1960

Robert W. Kopfstein (1965, B.A., 1967, M.A., English) retired after teaching 45 years in the California Community College system. He currently volunteers at the San Diego Botanic Garden and is the president of the San Diego Bromeliad Society. He earned a Ph.D. in English at USC in 1980.

James R. Homola (1969, B.A., political science) served as 2015 president of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. He earned his J.D. degree from the University of San Diego. He is a California certified criminal law specialist with a solo practice in Fresno, specializing in defending white collar and narcotic offenses in federal court and homicide cases in state court.

1970

Silas Abrego (1971, B.A., industrial arts) was appointed by Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. to the California State University Board of Trustees. He held administrative positions at Cal State Fullerton from 1985 to 2012.

Samuel Totten (1972, B.A., English literature), professor emeritus of education at the University of Arkansas, was a guest speaker in July at CSULB’s annual Eva and Eugene Schlesinger Teacher Training Endowed Workshop on the Holocaust. Totten is a genocide scholar, who in recent years has been focusing on Sudan, and continues to take part in humanitarian missions to that nation.

Scott A. Willingham (1973, B.S., business administration – human resources management) is a Registered Investment Advisor with LPL Financial in San Juan Capistrano. He was a freestyle skier on the U.S. ski team on the World Cup Tour from 1973-1980 and was 1977 world freestyle champion. He also skied in several Warren Miller and Dick Barrymore films as well as did stunt work in TV commercials. His son, Max, currently attends CSULB.

The Containerization & Intermodal Institute presented Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chair Mario Cordero (1974, B.A., political science) with its 2015 Connie Award recognizing his influence on containerization in world trade. Cordero has been a commissioner for the FMC and the Port of Long Beach.

Edward Lee Lamoureux (1975, B.A., speech communication), Steven L. Baron and Clair Stewart saw the second edition of their book, Intellectual Property Law and Interactive Media: Free for a Fee, published by Peter Lang Publishers. He is a professor in the Departments of Interactive Media and Communication at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and other government and environmental representatives were on hand June 20 to unveil John G. King’s (1976, B.S., biology) mosaic installation at Black Sands Beach near Eureka, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Bureau of Land Management’s National Conservation Lands.

Truckee Meadows Community College President Maria C. Sheehan (1976, M.S., counseling) retired in January 2016 after eight years at the Reno, Nev., campus and more than 40 years in education.

The financial services firm MBIA Inc. elected Keith D. Curry (1977, B.A, public administration; 1978, MBA) to its board of directors.
He is retired managing director of Public Financial Management Inc. and has been on the Newport Beach City Council since 2006, serving twice as mayor. He is director of the Center for Public Policy and professor at Concordia University in Irvine.

Watercolor paintings by Timothy Clark (1978, M.A., art) were featured in an exhibition at the Loyola University Museum of Art in Chicago May 23- Aug. 2. The exhibit’s brochure included an essay on his work by Leo J. O’Donovan S.J., emeritus president of Georgetown University.

1980

Northrop Grumman Corp. appointed Christopher Hernandez (1981, B.S., electrical engineering) as sector vice president of Research, Technology and Advanced Design in its Aerospace Systems organization. Since joining the firm in 1987 he has since held
 a variety of executive positions, most recently as vice president of Advanced Systems.

Landmark Dividend LLC named John Wing (1981, B.S., business administration–marketing) as senior vice president of sales for its western division. He held executive sales management positions with several telecommunications firms. Landmark Dividend is a leading ground lease acquisition firm for telecommunications and power-related installations.

San Jose State University named Mary C. Schutten (1982, M.A., kinesiology and physical education) as dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts. She was associate dean for students and curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.

The engineering firm Parsons hired Basem Muallem (1982, B.S., zoology; 1985, M.S., civil engineering) as a senior program director in its Road and Highway Division. He was with Caltrans for 32 years, most recently as director of District 8.

Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed David McCray (1984, B.S., business administration–marketing) as a justice on the California Courts-Martial Appellate Panel, which hears criminal appeals involving California Guard and Reserve personnel. He is of counsel in the San Francisco office of Beveridge & Diamond and is a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel. His J.D. and LL.M. degrees are from UC Davis and University of Utah.

The engineering and consulting firm Michael Baker International promoted Michael A. Tylman (1984, B.S., civil engineering) to vice president and executive of its Irvine, Calif., office, the largest in the firm’s west region. He has been with the company for more than 30 years.

Rancho California Water District selected Jeffrey Armstrong (1985, B.S., business administration–accountancy) as general manager. He has been serving as interim general manager since last February. He has been with the Temecula-based district since 1988, including as its chief financial officer and treasurer.

Dance Teacher magazine named Chapman University tap dance instructor Brandee (Williams) Lara Barna
by (1985, B.A., theatre arts; 1997, M.F.A., dance) as 2015 Dance Teacher of the Year in Higher Education. Her late husband, Martin L. Barnaby (1987, B.A., theatre arts), was a dancer, actor and software engineer. After his passing in 2011, the family created the Marty Barnaby Memorial Dance Scholarship at CSULB.

Ducommun Inc. promoted Douglas L. Groves (1985, B.S., business administration–accountancy) to vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. He has been vice president, controller and chief accounting officer. The firm provides engineering and manufacturing services to aerospace, defense and other industries.

Rita Mercs (1988, B.A., journalism) authored From Hell to Heaven, published by CreateSpace. The novel gives a unique twist on heaven, hell, God, the devil and the lives of ordinary people.

Manhard Consulting hired Ralph Wenziger (1988, B.S., mechanical engineering) as a project manager in its Carson City, Nev., office.

The Orange County Ninety-Nines chapter of the international women’s pilot association selected Arlene (Goodfield) Wilske (1988, B.A., geography) as its 2015 Pilot of the Year. She is a pilot for Surf Air and a former pilot and flight instructor for Comair.

1990

The city of Costa Mesa selected Tony Dodero (1990, B.A., journalism) as its new public information officer. He has been a newspaper reporter, editor and communications professional since 1989. He also taught at Orange Coast College and was a board member of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

Paul V. Rainey (1990, B.S., botany) is a senior weights and measures inspector and senior agricultural biologist for the Tuolumne County, Calif., Agricultural Commissioner’s office.

Performance Sports Group Ltd. appointed Todd Harman (1993, B.A., interpersonal communication) as executive vice president, baseball/ softball, leading Easton Baseball/ Softball that manufactures equipment for these sports. He is former president of Cleveland Golf USA.

Carlos Solorzano (1996, B.A.; 2004, M.A., religious studies), is an author and composer whose music has been featured on television shows such as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “America’s Top Model” and various shows on the BBC, MTV/VH1 and other networks around the world. He also records and performs professionally in the Tucson, Ariz. area.

The National Health Foundation promoted Kelly Bruno (1997, M.S.W.) from chief operating officer to chief executive officer of the Los Angeles-based organization, which is dedicated to improving healthcare for underserved populations. She joined NHF in 2007.

Carl A. Kemp (1997, B.A., Black studies; 1998, MPA) is the new senior advisor for legislative and public affairs for the Federal Maritime Commission. A former CSULB Associated Students president, Kemp has been a governmental affairs executive with the city of Long Beach, Port of Long Beach and in private practice.

2000

Alyssa Rockenbach (2000, B.A., psychology), associate professor of higher education at North Carolina State University and former President’s Scholar, and Professor Matt Mayhew of New York University, are co-leading the Interfaith Diversity Experiences
 and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey that is following 100,000 students
 at more than 130 colleges and universities for four years to learn how students with different worldviews and religious backgrounds live, learn and work together.

Noah Haytin (2003, M.F.A., art) recently married Valerie (Perez) Haytin and is a third year full-time teacher of visual art at the Critical Design and Gaming School at Augustus F. Hawkins High Schools for Community Action in South L.A.

Elizabeth Keavney (2004, MPA) was promoted to associate professor at American Public University Systems (APUS-American Military University and American Public University) in January 2015 after being an adjunct professor. Keavney, who earned a Ph.D. from Walden University, teaches a variety of public policy and administration classes. Among her accomplishments, she holds an FAA senior parachute rigger certification and is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, Pi Alpha Alpha, American Society
for Public Administration, United States Parachute Association, NRA and Gun Owners of America.

Lauren Leahy (2004, B.A., liberal studies; 2006, credential) is now principal of Hugo Reid Elementary in Arcadia Unified School District, the same elementary school she attended as a child for kindergarten through 6th grade.

Carl Nielsen (2004, B.S., occupational studies; 2006, M.S., emergency services management) is the new police chief of Centralia, Wash. He was a captain in the Turlock, Calif., Police Department.

Irvine-based WNC named Kamisha McCargo (2005, MPA)
 as a project manager for the firm, which is a national investor in real estate and community development initiatives. She was vice-president of acquisitions for a national finance and investment firm.

Cristian Sarabia (2006, B.A., environmental science and policy) is stewardship manager for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, where he helps restore plant and animal habitats and presents community workshops on water conservation and on landscaping for fire safety.

Travon Free (2007, B.S., criminal justice) won a 2015 Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for his work on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.” He continues to write for the show, now hosted by Trevor Noah and that includes alumna Jessica Williams as a correspondent.

Marcela Ramirez (2008, M.S., education–counseling) will be 
the 2016-17 student regent on the University of California Board of Regents. She is a Ph.D. student in higher education administration and policy at UC Riverside’s Graduate School of Education.

2010

Joseph Hammond (2010, M.A., history ) received a U.S. State Department 2014-15 Fulbright-Clinton fellowship to work as a special assistant to the government of Malawi’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mining, where he researched geo-economic issues related to energy exploration in Africa. He has been a journalist covering political and natural resources topics for international publications.

Danica (Mattias) Robrahn (2010, B.A., art education; 2011, credential) and Jennifer Marquez (2011, B.A., art education; 2012, credential) led the Sun Valley Center for the Arts Kids Summer Art Camp in Idaho. Robrahn is the center’s art teacher and Marquez is an art teacher at Alliance Morgan McKinzie High School in Los Angeles.

Bruce Sparks (2010, B.S., business administration – finance; 2012, MBA) was featured in the CardHub.com article, “Small Business Grants for Women, Minorities & More.” He is a CSULB lecturer 
in finance and an advisor in Long Beach City College’s Small Business Development Center.

Kent van Straalen (2010, B.A., communication) recently became marketing coordinator for the Orange County law firm Hart King, which specializes in business, corporate, real estate and construction law.

LIFE EVENTS

MARRIAGES | Jeff Colburn (1977, B.S., criminal justice) married Linda-Ann Stewart on Sept. 25, 2014 in Flagstaff, Ariz. In honor of their love of Renaissance fairs, the wedding party and minister were dressed in their finest Renaissance costumes. Jeff is a photographer and writer and Linda-Ann is a professional speaker and life coach. They live in Sedona, Ariz.

Luis David Gadea (2014, B.A., child development and family studies) and Genevieve Mae Agpalo were married Aug. 29 at CSULB’s Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden. He is a site supervisor for the YMCA in Downey.

Megan Cavan and Patrick Maridon (2010 and 2011, M.A., kinesiology–sport management, respectively) were married Sept.
12 at Gardener Ranch in Carmel Valley, Calif. She is a territory manager for Ralston Purina and he is an aquatics director at the YMCA in Superior, Calif.

Ryan Milner (2008, B.F.A., illus- tration) and Jodi N. Jones (2009, B.F.A., graphic design) were married Aug. 29 in Long Beach. He is a designer for Hurley and she was recently named creative director/vice president of Seedling, a children’s activity kit and toy brand in Los Angeles. After a trip to Maine, they now reside in Long Beach.

Eric Yost (2008, B.A., history; 2011, credential) and Rita Hanna (2010, B.A., sociology; 2011, credential) were married on May 2 at Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church in Huntington Beach. He is a high school history teacher and she is an elementary school teacher.

IN MEMORIAM | Anthony D. Cantu (1973, B.A.; 1975, M.A., French), president of Fresno City College, died April 5 at age 64 in Fresno, Calif. He was a longtime administrator at Fresno City and Reedley colleges.

Clyde Crego died June 16. He joined CSULB as a Student Affairs Program Specialist in 1983 and the following year became an administrator, serving as director of the Counseling Center until his retirement in 2005.

Richard Devylder (1992, B.A., speech communication) died at 46 on Aug. 8. He was born without arms or legs and spent his career working in support of disabled persons’ rights, including at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the California Department of Rehabilitation and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, among other organizations and agencies.

Clifton Bryan Fincher (1984, B.S., business administration–marketing) died April 27 at age 53. He was an industrial real estate broker with Lee and Associates in Orange and a member of the Southern California Tuna Club.

Gerald P. “Jerry” Otterson died Aug. 15 at age 74. He was the Long Beach State football starting quarterback in 1963 and 1964 and played in the Continental Football League. He later became a licensed insurance agent and real estate agent.

Susan Marie Plesko (B.A., 1972; M.A., 1975, English literature) died Jan. 30, 2012 at age 66 in Denver, Colo. Susan had a rewarding career sharing her love for English Literature with students at the college and high school levels. She was an avid traveler with her husband, Forrest (1972, B.A., art).

Joan (Lind) Van Blom (1974, B.A., physical education; 1976, credential) died Aug. 28 in Long Beach at age 62. The two-time Olympic silver medalist in rowing and retired Long Beach Unified School District educator was featured in the summer 2015 Beach Magazine.

Wyatt VanLaningham (1954, B.S., mathematics) died March 15, 2014, at age 85. He had been a math lab tutor at Cypress College for more than 20 years, retiring at age 80.

Donald L. Williams (1968, M.A., educational administration) died Dec. 10, 2014, at age 79 in Newport Beach. He taught math at Huntington Beach and Edison High Schools and later was involved in rental properties.

Sharon Mihalka Winters (1973, B.A., geography) died April 29 at age 64. She retired after 25 years as the quality control manager at Thomas Bros. Maps in Irvine.