Matthew Woodman, English, 1998, was named the 2019-2020 Kern County Poet Laureate.

After graduation, Mariko-(Jade) Takimoto, International Studies, 2016, was fortunate enough to teach a year abroad in Seville, Spain. Once she returned to the states, she worked as an advisor for entertainment-art students at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Now she is a Recruiter/Sourcer for Sony PlayStation - Santa Monica Studio, God of War team. Takimoto says, “none of this would have been possible if not for the support of the HSU staff & faculty, especially those in the World Languages & Cultures Dept., International Studies Dept., and Center for International Programs. Thank you all for the support you have shown me and your willingness to continue to inspire students to be the very best version of themselves. Thank you HSU! <3”

Kristin Klamm-Doneen, Philosophy, 1992, serves as the Chair of our Philosophy & Humanities Department at Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis. She obtained her Ph.D. in Practical Philosophy from Stockholm University, her M.A. in Individual Studies: Comparative Philosophy & Religion from Central Washington University and a M.A. in Practical Philosophy. When pursuing one of her advanced degrees she was so pleased to take a distance learning class in advanced logic from her Humboldt State University advisor, Michael Goodwin. She absolutely loves her job here in Minnesota, where she has taught full-time in Philosophy for the past 15 years. “Thank you HSU, for the great start!”

Kent Willis, Biological Sciences, 1969, earned his teaching credential the next year at Humboldt State. He taught middle school in Fortuna, California for 42 years, as an 8th grade teacher, basketball and track coach, and vice principal. He earned two master’s degrees and a doctorate over these years.  His wife Marsha (Gallon), who is also a teacher, graduated from Humboldt State as well. They have two children, one who also graduated from Humboldt State. He retired from teaching in 2013, but has continued to coach 8th grade boys’ basketball. A memoir, Teaching 42+, of his years of teaching has been published by Amazon, as has his most recent book, An Auto Biography, that has stories of him driving the bus for biology class field trips at Humboldt State.

Since graduating from HSU, Emilie Uemura, Anthropology, 2015, worked as an archaeological technician for the Six Rivers National Forest, the Pike National Forest, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Lassen National Park, and DZC Archaeology. Working closely with natural resource and land managers, her interests grew to include sustainable communities, climate resiliency, environmental protection, and GIS. She is now pursuing a Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree at Eastern Washington University.

Veronica Dunning’s, Economics, 1984, new book, Violet Ribbons, became a finalist in the San Diego Book Awards. The book is available on Amazon and Kindle and is an enjoyable read for escaping with fiction in these trying days. Violet Ribbons provides positive, encouraging messages of self-worth, and dignity.

Daniel Macomber, English, 1992, English, M.A.1997 is the manager of Cornerstone Sober Living at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission in Santa Barbara, California. Macomber says “COVID-19 has presented many challenges, but they shall continue to be overcome! I am also an independent contractor in the field of educational assessment/measurement. Great memories of my years at HSU!”

Since leaving HSU Jon Mann, Biological Sciences, 2014, has created and launched his own business, a laboratory calibration company. 

Bob Freeman, Biological Sciences, 1976, retired from his job as a public health microbiologist and lab director but is still writing software for the laboratory information management system. Freeman is now writing SciFi and his work can be found at
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1023599 and http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1029727.

Brittany Britton, Art, 2012 received her Master of Fine Arts in Craft from the Oregon College of Art and Craft in 2015. Britton moved back home to Humboldt County and worked as an Art History lecturer at College of the Redwoods at the Klamath-Trinity Instructional Site in Hoopa. From 2018 to 2020 Britton was the Curator/Registrar of the Native American Collection at the Clarke Historical Museum. In June, 2020 Britton became the Gallery Director to the Reese Bullen and Goudi’ni Native American Arts Galleries at Humboldt State University.