Alumni Updates

Mark Castro

Anthropology, Minor in Geography, 2010

Castro ('10, Anthropology) is a Co-Director of the Cultural Resources Facility at Cal Poly Humboldt and has been with the organization for 5 years. Castro has a holistic work experience through his time with multiple agencies including the BLM working on museum collections and archaeological field surveys, the Eldorado National Forest as a field technician, and the Northwest Information Center (Sonoma State University). 

He received his Master's in Cultural Resources Management at Sonoma State, is a Board Member of the Humboldt County Historical Society, and is the Co-Lead for the Pride (LGBTQ+) Taskforce for Coalition for Diversity in California Archaeology. 

John P Hill

History, 2010

I was accepted into the University of Oregon's Historic Preservation Program, which is a M.S. Degree. I also received a competitive scholarship based on "academic achievement and diligence."

Benjamin

Art, 2010

I am currently a graduate student at Syracuse University working towards my MFA in Art Photography.

Micah Carnahan

Wildlife, 2010

I left school in the middle of my last semester, fall 2009, due to the birth of my son. He was born with a congenital heart disease known as Transposition of the Great Arteries or TGA. We (my wife, my newborn son and myself)were immediately flown to SF where my son would receive surgery. During our 3 month stay at UCSF I was able to keep in contact with my professors and they worked with me to finish my coursework during my stay. My son is 15 months now. He is healthy and doing great! I received my degree and quickly began interviewing for careers that could sustain my new family. Because of the skills and training I received from HSU, I was chosen from a number of candidates to be the new Environmental Scientist for the CA Department of Fish and Game's Lake and Streambed Alteration Program. I am so thankful, and proud, to have studied at HSU and to have had the privelage of learning from the best professors in the country. Thank you HSU!

Tara Darlene Smith

English, 2010

Taraa's memoir essay collection, Sunflowers in Iraq: True Stories of Surviving & Thriving, was published last month. Further information is available on her website: https://www.taradarlenesmith.com, and she's happy to provide a press release and photos from the book's launch. 

Gabriela Girona

International Studies, 2010

Gabriela Girona, 2010, International Studies, reports that since studying abroad from '09-'10 and graduating life has been hectic and wonderful. Girona was accepted into the Syracuse University School of Law and, now that the state has legalized equal marriage rights, Girona is engaged to her partner of over two years. She will pursue her international passion in her second and third years at Syracuse University and hopes to earn two degrees (a Juris Doctor and a master's in international relations) via the school's dual-degree program. She also hopes to earn a certificate in post-conflict reconstruction through SU's Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism.

Brandon Chapin

Politics, 2010

Brandon joined the California Conservation Corps (CCC) in May 2025 as Deputy Director for Legislative and External Affairs. In this role Brandon is focused on strengthening the CCC’s legislative presence and sharing the inspiring stories of the corps members, deepening connections with external and local partners, and also serves as the CCC’s Tribal Liaison.

Samuel Vogel-Seidenberg

Film, 2010

Samuel Vogel-Seidenberg, 2010 Film, got married in 2014 and had his first child Zachary on April 9th, 2017. Vogel-Seidenberg is the head men's lacrosse coach at Dominican University of California, an NCAA Division 2 school! Vogel-Seidenberg loves coming to Humboldt to visit and support the Humboldt lacrosse team.

Stefanie Lauren Kalin

Psychology, 2010

Stefanie Lauren Kalin, 2010 Psychology, is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She has developed her clinical experiences providing mental health services to couples, families, adults with chronic disease, severe, persistent, mental illness, adolescents, and children with chronic trauma and dependency. She specializes in mind-body connection and trauma residency with training in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Stefanie met her husband, Rory, in undergrad at HSU and became Mr. and Mrs. Kalin in 2015. They returned to Humboldt in 2017 to begin careers serving Humboldt County. Stefanie will be practicing as a mental health clinician for Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services.

Rory Shane Kalin

History, 2010

Rory Shane Kalin, 2010 History, is happy to announce he and his wife will be returning to Humboldt County where they met. Kalin is starting a position with the Office of the Humboldt County Counsel as a deputy county counsel in April.