Alumni Updates


Jared Haynes, 1982
Submitted: February 18, 2016

Jared Haynes, 1982 M.A. Biology and 1986 M.A. English, married alumna Gail Newton in 1986 under the redwoods in Eureka. Haynes started his career at College of the Redwoods, teaching math and English. After the couple moved to Sacramento, Haynes spent 25 years teaching writing in the University Writing Program at UC Davis, including an advanced writing course for biology students and an advanced writing course for pre-law students. Haynes also taught the university’s English grammar course and a Science in the Renaissance course. Haynes retired in 2014.


Crystal Schalmo, 2004
Submitted: February 18, 2016

Crystal Schalmo, 2004 Biological Sciences, participated in Miami University’s Earth Expeditions global field course in Costa Rica during summer 2015. In Costa Rica, Schalmo studied biotic, physical, and cultural forces that affect tropical biodiversity at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and La Selva Biological Station. Schalmo, a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo Global in San Diego, Calif., took the graduate course in pursuit of her master’s degree from Miami University’s Global Field Program.


Mary Katherine Wicksten, 1972
Submitted: October 23, 2015

Mary Wicksten, 1972 Biological Sciences, is a Professor of Biology at Texas A&M University, College Station, and just published her book "Vertical Reefs: Life on Oil and Gas Platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.” Published by Texas A&M University Press, it is the only non-technical book on the subject. The illustrated book discusses the biota of these structures, its origins, and what happens to these organisms over the lifespan of a platform. A copy is on its way to the Humboldt Library.


Kathryn Hedges, 2010
Submitted: July 28, 2015

Kathryn Hedges, 2010 Biological Sciences, started a handcrafting business in Silicon Valley at TechShop in 2011. She creates jewelry, holiday decor, and souvenirs and sells locally and globally online.


Douglas Turner, 1980
Submitted: November 29, 2014

Douglas Turner, 1980, Biological Sciences, has two sons on the college path. Turner’s oldest is a Chemical Engineering major at Cal Poly Pomona and his youngest, currently a high school senior, is applying to HSU.


Terri Bidle, 2011
Submitted: August 26, 2014

Terri Bidle, 2011 Zoology, is beginning a new chapter of her life as a marine education program manager in Southern California. After seven years with the USC QuikSCience program, she will be working with ExplorOcean in Newport Beach, Calif., to bring quality ocean exploration to young people.


Tonja (Olson)Tallent, 1998
Submitted: July 17, 2014

Tonja (Olson)Tallent, 1998, Biological Sciences, worked at a winery as a microbiologist, then for a bio-tech company doing the same. She recently left corporate America and started a business with her husband and now happily runs a tea-bar in Fair Oaks, Calif.


David, 1996
Submitted: October 8, 2013

David E. McLean, 1996, Biological Sciences, is the current president of the Vermont State Dental Society and a delegate to the American Dental Association. McLean earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2000 and now lives in South Burlington, Vt.


Doug Downie, 1994
Submitted: July 19, 2013

DOUG DOWNIE, 1994 Biological Sciences, earned his doctorate in Entomology (Population genetics in grape phylloxera) at UC Davis. Downie spent four years doing postdoctoral research on grape phylloxera, mealybugs, and ants. He took an academic position at Rhodes University in South Africa in 2003, where I stayed to 2011. Downie now works at the Dept. of Pesticide Regulation in Sacramento. Along the way he has published poetry and prose and self-published five books of fiction.


Jason W. Cooley, 1994
Submitted: March 6, 2013

Jason W. Cooley, 1994, Biological Sciences, is currently a professor of Chemistry at the University of Missouri.


Dennis A. Hansell, 1978
Submitted: December 31, 2012

Oceanography professor at the University of Miami, FL. Research focuses on the ocean carbon cycle, with particular interest in the role of organic matter. Presently serve as Chairman of the United States Carbon Cycle Scientific Steering Group. Research cruise in Feb/March 2013 in the Ross Sea of the Southern Ocean (53 days at sea) followed by June cruise in Gulf of Alaska.


Áki Jarl Láruson, 2010
Submitted: October 5, 2012

I am starting my second year as a doctorate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Månoa. I am focusing on molecular ecology, population genetics and quantitative genetics in the shallow water urchin genus Tripneustes. Thanks to Professor Sean Craig of Humboldt State, I had my first publication as a lead author before finishing my first year of Grad school.


Mary K. Wicksten, 1970
Submitted: September 26, 2012

Mary K. Wicksten, 1970, Biological Sciences, published her monograph "Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces" in the journal Zootaxa this year. Over 20 years in the making, the 307-page work covers all the crabs, shrimps and lobsters, including both marine and freshwater species, to be found from Washington to mid-Baja California. It is the first major work to cover these crustaceans in California since 1921. Keys and illustrations are included for all species.


Alef DuRant-Wise, 2013
Submitted: August 20, 2012

Alef DuRant-Wise has recently been hired as the Laboratory Manager at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology. She is working on atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn's disease in the Ley Lab. She is taking her last two classes for her two bachelor degrees in marine biology and zoology as an intrasystem exchange student at San Diego State University. Special thanks to Professor Sean Craig for being a great mentor!


Asad Ullah, 2012-2013
Submitted: July 22, 2012

please inform me about admission in master and m.phill program in botany .
also update me about schollership in the mentioned field.
thankyou.


Mry K. Wicksten, B.A. 1970, M.A. 1972
Submitted: July 5, 2012

Mary Wicksten is a Professor of Biology at Texas A&M University. She just finished her major publication, "Decapod Crustacea of the Californiana and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces", Zootaxa 336=71, 307 pages long. This monograph contains keys, illustrations, short descriptions and information on range, depth, habitat and living color for all crabs, shrimps and lobster-like species, freshwater or marine from the shore to the abyss from Washington to mid-Baja California. Yes, I am sending a copy to the Humboldt Marine lab!


David Talley, 1983
Submitted: October 22, 2011

I am finishing my 30 th year as a public school educator. I taught science at the middle and high school level for 13 years in California before moving into school administration. I have worked at all grade levels k-12 and currently serve as principal of Quincy high school. My wife Michele and I have been married for 21 years and have two daughters, Danielle and Marinda


(Allen) Kent Willis, 1969
Submitted: March 31, 2011

I teach Algebra I and physical science in 8th grade at Fortuna Middle School. I have coached soccer, track, and basketball and have also served as Vice Principal and Athletic Director. I received an MA in elementary education from the University of San Francisco, and an MA in educational technology leadership from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. I have just finished a doctorate re: the relationship of multiplication tables and fraction skills to learning algebra. My wife and I have two children and enjoy dancing, skiing, softball, and coaching basketball.


Carrie Vath, 2003
Submitted: January 28, 2011

I am currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Florida in the School of Natural Resources and Environment. My research focuses on primate conservation, forest management planning, and community development in Cross River State Nigeria


Gordon Dennis Wogan, 1970
Submitted: January 20, 2011

After graduation, 3 years in the Coast Guard, an MS degree from UC Davis and work as a technician with the University of Idaho's horticulture program I was hired as a horticulturist with the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture's Nursery and Christmas Tree program. I retired after 29 years with the ODA. I married Patricia Hatfield nine years ago. Together we have 5 children (2 mine, 3 hers) and 3 grandsons. We're enjoying retirement, traveling wood woorking, birdwatching, gardening and anything eles that looks interesting.