Breadcrumb
Alumni Updates - Sociology
Glenn R Strachan
Sociology, Master's Degree, 1983
Glenn Strachan, Sociology, 1983, has been fortunate enough to have traveled to 116 countries while working for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding projects in maternal health and international broadband solutions. Over the past 35-years, Strachan has seen the world and taken photographs everywhere he been, which was inspired by his photography classes at HSU. Now that retirement has arrived, his work has been selected for 12 juried shows thus far in 2019. He is humbled by the selections and is up for a major award in London if he makes the final cut. Strachan says he misses his days at HSU as it was a perfect time to be there doing his graduate studies.
Suzanne Heck (Keck)
Sociology, Social Science, 1992
Suzanne Heck (Keck), Sociology, 1992, is married to Dave Heck and they have two children, Zoe and Dylan. They live in San Juan Capistrano in South Orange County. She is still true to her HSU campus recycling roots and is fighting the battle against single-use plastics!
Carly Velez Huston (Carly Velez-Balay)
Sociology, Social Science, 1996
Carly Velez Huston (née Velez-Balay), 1996 Sociology, moved back to her hometown, Sacramento, after graduation and began working for various community non-profit organizations. From 2000 to 2015, Velez Huston worked for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency as a Redevelopment Planner and as a Site Manager for the Public Housing Authority. In November 2015, she started working for the State of California as an Asset Manager for the California Housing Finance Agency. She married an awesome Nebraska boy, Doug Huston, in 2002 and they have one child. She writes, “Our handsome son was born in 2005. I am truly grateful for my HSU education and wonderful friends that I met and continue to be connected with.” Velez Huston lives in College Greens in Sacramento.
Ali
Sociology, 2002 B.A. and 2009 M.A.
Ali R. Chaudhary, 2002 Sociology and 2009 Sociology, earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Davis, in 2015. He is currently a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford and enjoying life in the U.K. with his wife Rebecca Kellawan and their newborn son, Miles Ali Chaudhary. In January 2017, they will move to New York City, when Ali will take up his position as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Ali R. Chaudhary
Sociology, Sociology (BA-2002), 2009
Ali R. Chaudhary, 2009 Sociology, went on to earn a Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of California, Davis. In 2013, Chaudhary advanced to candidacy and started dissertation research on migrant-serving non-profit organizations in London, Toronto and New York. While conducting fieldwork, Chaudhary has been hosted as a visiting scholar at the Munk School of Global Affairs, the University of Toronto and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. In fall 2013 Chaudhary was a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford's International Migration Institute. Chaudhary’s first sole-authored, peer-reviewed journal publication will appear in the International Migration Review in summer 2014.
Maila L (Felper) Ogden
Sociology, 1992 (Spring)
I have been been working in the social work field for over 20 yrs and I recently changed jobs. I now work as a Hospice Social Worker in Southern California(High Desert). I love the opportunity to be a part of the end of life journey. I have been married for the past 9 yrs and love living in Wrightwood(Angeles National Forest). I also Volunteer for Angeles National Forest Grassy Hollow Visitors Center.
Rodney L Merrill
Sociology, 1975
Earned the PhD in Social Science in 2011 at Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Melanie Bettenhausen
Sociology, 2005
Promoted to Outreach Director at the North Coast Co-op. Now responsible for Marketing & Membership. I use my background in Sociology (specifically what I learned at HSU) to inform my work in the community around access issues (food, bathroom, exercise, etc.)
Donny Triplat
Sociology, Social Studies, 1992
Currently birthing a native landscape business after 12 years research forestry, 5 years environmental restoration, 5 years arborist work, and 10 years of service in the Food industry catering and working in fine dining restaurants. Blend this all with a passion for personal healing work; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What has come of this is a project that my wife and I are creating: Truckee River Sanctuary where we grow food, raise poultry, and have built a Kiva to share with our community to build relations amongst people that want to grow and create new ways of living within our decaying social systems of life. It's really a place to connect and grow. I've been busy.
Shelli Maher-Sarchett
Sociology, 2002
I am in my 7th year as the Assistant Softball Coach here at Humboldt State University.