Jay Brandes recently gave a talk titled “Microplastics: A Local Problem with a Local Solution” at the 2022 TEDx Savannah Event. He is presently a Professor in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Georgia Athens, working out of UGA’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography in Savannah Georgia. His work encompasses a variety of areas including nutrient and carbon cycling, biogeochemistry, and marine pollution. This fall (2022) he will begin teaching an Oceanographic Cruise course for Marine Science majors, and hopes to impart the knowledge he gained having experienced a similar transformational course in his education at HSU.

Carole Pavlik-Selby (Theatre, '73) became a first-time grandma in January to little girl Cassidy Juniper. Her son Tylan and his wife Tina are the proud parents. Pavlik-Selby still does theatre occasionally and she hopes to be in a play with her actor and director son, Liam. Pavlik-Selby was in “Oliver” as well as “Shadowbox” with him! She has not totally retired from nursing yet and has spent the last year and a half administering COVID vaccines, so she has been busier than ever. Pavlik-Selby recently picked up the ukelele and is now singing in a duo. 

Evan Blair ('13, Political Science) earned an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2017. He is currently the Associate Director of Admissions at UC Davis Graduate School of Management.

Laura Werner (International Studies, '21) is enjoying a position as an AmeriCorps VISTA Outreach Specialist, and Community Harm Reduction and Youth Educator with the Sacramento County Opioid Coalition. Werner has also recently accepted a position with the Peace Corps as a Community Educator in Mongolia. Werner is extremely thankful for the multitude of absolutely fantastic opportunities delivered to her after graduation from HSU, despite the many fluctuations that have recently taken place. International Studies has proven to be the most flexible major option, providing freedom in all of her professional pursuits and educational explorations. 

Brittany Britton ('12, Art) 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 the 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 of the Reese Bullen and Goudi'ni Native American Arts Galleries at Humboldt State University.

Caroline S. Conzelman, ('93, Secondary Teaching Credential, '07, Ph.D. Anthropology, CU Boulder) an Associate Teaching Professor in the Global Studies Academic Program at the University of Colorado Boulder, received the 2022 Excellence Award in Teaching and Pedagogy from the Boulder Faculty Assembly. She was nominated by colleagues and students after over 20 years of teaching Anthropology and International Affairs courses and directing a Study Abroad program in Bolivia. Dr. Conzelman did her student teaching at Arcata High School from 1992-93; the HSU Teaching Credential Program inspired her to follow the path of experiential education and critical pedagogies!

Reed Sanderson ('57, Wildlife) passed away Oct 20, 2020. He was a Wildlife Biologist / Range Scientist working for the US Forest Service for 30 years in California, West Virginia, and Oregon and worked for the University of Arizona for 15 years. He authored or co-authored 30+ scientific papers and hundreds of technical reports on wildlife and range management. His final publication for which he served as primary editor, The Last Refuge of the Mt. Graham Red Squirrel: Ecology of Endangerment. He was a Fellow of The Wildlife Society. He considered this recognition his ultimate professional honor and was a member for 65 years. He was also a charter member of HSU's Conservation Unlimited Alumni Association.

Patricia Watts ('80, Journalism) is realizing her dream as a novelist following a 20-year career in journalism and 10 years as a human rights investigator. Her fifth published novel, Paper Targets, a tale of female rage and empowerment and life-long friendship, is due for release in May 2022. She lives in San Diego.

See more from Patricia Watts at patriciawattsauthor.com.

Lawrence Wiley ('97, Liberal Studies) has recently retired from teaching full-time and completed training to be a CASA Guardian ad Litem for children in foster care in New Hampshire. 

Coach Kraynick ('97, Journalism) scored career tennis win No.100 at Kellis HS (Glendale, AZ) on 4/12/20. This isn't counting his head coaching collegiate wins at Lock Haven University (Lock Haven, PA) or Allan Hancock College (Santa Maria, CA). Coach Kraynick coached at the HS level in CA, PA, and AZ, winning sectional championships in all three states; in addition to winning the CCCAA divisional championship at Hancock College in 1995, he coached the Top-25 NCAA Division II women's team at Lock Haven University (1998-2000). Coach K has also worked with numerous ATP/WTA Professionals on tour.