Alumni - 1970-1979

What do Humboldt political science alumni do? They work for – and start-up – non-profit groups that tackle social, environmental, and cultural challenges. They lead state and local governmental agencies. They join the Peace Corps. They succeed in outstanding graduate and law schools. They teach high school. They become college professors and administrators. They staff Congressional and the State Legislative offices. They become leaders in international organizations. They practice law. They establish businesses and consulting firms. They manage political campaigns. They get elected to public office. They remain active and engaged citizens who make their communities and our world a better place.

Meet our featured Alumni

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1970’S 

Dennis Rosser (1970) taught in Arizona and California schools for 34 years. I recently retired as the superintendent/principal of Cuddeback School in Carlotta, California. He writes, “I truly enjoyed my political science classes at Humboldt. They prepared me for my career in education. My professors provided a great education. I am forever in their debt. A degree in political science is an invaluable introduction into an examination of our world. I don’t know who or what I would have become without that degree.”

David Tranberg (1970) had a law practice in Arcata for many years. He has also been the city attorney for Trinidad, Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna, Ferndale, and many other governmental entities. He is now semi-retired from law, though he still represents the city of Fortuna, the fire, water and service districts and HCAOG. He runs a cattle ranch full-time. He received his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco in 1973.

John Gray (1971) is chairman and president of Bubbies Kosher Dill Pickles of San Francisco.

E.S. (Ted) Deacon (1972) is a partner in the law firm of Wilcoxen, Callahan, Montgomery and Deacon in Sacramento. His J.D. is from McGeorge School of Law.

Robert McConnell (1972) is Director of Marketing for Contrarian Capital Management in Connecticut.

Carol Schroeder Wold (1972) is Vice President of Community Affairs for Lennar Home Builders. She is on the Board of Directors of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce and is a past president of Families Forward, and past president and a member of the Board of Trustees of Concordia University, Irvine. She has an M.A. from University of Redlands.

Randolph Bakke (1973) practices family law as an attorney with McKernan, Lanam, Bakke & Williams.

Steven Butler (1973) is Vice President for Student Affairs at Cal Poly Humboldt. He earned a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California in 1987.

Jim Holmes (1973) is a member of the Placer County Board of Supervisors. He represents the 3rd District. Jim has been dedicated to community service throughout his adult life, serving on: The Auburn Union Elementary School District Board; The Placer Consolidated Fire Protection District Board; The North Auburn Municipal Advisory Council, founding member; The Highway 49 Business Association, founding member; The Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce; and the Boys & Girls Club & Teen Center of Auburn.

Gary Longholm (1973) is the Deputy Executive Officer of the Legislation and Public Affairs Division of the State of California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board. Prior to joining the Board, Mr. Longholm worked as a legislative representative at the Department of General Services (DGS). He represented DGS in all phases of legislation related to financing construction of school facilities and to victims of crime. Before his career at DGS, Mr. Longholm served as the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Department of Education and as a legislative staff member to the California State Board of Education.

Mark H. Salyer (1973) is a partner in the Law Offices of William E. Barnes where we practice real estate and title litigation. He received his law degree from McGeorge School of Law in 1977. He reports that his constitutional law professor at Humboldt, Dr. Bohlman, “greatly influenced my career path.”

Leslie Harer (1974) is Office Manager for BigSpeak speaker’s bureau. Previously, she was a special events coordinator, organizing meetings, programs and conferences internationally. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Congo.

Sandee Witcraft-Schlaefli (1974) is the president of Urban Systems Associates, working on transportation and land-use planning and management issues.

Robert Deignan (1975) is the Communications Director for California State Senator Kevin Murray. Robert has a son, Justin, 24, and resides with his wife in Sacramento, CA.

Richard Ramirez (1975) is the City Manager of the City of American Canyon, CA.

William Crowther (1976) is Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where his field is comparative politics, with a specialty in Romania and Moldova. He received his Ph.D in political science from UCLA in 1986.

Gregory Gottlieb (1976) is Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, United States Agency for International Development. He has served in Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Washington, DC. He holds a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

David Kalb (1976) is President of Capitol Services, Inc. in Sacramento. He also established and funds the annual David Kalb Award for an outstanding Humboldt student who is a political science major and/or a leader in student government.

Del Dickson (1977) is a professor of political science at the University of San Diego. He specializes in Constitutional Law, Judicial Behavior, and Comparative Law. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Southern California, and his J.D. at UCLA.

Dan Faulk (1977) is a faculty member in our department. He teaches American government, political advocacy, and other courses.

Mitch Wood (1977) is currently Principal of C.F. Brown Elementary School in Modesto and is a strong advocate for public education. He obtained an M.A. in School Administration from Azuza Pacific University. He writes that “California needs excellent teachers… California’s students need teachers who have lived in a place like Humboldt and received an excellent education while getting some of that nurturing energy that allows the tallest trees in the world to grow nearby! …A political science graduate may not imagine that teaching Civics or U.S. History would be fulfilling but there is no greater reward then seeing the light bulbs go on in students and being able to teach students about something you have passion for.”

Barbara Lesonsky McMullin (1978) is an adjunct professor at National University. She lives in Clarksville, TN.

Regina Metoyer (1978) is Director of Housing and Residential Life at CSU-East Bay.

Joseph Belmonte (1979) is Executive Director of Elementary Education for North Thurston Public Schools in Lacey, Washington.

Heidi Holmblad (1979) is Director of Communications for the California Association of School Psychologists.

Dorothy Moller (1979) runs an independent consulting firm specializing in health care issues. She was formerly Senior Vice President with The Lewin Group, based in Washington, D.C. She received an MBA from UC-Berkeley. Before that, she was an Assembly Fellow with the Resources, Land Use and Energy Committee and Legislative Assistant to State Senator Barry Keene.