Jade Mejia is enrolled in the Simmons College School of Library and Information Science pursuing a Masters of Science Degree in Cultural Heritage Informatics.

Brett A. Budick, 1976 Geology, was appointed to the position of Chief Deputy State Coordinator of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in December, 2016 by Governor Terry McAuliffe. As the number two in the agency and a 26-year Virginia state employee, Budick is responsible for all disaster response and recovery activities throughout the Commonwealth, radiological emergency preparedness at nuclear power plants and with the nuclear Navy, and Virginia’s Homeland Security initiatives. He stays active in academia as an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University and remains active in sports with USA Rugby and World Rugby in their Coach Development Programs.

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, 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, 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, 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.

Braden Pitcher, 2013 Forestry & Wildland Resources, finally landed a full-time, permanent career position with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service as a Soil Scientist after three years of bouncing across the West between seasonal technician jobs for the Bureau of Land Management. Mapping different soil types and their management potential across Western lands gives Pitcher the opportunity to spend every day outside, often experiencing landscapes few in modern history have seen. Pitcher adds, “OH YEAH! I just recently married a fellow HSU Alumni and Natural Resources graduate!”

Danielle Cudahy (née LeFever), 2005 Biological Sciences, recently became the full-time Optometrist at the local Eureka VA office. In 2010, Cuday graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in Elkins Park, PA. She is expecting her second child in late March.

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, 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.