Alumni Updates

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.

Lawson Snyder

Fisheries Biology, 1980

Lawson Snyder, 1980 Fisheries Biology, was recently awarded the Louise Ireland Humphrey Achievement Award for outstanding career achievement by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Snyder spent 34 years with the FWC, having recently retired as Deputy Division Director 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.

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.  

Edward (Ed) Busch

Fisheries Biology, 1980

Ed will be retiring from Michigan State University at the end of this week. A short bio can be found at https://michiganstate-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/personal/buschedw_msu_edu…

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

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.

Dennis Halligan

Fisheries Biology, 1980

Prior to and following graduation, Halligan fished in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea for 12 years. During that time he also owned and operated an oyster mariculture company in Humboldt Bay. Halligan has been a fish and wildlife biologist for the past 30 years and has worked on hundreds of projects including the decommissioning of the Humboldt Bay nuclear power plant, permitting the Klamath Dam removal, and a wide variety of construction, watershed restoration, fish and wildlife survey. Halligan hopes to retire in a couple of years, but loves his job and will probably work part-time until he drops. Cheers!

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.

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.