February
2020

It is a great time to be a Lumberjack!

While attending a meeting hosted by EAB and San Jose State University at LinkedIn, I learned about the “network gap.” Researchers are finding out that much of our success is determined by where we went to kindergarten and who we got to know as we grew up. The “network” strongly influences the strength of our first jobs after college and our progression into the second job. Look for more information on this in a coming story. LinkedIn is doing some new and interesting things to help people expand their networks. I encourage you to establish a profile and be sure to link with HSU.

Last summer, HSU hired Double LL Consulting and Jill Willson to serve as Interim Athletic Director and to lead the search for the permanent Athletic Director. Coach Willson’s presence helped HSU raise more than $400,000 for student scholarships, and led to the successful hiring of Jane Teixeira as the new Athletic Director. In this report, read all about Jane and what she brings to the Lumberjack family.

There is much to share about the new Nursing program at HSU. Scheduled to open in Fall 2020, the partnerships making it possible have grown to include many, including St. Joseph Health, Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City, Humboldt Area Foundation, and the ever-important College of the Redwoods. Without the collaboration with CR and President Keith Flamer, we would not have been able to create the important link between the CR program and HSU’s. And looking ahead, Nursing is only a small part of what both CR and HSU have in mind.

There is an amazing sense of community and positive spirit on campus. Maybe it’s the sunshine or maybe it’s the great people. The recent Presidential Investiture activities brought out the very best in all of us. This was a chance for HSU to celebrate itself and to raise scholarship funds for students. It did exactly that. The Chancellor along with 21 CSU Trustees and Presidents were in attendance, all donned in colorful academic regalia. The faculty shined brightly in their pride for HSU. And the donors rose to the occasion by giving $161,000 to support students at the scholarship dinner. A few students and alumni shared inspirational stories about how scholarships had helped them. History major Jesse Bowling said scholarships are helping him achieve his dream to return to his alma mater, Eureka High School, as a history teacher. “I want to give back to the high school that gave to me,” says Bowling.

Thank you to everyone in the community and throughout campus. It is a great time to be a Lumberjack!

— President Jackson

Students and Their Dreams

Humboldt students have all kinds of dreams about what their college educations will help them achieve. Hear from some of them in this video, which debuted at the recent Investiture ceremony.

More Freshmen Staying in School

Humboldt State is seeing strong success in efforts to keep students in school following their freshmen year. Over the last three years, retention of first-time undergraduates has steadily increased from 69 percent to 75 percent, just shy of a University-high of 78 percent that was seen in 2012. Spring retention improved this year, with 95 percent of freshmen returning this semester compared to 91.8 percent last spring semester.

Jane Teixeira has been appointed HSU's next Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports

Teixeira has 25 years of experience in higher education as an administrator, coach, student-athlete, and leader. Her focus is on supporting student-athletes, mentoring coaches and athletic staff, and maintaining a sustainable, successful program. She is expected to begin in early April.

More Rankings for HSU Programs

Numerous Humboldt State programs recently received strong rankings by Plexuss, an online resource for prospective college students. The programs ranked were Wildlife, Forestry, Botany, and Criminology.

New Eureka Home for Small Business Development Center

HSU's Northern California Small Business Development Center helped companies secure more than $314 million in capital in 2019, the most of 62 SBDC networks in the nation. The Center officially opened its new headquarters on 3rd Street in Eureka on Feb. 5.

Student Effort Highlights Black Heritage

Blending her cultural heritage, love of music, and call to serve the community, HSU graduate student Valetta Molofsky organized the first Harvest Event at the Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir last fall.

Alternative Spring Break - Climate Resilience and Local Activism

A new Alternative Spring Break is designed for HSU students interested in community resilience and climate justice. During spring break, students will engage in exercises like mapping their spheres of influence, developing their own vision of leadership, and examining case studies of regenerative economies.

HSU Joins Sweeping Anti-Bias Training Program

Humboldt State students, staff, and faculty are joining with colleagues from across the California State University and University of California systems to learn strategies for addressing bias. They will learn to raise awareness, apply key concepts for organizational change, learn tools and strategies, and practice interventions.

Student-Led Pre-Med Internship

Brooke Reyes, a Cellular/Molecular Biology major in her senior year, has launched a program to connect pre-med students to opportunities with local medical providers.

Professor's Legacy Supports a New Generation

Stanley Harris, who passed at the age of 91 in December, helped build the HSU Department of Wildlife into one of the best in the country. He also played a big part in creating the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary. Now, the scholarships he and his wife Lorene created are helping wildlife students fulfill their academic dreams.

Prestigious Recognition for Professor Till

Chemistry Professor Claire Till was recently named a Cottrell Scholar by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. The award recognizes early-career scholars and each awardee receives $100,000. Learn about other recent achievements by HSU students, faculty, and staff.

Big Grant for Basic Needs Services

Funding of $640,000 from the CSU Chancellor's Office will support Oh SNAP!, emergency housing funds, and research in the Department of Social Work.

Lizzy Prescott Selected to 2020 CCAA Hall of Fame

NCAA champion pitcher Lizzie Prescott made a prolific impact in her four-year career at Humboldt State, and was named conference Most Valuable Pitcher three times. She was recently named to the CCAA Hall of Fame.

HSU Dining Working to be Even Greener

The Green Restaurant Association recently named HSU eateries certified green restaurants, and HSU is working to do even more. The University is collaborating with local partners on an ambitious food waste reduction program.

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