Alumni Updates

Kristin Coker

Communication, 1989

Kristin is a proud alum of the Speech Communication Department! After graduation, she worked as an Admissions Counselor for Heald Business College. She traveled to San Francisco East Bay high schools and spoke of the importance of staying in school and striving for a higher education. Kristin also worked for a nonprofit organization called Contra Costa ARC, where she was an HR recruiter. The agency was developed to employ and educate adults with developmental disabilities.  
 

Kristin says her degree was the best choice for me, as it opened many doors to many job market opportunities.   

Nathan Delgado

Recreation Administration, 1997

Nathan returned to school at 40 and received a B.S. in geology and an M.S. in geology and geomorphology from the University of Nevada, Reno. He worked researching post-wildfire debris flows, flash floods, and landslides before joining a large international consulting firm. Nathan is now a geomorphologist conducting surveys and research documenting the impacts of hydroelectric projects on rivers and aquatic wildlife.

Terry M. Culton

Psychology, 1989

Terry has been working as a winemaker in California for over 30 years. He recently moved to Oregon to take the position of Director of Winemaking and Vineyards at Willamette Valley Vineyards in Turner, Oregon. 

Adam Cashman

Environmental Science & Management, 2021

Adam Cashman is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency’s unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020. Cashman wanted to travel to a different country and work in a different ecosystem and hoped to learn more about agriculture, restoration in subtropical ecosystems, and African culture. He is looking forward to making friends along the way and will serve as a volunteer in Zambia in the environment sector.

Kyle Chang

Natural Resources, Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation, 1997

Kyle retired from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as a Lieutenant Supervisor for San Bernardino and Riverside Counties after almost 24 years with the Department.

Iris Luana Salamanca

Wildlife, 2018

Iris had the opportunity to serve as a Biological Technician, Public Information Officer, Resource Advisor, Natural Resource and Education Specialist and obtained her red card, allowing her to assist on four wildfires and two prescribed burns this year alone for the Bureau of Land Management Grand Junction Field Office in Colorado. After 4 years, Iris is transferring over to the U.S. Forest Service White River, where she will continue to grow as a Natural Resource Specialist and continue assisting with wildfires in various roles.

Ken Russo

Fisheries Biology, 1993

After graduation, Ken moved to the Sacramento area and worked in the aquaculture industry for 18 years, raising white sturgeon for meat and caviar production. 
In 2011 he switched gears and went to work as a transportation biologist for Caltrans District 3. Ken is currently a Senior Resources Biologist working with staff on delivering projects, permitting, and addressing wildlife connectivity impacts and remediation.

Ken has also been married for 25 years to Tani Russo (Rutherford, Humboldt ‘92) and has one awesome son who just graduated from Chico State!

Garrett Edward Spears

Journalism, 2007

Garrett Edward Spears has retired from independent professional wrestling after eight years of traveling throughout California, Oregon, and Mexico. He is now an Associate Producer for the television show Horror Hotel. It promotes classic and independent movies within the genres of horror and science fiction. It is shown on Retro TV, The Action Channel, and The Monster Channel. He has also started dabbling in acting and is thinking about getting back into traveling entertainment. 

Cynthia Chaney

Social Work, 1980

Cynthia loved her two years at Humboldt, where she made a lifetime friend and teases her about being a "Humboldt Honey." Cynthia graduated with a bachelor's in Social Work and went on to get a master's in Social Work from the University of Hawaii in 1993. She lived in Hawaii for 25 years and never wanted to leave. In 2013, Cynthia moved to Arizona to care for her elderly mother. She would love to catch up with her former classmates.

Rick Williams

Wildlife, 1977

Ricky retired in 2022 after a 45-year career as a wildlife biologist that began with waterfowl research for CDFG and USFWS, including a memorable stint chasing then-endangered Aleutian Canada Geese across their California wintering grounds. From 1980-2022, he worked as a terrestrial biologist and program manager in the private sector, primarily focused on water and energy projects in California and other western states. He credits the late Humboldt professors, Drs. Stan (Doc) Harris and Charles F. (Chuck) Yocum for guiding him into career-long service with The Wildlife Society-Western Section, including terms as President and Representative to the TWS National Council.