Breadcrumb
Alumni Updates
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.
Thomas F. Wuenschell
Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1974
Thomas F. Wuenschell, Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1974, studied Forestry 1972-1974 at Humboldt and got his BS in Idaho later. He retired in 2016 as a forester after more than 30 years with USFS. He has always been a supporter of Save The Redwoods League and is currently on board of directors of his Audubon chapter.
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.
Jessica Elaine Sepulveda
Biological Sciences, Biology, 2017
Jessica Elaine Sepulveda, Biology, 2017, recently got this amazing opportunity to work in startup using stem cell technology to reduce humans impact on the environment. Unlike most stem cell technology that focuses on medicine, VitroLabs Inc goal is to reduce our ecological footprint by making ethical leather in a lab. Her job entails making induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), differentiating our stem cells into skin cell and generating leather. By producing leather in a lab from iPSCs we can eliminate the need for cow hides will still supplying the market with this particular textile. She finds her work satisfying and is able to fulfill her graduation pledge in several ways: our product is ethical & ecological.
Ana Veronica Parra
Biological Sciences, 2013
Ana Veronica Parra, Biology, 2013, fell in love with Astronomy after watching “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” narrated by Neil deGrass Tyson. She is currently taking math and physics courses at San Diego Mesa College and plans to apply to the University of Colorado’s Astrophysics and Planetary Science Ph.D. program in December 2019. Here’s is more info as to what she's been up to: http://www.sdmesa.edu/_resources/newsroom/posts/stem-scholars-ncas.php.