Alumni Updates

Liam Hazelton

Environmental Studies, Geospatial 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.

Miranda Olberg

English, 2019

Since graduating from Humboldt, Miranda has worked closely with all ages—from infants to young adults—in various education roles across the country. Currently, she teaches at a forest school in northern Vermont. She is finishing a Master of Education at Antioch University New England with concentrations in place-based education, nature-based early childhood, and mindfulness integration. She is also working toward a teaching license with an endorsement in birth to third grade. Miranda hopes to continue furthering her education and research in the environmental humanities.

Gabby Connors

, 2019

Dance Studies alumni Gabby Connors ('19) and Ethan Ambler ('20) tied the knot on May 23, 2025!

Crystal Betances

International Studies, 2019

Crystal is working with Politics4her on a research project in partnership with the Apolitical Foundation, an organization based in Berlin. The project’s focus is on regions with ongoing programs to increase women’s political involvement, seeking to create deep partnerships with those leading the Political Leadership Incubators (PLIs) in the region. The project will also highlight the barriers to women’s political participation. Crystal attributes her interest to this project from her time as an International Studies undergrad, and takes with her the research skills learned during that time. 

Nicholas Fassl

Recreation Administration, 2019

Nicholas is currently an Afloat Recreation Specialist aka Fun Boss on an aircraft carrier for the US Navy. He organizes daily activities, large events and schedules trips/tours for 5,500 navy sailors and personnel in San Diego & foreign ports.

Lyla Godfryd

International Studies, 2019

Lyla Godfryd, International Studies, 2019, will be serving in the Peace Corps as an Environmental Education Volunteer in Panama beginning in February. Lyla says she feels very blessed to have been provided with such an encouraging and caring group of professors and fellow classmates and the International Studies program at HSU has provided her with the skills and confidence she needs to embark on this journey!

Albert Bernales

Business Administration, 2018

Albert Bernales ('18, Business) is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency’s unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020. The Peace Corps suspended global operations and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"My professors shared their experiences as Peace Corps volunteers during their lectures and it seemed very impactful on their own personal and professional development,” said Bernales. "As a business volunteer, I hope to share an entrepreneur's mindset with community members in Fiji and hopefully get them excited about business.”

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.

Lucas Allen-Custodio

, Zoology, 2018

Lucas Allen-Custodio, Zoology, 2018, began a job as a laboratory technician at a local soil lab within two months of graduating. He is now the lead lab tech, and is using his zoology degree as the agricultural pest management advisor in the company. Through this, he specializes in providing the agricultural industry with environmentally conscious biological control remedies, that reduce the use of pesticides, as well as provide technical information to farmers on how to take care of and love their soil, based on laboratory results.

Danielle Cenotti

Recreation Administration, 2018

Danielle spent two seasons working at a Bear Observatory in Alaska before the pandemic.  After substitute teaching for a few years to get through the pandemic, and working one season at Redwood National Park, she started working outreach and event planning for the Social Work Department at Cal Poly Humboldt. She has been married for over a year and earned a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.