Breadcrumb
Alumni Updates
Don Hoeler
AnthropologyMasters in Hospital Administration and Management, 2005
Don Hoeler, Anthropology, 2005, is currently living in Portland, Oregon. He completed his Masters in Hospital Administration and Management and has international business experience working with emerging markets in Asia and Europe. Hoeler says his anthropology studies had a profound impact on his career and relationships and sends a "shoutout" to Dr. Todd Young who inspired him to chase after his dreams. "Economic Anthropology was by far my favorite course work. Thank you HSU."
Barbara Muskat
Art, 1975
Barbara Muskat, Art, 1975, has been teaching in a public school setting for the last 26 years. She taught as a secondary art teacher and for the last 15 years taught kindergarten where she includes the arts in many ways. Muskat will be retiring at the end of the 2020 school year.
Michelle Gienger
HistoryEconomics, 2007
A few years ago Michelle Gienger, History, 2007, transitioned from a Federal Investigator at the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to a Management and Program Analyst with the US Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General. In this position, she is on a team that conducts reviews of DOJ programs for the DOJ, Congress, and public.
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.
Michael Murdock
Theatre, 1989
Michael Murdock, Theatre Arts, 1989, moved back to Los Angeles from the Seattle area to teach high school Drama at a private school for Twice Exceptional (2e) students.
Shannon Dybvig
JournalismHistory, 2002
hannon Dybvig, Journalism, History, 2002, co-produced the documentary Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy, which played at the Miniplex in Arcata January 10, 2020. In 2008 Dybvig earned an MFA in Photography at Brooks Institute of Photography. Dybvig has been working in the documentary film industry in Southern California since 2005
Christopher Andriessen
Politics, 2007
Utilizing a decade's worth of private sector experience, Christopher Andriessen, Politics, 2007, recently joined Caltrans in its District 9 office as its new Maintenance Public Information Officer. The move follows two years of working for the California Department of Insurance in San Francisco.
Arthur Grusensky
Music, 1978
Arthur Grusensky, Music, 1978, headed immediately after graduation to the University of Bologna in Italy where he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and studied at Conservatorio di Musica G.B. Martini in flute. He subsequently became licensed in Ohio, Massachusetts, Utah, Colorado and California. A dedicated athlete he started and ran a small animal hospital in Moab for nine years - mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and kayaking during his time there. Ultimately returning to Hermosa Beach, California he specialized in high speed spay & neuter, studied Filipino martial arts(escrima) and became a world traveller going to exotic locations to trek such as Nepal, the Tibetan plateau(zanskar and Ladakh), bike tour the Karakoram Highway in northeast Pakistan and cross the Himalayas at 13,400 feet outside Manali.
Devin Theobald
Politics, 2004
Devin Theobald, Politics, 2004 is employed by the County of Humboldt Public Works Department, Environmental Services Division.
Vanessa Vrtiak
Sociology, 2017
Vanessa Vrtiak, Sociology, 2017, recently gave a Ted Talk about her life, and would like to share it with the Humboldt State Family. "Thank you for being there for me and helping me shape the woman I am today. I'm so grateful I was able to go to a University with people that truly believe in their students and champion their success." Watch the Ted Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/vanessa_vrtiak_how_to_save_a_life?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare&fbclid=IwAR154LL1hsMJPaH4_68QAGF1gUqQveVUG8UBAD5QMamSoeuIn_TpNxws_vM