Emily Kratzer, 1976 Journalism, accepted a buyout offer in 2012 during a round of Gannett Company layoffs. While enjoying retirement, Kratzer now volunteers with WCTV.us, community access TV, among other things.

Jennifer Wood, 1996, Botany, (née Berman), helped develop and co-write the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility. She went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Soil Science and became a soil scientist with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. After 10 years, Wood accepted a position with the Arcata Soil Survey Office. While in Humboldt she founded the Climate Action Project through the Redwood Alliance. In collaboration with Humboldt State students she held a Focus the Nation event about global climate change science and solutions. In 2011 she moved to a position at the USDA-NRCS state office in Davis, Calif. She continues her climate advocacy by leading the Sacramento chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby.

Joshua Allen, 2004 Natural Resources Planning, followed his Humboldt experience with a few years of AmeriCorps service through the University of Oregon. Allen has recently started a new job, far, far away from Humboldt. He is now working for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in Palmer, Alaska, as a planner. This position is an exciting move for Allen, as he is highly involved in projects that will shape the landscape of Alaska for generations to come, and he reflects upon the lessons learned at the HSU to implement lasting change.

Ken Hansen, 1984, Natural Resources, retired in 2012 after 25 years with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement, in Kodiak, Alaska, where he supervised fisheries law enforcement activities in the Central and Western Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. Currently he is conducting fisheries research projects. He also operates a home business, Kodiak Bones and Bugs Taxidermy, which uses flesh eating beetles to clean animal skulls, as well as selling the insects all over the world. With his wife, Deb (’85, Natural Resources) they raised two boys on Kodiak Island.

Jana Rivers-Norton, 1991, English, is now a tenure-track, full-time English instructor at Cochise Community College in Nogales, Az., after graduating with a Master of Arts degree in English from Humboldt State in 1991. Rivers-Norton also earned a Doctorate in Human Sciences at Saybrook University in 2002.

Steve Brudney, 1970, Philosophy, might just have the first Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. About the same time Brudney refused induction into the war in Vietnam. Later he earned Master of Arts in philosophy at UC Davis. Brudney wrote to 263 community colleges, found eight openings, got one interview, and was not hired. Instead, Brudney worked at Pacific Lumber Company for 19 years and then for the county. Now he’s writing a book on Christian fundamentalism. He draws from decades of experiences with fundamentalists, his training in philosophy, and over 33 years studying Bible scholarship, the historical Jesus, Christian beginnings, and the formation of the New Testament.

Allison Castner, 1994 Theatre, Film & Dance, has been teaching drama at a K3-12 grade Christian school in the San Fernando Valley for the last 18 years. Castner writes that she is grateful that Humboldt's Theatre Arts program allowed her to take a wide variety of classes. In a small school the drama program director is the play producer, director, technical director, production stage manager (training new stage managers every show), scenic designer, lighting designer, sound designer, props procurer, costume procurer, publicity crew, house manager, and trainer of all the actors and technical crew, usually with less than 3 days for tech week.

Gabriela Girona, 2010, International Studies, reports that since studying abroad from '09-'10 and graduating life has been hectic and wonderful. Girona was accepted into the Syracuse University School of Law and, now that the state has legalized equal marriage rights, Girona is engaged to her partner of over two years. She will pursue her international passion in her second and third years at Syracuse University and hopes to earn two degrees (a Juris Doctor and a master's in international relations) via the school's dual-degree program. She also hopes to earn a certificate in post-conflict reconstruction through SU's Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism.

Katie Lyn Sherry, 1996 Physics & Astronomy, will be attending medical school at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biomedical Science. Sherry completed both post-baccalaureate and graduate programs to complete the prerequisites in biology and chemistry before entering medical school. Having gained admission at age 42, Sherry writes, "It's never too late to do what you should have done."

Cindy Rawlings is circulation dDirector at _The World_ newspaper in Coos Bay, Ore. In January Rawlings was recognized by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year for 2012. The recognition reflected community fundraising of over $100,000 since 2007. Rawlings created the Downtown Coos Bay Wine Walk, a monthly event featuring about two dozen local businesses and hundreds of patrons. It happens the first Friday of every month except January. All proceeds are passed through to local non-profit organizations.