margaret (Class of 1966), "A Year in Bodie 1966-1967." He retired to Graeagle near Plumas-Eureka State Park, a unit he once managed. Presently he is President of the Board of the Feather River Land Trust.
Paula Golightly
Wildlife, 1982
Paula Golightly, Wildlife, 1982, has worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service for 24 years working to restore aquatic and terrestrial habitats for fish and wildlife primarily on private lands in Humboldt County California through voluntary programs within the agency. She was recently promoted to Regional Coordinator for the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program covering Idaho, Oregon, Washington and the Pacific Islands and is now based out of Portland Oregon.
Maria Cecilila Avila
Biological Sciences, 1985
Maria Cecilila Avila, 1985, is living in Chile.
Dylan Karl
Wildlife, 2016
Dylan Karl, Wildlife, 2016, completed two years of service as a Peace Corps environment volunteer in Guyana, South America. Karl volunteered as a community conservation promotor. Now that his service is complete, he is looking into going to Bowling Green State University for its Leisure and Tourism program.
Christine Messer
Wildlife, 2013
Christine Messer (Orlowski), Wildlife, 2013, worked for the California Department of Food and Agriculture before deciding to continue her education. She obtained a Master's degree in Environmental Studies from California State University Fullerton in 2017. While completing her graduate degree she simultaneously worked for the County of Santa Barbara in the Sustainability Division. She currently works for the City of Lompoc as the city's recycling coordinator. She married Kirk Messer ('11, Biology, Zoology) in October 2017. They live in Santa Maria, California and recently returned to HSU for a visit after five years away.
Gene Blankenbaker
Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1977
Gene Blankenbaker, Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1977, is retiring in January 2019 after over 41 years of service with the federal government. He spent approximately 2 years with the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resource Division as a groundwater hydrologist, and over 39 years with the U.S. Forest Service in a variety of locations in California, Washington D.C., Arizona, Wisconsin and New Mexico, in positions that included hydrologist, forester, district ranger, forest supervisor, deputy regional forester, and deputy director of human resources for the agency.