Alumni Updates
Crystal Betances, 2019
Submitted: May 18, 2023
Crystal is working with Politics4her on a research project in partnership with the Apolitical Foundation, an organization based in Berlin. The project’s focus is on regions with ongoing programs to increase women’s political involvement, seeking to create deep partnerships with those leading the Political Leadership Incubators (PLIs) in the region. The project will also highlight the barriers to women’s political participation. Crystal attributes her interest to this project from her time as an International Studies undergrad, and takes with her the research skills learned during that time.
Lauren Werner, 2021
Submitted: July 5, 2022
Laura Werner (International Studies, '21) is enjoying a position as an AmeriCorps VISTA Outreach Specialist, and Community Harm Reduction and Youth Educator with the Sacramento County Opioid Coalition. Werner has also recently accepted a position with the Peace Corps as a Community Educator in Mongolia. Werner is extremely thankful for the multitude of absolutely fantastic opportunities delivered to her after graduation from HSU, despite the many fluctuations that have recently taken place. International Studies has proven to be the most flexible major option, providing freedom in all of her professional pursuits and educational explorations.
Mariko-(Jade) Takimoto, 2016
Submitted: September 15, 2020
After graduation, Mariko-(Jade) Takimoto, International Studies, 2016, was fortunate enough to teach a year abroad in Seville, Spain. Once she returned to the states, she worked as an advisor for entertainment-art students at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Now she is a Recruiter/Sourcer for Sony PlayStation - Santa Monica Studio, God of War team. Takimoto says, "none of this would have been possible if not for the support of the HSU staff & faculty, especially those in the World Languages & Cultures Dept., International Studies Dept., and Center for International Programs. Thank you all for the support you have shown me and your willingness to continue to inspire students to be the very best version of themselves. Thank you HSU! <3"
Valerie Tepetlanco, 2018
Submitted: September 4, 2019
Valerie Tepetlanco, International Studies, 2018, has been accepted to the M.A. in Cultural Studies program at Claremont Graduate University.
Lyla Godfryd, 2019
Submitted: August 7, 2019
Lyla Godfryd, International Studies, 2019, will be serving in the Peace Corps as an Environmental Education Volunteer in Panama beginning in February. Lyla says she feels very blessed to have been provided with such an encouraging and caring group of professors and fellow classmates and the International Studies program at HSU has provided her with the skills and confidence she needs to embark on this journey!
Ariana Hendren, 2017
Submitted: July 17, 2019
After completing her degree Ariana Hendren, International Studies, 2017, earned a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate. She caught the travel bug after studying abroad in Spain with the HSU World Languages and Cultures Department. She is now teaching elementary-middle school students at an English Academy in South Korea with her boyfriend whom she met while living in Arcata. They will soon move to a new country to continue their teaching adventure.
Sophia Remer, 2014
Submitted: June 20, 2019
Sophia Remer, International Studies, 2014, went onto culinary school in Sonoma County after graduating from HSU and worked as a professional baker. She has recently moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her partner (also a Humboldt graduate) who is getting his Ph.D. in Pollination Biology. Sophia is pursuing a dual degree Masters of Arts in Food Studies with an MBA program from Chatham University to combine her backgrounds in food and cultural studies.
Sophia Remer, 2014
Submitted: May 21, 2019
Sophia Remer, International Studies, 2014, went on to culinary school in Sonoma County after graduating from HSU and worked as a professional baker. She has recently moved to Pittsburgh, PA with her partner (also a Humboldt graduate) who is getting his phD in Pollination Biology. Remer is applying to the Master of Arts in Food Studies with an MBA dual degree program from Chatham University to combine her backgrounds in food and cultural studies.
John Soener, 2016
Submitted: May 1, 2019
After having completed two years of Peace Corps service in Nicaragua John Soener, International Studies, 2016, will be attending graduate school at Indiana University. John will be pursuing a Masters in Public Affairs, focusing specifically on nonprofit management and policy analysis. His International Studies and Spanish degrees were a great way to start his career in public service and Peace Corps was an incredible career booster that has provided him incredible opportunities to fund graduate school.
Zachary Haitkin, 2010
Submitted: November 6, 2018
Zachary Haitkin, International Studies, 2010, is currently residing in the city of San Francisco working at the headquarters for the rideshare company, Lyft. He began his career here over 4.5 years ago by making the transition from a Lyft driver to customer support associate. Since then, he has worked on the Operations team and led the effort to build a Competitive Intelligence network in an effort to improve Lyft's visibility into what competitors are doing at a market level. Most recently, he has moved over to Lyft's Growth team as a Project Manager to help lead the charge in the localization of the Lyft platform into Spanish and other languages.
Fernando William Manzanera, 2016
Submitted: September 11, 2018
Fernando William Manzanera, International Studies, 2016, moved to the Czech Republic February 1, 2017, to be with his girlfriend. He's been living here for 20 months now and works as a teacher and in IT Support for a Swiss insurance company. Life is pretty great. :-)
Karlee Jewell, 2015
Submitted: January 24, 2018
Karlee Jewell, International Studies, 2015, is a Local Americorps Member who was recently recognized alongside thirty young people, ages 30 and under, by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). The EE 30 Under 30 highlights the work of young professionals of various backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and communities around the globe who are using education to help protect the environment. The program was started by a partnership between NAAEE and the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). For more information visit: www.naaee.org/our-work/programs/ee-30-under-30
Jenine Torres formerly Prus, 2009
Submitted: September 25, 2017
Jenine Torres, International Studies, 2009, is from Grand Rapids, MI, where she has been living since 2009. After receiving her BA from HSU while studying abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, she received her Masters of Public Administration from Grand Valley State University in 2014. She is a member of the Leadership Grand Rapids Class of 2016, GR Area Chamber of Commerce, Center for Community Leadership. Currently, she has the privilege of being a Development Officer at Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Michigan's oldest community foundation. She was married in June 2017 and has three stepchildren.
Marilyn Liu, 2016
Submitted: September 19, 2017
Marilyn Liu, 2016, International Studies, recently completed her Master's program for International Business and Management from Durham University in the U.K. She spent the last few months of grad school participating in a Dissertation Abroad Scheme with Grenoble Ecole de Management in France. While in France, Marilyn received a grant from the European Union and researched how feminist theories of technology and the theory of intersectionality can improve corporate social responsibility.
Emily Maria Harbaugh, 2008
Submitted: September 17, 2017
Emily Maria Harbaugh, 2008 International Studies, is a law student at UC Hastings, College of the Law in San Francisco. She hopes to become a public defender because she is passionate about indigent defendant rights and low-income legal service work. The language skills that she gained while studying at Humboldt State have been instrumental to her work thus far.
Shannon Edam, 2009
Submitted: April 11, 2017
Shannon Edam, 2009 International Studies, is passionate about human rights, social justice, and international affairs. She graduated from American University's School of International Service with a master's degree in ethics, peace and global affairs in 2014, and earned a master's in education from Lesley University in May 2016. She studied abroad in Belgium, Ghana, Cuba, and Mexico, focusing on international studies and human rights, then shifted her focus to 'bringing human rights home' by teaching in inner city schools for free in 2014. Edam currently serves individuals with mental illness and a history of chronic homelessness through her work at Pathways to Housing, DC.
Omar Alejandro Garcia, 2011
Submitted: March 21, 2017
After working at Solar City, I am currently working in Taiwan as an English Teacher and preparing for an International Business Masters degree. I am still playing baseball and running my audio-blog about identity and cross-cultural interactions. I would like to thank Rosamel Benavides in the World Languages and Cultures Dept as well as the International Studies Dept for providing me a solid foundation to conquer career challenges, domestic and international.
Annathea Cook, 2013
Submitted: February 10, 2017
Annathea Cook, 2013 International Studies, earned her master's degree in International Trade Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) and have recently begun a career as an International Trade Compliance Analyst with the International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce. Cook writes, “It's a strange time to move to DC, but it's exciting to be working on such a hot topic that I'm passionate about. Everyday I'm using skills that I learned at HSU, particularly negotiation skills that I learned as a preschool teacher with the HSU Children's Center. Can't wait to visit my hometown of Arcata again soon. Stay weird Humboldt.”
Benjamin Ebert, 2003
Submitted: February 10, 2017
Benjamin Ebert, 2003 International Studies, moved his office ot Eureka in 2014. Ebert owns an investment firm, Ebert Capital Management, and a software development company named Ravenlight Technologies, LLC.
Deborah Wynn (Graaff), 2013
Submitted: June 15, 2016
Deborah Wynn (Graaff), 2013 International Studies, got married and started medical school with her partner. She is currently in her third year and is preparing for the first step of the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam before starting clinical rotations.
