Alumni Updates
Thomas Cappiello, Fisheries Biology, 1986
Submitted: November 11, 2019
Thomas Cappiello, Fisheries Biology, 1986, has retired from Alaska Department of Fish and Game after 21 years of service. Cappiello has been working in fisheries in Alaska for over 30 years. He still lives in Alaska and says he probably won't leave. Cappiello is a steering committee member of the Matanuska Susitna Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, president of the MatSu Birders Club, and home baker of Artisan sourdough breads and pizza.
Sylvia Lynn van Royen, Environmental Science & Management, 2019
Submitted: October 31, 2019
After graduating from HSU Sylvia Lynn van Royen, Environmental Science & Management, 2019, was hired by the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources based out of Orleans, California. The Tribe's DNR has ground breaking management goals that she feels honored and blessed to be learning from. Van Royen was originally hired to supervise the summer youth crew working on manual fuels reduction units, but is now working as a GIS Technician making maps and other spatially-oriented technology to support field crews.
Ernest Casperson, Fisheries Biology, 1956
Submitted: October 14, 2019
Ernest Casperson, a Fisheries Biology, 1956, passed away March 5, 2019, in Helena, Montana. He was a teacher in several small California communities. He later started his career with the Bureau of Reclamation on what was then the Auburn Dam and Reservoir project. When the project ran into some structural and political hurdles, it failed to get the needed funding, he retired to Montana where he could spend his leisure time fishing for trout.
David J. Lenhart, Wildlife, 1956
Submitted: October 14, 2019
David J. Lenhart, Wildlife Management, 56, passed away on February 7, 2019 at the age of 88 in Portland, Oregon. Upon graduating Lenhart started his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Umatilla, Oregon working with waterfowl. He later transferred to the Division of River Basin Studies, in Portland, Oregon. During his career he worked on projects in Washington, Oregon and California. He later served as Branch Chief of Environmental Contaminants in the USFWS’ Regional Office in Portland. He retired after 33 years of dedicated service.
Carla Fisher, Environmental Resources Engineering, 1985
Submitted: October 8, 2019
Carla Fisher, Environmental Resources Engineering, 1985, retired in 2014 after 29 years at the Environmental Protection Agency and became a part-time technical writer/editor for Akana, an environmental consulting firm in Bellevue, Washington.
Capt. Wayne S. Salmon, Fisheries Biology, 1958
Submitted: October 5, 2019
After working for four summers with the CF&G plus the ADFWG it became obvious to Capt Wayne S. Salmon, 1958 Fisheries Biology, that the wages paid were not sufficient to raise a family. He then entered into the US Navy flight program, where he became an aerial navigator. A beautiful young lady he met on active duty brought him back to Indianapolis where he entered into the Naval Air Reserve program, and got his teaching credentials, and an MS plus 33 semester hours. He then went into Biology/Science teaching which he thoroughly enjoyed. Several of his Humboldt teachers greatly influenced his teaching. He retired as a Navy O-6. He is the former commanding officer of VR-51 at NAS Glenview near Chicago. Want to go fishing? Give him a call.
Charles Acosta, Biological Sciences, 1985
Submitted: October 2, 2019
Charles Acosta, Biological Sciences, 1985, is retiring in 2021 after spending 34 rewarding years serving high school students. His oldest daughter, Krista (HSU Alum 2012), arranged with the dean to allow him to walk across the stage at her commencement ceremony since he was unable to attend his own. While having breakfast in Eureka the following morning, his photo was captured on the front page of the Times Standard newspaper. After HSU, Charles and his daughter both served in the Peace Corps (Dominican Republic and Honduras) where they both married the love of their lives. Krista married Ekow Edzie and Charles married Leyla Turcios. "Thank you HSU, redwoods, sunsets and APD for the great memories".
Jeff Oliveira, Natural Resources, 2001
Submitted: September 26, 2019
After graduation, Jeff Oliveira, Natural Resources, 2001, began working as a California Environmental Quality Act specialist for a consulting firm. He then became an environmental resource specialist with the County of San Luis Obispo managing projects with complex environmental concerns. Eight years ago he started his own consulting firm, Oliveira Environmental Consulting LLC, providing environmental review and permitting support for private and local government clients. Today he is working on a wide range of projects, including mine permitting, CEQA/NEPA review, permitting for local infrastructure improvement projects, permitting for affordable housing projects, construction monitoring, wildlife/botanical surveys, pest species (feral pig) removal, etc.
Benjamin Woodruff, Biological Sciences, 2017
Submitted: September 25, 2019
After graduating from HSU, Benjamin Woodruff, Biological Sciences, 2017, became a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Bridges 2.0 scholar through Humboldt State and began his career as a researcher at Stanford University. There, he studied regenerative medicine as it relates to inner ear biology. Fueled by an enthusiasm for science and academia, he applied for graduate school and is currently a first year PhD student at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon.
John Swancara, Wildlife, 1982
Submitted: September 24, 2019
John Swancara, Wildlife, 1982, has spent over 30 years pioneering reverse osmosis water treatment systems for homes and commercial applications. He pioneered small bottled water plants for small businesses. Currently he is the lead sales engineer for American Beer Equipment in Lincoln, Nebraska designing micro-breweries. John has authored several articles on water treatment.
Jason Sikorski, Environmental Science & Management, 2017
Submitted: September 23, 2019
After graduating from Humboldt State University, Jason Sikorski, Environmental Science & Management, 2017, stayed local and worked at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park as a senior maintenance aid building ADA hiking trails in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park for one season. Afterward he moved back to his hometown in Orange County and was hired by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as an Environmental Health Technician in Laguna Niguel, California.
Eileen Cashman, Environmental Resources Engineering, 1984
Submitted: September 13, 2019
Eileen Cashman, Environmental Resources Engineering, 1984, is starting her 21st year teaching at Humboldt State University in the ERE program. This year she started her second term as Department Chair. She continues to love her job and is grateful to engage with current and future alumni every day!
Melissa Neufer, Biological Sciences, 2001
Submitted: September 5, 2019
In summer 2019, Melissa Neufer, Biology, 2001, studied desert and marine landscapes through ecological and social field methods in Baja, Mexico. Melissa, a biology teacher at Roseland University Prep High School, lives in Santa Rosa, California, and is a graduate student in Miami University's Global Field Program.
Craig S. Harrison, Biological Sciences, 1974 (Masters)
Submitted: August 8, 2019
Craig Harrison, Biological Sciences, 1974, spent a year in Africa before attending HSU. Craig recently published his travelogue "Dreams of a Vanishing Africa: A 1970s Transcontinental Trek", which recounts his travels within the fabric of African societies in 1971-1972. He avoided safe, well-trodden routes and instead used decrepit trains, cargo trucks, rattletrap buses, jammed bush taxis, dugout canoes, and ferries. He lived out of a backpack and experienced the land and people of Africa up close. Craig's website (www.craigsharrison.net) has photos, and the book can be ordered there from the publisher Lulu as well as Amazon.
Joyce Schlachter, Wildlife, 1994
Submitted: August 8, 2019
Joyce Schlachter, Wildlife, 1994, has retired after 26 years with the Federal government, working as a wildlife biologist. Joyce is enjoying her freedom and continues to volunteer with Project Wildlife, rehabilitating bats. Joyce says "thanks HSU for the best years of my life!"
Anthony Erba, Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1987
Submitted: July 9, 2019
After nearly 33 years of federal government service, Anthony Erba, Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1987, has retired from the USDA Forest Service to Northern Wisconsin. His last position was as Regional Director (Eastern Region) overseeing environmental planning, litigation, and landscape-scale conservation (lasting 8.5 years). Anthony's career spanned all four organizational levels of the Forest Service, located on six national forests, one national grassland, one region, and the Washington Office. Never in his wildest dreams would he have been able to predict his career when he graduated in 1987. Anthony is grateful for his experience at HSU, providing him the awareness needed to recognize career opportunities whenever they popped up.
Karen J. Haner, Natural Resources, 1986
Submitted: July 9, 2019
April 1, 2018 Karen Haner, Natural Resources Planning & Interpretation, 1986, retired from a 36 1/2 year career with the National Park Service. Karen spent the last 20 years serving as the Chief of Interpretation, Education and Cultural Resources at Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northeastern California. She also worked in other national parks in California, Texas, Pennsylvania and Indiana. Karen feels she has had a wonderful career made possible with her HSU degree and participation in the Cooperative Education Program through the National Park Service and Humboldt State University. Now she plans to go to national parks as a visitor and sometimes to volunteer.
Ron Miller, Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1983
Submitted: June 22, 2019
Ron Miller, Forestry & Wildland Resources, 1983, recently retired after 35 years of government service as a forester. Last year, in celebration of retirement, he walked the French route of the 500-mile Camino de Santiago across northern Spain starting in St. Jean Pied de Port, France and walking to Santiago, Spain. He completed the pilgrimage on June 3, 2018.
Jason Storlie, Wildlife, 2007
Submitted: June 20, 2019
Jason Storlie, Wildlife, 2007, transitioned from wildlife biologist to manager of Bitter Creek and Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuges.
Alissa Sobo, Chemistry, 2010
Submitted: June 4, 2019
After graduating from Humboldt State University, Alissa Sobo, Chemistry, 2010, stayed in the community and opened a restaurant called Naan of the Above. Alissa sold this business and moved to the bay area to teach science in after school programs. Alissa then had two children, and while staying at home with them, taught herself to code. She built a web application called Ample that was recently mentioned in the New York Times. She now works as a software engineer for Mozilla.