Alumni Updates


Kellie Tharp, 2002
Submitted: October 31, 2012

The Humboldt State University Wildlife program provided an excellent foundation for pursuing a career in wildlife conservation. After graduation I worked as a biologist for the BLM, USFS and USGS in Alaska and Oregon. I received my Master of Science degree from the Johns Hopkins University in Environmental Science and Policy in 2007 and subsequently accepted a position with the Arizona Game and Fish Department as the Environmental Education Program Manager. After 2 years I promoted into the position of Education Branch Chief with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. In 2011 I received the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Mark J. Reef memorial award which recognizes distinguished young wildlife management professionals for their outstanding service in the conservation of fish and wildlife resources and for overcoming challenges through creative, determined initiatives of the nominee’s own device, producing benefits beyond the immediate area of mandate of the nominating agency.


Amanda Shufelberger, 2000
Submitted: September 23, 2012

After working for several government agencies, I have been working as a Wildlife Biologist in Grass Valley for Sierra Pacific Industries for 5+ years.


Kathryn Leigh Riley, 2006
Submitted: May 31, 2012

Kathryn Riley recently joined the San Diego URS Corporation as a Wildlife Biologist. She is currently conducting wildlife surveys on alternative energy projects in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of California. Her focus is on migratory birds, burrowing owls and the federally endangered desert tortoise.


TIM PROVAN, 1968
Submitted: March 30, 2012

upon graduation, moved to Utah. Completed M.S. Degree in Wildlife Sciences at Utah State. Worked 30 years for Utah Div. Wildlife Resources. Became Director in 1989 Retired and moved to Redding, CA and worked for Duck's Unlimited for 7 years as Regional Director. Retired in 2004. Continue to hunt & fish enjoying the beauty of Northern California.


Dr. GAry Joseph Stebbins, 1972
Submitted: March 21, 2012

Gary Joseph Stebbins, 1972, Wildlife, has reentered the world of public education as principle of the Greenville, Calif., and Taylorsville, Calif., elementary schools after a career in public education as a teacher and administrator, and then professor of Educational Leadership at San Jose State University. Stebbins and his wife Maureen (a Humboldt alumna) built their retirement home at Lake Almanor, Calif., with the help of family. Stebbins enjoys his "born again" role as principal and Maureen also volunteers at the schools several days a week.


Rani Ram, Spring 2011
Submitted: February 26, 2012

Since graduating with my B.S. in May, I have been busy applying to Anthropology graduate programs to specialize in Primatology. An important aspect of this process is applying to scholarships, such as the NSF GRFP, which I highly recommend getting started on early. I have been accepted to my top choice school, Kent State, OH, to study the feeding ecology of saki monkeys in Surinam with Dr. Marilyn Norconk. I didn't follow a traditional path in gaining my degree, and it may have taken me a little longer, but what matters in the end is that if you persist with your education, you will achieve your desired goals. Good luck.


Jo Anne Smith (Flueck), 1982
Submitted: May 12, 2011

Recently appointed Chair of Huemul Task Force in the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Has served as Chair for the Scientific Steering Committee for the 6th and 7th International Deer Biology Congress (Republic of Czech and Chile, respectively) and now serving at same capacity for the upcoming 8th IDBC, which is to be held in Harbin China.


Micah Carnahan, 2010
Submitted: March 4, 2011

I left school in the middle of my last semester, fall 2009, due to the birth of my son. He was born with a congenital heart disease known as Transposition of the Great Arteries or TGA. We (my wife, my newborn son and myself)were immediately flown to SF where my son would receive surgery. During our 3 month stay at UCSF I was able to keep in contact with my professors and they worked with me to finish my coursework during my stay. My son is 15 months now. He is healthy and doing great! I received my degree and quickly began interviewing for careers that could sustain my new family. Because of the skills and training I received from HSU, I was chosen from a number of candidates to be the new Environmental Scientist for the CA Department of Fish and Game's Lake and Streambed Alteration Program. I am so thankful, and proud, to have studied at HSU and to have had the privelage of learning from the best professors in the country. Thank you HSU!


John D Cherry, 1959
Submitted: January 20, 2011

Retired 1n 1993; was Associate Regional Director, National Park Service, San Francisco.Thirty two year career with the Department of Interior: Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and National Park Service.


Jo Anne, 1982
Submitted: January 20, 2011

I was president of the Scientific Steering Committee for the 6th and 7th International Deer Biology Congress (2006 and 2010, respectively, and am serving again for the upcoming 8th congress. Currently I am affiliated with Institute Analysis of Natural Resources (IARN), Universidad Atlántida Argentina in Mar del Plata, Argentina as a Research Scientist. I often work with Werner Flueck, a Swiss who graduated in 1982 from Humboldt with degrees in Wildlife Management and Zoology. We clandestinely eloped 3 months before our graduation so that Werner could receive his green card and then attend graduate school at University of California, Davis. Soon, our marriage will span 29 years. Over the last 20 years, we have worked together on studies related to conservation of the endangered native deer and impacts of exotic deer in Argentina and Chile. Last year we were the main organizers for the 7th International Deer Biology Congress, held in the Huilo Huilo Reserve, Chile, which was the first time the congress was held in Latin America.


Jo Anne M. Smith (professional name Smith-Flueck), 1982
Submitted: January 20, 2011

I was president of Scientific Steering Committee for the 6th and 7th International Deer Biology Congresses (2006 and 2010, respectively) and am continuing to serve at this capacity for the 8th congress. I'm currently affiliated as Research Scientist with Institute Analysis of Natural Resources (IARN)
Universidad Atlántida Argentina
Mar del Plata, Argentina
and am conducting research on highly endangered native and exotic deer in S. America with husband, Werner Flueck, a Swiss citizen, who graduated in 1982 from Humboldt with two bachelor degrees in Wildlife Management and Zoology. He went on to get his PhD at UC Davis in Pathology while I got my Masters there in Ecology. I later went on to obtain my doctorate in Biology at the Univ. Nacional del Comahue in Argentina. We were the main organizers for the recent 7th International Deer Biology Congress held in Huilo Huilo Reserve, Chile.


Steve Askay, 1969
Submitted: January 20, 2011

Retired after teaching Biology for 38 years in Ventura,Ca. Spends free time surfing, fishing,walking the dogs and playing with the grandchildren. Wife, Cheryl( Linnett '70)is also retired and spends her free time with her horse and singing in her church choir. They split time between Ventura, Ca and Ennis,Montana.


Sanford "Sandy" Wilbur, 1963
Submitted: January 19, 2011

I'm celebrating 15 years of retirement after a 35 year career with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; about to celebrate 50 years of marriage to Sally Harris (we met in the dorms at Humboldt 1959); and am finishing up the manuscript for my fifth book, this one of California history as told by the California condor story.


Wendy Mellberg Haecker, 2005
Submitted: January 19, 2011

I received a Master of Arts in Special Education from SF State University in 2008 and now work as a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor at Guide Dogs for the Blind in the SF Bay Area.