Breadcrumb
Alumni Updates
Gayle Hall
Journalism, 1972
Gayle Hall, 1973 Journalism, teaches English as a Second Language and Citizenship Preparation at Torrance Adult School. She has worked for Torrance Unified School District for more than 20 years and recently received the the Certificated Employee of the Year award. She and husband Tom Hall (’74, History) met and married while in college. They have been married for 45 years and have three sons. A favorite activity is going for long walks at a local beach. Prior to her teaching career, Hall worked as a magazine editor and writer. While attending HSU, she worked part-time as a feature writer for the Eureka Times-Standard.
Jade Mejia
English, 2016
Jade Mejia is enrolled in the Simmons College School of Library and Information Science pursuing a Masters of Science Degree in Cultural Heritage Informatics.
Vanessa St.Oegger-Menn
English, 2008
Vanessa St.Oegger-Menn, 2008 English, is the Pan Am 103 Archivist and Assistant University Archivist at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.
Annathea Cook
International StudiesChinese Studies, 2013
Annathea Cook, 2013 International Studies, earned her master's degree in International Trade Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) and have recently begun a career as an International Trade Compliance Analyst with the International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce. Cook writes, “It's a strange time to move to DC, but it's exciting to be working on such a hot topic that I'm passionate about. Everyday I'm using skills that I learned at HSU, particularly negotiation skills that I learned as a preschool teacher with the HSU Children's Center. Can't wait to visit my hometown of Arcata again soon. Stay weird Humboldt.”
Richard Caldwell
MusicBA, Teaching credentials 1970, 1969
Richard Caldwell, 1969 Music & 1970 Teaching Credential, retired in December after 25 years of Band Instrument repair. Caldwell writes, “Thanks to the College for having a summer session Instrument repair course in 1969. I am still in touch with Val Phillips and Dan Gurnee here 45-plus years later.”
Benjamin Ebert
International Studies, 2003
Benjamin Ebert, 2003 International Studies, moved his office ot Eureka in 2014. Ebert owns an investment firm, Ebert Capital Management, and a software development company named Ravenlight Technologies, LLC.
Carly Velez Huston (Carly Velez-Balay)
SociologySocial 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.
Lewis E Sbrana
MusicEducation, 1956
Lewis E Sbrana, 1956 Music, says life after 33 years of teaching music in public schools continues to be sweet and productive. Sbrana founded a concert band for seniors in 1999 with 12 stalwarts and it's now grown to over 80 members. Making music is the catalyst for bringing people together both artistically and socially.
Kelly Curtin
ArtArt Education, 2012
Kelly Curtin, 2012 Art, joined Teach for America right after graduation and taught high school Special Education and English in San Jose, Calif., for the past four years. This past year, Curtin made the switch to Montessori education, and currently teaches middle school humanities at a Montessori middle school in Campbell, Calif.
Douglas Harding
Geography, 1985
Douglas Harding, 1985 Geography, has completed 11 years at Hope Flight Foundation as Founder, President, and Chief Pilot. Hope Flight Foundation provides free flights for children with cancer from the small remote towns of California to the specialized cancer hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles area.