Alumni Updates

Cindy Purnell Frakes

Biological Sciences, 1981

After 33 years in the high-tech industry, Cindy Purnell Frakes ('81, Biology) retired from her most recent position of 13 years as Senior Director, Information Development at Oracle. Her career journey prior to that included stints at Borland, PeopleSoft, Computer Associates, and the Paradigm Group. She's now happily retired, living in Ferndale, WA, and has picked up her binoculars to pursue bird #485 and beyond to add to her life list.

Ed Busch

Fisheries Biology, 1980

I wanted to share the news that my project with civil war letters and photos went live today. See http://news.msu.edu/story/civil-war-stories-forever-preserved/

http://www.abc12.com/story/19644173/msu-to-place-civil-war-letters-and-diaries-on-website

Reginald Jonker

Oceanography, 1980

Reginald Jonker is retired. 

Lawson Snyder

Fisheries Biology, 1980

Spent 31 years after graduaion with the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, which later became the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Started in 1980 as a freshwater fisheries biologist and is currently serving as Deputy Director of the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.

Marie (Ferguson) Smith

Wildlife, 1980

Marie (Ferguson) Smith, 1980 Wildlife, has been teaching high school science for the last 25 years after working for the U.S. Forest Service as a Research Technician, I. Smith is married with three sons, two engineers (SDSU and CSU) and one zoologist (HSU). She’s currently living on a mountain outside of Glide, Oregon, and still teaching science (Umpqua Valley Christian School), but dreaming of retirement.

Douglas Turner

Biological Sciences, 1980

Douglas Turner, 1980, Biological Sciences, has two sons on the college path. Turner’s oldest is a Chemical Engineering major at Cal Poly Pomona and his youngest, currently a high school senior, is applying to HSU.

Matt Vallerga

Fisheries Biology, 1980

Matt Vallerga, Fisheries Biology, 1980, will be retiring from teaching on June 2, 2018 after 20 years in the classroom. He has taught third, fourth, and fifth graders with every combination in between! Not bad for a third and last career. Prior to being an educator, he spent about 10 years working in environmental sciences (air quality control, trace metals analysis, water resources, etc.). His first career out of HSU was about 10 years in seafood marketing and aquaculture. He is looking forward to recreating outdoors and traveling with his wife, Barbara.

Bill Ramos

Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1980

Bill Ramos has been re-elected to his second term as Representative in the Washington State House.

John Alves

Wildlife, 1980

John has retired after a 35-year career as a Colorado Parks and Wildlife fisheries biologist. He managed sport fisheries and native fish, including Rio Grande cutthroat trout. He served as an officer with the Colorado/Wyoming chapter of the American Fisheries Society. He plans to spend more time with his daughter and grandsons, go fishing, and travel to Alaska.

Greg Williams

Environmental Resources Engineering, 1980

Greg is the former co-owner of a Humboldt County solar design and build company. His son is also a Humboldt graduate. Greg and his family migrated to the western Washington area where Greg is a Senior Solar Design Consultant, NABCEP certified, and an active pilot flying aerobatics and shares his aviation skills with the next generation. Currently, Greg is working on a team building an Electric motor glider for pilot training. He was recently awarded the FAA 50-year Master Pilot award.