Alumni Updates

Theodore "Ted" Smith

Geology, 1972

Following a 30-year career with the State of California, Ted Smith retired as Supervising Geologist with the California Geological Survey in 2001. Since then he earned a PhD in Education (Specialization: Teaching & Training Online) and for 18 years has taught courses online, mostly with Baker College (located in Michigan). In 2019, Ted moved to Whidbey Island, Washington and recently was appointed to the Board of Directors of Geology in the Public Interest, a nonprofit that focuses on use of geology for the public good in sustainable ways.

Eugene Charles Justus (Charlie)

Wildlife, 1989

Justus has Retired, after a 30 year career as a Conservation Officer with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. He retired at the rank of Regional Conservation Officer (Enforcement Manager/Lieutenant).

Justus received his BS in wildlife management in 1989. The broad educational experiences gained at HSU was a perfect fit for a career as a Conservation officer/game warden.

I'm filling my retirement time by working part time as a marine deputy for the Canyon County Sheriff, a small group leader at the local Celebrate Recovery, and documenting Herps on iNaturalist and my YouTube channel.

RICHARD MOORE

Environmental Resources Engineering, 1992

Richard has been working steadily as a civil engineer since he left HSU in 1991. He worked a variety of positions in consulting and local and Federal government. He has also ran a small consulting business full- and part-time since 1998; worked a few years for the Indian Health Service; worked 3 years doing fish habitat improvement projects for WA Conservation Districts; and, for the last year, has been a staff Civil Engineer with the Economic Development Administration in Seattle. It's a great job: everyone loves you when you have loads of money to give away. Well, almost everone.

Raymond ("Jay") Joseph Bogiatto II

Wildlife, 1977

Jay died of brain cancer July 4th. He was so proud of his HSU experience and education. Here are links to the obituary and a write-up by CSU, Chico.

https://today.csuchico.edu/fond-farewell-jay-bogiatto/

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/chicoer/name/raymond-bogiatto-obit…

Kevin Morris

Biological SciencesMolecular cellular biology, 1996

Kevin was leader of a team that recently developed the first-ever virus specific targeted therapy for treating COVID-19.

https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltex…
And the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYpKVs1fQg

And some of the press:

https://www.cityofhope.org/breakthroughs/city-of-hope-researcher-helps-…

https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dbgab/scientists-remove-covid-19-from-…

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9589611/Queensland-researchers…

The work is now being developed into a Phase 1 trial in Australia and works as a therapy for all beta coronaviruses.

Eugene "Charlie" Justus

Wildlife, 1989

Charlie Justus has Retired from Idaho Fish and Game. After 30 years as a Conservation Officer, finishing his career as a Regional Conservation Officer (Lieutenant) Charlie has retired. He is working part time this summer as a Marine Deputy for the Canyon County Sheriff's Department while he figures out his next pursuit, or vacation or ... He is looking forward to spending time with his wife Sue (wildlife class of 89) exploring.

Aydee Zielke

Environmental Science & Management, 2008

Aydee recently obtained her dream job, joining the San Dieguito River Park JPA, taking on the role as the the Park Environmental Planner. Her work includes habitat conservation, preservation, planning, permitting, and mitigation for trails and parkland. She is also using her cartography skills to create map exbibits, maintain, and update GIS data. She had worked for various private consulting firms and earned a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii (2015). She met her husband while studying at Humboldt and they have more recently taken on the role of parents, raising their two outgoing toddlers in Coastal North County San Diego.

Tim Kellison

Biological SciencesBotany, 2005

After a brief stint with the National Park Service, Kellison began working for the US Forest Service. He had spent the last 15 years working as a Botanist on the Lassen and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests. The past five years he has lived in Carson City, NV working as the Sierra Zone Botanist for the Humboldt-Toiyabe managing Rare Plants, Native Plant Community and Pollinator Habitat, and Native Plant Materials Program Development on the Bridgeport and Carson Ranger Districts.

Robert Lackey

Fisheries Biology, 1967

Lackey is a professor at Oregon State University. In 2008, he retired after 27 years with the Environmental Protection Agency’s 350-person national research laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon. He served as Deputy Director, Associate Director for Science, and in other senior science leadership positions. His current “gig” is part-time and involves teaching ecological policy and advising a few graduate students. He and his wife, Lana Apparius Lackey (also a Humboldt student), live in Corvallis, Oregon.

Rich Torquemada

Fisheries Biology’92 MS, Natural Resources, 1982

Torquemada recently stepped down after four years as a Board Director of the Montana Grape and Winery Association, serving as President for three years. Rich continues to own and operate Luna Llena Vineyards, producing cold-climate hybrid wine grapes to several local wineries and cideries in western Montana. Prior to establishing Luna Llena, he enjoyed a 34-year career as a fisheries biologist and Field Supervisor with the Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, working throughout the western US.