Breadcrumb
Alumni Updates
Environmental Studies
David Epstein
Environmental Studies, 1983
David Epstein, 1983, M.A. Environmental Education, celebrated his 30th year as President of The land Conservancy of New Jersey by winning the 2024 National Land Trust Excellence Award, the most prestigious honor in this field.
Abbey Ramirez
Environmental Studies, 2022
Since graduation, Abbey moved to Sonoma County on Pomo and Coast Miwok land, where she is the Head Gardener for Traditional Medicinals Tea Company (the company that makes Throat Coat!) She tends the educational garden, which serves as an herbal library, displaying many medicinal herbs the company uses in its teas. She is also the zero-waste coordinator working with the environmental department on getting the tea company recertified as a zero-waste facility. Abbey is still working with CCAT as a member of the Steering Committee, and she is always proud to say where her education came from!
Robin Rader
Environmental Studies, 2015
Robin is unsure when her last update was, but she had a baby two and a half years ago! She's been a stay-at-home mom ever since and is taking drone courses to get a commercial license for flying one. She's not exactly sure what she'll do with that, but she can be flexible with it and continue raising her son, so that’s a plus! Robin loves being a mom! She says it’s so awesome watching her son grow and learn. We garden, and he loves it. They hike, cook, and learn together; what a beautiful thing!
Ashley (Perez) Mezeske
Environmental StudiesEmphasis in second language proficiency, 2015
Ashley moved her family from Humboldt to rural Michigan in August of 2023. While living in Humboldt, Ashley worked briefly in the nonprofit sector, helping to provide resources for various aspects of childcare for a local organization. She has been a stay-at-home mother after having her first child in 2018. She plans to open up her own business with an interdisciplinary environmental lens this coming year. She says the concept of a “third place” and the loss we have of them in society has become very interesting to me lately. She loves Humboldt!
Shiloh (Green) Soto
Environmental Studies, 2016
After graduating from Humboldt, Shiloh earned her M.A. in interdisciplinary humanities at UC Merced, where she will also graduate with her Ph.D. in the spring of 2024. Her graduate work is housed in the Department of History & Critical Race and Ethnic Studies and analyzes a public history project she directed with the San Joaquin Valley's city of Livingston. Shiloh moved back to Humboldt in 2022 and eventually found exciting work on campus in Cal Poly Humboldt's College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences as the College Graduate Programs & Recruitment Coordinator!
Claire Roth
Environmental Studies, 2017
Claire lives in Eugene, Oregon, and works as a Program Manager with the educational nonprofit Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation (BEST). BEST advocates for better, more convenient, and safer transportation for everyone, no matter their mode of choice or ability, and believes that community partnership and collaboration are the keys to finding sustainable and equitable solutions to transportation challenges and that the voices of the most vulnerable users of the transportation system should be continuously elevated.
Claire also serves on two local nonprofit boards: Shift Community Cycles and the Whiteaker Community Council. She believes that nonprofits fill the gap that governments cannot cover.
Shiloh (Green) Soto
Environmental Studies, 2016
After graduating from Humboldt, Shiloh earned her M.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities at UC Merced, where she will also graduate with her Ph.D. in Spring 2024. Shiloh's graduate work is housed in the Department of History & Critical Race and Ethnic Studies and analyzes a public history project she directed about the San Joaquin Valley's City of Livingston. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shiloh and her spouse decided to move back to Humboldt with their child, and she found exciting work on campus in Cal Poly Humboldt's College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences as the College Graduate Programs & Recruitment Coordinator!
Nikki Jardin
Environmental Studies, 1999
Nikki Jardin recently launched an online and print publication created for people experiencing dementia-related illness, brain trauma or other cognitive impairment. Mirador Magazine is the first leisure-oriented magazine created specifically for this community. Nikki was inspired to create Mirador when she couldn't find accessible, magazine-type reading materials for her aunt who had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease. The first two issues were published this past Summer & Fall, and a third will come off the press in late December. You can learn more at www.miradormagazine.com
Rae Slason (They/Them)
Environmental Studies, 2015
Since graduating in 2015, Rae met their Sweetie, moved to Portland and is experiencing the greatest authenticity yet! The ENST program taught them how incredibly interconnected all of their interests are and how to take an interdisciplinary approach to problem analysis. Rae became passionate about improving access to healing and joy in all types of environments that we exist in, including our homes, schools and communities, as well as our natural surroundings. They are currently earning a Master's of Science in Recreational Therapy and is super excited to increase inclusion, accessibility and diversity acceptance in their community.
Liam Hazelton
Environmental StudiesGeospatial Analysis minor, 2019
Following graduation, Hazelton searched for jobs in the Bay Area but did not have any luck for a year and a half. In December 2020 he received help from a local professional who sent him information about an internship that dealt with restoring and mitigating damage done in riparian areas by humans. He was selected to join the program in February of 2021 and also has a future job in the pipeline.
Environment & Community
Jon Pede
Environment & Community (Social Sciences), 1990
Jon Pede retired from education after 33 years. He was a teacher (special education), assistant principal, district-level administrator, professor, and ending as middle school principal. He loved every minute of it and is now looking forward to a quiet life without a whistle, walkie-talkie, and school bells.
Jess Whatcott
Environment & Community (Social Sciences)2004, BA in Political Science, 2011
After completing a Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Jess Whatcott (they/them) became a tenure-track professor in women's, gender, and sexuality studies at San Diego State University. Dr. Whatcott's first academic book about California's history of eugenics and confining disabled people in state institutions will be published by Duke University Press in August 2024.
Vince Smith
Environment & Community (Social Sciences), 1984
Smith recently retired after 36 years working for a private not for profit organization caring for and assisting individuals with intellectual disabilities. He and his wife, Deb, left Northern California in 1984 and settled in New Mexico. He credits HSU’s professors with steering him on a life journey of compassion and care for others.
Jessica A. Whatcott
Environment & Community (Social Sciences)BA in Political Science, minor in Women's Studies, 2012
After recieving my MA from the Environment and Community program, I was hired as a temporary lecturer for the new department of Critical Race, Gender and Sexuality Studies. I am excited to be involved in this new program and engaging students in intersectional critical analysis.
Morgan King
Environment & Community (Social Sciences), 2003
In March 2011 I was hired on as the Sustainability & Waste Coordinator for Humboldt State, after working five years as a Program Manager for a sustainability non-profit. I live in Arcata with my wife and daughter, who will turn 5 in August.