Alumni Updates
Shiloh (Green) Soto, Environmental Studies, 2016
Submitted: September 18, 2023
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!
Javier Rojas, Journalism, 2016
Submitted: May 5, 2023
After taking on various reporter roles in Southern California, in April Javier accepted a dream job as a media relations specialist at Cal State Northridge. The transition from daily reporting to a communication position in higher education is something that Javier has been working towards since graduating from Humboldt State. While his love for writing never wavered, he's excited to return to a role in the CSU system where he can highlight the work of students.
Anna Petersen, History, 2018
Submitted: March 27, 2023
Anna Petersen has returned to her native country of Hungary in 2019, along with husband Jared and son Tibby. After working for a bilingual education nonprofit in Budapest, where students learn English in a fully immersive environment with lessons co-taught by native Hungarian and English-speaking instructors, she joined the fintech company Wise in 2022 in an anti-money laundering role.
Mark Castro, Anthropology, 2010
Submitted: December 13, 2022
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.
Jay Earl Peterson, Psychology, 1972
Submitted: November 30, 2022
Jay Peterson has been retired for twenty years now and is loving it. He spends most of his time reading and hopes to get more active again once his hips heal and his spinal injuries get better. For the most part, he's been touring the USA on his Gold Wing motorcycle and enjoying his time with his grandchildren.
Barbara Klessig, Anthropology, 2007
Submitted: October 29, 2022
Barbara Klessig ('07, Anthropology, '13, M.A. Social Science) worked with Solano Archaeological Services and is currently a lecturer at Cal Poly Humboldt and an Archaeology Research Assistant with the Cultural Resource Facility (CRF). During her undergrad, she specialized in Archaeology, and her thesis for her M.A. is titled "Textile Production Tools from Viking Age Graves in Gotland, Sweden."
Brandon Chapin, Politics, 2010
Submitted: August 31, 2022
Brandon Chapin ('10, Politics) was appointed as Legislative and Policy Advisor at the Delta Stewardship Council by Governor Newsom on July 1, 2022. He is responsible for maintaining the Council’s relationship with the State legislature and working on other special projects related to the implementation of the state's Delta Plan.
George FitzGerald, Geology, 1968
Submitted: August 23, 2022
As the first geology graduate of Humboldt State in 1968, George FitzGerald went to work as an underground mine geologist in Grants, New Mexico. Using investigative skills taught by my Humboldt professors, he directed the quality-based safe extraction of uranium ore for over 15 years. Great education and experience in field geology provided him with the skills to successfully hold positions in industry, teaching, consulting and government regulation for environmentally protective mineral production. FitzGerald thanks Humboldt's first geology professors Dr. Young, Dr. Kilmer, and Dr. Longshore for creating one of the great programs at Cal Poly Humboldt.
Evan Blair, Politics, 2013
Submitted: July 6, 2022
Evan Blair ('13, Political Science) earned an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2017. He is currently the Associate Director of Admissions at UC Davis Graduate School of Management.
Pamela Schwartz, Art, 1994
Submitted: March 16, 2022
Pamela Schwartz recently started a business working freelance as a presentation design specialist at www.butterflypam.com. A Powerpoint design pro, Schwartz specializes in helping business present a professional presentation. Schwartz also still paints and has a thriving art career.
May Johnson, History, 2018
Submitted: February 16, 2022
May Johnson has been accepted to several prestigious law schools including Harvard Law School and will likely be attending Harvard Law School starting in Fall 2022!
LOWELL COTTLE, Geography, 1998
Submitted: January 31, 2022
After 15 years working as an environmental consultant, Lowell Cottle moved on to work for the state at the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board as an environmental scientist. Cottle is excited to be part of a team that inspects industrial sites for compliance with state and federal water codes where Cottle can really make a difference! Cottle investigates and tracks down potential sources of pollution from stormwater exposure and works with facility owners to be in compliance with the Clean Water Act.
Trent Garrett, Politics, 2020
Submitted: December 14, 2021
Trent Garrett began working for California Assemblymember Cristina Garica (AD 58) as a Legislative Aide. For the previous 6 months Garrett worked for Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (AD 76).
David Clark, History, 1971
Submitted: December 4, 2021
David Clark migrated to Australia in 1972 and taught high school until retirement in 2007.
James Caton, History, 2011
Submitted: June 10, 2021
The flexibility of HSU’s B.A. in History afforded James the opportunity to chart a path for the future by exploring topics that interested him. Upon completing his degree, he began studying economic theory. He completed an M.A. in Economics from San Jose State University in 2013 where he studied monetary theory and history. He completed my Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University in 2017 where he focused on non-equilibrium, agent-based models of systems of exchange. As of Fall 2017, he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University where he teaches macroeconomics, entrepreneurship, economic computation, and economic development.
Vince Smith, Environment & Community (Social Sciences), 1984
Submitted: May 3, 2021
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.
Ryan Bieker, Politics, 2012
Submitted: December 8, 2020
Ryan Bieker utilizes data to examine and interpret changes in California retirement law and how it will affect CalPERS' actuarial responsibility to the State of California. Bieker is married to Rita Dunn (HSU politics 2013) who is in her final year of Law School and is currently clerking with U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison Claire.
Robert Deane, History, 2007
Submitted: December 5, 2020
Robert Deane currently works in the Public Services Department of the Oregon Tech Library, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He graduated with his MA Ed. in Social Studies from Western Governors University in 2019 and is nearing completion of his Masters in Library Science: Children & Youth Services from St. John's University.
Karleigh Shepard, English, 2019
Submitted: November 18, 2020
Karleigh Shepard is a Master of Public Policy candidate at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs. She has been appointed to the Executive Board of the Association of Master of Public Policy Students as Engagement Chair.
Trever McSwain, Politics, 2012
Submitted: October 27, 2020
Trever McSwain has been practicing law in Indiana since 2016, he is a captain in the Indiana National Guard JAG Corps and a legal aid attorney for Indiana Legal Services Military Assistance Project where he assists low income Veterans.