Breadcrumb
Careers & Alumni
With a strong foundation in critique, history, and technique, our students are highly prepared for their futures as a positive force in contemporary society.
Art students find a strong foundation in advanced verbal and written communication skills. Students use visual information to inform and explain ideas, problems, events, and people. They also learn to find necessary sources by analyzing, compiling, and organizing ideas within materials.
Film students demonstrate fundamental aesthetically driven technical skills essential to media production and develop films grounded in ethical storytelling. They apply creative problem solving and collaborative practices in their work. Students analyze global film studies and synthesize knowledge through the creation and completion of short films.
Potential Career Paths
The following list is not meant to be all inclusive and some positions may require further education.
- Advertising Designer
- Animator
- Art Appraiser
- Art Center Director
- Art Conservator
- Art Director
- Art Handler
- Art Therapist
- Artist Assistant
- Audio Engineer (Production and Post Production)
- Cinematographer
- Community Programs Director
- Conservator
- Creative Director
- Director
- Display Designer
- Drafter
- Editor (Film/TV)
- Editor (Book, File, Media)
- Exhibit Designer
- Fashion Designer
- Furniture Designer
- Freelance Artist
- Gallery Director
- Graphic Designer
- Grip/Gaffer
- Illustrator
- Interior Designer
- Industrial Designer
- Jeweler
- Landscape Architect
- Marketing Director
- Metal Fabricator
- Museum/Gallery Curator
- Photographer
- Potter
- Producer
- Product Designer
- Production Audio Mixer
- Screenwriter
- Set/Stage Designer
- Sound Designer
- Teacher
- Visual Effects Artist
Meet our Alumni
Alumni Updates
Kristen Van Ausdall
ArtEnglish, 1976
On Saturday Oct. 27, 2019 Professor of Art History Kristen Van Ausdall, Art, 1976, passed away. She died at the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California. While Van Ausdall had been on medical leave at the time of her death, her passing came as a shock to those who were close to her. She is survived by her husband, Scott Pringle. Van Ausdall had been a resident of Mount Vernon, Ohio, teaching at Kenyon College. After completing her B.A. in Studio Art and English at Humboldt State University in 1976 (inspired by Art History Professor Max Butler), she went on to attain an M.A. from the University of Oregon in 1981 and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1994.
RGDavis
ArtTheatre, 1995
RGDavis, Art, 1995, is focusing on Cuban Endemic Birds for a paper movie scroll, based on the book "Why Birds Matter" 2016.
Dora Mitchell
Art, 2008
Dora Mitchell, Art, 2008, has a debut novel, an illustrated children's mystery titled "The Haunted Serpent," which is being published in hardcover by Sterling Children's Books on June 5, 2018. Kirkus Reviews said "Fans of Dan Poblocki, John Bellairs, and R.L. Stine will all be right at home and smiling at the shivers (and the jokes)." Booklist said, "Mitchell’s well-developed kid characters and excellent caricatures (both written and visual) of the evil adult despots make this paranormal read engaging and goosebump-inducing," and School Library Journal called it "a spooky, high-interest adventure for reluctant readers and fans of action-packed tales.”
Brian Miller
Art, 1974
Brian Miller, Art, 1974, recently retired from Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) after a successful 40+ year career in the high tech industry. Most recently, he served as director of marketing transformation at HPE, leading a worldwide team across Europe, India, and North and Latin America. He currently provides pro bono marketing and technology advisory services to the Northern California wine industry.
Justine Quijano
ArtLiberal studies: child development, 2014
Justine Quijano, 2014 Art, moved back to Southern California, had a child, and finally applied to grad school. Now, she is finally on her way to start her master's program. All happened a little out of order but like her sorority sisters said, she is a "Luchadora" for a reason. She is making her way back to her career goals at Marylhurst University, where she'll work toward my masters in art therapy.
Ian Thomas McDonald
Art, 1998
Ian Thomas McDonald, 1998 Art, will soon celebrate a his 10 year wedding anniversary with another HSU alumni (Natalie Covert, '97 Art). The couple’s daughter, Haddie, is turning 4 years old, and McDonald is starting a new job running the Ceramics department at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan.
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.
Mildred J. Correa
Art, 2017
Mildred J. Correa, 2017 Art, had been offered and accepted an incredible full-time career opportunity at a non-profit in her hometown, Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, Calif. Correa's prior positions during her time at HSU including at the Academic and Career Advising Center, the Library, the Learning Center, and Student Access Gallery guided her to realize that she value working for organizations that positively impact community through design. Correa is happily employed at the Armory where everyday she is spreading awareness about this education and gallery space.
Mildred (Milly) J. Correa
ArtGraphic Design, 2017
Mildred (Milly) J. Correa, 2017 Art, has begun a full-time graphic design job doing what she loves for an amazing non-profit, the Armory Center for the Arts, in Pasadena, Calif. Correa writes, “Thanks to my family, friends, and mentors who all encouraged me to pursue my goals to do what I love as a career. Contributing to my community while being able to do what I love is vital, which led me to take the Graduation Pledge. This is just the first step in my post-graduation life but I really look forward to it.”
Brittney Cathey-Adams
Artbrittneycatheyadams.com for my CV, 2010
Brittney Cathey-Adams, 2010 Art, received her Master of Fine Arts from San Jose State University in 2014. With the support and mentorship of many of her art professors, and especially Professor Emeritus Don Gregorio Anton, Cathey-Adams has achieved one of her goals of teaching photography at the college level. She has had the opportunity to teach four courses in digital and darkroom photography with San Jose State University, create photo curricula for youth programs, exhibit her artwork, give lectures, participate in conferences for her regional chapter of the Society for Photographic Education. She currently works in the San Jose Museum of Art’s Education Department.