Alumni Updates

E Safiya Bal

AnthropologyGeography minor., 2011

I've been working as a substitute teacher for the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District since December 2011. As of April 2012 I was hired on as field technician for Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Inc. -based in Davis, CA. The project is in Vacaville, CA.

Jennifer Humphreys

Anthropology, 2011

I am currently earning my M.S. in Primate Behavior at Central Washington University, specializing in molecular primatology. Soon I will be heading to the forests Suriname to study gene flow through conservation corridors.

Kyle Ryan

Theatreminor in Dance, 2011

Kyle Ryan, 2011 Theatre, moved to Chicago with only a suitcase and lived in a one-bedroom apartment with four other HSU grads. Ryan was accepted into Second City's Conservatory Program and then was hired to perform sketch comedy and improv aboard Norwegian Cruise lines for The Second City. Ryan has performed all over the world, and is currently performing for The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago. He currently works at a digital media arts college giving workshops to high school artists all over the midwest.

Wesley Korpela

Anthropology, 2011

pursing careering in maritime archaeology

Zachary Haitkin

International Studies& Spanish Language, 2010

Zachary Haitkin, International Studies, 2010, is currently residing in the city of San Francisco working at the headquarters for the rideshare company, Lyft. He began his career here over 4.5 years ago by making the transition from a Lyft driver to customer support associate. Since then, he has worked on the Operations team and led the effort to build a Competitive Intelligence network in an effort to improve Lyft's visibility into what competitors are doing at a market level. Most recently, he has moved over to Lyft's Growth team as a Project Manager to help lead the charge in the localization of the Lyft platform into Spanish and other languages.

Kacie Erin Flynn

ArtDouble Emphasis - Art Ed/Studio Art, 2010

During my undergraduate years with HSU I held an internship at Morris Graves Museum of Art. I was soon brought on staff to teach art lessons as part of the Second Saturady Family Arts Day. I graduated Summa Cum Laude and since then have become the Museum Manager at Morris Graves in charge of special programs and events. I was also invited to show in the Young Alumni Exhibition "Fresh Meat" at First Street Gallery last August. In addition to my job with MGMA I now work on campus in the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs as a Grant Coordinator. In my free time I volunteer as a Club Adivsor to Delta Phi Epsilon as well as serve on Staff Council. I paint/sketch in my studio in Arcata and have works scheduled to exhibit in 2012. I <3 the HSU ART DEPARTMENT!!! Thank you for the wonderful education and the amazing professors!

Mark Castro

AnthropologyMinor 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. 

Melissa Waldman

EnglishEmphasis in Writing Practices, 2010

I am currently writing and editing at a textbook company in San Francisco. We create K-12 grade English and Language Arts materials for larger publishing houses like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. I am also a freelance food and drink correspondent for the SF Examiner Online and The Local Dish.

Brandon Chapin

Politics, 2010

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. 

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.