Distinguished Humboldt Alumni

Piet deVries - 2016 Humboldt Distinguished Alum
Piet DeVries
1993, Environmental Systems (International Development Technology)

Piet deVries has led a country-wide response to the Ebola crisis in Liberia. There, he oversaw operations in the country's 15 counties, established improved hygiene and sanitation practices, and paved the way for dignified burials that respected the wishes of the deceased’s families and prevented the human-to-human transmission of the deadly virus. Currently, deVries is the senior technical advisor for the Global Communities’ Improved Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (IWASH) program. Global Communities is an international nonprofit that works to improve the lives and livelihoods of the vulnerable worldwide. 

Greg Beck - 2016 Humboldt Distinguished Alum
Greg Beck
1994, Environmental Systems (International Development Technology)

Greg Beck earned his Masters degree in Environmental Systems (International Development Technology option) from Cal Poly Humboldt in 1994 and is now the Director of Integrated Development at FHI 360, an international nonprofit that works to address development challenges in more than 70 countries around the globe, as well as all U.S. states and territories. Before taking his position at FHI 360, Beck worked with the Obama Administration, the Peace Corps and more! 

Lonny Grafman - 2015 Humboldt Distinguished Alum
Lonny Grafman
2004, Physical Science and Mathematics

Since graduating from Humboldt in 2004, Lonny Grafman has served as an instructor in the ERE department as well as started work abroad. He is currently the director of Practivistas Dominicanas, a Spanish immersion and appropriate technology study abroad program, as well as the creator of Appropedia, a collaborative website focusing on sustainable projects, and the CEO of Propelsion, a technology incubator in Humboldt County. Grafman also works as an advisor to many design projects and was named one of Humboldt's distinguished alumni in the spring of 2015.

Richard Corsi - 2006 Humboldt Distinguished Alum
Richard Corsi
1983, Environmental Resources Engineering

Dr. Richard Corsi, now a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas, Austin, has received international recognition for his research on indoor air quality. "The indoor environment is not the safe, clean sanctuary we thought it was," Dr. Corsi said, "In fact, the exposure of Americans to toxic substances is dominated by what we breathe and touch while we are indoors. Ironically, our focus has been on protecting the public from toxins that exist outdoors." Corsi is now directing a $2.9 million grad program designed to train students in the new field of indoor air quality. He was named one of Humboldt's distinguished alumni in the spring of 2006.

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