Congratulations to the 2020 Distinguished Alumni!
Abby Abinanti (‘70, Journalism) is Chief Judge for the Yurok Tribe, where she is an enrolled member. Abinanti was the first Native American woman to pass the California bar and the first Native American woman in California to become a state judge. She also serves as a Court Commissioner for the City and County of San Francisco. Known as Judge Abby throughout Indian Country, Abinanti is one of a growing number of tribal judges nationwide incorporating traditional culture into their courtrooms, with the dual aim of rehabilitating individuals and providing justice to people often failed by the regular criminal-justice system.
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Carin Kaltschmidt (‘90, Computer Information Science) is an Ernst & Young executive who leads professional consulting services for large global corporations. For more than 25 years, she specialized in managing complex business and technology transformations for high tech, media, and entertainment industries. She led a crisis management program for Sony Pictures Entertainment following a cybersecurity hack, and headed a team at Disney to launch Disney+ into homes, laptops, tablets, and smartphones across the globe.
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Dan Phillips (’91, Business and Computer Information Systems) is the Chief Technology Officer at Hulu. He oversees Hulu's entire Technology and Product organization. In December 2019, Phillips, who grew up in rural Humboldt County, and his wife Cindy, created the Dan & Cindy Phillips Fortuna Scholarship, established with a $250,000 gift from the Phillips. The scholarship supports Fortuna High School graduates who enroll at HSU.
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Daniel Raleigh (’81, Chemistry, Mathematics) is a Professor of Biophysics at University College London and a Professor of Chemistry at Stony Brook University in New York. He has conducted ground-breaking studies of the role of protein misfolding and aggregation in disease, and his contributions to this area have led to a new view of the critical unfolded state of proteins. The misfolding and pathological aggregation of proteins is the direct cause of more than 20 devastating human diseases. Raleigh’s achievements have been recognized by a National Science Foundation Career Award, selection as a Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, and membership on the editorial boards of five leading journals.
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Forest Stearns (‘05, Art) is the Principal Artist at DRAWEVERYWHERE LLC where he produces unique artwork and leads collaborations connecting artists and institutions. Currently he is the creative innovation consultant and artist-in-residence founder at Google Quantum AI. Stearns is the first artist to send his art into space. Since 2013, Stearns has been working with Planet Labs, where he created original artwork and helped engineer the process for laser etching each art piece onto multiple surfaces of more than 350 satellites launched into Earth’s orbit. His artistic imprint can be found all over the globe and has been commissioned by companies such as Apple, Adobe, and Google.
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Jason Ramos (‘98, Kinesiology, ‘14 M.S. Kinesiology) serves as a tribal council member for Blue Lake Rancheria and chairman of the BLR Gaming Commission. Ramos works to advance tribal strategy, policy, programs, and investments in infrastructure and economic enterprise. His work for BLR has earned the following recognition: a 2019 “Green Power Leadership Award” from the Environmental Protection Agency; 2019 “Microgrids for Greater Good Award” from Microgrid Knowledge; 2018 “Project of the Year for DER Integration” from POWERGRID International and DistribuTECH; 2017 “Whole Community Preparedness Award” from FEMA; and 2015-2016 “Climate Action Champion” from the White House and U.S. Department of Energy.
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Susan Seaman (‘96, Journalism) is the mayor of Eureka and program director for Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC). After graduating, she worked as the program information director for KEET-TV, developing promotional materials, planning events, producing television shows and developing outreach programs to support children's programming. She and her husband owned a small market in Fieldbrook, where she developed an interest in the role of small business in the community. She started working for AEDC to promote small business and economic growth. As mayor, Seaman has introduced the Eureka Family and Children Initiative. This initial five-year plan will focus on making Eureka a more supportive environment for families and young children.
Read more about Susan Seaman »
Take the Humboldt Quiz
How much do you know about Humboldt State? You could win great Humboldt prizes! Just click the answer button to respond. Those sending correct responses to this month's question will be entered in a drawing for Forever Humboldt gifts.
What design element was temporarily inflicted on Founders Hall during World War II?
- A) It was covered with a tent
- B) It was camouflaged with paint
- C) The windows were blacked out
- D) The roof was painted red, white, and blue
Last month’s quiz asked, “Which band/musician contributed $700,000 worth of equipment to theatre arts in 1987?” Congratulations to Claudia Callwood (‘73, Psychology) for submitting the correct answer and winning the drawing: Madonna.
