CSUB Communications Alumni!

Judith has put together a tentative list of many of CSUB's Communications Department Alumni. The names with an asterisk (*) have Facebook pages that I've hooked up with so far. Check out the CSUB Alumni Facebook page for students from other majors and Comm. students I have lost contact with.

Michelle Ajootian * (2005) works for CCCOE in Bakersfield, teaching inmates and parolees.

Jenny Alejandro Ainsworth * (2004) is a case manager for Kern Regional Center and mom to Alex.

Joseph Andreas (2011) is working in Los Angeles as a Financial Representative at Northwestern Mutual. He is still auditioning for local theater whenever he gets the chance.

Phillip Auzins * (1997) is studying for his certification from the University of California, Davis (expected 2010) in Labor/Management Relations. He works as a field representative for California Correctional Peace Officers Association in Sacramento. Phil is married and still loyal to Sigma Pi Fraternity - Zeta Kappa.

Christine Azzara Wirt * (1989) works for the Elk Grove Unified School District as a teacher and runs a blog.

Chris Baden * (2009) was the department's Outstanding Graduating Senior 2009. He is the media director for Valley Bible Fellowship in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Joventino Barajas * (2011) earned his Comm. degree at the Antelope Valley campus, and was active in PRSSA there.

Kim (Sherlock) Barker * works as the manager of Ambulatory Care, Surgery and Urology at Kaiser Permanente, Kern County. She left her job as marketing director of the Alzheimer's Disease Association of Kern County to become a Professional Representative for Merck and Co. Inc. prior to the move to Kaiser. Her new passion is cycling!

Carol Barnett * is working as an RN supervisor in Bakersfield, hoping a better state economy will being her back to the classroom as an adjunct professor at Bakersfield College.

	Alyse (Barrios) Braaten (2006) is a new mom to daughter Story. Alyse worked as an Outreach Counselor at CSUB, having served previously as the project director of the Southern San Joaquin Valley California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP), a college outreach program, working with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. She married Chris Braaten, also a CSUB grad, in May 2008.

Phillip Barnett * (2011) is writing for both the online and hard copy versions of SLAM magazine, a publication all about basketball. He also contributed to an official blog for online sports outlets, including ESPN, during the basketball finals between the Celtics and his beloved Lakers in 2010. He appears regularly on ESPN 1420 Honolulu with Laker news.

Andrew Bartole (1998) works for BSK & Associates in Bakersfield, which provides a variety of engineering services. He married Sonya Duarte in May 2008.

Amanda Beck-Caywood left the Mize Agency in 2007, where she served as a media buyer and did public relations, to work as an account executive with the Bakersfield Californian.

Megan V. Beeman is the Public Affairs Communication Specialist for State Farm in Bakersfield, having left the United Way, where she specialized in marketing.

Melissa Bennett * left South High, where she taught English and was the adviser to the high school's newspaper, the Rebel Yell, and is now teaching English at Frontier High. She serves as the school's GSA adviser (Gay, Straight Alliance).

Tricia Berman * (2011) has accepted a job with Stantec Consulting in Bakersfield, doing biological reports on endangered species. Since graduating, she has also stepped up her equestrian activties and added more 5 and 10K runs, plus the odd half and full marathon.

Demethrasis Blackmon is a field service representative for Bakersfield Pathology Medical Group (BPMG).

Ashley Bledsoe Vorhees * (2005) is now working with the National Healthy Worksite project, funded by the Centers for Disease Control, to help combat the health and safey issues Kern County faces. The project is designed to assist employers in implementing science and practice-based prevention and wellness strategies that will lead to specific, measureable health outcomes to reduce chronic disease rates. She seves as the Comunity Director, working for Viridian Health Management. Prior to this, she was the Executive Director of the American Heart Association in Kern County. She managed the annual GO RED campaign in the area, alerting women to the dangers of heart disease. She also helpd organize the annual Bakersfield Heart Walk. She is the proud mother of daughter Grace. Ashley was selected as our Outstanding Alum for 2012.

Vanessa Boel * is a project manager for the County of Kern, currently assisting with the implementation and running of the Kern Medical Center Health Plan. Prior to this, she worked for a Bakersfield-area financial firm, climbing the ladder from graphic designer to manager of customer relations. There, she was responsible for all business-to-client and business-to-business correspondence.

Brittney (Boles) McGlasson * (2002) left her sales job at KERO-TV in Bakersfeld to raise her child, who is now 2 years old.

Tyree Boyd-Pates (2012) * is studying for his MA in African American Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. While at CSUB, he interned in the PR office, and acted as a host to many high schools visiting campus.

Heidi A. Broberg (2001) works as a sales representative for United Healthcare (on the SecureHorizons Senior side) in the LA area. She helps seniors (who have Medicare) get their medical insurance. She is married and has a WILD little girl, Ella.. Heidi still plays the occasional game of soccer (she was a Runner while at CSUB) and is taking up photography.

Sohna Bruce-Oliver * (2012) leaves her job at CSUB to head to Miami to do enter a year-long program, "City Year Miami."

John Bryan * (2006) is a Professor at Santa Barbara Business College (English, Writing, Reading, Speech, Keyboarding, College Success, Professional Resource Development). He also teaches speech communication part-time at Taft College, and, starting Fall 2012, at CSUB. He got his MA in Business Communications from Jones International U. (Class of April 2009). John is soon to complete the PhD program at Capella University, Organization & Management, Management Education, expected to graduate 2013. He is very active in Bakersfield Rotary.

Holly Bull-Couch is a long-term substitute teacher for the Kern High School District and is now at Stockdale with her son. Both daughters have recently been married. She also served as a member of Greater Bakersfield Vision 2020. Her husband, David, begins his elected term as Kern County Supervisor in 2012.

Brianna Buoni (2008) works in marketing and public relations for Western Pacific Research, Inc. in Bakersfield. She also handles special event management for the prominent Republican campaign consulting firm, with clients such as Assemblywoman Jean Fuller and House Representative Kevin McCarthy.

Brady Cabe * (2012) finished at CSUB working with the PR office as a photographer, and many of his photos appeared on the home page throughout Spring quarter. He returned to the Central Coast with his wife, Jennifer, and daughter to work in Customer Support at Really Right Stuff, a photography shop. Brady also does freelance photography. He is a stringer for the Santa Barbara News-Press.

Christina Caldwell * (2009) is working as a therapist aide for Glinn & Giordana Physical Therapy in Bakersfield. Prior to this, she worked in the offices of the Alzheimer's Disease Association of Kern County, Inc.

Susanne Campbell has joined Brown Armstrong Accountancy Corp. as marketing director. She has worked in marketing since 1984, and is a member of the Accounting Association of Marketers.

Todd Camps * left his job in Feburary, 2012, as a sports page designer and sports copy editor for the Bakersfield Californian after 9 years to join the Kern County Sheriff's Office, supervising work release as a civilian.

Ken Casparis * (2012) is the marketing representative for Lloyd's Aviation in Bakersfield, after interning at the Bakersfield Museum of Art with fellow alum Jason Gutierrez. Ken is an alum of the Omicron Mu Chapter of Kappa Sigma at CSUB.

Carly Cates * (2009) is in the Speech Pathology graduate program at CSU Long Beach. Prior to this, she worked for Hampton Place Interiors in Bakersfield, as a Design Assistant. She will be substitute teaching in Long Beach while she earns her MA.

Cole Cates * (2012) put himself through CSUB by firefighting every summer.

Irma Cervantes-Lancaster * (2012) is a reporter/photographer for Univision in Bakersfield. She is active in the California Chicano News Media Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She's married to Adam. In Spring 2012, she won a coveted Edward R. Murrow Award for her reporting.

Amber Chiang * (1996) APR, is now FEMA certified in Pandemic Influenza Preparation and Planning, representing Bakersfield College. No wonder she received the Professional of the Year award from the Central California Chapter of PRSA in Spring 2007 at the chapter's annual awards ceremony in Fresno. Amber is the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Bakersfield College. Amber is also the professional advisor for our CSUB PRSSA chapter. She earned her Accredited Public Relations distinction in August 2008.  She also designs the monthly publication of the Kern County Bar Association. Amber married CSUB alumni Charley Chiang in 1996 and they have two children, Nicklas and Kariya. Amber was the Communications Department's Outstanding Alum for 2009! On June 13, 2012, her dream came true and her beloved Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup, after fighting for it for 45 years!

Shannon Clark (2004) moved back to the Pacific Northwest after working in Bakersfield and then interning in Australia at Oracle Advertising and Hyster Forklift. She stated working Fall 2007 as a consultant for a start-up company, AmeriEco, which has seen success in Europe and Australia (it's Enjo there).

Corinne Coats * (2008) is the new outreach and resource development coordinator for Community Action Partnership of Kern, a non-profit founded in 1965 to fight poverty in the county. Prior to this, she was Director of Communications and Government Affairs for the Bakersfield Association of Realtors. She has just been named to the Chamber of Commerce board.

Wesley Coble * (2007) is North High School's Health Care Specialist for Special Education, as well as a varsity football coach, along with being a Track and Field coach. He is finishing up masters degree number two at Point Loma in special education and acquiring credentials in both mild to moderate and moderate to sever special education. His first Masters is an MPA from CSUB. Before entering grad school, he served as the promotions/marketing director for Bakersfield Harley-Davidson on 7th Standard Road. He still enjoys his motcycling!

Leslie (Coleman) Carroll * (2004) is an award-winning News Producer at KGET-TV, Bakersfield, doing the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. shows. She is married to Kennon Carroll.

Michelle Collier (now Humecky) (1993) works as the Prevention Services Facilitator for the Kern County Network for Children, which is overseen by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools.

Monroe Conner is Web Developer, Multimedia Specialist for NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.

Leigh Ann Cook * (1992) has been selected to run the office for Mick Gleason, a new Kern County Supervisor, 1st District, in the county administrative building. Prior to this, she was the Government Affairs Manager at the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. She has been involved in county politics for several years, working for years as a district field representative for retiring Supervisor Ray Watson.

Tiffany Cookey is working as an Account Executive for Trulia Real Estate.

Tara Corcoran * (2011) left the U.S. to play professional soccer in Serbia, having been a member of our women's soccer team while attending CSUB. She plays for ZFK Crvena zvezda. The soccer club is part of Sports Society Red Star. She begins her second season with the team in Summer 2012.

Ismael Corrales, Jr. * (2011) impressed the Bakersfield Condors hockey team so much during his internship, they have made him a full-time Account Manager.

Cristy Cortez-Sackrider * (1991) left her job as Director of Public Affairs for Kern County's Kaiser Permanente to begin her own business. She completed a master's degree in organizational management at the University of Phoenix, and holds an accreditation in Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America. In 2003, she was given the outstanding alumni award by the Iota Zeta Chapter (CSUB) of Lambda Pi Eta, the Official Honor Society of the  National Communication Association. She also served on the Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors. She was named Outstanding Alum of the Department of Communications in 2003.

Tiara Cox * (2008 - double major with Political Science) began classes at Hastings Law School in the Bay area, Fall 2010. Prior to law school, Tiara worked as a representative for Congressman Jim Costa. While a student, Tiara was accepted into the highly-competitive Panetta Institute, and served her internship in Washington, DC.

Tamara Marie Crite * has started a new job as a sales rep for Forest Pharmaceuticals, leaving her prior position with Concentra Medical Group, where she was an account executive.

Maria E. Delgado * (1989) now works for The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. Maria retired from her job as the Graduate Evaluator in the Graduate Studies Office in the School of Education at CSUB. She earned her MA in Interdisciplinary Studies in Student Affairs Administration from CSUB in 2005.

Jim DeLoof is an award-winning photographer at KERO-TV, Bakersfield.

Simon De La Rosa * (2009) is a substitute teacher for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, in Special Education. He also is a substitute teacher in the Kern High School District, and works at CSUB in our Testing Center. He earned his Masters of Arts in Strategic Communications from National University, and intends to pursue his PhD. He tells me the Communications program at CSUB helped him achieve straight As in all his Master’s classes, and professors praised his writing skills, for which he credits tough editing by Professor John Emig. He is a member of Lambda Pi Eta.

Toni de Rosa *(2005) is editor of the Arvin Tiller. She won writing awards from ACSA Region 11 -- Media Coverage of Public Education; 2009 Outstanding Media Coverage of Public Education for exceptional journalism in support of California public schools and school leadership issues; and ASCA Region XI Media Award for 2009, in recognition of valuable contribution to public education. Congratulations, Toni!

Stef Donev * is teaching as an adjunct Communications professor at Bakersfield College, as well as at National University and the University of LaVerne. He also teaches Comm. classes at CSUB after getting his MA from CSU Northridge.

Mark Dowdle spent many years as the editor for the Mojave Desert News, and later served as the Kern County News Bureau Chief for the Antelope Valley Press. He then switched careers, working for the Kern County Library before coming back to CSUB to work in our Walter Stiern Library. He left CSUB in summer '07 and moved north to the Trinity Alps area of California, where he is renovating an old farmhouse on 80 acres (with a half-mile of year-round stream) he bought.

Danielle Duncan * (2009) is living in Las Vegas now and working with the American Red Cross - Southern Nevada Chapter, as the Communication and Public Support Manager. Her sister, Olivia, graduated from CSUB June 2012.

Olivia Duncan * (2012) begins her career in June at the NFL Network, as a Production Assistant for the new morning show, "NFL All Morning," based in Culver City. She'll be writing for the website, bringing in guests, working as a highlight producer, and editing, among many duties. Her hard work as an intern for KBAK-29 Sports paid off. She is sister to Danielle.

Kimberly Ellis is senior communication specialist for public affairs for Kaiser Permanente Santa Teresa Medical Center in San Jose. She went into PR after a stint in TV with KHQ-TV in Spokane, Washington. Her early PR work included working with Davis and Associates for a year planning events for the Tiger Woods Foundation, and Rite Aid and the City.

Stephanie Espinosa * (2012) won two fellowships this Spring/Summer, one with the United Farm Workers to do media relations, and the other with New America Media. While a student, she interned with Telemundo in Bakersfield, and did a quarter abroad, studying in Puerto Rico.

Morgan (Reed) Essert * (2006) is now an account manager for Dentsply implants in Bakersfield, selling implants to dentists. Prior to this, Morgan worked for Triodent, a dental product manfacturer. Before this, she was CSUB's first Assistant Director of Young Alumni Programs. Morgan attended CSUB on a volleyball scholarship and was named Honorable Mention All American in 2005. Before returning to CSUB, she worked in LA for 2 years. She married the love of her life, Shawn Essert, in May 2006, had their 1st son, Cash Montgomery, in January 2008, welcomed 2nd son, Mavrick Lee, in June 2009.

Kevin Eubanks * (2003) was awarded his teaching credential and MA, both from National University, and begins a full-time teaching gig at Shafter High School. He was the marketing manager for Terrio Therapy-Fitness. Kevin was part of the Bakersfield Californian's downsizing, leaving his job as the editor of Bakersfield Life magazine in early 2009. He was also a sports reporter for the Bakersfield Californian. He also served as Vice President for Public Relations for BARC (Bakersfield Association for Retarded Citizens), leaving his previous job as assistant sports information officer for CSUB. Prior to coming back to CSUB to work in Sports Information, he was the Director of Sports Information at Washington University. He also wed Monique Etue and they welcomed Reese to the world in the summer of 2010.

Lana Fain (1991) is the zoo manager and curator at California Living Museum (CALM), Bakersfield, having spent nine years as PR Director at the Bakersfield SPCA. She was named the Outstanding Alum of the Department of Communications for 2011. At CALM, she is responsible for promoting CALM, planning and editing the newsletter, coordinating media relations, recruiting and scheduling volunteers, etc. She also supervises a staff of 25, oversees and orders for the Gift Store, and plans the fundraising events. More than that, she also transports sick animals to the vet, takes rehab animals into her home (baby deer, baby raccoon, Harrier hawk, etc.) and was "lightly" sprayed by a baby spotted skunk! Training a kit fox is one of her newest tasks. She hopes the fox will serve as the zoo's ambassador when Lana visits school sites. Come out and visit!

Ausa A. (Salem) Faria * (1997) works in Irving, Texas as Verizon Business IT's Multi-Disciplined Analyst within the Human Resource Department. Prior to working for Verizon, Ausa was the Trade and Marketing Assistant at Korea Trade Center - KOTRA - in Dallas. She also earned a Master's Certificate in Project Management from The George Washington University (2005). She is mother to two little girls.

Brian Farinas * (2012) began working at KBAK-TV in Bakersfield, shortly after graduating. He is weekend Assignment Editor, where multi-tasking is essential.

Adam (Vaughn) Farris *(2010) now lives in Washington, D.C., and works for the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) as the Account Manager for Corporate Relations & Supplier Diversity. The Chamber serves as advocates for LGBT owned-businesses and works for LGBT equality and advocacy alongside Human Rights Campaign (HRC). He was in NYC in January for the 2011 Diversity and Leadership Awards held at the New York Stock Exchange, hosted by the Chamber.

Robyn Figures * (2004) returned to KBAK-TV in Bakersfield, working as a photojournalist/editor. She left her job at KBAK in 2004 to work in TV news production in Palm Desert, and was part of the team, serving as editor of the 11 p.m. newscast, nominated for an Emmy that year. She is the proud mom of a little boy, born in 2010.

Jennifer (Fisher) Loyd * (2006) is a Small Church Ministry Partner at Cornerstone Chandler Church in Gilbert, Arizona. Prior to this, she worked in Long Beach for McKesson, the number-one medical/pharma distribution company in the nation. The company is 15 on Fortune 500's list. Jenn married Jason in the summer of 2010. Baby Olivia was born Fall 2012.

Reynaldo Flores (2012) moved in Fall 2012 to ESPN in Bristol, CT, to work as a studio operator. Some of his job duties include graphics in the monitors, shading cameras for ESPN talent, and color shading cameras. Prior to this, he was a news director at KGET-TV 17 - Telemundo 17.3-CW12 in Bakersfield.

Jason Friedly (2009) earned his BA in both Communications and History in June 2009.

Nathan Fryer (2010) is about to start as a marketing representative with ServPro in Eugene, Oregon.

Camille Fulton started a graphic design business after she graduated, and then took time off to stay home with her daughter, Isis. She returned to work as a project coordinator at a local marketing agency. Her dream is to be a music therapist and she is applying to post-BA programs to find a perfect fit.

Amanda Galindo * (2008) left her job as an account executive with Lamar Advertising to give birth to a daughter in 2011.

Victor Garcia (2011) is the industry magazine staff writer for ProSoft Technology in Bakersfield. He works with Comm. alums Melody Saberon (1988) and Melissa Sullivan (2012).

Michelle Garland * (1998) is the Sales Development and Project Manager for BARC (Bakersfield Association for Retarded Citizens). She had been doing marketing for an Occupational Medicine Center. She is involved with the Chamber of Commerce and helping with fundraising for Relay for Life. Michelle left her job as marketing manager for Three Way Chevrolet in Bakersfield to head north to Vancouver, Washington, where she worked for Earthlink.net and New Edge Networks. She earned an MA in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix in 2000.

Sarah Gaskins * (2011) is in San Diego working with Goodrich Corporation as a temporay contractor.

Brian Gatschet is the Kern County Board of Trade's Media Services Coordinator. Prior to the new position, Brian worked for Employers Training Resource, using his graphic design skills and web design expertise to promote the department's resources. He recently finished production of the "Careers in Kern" and "Jobline" television programs for the Career Services Center. One of Brian's tasks with the Board is to put together more material for the high-definition library the Board of Trade maintains. He'll also lend his technical and production expertise to other agencies in helping promote tourism and film productions in the county.

Sherie George * (2010) began graduate school in Fall 2011, enrolled in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's graduate program in Urban Planning and Design. Over the summer in 2011, she interned for a non-profit called Kern Green. The organization works on educating residents and businesses on the benefits of integrating green practices in daily work and personal life. Sherie helped them organize their green business certification program.

Dara Gholston * (2012) works at Bakersfield's Dryer's Ice Cream as a technical writer. She worked on campus with the marketing and outreach team at the CSUB Rec Center, and also interning with Brighthouse Networks while a student.

Alex (Rodriguez) Gilman * (2010) is the Patient Care Coordinator for Beautologic Medical Group in Bakersfield. Prior to this, she worked at Enterprise Rent a Car.

Jerry (Trae) Gilmartin * (2012) worked with the CSUB Student Rec Center as a graphic designer, responsible for all of the posters, tshirts, billboards, and ads. He spent a lot of 2011-2012 flying back and forth from Texas to see his girlfriend (and Comm. grad) Kristy Phillips.

Andrea Giroux * (2001) graduated Magna Cum Laude. She is now working on her Masters in Speech Pathology and is a freelance marketing coordinator/graphic artist living in the San Francisco Bay area.

Christine Goedhart-Humphrey * is Coordinator of Student Events, Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office, and serves on the Alumni Board, rounding up other alum to do good deeds and have fun. She is also a faculty member at DeVry University.

Eddie Gonzales * (2011) turned his summer internship as a gaming intern into full-time employment at Bender/Helper Impact in Los Angeles, working as an account coordinator, Video Games & Tech PR. Clients include Sony Creative Software, SEE Virtual Worlds, and Sony Online Entertainment. He served as a very active president of CSUB's PRSSA President in 2010-2011.

Natasha Goshen-Harris (2012) continues her work in Enrollment Management at CSUB as an evaluator.

Mandy Waters Graff * (2005) graduated Spring 2012 with her Masters in Business Administration from CSUB. She works at Paradigm Medical Management, Inc. She is married to Jeff and has a daughter, Abigail.

Michelle Grajek Halonen * (1992) is married and living in Cincinnati, Ohio, but gets back every now and then to Bakersfield to visit her sister.

Jose Granados * (1996) joined the staff of the Bakersfield Californian in 1997 and worked for a number of departments including IT and Circulation, and is now in Market Research, as Strategic Marketing Analyst. In 2008, Jose was awarded the Publisher’s Excellence Award for a ground-breaking market share study that has helped keep the family-owned newspaper viable. His major project in 2009 is to work on a customer analysis package, hoping to re-shape the company’s strategy and direction.

Fabian Grateroles * is now working in the Big Apple, for Toy, one of the 10 most award-winning advertising agencies in the world. He works with clients such as Activision (a video game company, whose games are based on movies), Virgin Mobile, YouTube, and they just picked up the Weizman Institute. He graduated with his MFA from San Francisco Academy of Art in 2008. He interned with esteemed advertising agency Crispin Porter & Bogusky (CP+B), helping out in design for clients such as Nike, Haggar, Shimano, Best Buy, Coke, Volkswagon, and Bell Bicycle. He served as art director on a project for Burt's Bees while doing his internship.

Kendra Gray * (2006) now lives in Thornton, Colorado, working as an an aquatics director, moving from St. Louuis, where she also served as an aquatics director. She graduated from Stephen Austin University in Texas in June 2009 with her MA in Communications: Radio and TV. She is engaged to be married to Scott Henning.

Danielle Green-Semays * (2010) married Chris Semays April 16, 2011. She works at Scaled Composites in Mojave as a program business analyst, working with the customers and managing the relationships with them and Scaled Composites' projects. Prior to this, she worked as an Office Automation Administrator at Edwards Air Force Base in Mojave. Graduate school (a Masters in Public Administration) is in her near future. Danielle was named Outstanding Graduating Senior of the Comm. Dept. for 2011.

Marci Greenfield * (1999) is a Project Assistant for Global Engineering & Construction with Chevron Business & Real Estate Services here in Bakersfield. She put away her pompoms for good! She is now married to fellow Comm. alum, Jeff Schilling, bringing to the marriage her dog, Jake.

Diana Greenlee is now an assistant principal at West High School in Bakersfield, after teaching English for several years there. She has her Masters Degree from University of LaVerne, and is also pursuing her MA in Education/Administration Credential from Point Loma University.

Christine (Losa) Grontkowski * (2009) is the Community Development Coordinator, San Joaquin Valley Region, for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Christine worked for many years in news production at KBAK-TV. She finished her degree after serving for several years as a producer for the weekend edition of KABC-TV in Los Angeles. She also worked as an emergency teacher at BHS.

Carla Grubb *(2006) earned her MA in Special Education from CSUB. She married Californian education reporter Jorge Barrientos and teaches students with autism at Discovery Elementary in Bakersfield.

Sara Gunn * (2012) leaves Bakersfield to return (as fast as she can) to the Bay area (Oakland) to seek a computer/writing-related job. She had been an assistant manager at GameStop. While at CSUB, she made the Runner her home away from home.

Jason Gutierrez * is the Director of Marketing for the Bakersfield Museum of Art. He left his job as PR assistant in the Public Affairs office for Kern County's Kaiser Permanente. Prior to Kaiser, he was Editor of the Bakersfield Life Magazine for The Bakersfield Californian. He was named Outstanding Alum of the Department of Communications in 2007. He is also a freelance writer for several online publications.

Hillary Haenes * (2010) is the specialty publications editor for Bakersfield Life, a publication of the The Bakersfield Californian. She started at the Californian as an intern in Winter quarter 2010. Hillary was awarded the coveted CNPA Summer Internship the summer of 2010. She was also awarded a Kern Press Club Scholarship in 2010, and a Bakersfield Californian scholarship in 2009.

Jodie Haney * is Academic Adviser-Online, Mt. Sierra College, Monrovia, CA, and gathering quite a menagerie of dogs and cats in her home in Rancho Cucamunga. She is married to Henry Walters.

Chris Harrison * (1992) is now the communications director for the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. She's working on the Stanford campus, in the Y2E2 (environment and energy) building. This new opportunity draws on her background in university communications, as well as the conservation and sustainability work she's been able to do at the Pacific Forest Trust in San Francisco, where she served as communications manager. Prior to PFT, she served as the Director of Communications for Catholic University in Washington, DC. She is engaged to Eric Black.

Cathy Hart (2003) is the regional manager of public affairs for the Antelope Valley and East Kern region for Southern California Edison.

LaNell Riley Thornton Hart * (2003) is a freelance journalist.

Tim Hart is a cameraman for CNN, based in Los Angeles.

Gina Hayden is Marketing Manager for Golden Empire Transit District (GET) in Bakersfield.

Michelle (Heiduk) Courtis (2000) is teaching Communication classes at Bakersfield College as an adjunct professor, specializing in small group, public speaking, and health communication. She got an MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University in Orange, NJ (2005).

Augie Hernandez is working for Southwest Airlines and is an entrepreneur in Las Vegas,S Nevada, owning a promotional items business.

Rudy and Jaclyn's first dance.
	Jaclyn (Loveless) Hernandez * (2003) just resigned from her job as the Public Affairs Assistant at CSUB. She came to work with University Advancement at CSUB after many years in the newsroom at KBAK-TV. She is mom of son Aidan and will stay home to be a full-time mom! Baby #2, Alex, arrived late Spring 2012! Rudy Hernandez * (2001) is working as a social worker at Kaiser Permanente in Bakersfield, having followed up his BA in Communications with a Masters in Social Work at CSUB (2007). He also worked many years at KBAK, and met his wife as an undergrad. And he is dad of son Aidan and now Alex!

Craig Hill * (1992) left CSUB to go to graduate school, studying Art, at Claremont. After graduating, he worked in his own business designing surfboards. He lives in Pasadena, is married and until recently worked as a general superintendant with a commercial construction company based in Irvine. Most the work was in the LA area and was in public works improvements, street lights, street signs, traffic signals, sidewalks, curb and gutters. The economy brought about a layoff, but Craig is putting his contractors license to good use in private business.

Melissa Hill Rossiter * (2005) is now working for Lee Andrews Group out of Los Angeles, to collaborate with Janet Wheeler on the Thomas Road Improvement Project in Bakersfield. She leaves her job as a news producer for KBAK-TV, after spending some time in Promotions for the station. Prior to that, she was the editor of the Shafter Press. She and Devin Rossiter married in the summer of 2008 and honeymooned in Canada (good choice!). They are the proud parents of a little girl!

Meghan (Johnson) Hoetker * (2002) gave birth to baby Phoebe Elaine in June 2008. Jack arrived not long after, and Raef was born in Spring 2012. Meghan is married to Geoff. Meghan was the Chief Baking Officer at Just Baked SLO, and is still writing. Check out her mommyblog. It's the story of the life and times of Phoebe, Jack, Raef, and their parents.

Sheri Horn Bunk * (2000) is Foundation Director at Taft College, charged with building the first Taft College Foundation office. She recently accepted a donation of $200,000 for the college soccer fields. Prior to this, she was the Development Officer - Major Gifts, Office of University Advancement at CSUB. Before that appointment, Sheri was the marketing director for the City of Bakersfield's Park at Riverwalk Amphitheater (now BrightHouse), and before that, the marketing/promotions director for the Bakersfield Symphony. And way back when, she worked in TV.

Gerry Huggins * (2003) works for Sprint, after Nextel was bought out. He is still making beautiful music as a saxophonist, and has produced three CDs to date. He has performed professionally hundreds of times. His debut album, "Ocean Breeze" was released in 2002, followed by "A Very Special Christmas" in 2005 and "From the Heart" in 2007. He's currently working on his fourth CD.

Carlos Hurtado *(2011) is employed by Costco, doing regioinal marketing in the Los Angeles area. He funded his CSUB education by working in the meat department at Costco.

Maridelle Joy Invina * (2011) begins her new job at Houchin Community Blood Bank as the Community Development Coordinator. She is also enrolled in CSUB's graduate program, the Masters of Science- Health Care Administration. She is a member of Lambda Pi Eta and was actively involved with PRSSA while at CSUB. While working on her MS, Joy was working in CSUB's Office of Procurement.

Johannah (Isaacs) Wurmnest * (2006) was awarded her PhD. in 2012 from the University of Phoenix in Industrial/Organizational Psychololgy. Before that, she earned her Masters of Science degree in Organizational Administration through Extended University at CSUB in 2009. She accepted a job in January 2008 with the Kern County Department of Human Services, and began her career as a Social Service Worker. She was married in September 2008.

Jim Jennings * (1986) is now Community Relations Coordinator at Veolia Environmental Services in Davis Junction, Illinois. Prior to this, he served as Communications Director for various school districts in Rockford, IL; University City, MO; and Ponca City, OK, among others. His career post-BA began with his initial employment as a Public Information/Legislative Specialist for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. 

Alex Johnson * (2011) used his one remaining year of basketball eligibility to earn his Masters in Family and Youth Leadership at North Carolina State, where played for the Wolf Pack as a point guard, earning a spot in the Sweet 16 in March 2012, where the Wolf Pack was defeated by Kansas. In September, he headed off to play pro basketball in Romania!

Donald Johnson * (2012) is playing professional basketball in Sweden, beginning mid-2012.

Kim (Kummer) Johnson * (1997) is living in Utah and working as a technical writer. She writes computer manuals for medical software.

Matt Johnson (2007) received his degree from President Mitchell in December's ceremonies, just a month before succumbing to a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy. He was an MDA ambassador for Kern County. He was also involved in student government at CSUB, serving as chair of the Student Union Board of Directors. He was a member of the CSUB branch of the national Honors Communication Society, Lambda Pi Eta. He was 25 years old. RIP, Matt.

Celia Kelly * (2010) in summer 2012 received her 2nd promotion in two years at ESPN, and is now a Content Associate. Her next step will be to Associate Producer. She begins her second year this Fall as the lead on the popular "Countdown" show, dedicated to all things NFL. She finished her 7-month internship at ESPN late January, 2010. She was then promoted to Production Assistant (staying at Bristol, Conn., ESPN's headquarters). She won the only open spot on the Highlight unit (a group of 14 PAs who cut the best games of the night every night for Sports Central.) She was the youngest on the unit and the least senior. In April, 2011, she was a Features Production assistant, traveling to area games in New York, Boston, New Jersey, and Chicago to assist with shoots. She applied for an internship through the Association of Women in Sports Media in her final year at CSUB, and caught the eyes of ESPN's recruiters in the process. She was among the top seven in the nation for the summer internships. She credits mentors Greg Kerr and John Franchi from the Sports Department at KBAK-TV in Bakersfield for her success in reaching the heights of sports media, ESPN! Celia is also the managing editor of Yoo-N-LA Magazine, published in Los Angeles. The Bakersfield Californian featured her in a story in August, 2012.

Lauren Kesel * (2003) works for Trilogy Financial Services in Orange County. She supervises about 170 representatives in the company, as the person in charge of compliance with the broker/dealer. She's a Driller Alumni, and Disneyland attraction cast member 2000-2006.

Kevin Kramer * (2011) worked as a student reporter for the Antelope Valley College Examiner while finishing his BA in Communications. He was an active member of CSUB's PRSSA, though he had to drive from Lancaster to participate in events.

Kristi Lansford * (1997) is the head coach of softball at Metro College in Denver, Colorado, and has just bought a house. She most recently was the assistant coach for the Runner softball team here at CSUB. She served as head coach for eight seasons at San Francisco State prior to her return to Bakersfield. She also earned an MA from CSUB.

Amanda Lauria is a teacher at Shafter High School, where she is the yearbook adviser.

Teresa Leach * (2009) works with Going-there Global Relocation Services, and is still heavily involved with Chuck Wall's Random Acts of Kindness campaign. She worked extensively with the U.S. military while attending CSUB, as founder of Global Acts of Kindness, and is still active in that as well.

Raiai Lee * (2011) is an intern in Los Angeles with Lagrant Communications.

William "Jed" Lehman (2011) is the Marketing Coordinator for Howard Financial in Bakersfield.

Jeff Lenk * (2012) is a news producer at at KBAK/KBFX-TV in Bakersfield. He began working at KBAK in 2007, taking some time off from CSUB to get established and begin his family. He is married to Leah and father of a daughter and a son.

Wendelyn Leon (2006) is a Community Relations Specialist with CH2M Hill, an environmental engineering, consulting, and support company working with the Department of Defense as an independent contractor, based out of Edwards Air Force Base in Rosamond, California.

J.R. Lewis (1983) began working as a developmental and senior editor in the textbook field. He then spent ten years teaching high school English, during which time, he helped write the English Portion of the California High School Exit Exam. Since 2004, J.R. has been in real estate, serving on the Board of Directors of the Bakersfield Association of REALTORS and the California Association of  REALTORS. He's currently the C.O.O. of Real Estate Professionals of Bakersfield and also still does some free-lance writing for the internet and accepting 6-12 speaking engagements as a motivational speaker each year.

Angelica Lopez-Hutchinson married Sean Wine in May 2009. She will be getting her teaching credential and her MA at CSU Long Beach. For now, she is employed with the Bakersfield City School District.

Sonia Evelyn Lopez * (2007) is mom to three kids, one daughter and two boys, and is collecting her documents to attend grad school.

Kristina Lowman is working in retail in Santa Barbara while pursuing freelance writing opportunities.

Oscar Rene- Lozoya * (2009) is currently working on the Showtime Networks program "Californication." Prior to this, he worked as an editor on the JJ Abrams' TV show "Alcatraz." He also worked on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," filling in too on Psych (USA), assisting on the ABC show "Karaoke Battle," and working on "Rizzoli and Niles" (TNT). He won a prize from Best Buy for a short commercial in 2011. Until Spring 2011, he was the Assistant Editor for NBC's "Law & Order: Los Angeles" until that show was cancelled. Prior to this, he worked for Warner Brothers in Hollywood, after a stint with the post-production crew at NBC on "Law and Order." He spent the summer of 2008 as a CSU Summer Media Intern in Los Angeles and before that, he was on the video crew of the Bakersfield Jam semi-pro basketball team. He also worked at KBAK-TV in 2007.

Michelle Lujan * (2011) served on the board of CSUB's PRSSA while earning her degree.

Lorna Lynott * (2011) is enrolled in the San Joaquin College of Law in Fresno. She spent the winter of 2011-2012 as a ski patrol at China Peak in California, near Shaver Lake. She still pursues her hobby of waterskiiing.

Holly Gilbert Macriss * (2012) works in the Sacramento area, with American Osteopathic Association. She is married to Bill and is the mother of a son and a daughter. Bill used to be the sports information director at CSUB, before leaving for Sacamento State.

Alma Madrigal * (2011) has been hired as a Case Manager with the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault in Bakersfield. Prior to this new position, Alma worked with the Cesar Chavez Foundation in public relations, having interned with with them in her senior year. She volunteered with the Alliance, serving as a sexual assault advocate. Alma was very active in PRSSA during her years at CSUB and was instrumental in many fundraising activities, with husband Eddie helping out.

Caleb Magninos is the new Associate Pastor of International Missions at the Woodlands Church in The Woodlands, Texas. He and his family leave Nashville, where he hepled run a photography business, the Nashville Photography Group.

Gavin Markovits * (1995) left PR (always with athletic groups, once taking him to the Summer Olympics in 1996, in Atlanta, with the U.S. women's volleyball team!) and is now assistant volleyball coach for Metropolitan State College of Denver (Division II).

Patricia Marquez is the Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Kern Economic Development Corporation, gaining lots of recognition and accolades for her work on local projects. She became a homeowner in January 2010 and is enjoying it with puppy Midge. She has also taken up running and is preparing for a half-marathon. She started volunteering as a mentor at Garden Pathways and is heading-up a new positive image campaign for Bakersfield Vision 2020 (“Who Knew Bakersfield” on Facebook).

Jeannette Martin-Williams left her job in Winter 2011 (as an Bakersfield agent with State Farm Insurance) to move to one of State Farm's regional headquarers, north of Los Angeles. She is living now in Channel Islands. While in Bakersfield, she was on a steep learning curve as agents took on more activities, such as 401(k) plans for clients. If you eat in the main dining room at Luigi's (that Bakersfield tradition), you can still see Jeannette's front-page photo (north-east wall) when the Runner featured her forensics win in the early 1990s!

Leonel Martinez * (1983) works for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools as a technical writer. He wrote a weekly column in the Bakersfield Californian, largely on Hispanic issues. In September, 2008, he was honored for his work at the annual Cal State Bakersfield's Hispanic Excellence Scholarship Fund dinner, and was awarded a civic leadership honor during the ceremony.

Renee Massey (1994) is now a Human Resources Professional for P-A-S Associates in Bakersfield. Prior to this, she served as Director of Communications for Castle & Cooke in Bakersfield. In that role, she came to campus often to distribute scholarship funds from Castle & Cooke. Renee is also on the board for Leadership Bakersfield and in 2011-202, serves as Vice Chairperson of the Golden Empire Gleaners.

Katie McElree * (2006) was named to the ALL-Decade Women's Basketball Team at CSUB, to celebrate the 25th National Girls and Womens in Sports Day! She was honored at halftime during the Roadrunners’ Feb. 19, 2011 game against Longwood University. The Lady Runners won. She lives in Kirkland, Washington, and is the territorial sales manager for PDI, Inc. She previously worked with King Pharmaceuticals, and before that with the Tri-City Americans (Western Hockey League team) in Kennewick, WA as an Account Executive/Community Relations Manager. Before joining the Americans, Katie held a similar position with the Bakersfield Blitz of the AF2. She also was the head coach of the Norris Jr. High girls' basketball team and the Central California Elite club basketball team in Bakersfield. While at CSUB (2002-2006), she earned All-Americans honors as a basketball player and still holds six school records.

Sam MacGaughey * (2008) is in the Masters in Social Work program at CSUB, beginning Fall 2011. He was the Comm. Department's Outstanding Graduating Senior in 2008. Sam is seen here with Professors Emig and Slaughter (l,r).

Megan (Moore) Simpson * (2005) is a multiple-award-winning News Producer at KGET-TV, Bakersfield and married KGET newsphotographer Grant Simpson on Sept. 5, 2009. They welcomed their baby, Tristan, in April 2012.

Marlene Morales, (1986) is currently the Director of Marketing for Marketing/Group Legal Services for the Chain, Cohn & Stiles law firm in Bakersfield.

Natalie Moreland * (2010) is a financial analyst for San Joaquin Community Hospital in Bakersfield. Prior to this, she was the special events coordinator for the Stockdale Tower Ballroom and owner of the Platinum Billing Group.She is engaged to Jimmy Phillips, with the wedding in September, 2012.

Michelle Mudryk * (2007) is working in Dental Equipment Sales/Marketing for a Bakersfield dental equipment company. Her passion, though, is travel and photography.

Marcus Mulick * (2007) is now a reporter for E! Entertainment News, based in Los Angeles. He was awarded his Masters by USC's Annenberg School of Communication in June 2009. While at CSUB, he was a soccer player and involved in student government. He was an intern with Fuel TV, a cable TV station that shows the best of action sports and music. He spent part of the summer of 2012 in London, covering the Olympics. Like Steve Perez and Cathy Perfect, he is now a Roadrunner-Trojan!

Matt Munoz*is a reporter for the Bakersfield Californian and the Editor and Product Manager for Bakotopia.com. He still performs frequently with his band, Mento Buru. He is masterful blogger, so start a conversation!

Christine Nasrawin-Whittaker * (2009) is married to fellow Comm. alum, Michael Whittaker.

Ed Nieto * (1992) is an executive producer in Portland, Oregon with KOIN. Prior to this, he worked for the CBS-owned KPIX-TV in San Francisco. His newscasts have received two Emmy nominations. In 2006-2007, he received a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, a National Headliner Award, and an APTRA Mark Twain Award nomination for a series of reports he produced on questionable billing practices in the cell phone industry. The reports inspired a bill passed by the California legislature designed to give consumers more protection. Other consumer-oriented programs and reports he has produced have won five First Place Peninsula Press Club Awards. A weekly consumer-oriented program he created and produced earned an Emmy nomination in 2004 and continues to air on KPIX-TV. Before moving to KPIX-TV in 2002, he won the 2000 APTRA Mark Twain Award for Best 30-minute newscast while at KCRA-TV, the NBC affiliate in Sacramento. Prior to moving to KCRA in 1996, he earned the 1995 Kern Press Club Award for Best 60-minute Newcast while at KGET-TV in Bakersfield.

Ed and his wife Andrea live in Sausalito. In Spring 2008, they celebrated the birth of their daughter, Ana.

Rosario Ortiz now does taxes for H&R Block, sells insurance for Aflac, and also sells Mary Kay, after spending many years working in Spanish-language and Spanish-focused publications in Bakersfield.

Chris Page, 29, died at his home in Mesa, Arizona, May 26, 2008. He most recently was a theater reviewer at the Arizona East Valley Tribune. Prior to that, he worked in a similar position for the Bakersfield Californian, after he finished his Comm. degree. While studying at CSUB, however, Chris was one of the original "Under 21" reporters at the newspaper from 2000-2003. A description of Chris on the Tribune's web site says he was a "one-time punk rocker from Southern California" who enjoyed "smoking a pipe, listening to old jazz, wearing jackets with elbow patches and cultivating a true bon vivant's taste for fine scotches and stinky cheeses." RIP, Chris.

Tara Polhamus * (2008) is the Web developer for Tulip t Inc. in Bakersfield.

Elise Palos * (1998) teaches English at East High School and is working toward her MA in History at CSUB. Her son, Christian graduated from East High. Christian attended many Wednesday reviews of the Runner while his mother was finishing her BA.

Lezley Parker-Pumphrey * is the Marketing Manager at Motor City Auto Center in Bakersfield. She oversees all Marketing & Graphics Design for all divisions: Lexus, GMC, Buick, Pontiac, Saturn and the GMC Commercial Truck Division as well as Pre-owned vehicles. She's mom to two sons, Connor and Cohen. She was spotted recently at the Spring Alumni Wine in the Park celebration, looking no older than when she used to design the layout of the Runner.

Luz Pena * is the Youth-led Media Coordinator for South Kern-the Lamont, Arvin, Weedpatch and Greenfield areas for New America Media. In partnership with The California Endowment, New Media America started youth-led media projects in five areas throughout the state. Luz will be working with a group of 8 to 10 students between the ages of 13 to 30, mentoring them and editing their health-related stories for the website. The group is trying to get local media on board to have them run the edited pieces in print, on TV and even radio. Prior to this new job, Luz was freelancing, mostly for Bakersfield Life magazine, after working as a journalist for MAS magazine in Bakersfield. Before that, she wrote for Vida En El Valle, a Spanish-language publication of the Fresno Bee.

Rachel (Perez) Frasnelly is the Marketing and Special Events Coordinator for the United Way of Kern County.

Steve Perez * (2002) is a Marketing Communications Consultant for Aetna, in the Medicaid division based in Phoenix. He provides marketing and communications counsel and project management expertise for the company's Medicaid health plans in Texas, Georgia and Ohio. Before this, he was the Senior Coordinator, Strategic Marketing & Communication, at Arizona State University Tempe campus, working on undergraduate admissions and recruitment initiatives. He was appointed several years ago to serve as a Commissioner on the City of Phoenix Human Relations Commission - which basically serves as a governing body appointed by the city council and mayor to promote diversity and civil rights initiatives for the 1.5 million residents of Phoenix. After CSUB, he earned his MA at USC's Annenberg School of Communication and worked with Disney for two years while in Southern California. He also taught at junior college in the Phoenix area. So he's now a Roadrunner-Trojan-Sun Devil!

Cathy Perfect is leaving her job as the managing editor of the Kern Valley Sun in Lake Isabella. Cathy ran her own consulting firm for several years prior to taking over at the newspaper. She is a member of the Women and Girls Fund of Kern County. She also taught English at Cerro Coso College. She completed her MA at the Annenburg School of Communications at USC after graduating from CSUB. She now a Roadrunner-Trojan, like fellow alum Steve Perez!

Kristy Phillips * (2010) has been named the director of membership sales at the Bakersfield Country Club, a new position at the private club. She completed her MA in Mass Communication in Spring 2012, at the University of Texas at Arlington. While in Texas, she worked as a Graduate School Recruiting Assistant, helping develop communication tactics and helping plan recruiting events for prospective students.She also served as a Recruitment Adviser for her sorority at Texas Wesylan University. While at CSUB, she was very involved with the local chapter of PRSSA, working with Becky Reese.

Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen * (1999) started her business, Aquatic Edge Inc., when she moved to Kona, Hawaii in 2004. She co-owns the business with her ex-husband Eric, an Ironman triathlete, and together they host 60+ swim technique clinics and camps a year worldwide. Karlyn writes a monthly column in Swimming World magazine called The Pool's Edge and contributes to the West Hawaii Today newspaper. Check out an interview with her after she swam in the Chesapeake Elite Pro-Am in Oklahoma City in December 2008.

Karlyn is also a motivational and technical speaker and has presented at the World Swim Coaches Convention three times. Karlyn is the oldest athlete to set and/or hold an NCAA record, a feat she accomplished in 1998 while swimming for CSUB at the age of 36. Karlyn has set over 162 Masters World records and will be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2008.

Julie Plata (2012) is the department's Outstanding Graduating Senior for 2012. She is now enrolled in the Masters program in History at CSUB. Julie is mother to five, one of whom, Alyssia, is attending CSUB concurrently with her mom, and is a Comm. major, too.

Kellie Ponzo (1998) is working for Johnson & Johnson in Bakersfield as a pharmaceutical sales rep.

Brittany Porterfield * (2008) was recruited by the federal government in Fall 2010, and finished training in Glynco, Georgia to become a federal agent with the Department of Homeland Security. She is based in the SF Bay area. After graduating from CSUB, she took a position with a non-profit organization called Seneca Center, working as a mental-health counselor for emotionally disturbed adolescent teenagers on probation in Alameda County.

Linda Quinones-Vaughan * is working for State Farm Insurance in Bakersfield. She was named Outstanding Alum of the Department of Communications and Outstanding Alum of the School of Arts & Sciences in the late 1990s. She also earned her MBA at CSUB and acted as adjunct professor in the Communications Department for many years.

Gabriel Ramirez * is in the Educational Doctorate program (EDD) at CSUB, offered through Fresno State. He expects to graduate late Fall 2013. Gabriel graduated with his MA in Education Curriculum and Instruction from CSUB in June 2009 and now teaches full-time. He still freelances for Bakersfield Life magazine, after leaving his full-time job as a reporter to become a science teacher. He also dabbles in local theater and in May 2008 played an Argentinian in the CSUB production of "Evita."

Sonia (Ramirez) Lopez * (2007) is celebrating (in 2009) seven years of marriage and enjoying her three kids.

Marques Ray * found his break in The Second City and now appears on MTV's improv show "Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out." He appeared in Bakersfield in January 2008 in The Naked Panda improv and was featured in the Eye Street section of the Bakersfield Californian.

Becky Reese * (2010) is in San Luis Obispo, hoping to start a joint venture with her boyfriend, a restaurant! She is working at the Madonna Inn, managing marketing and PR operations for the Steakhouse there. She left her job as marketing coordinator at Andrew Freeman & Co. in San Francisco, a boutique, full-service PR/marketing/consulting agency with clients in the hotel and restaurant industry. She interned there and after graduating, took a job with San Francisco magazine as the events coordinator. Becky was awarded the Don Hopkins Advertising Scholarship from the Communications Department in 2009-2010, and served as PRSSA President her final year at CSUB. Membership under her guidance was then at an all-time high. She and fiance Michael Hicks are expecting a baby in Fall 2012.

Nancy Regalado * (2008) is employed at Edwards Air Force Base as a Configuration Management Specialist. Her job is to manage changes to the Air Force Flight Test Systems. She also earned her MSA, Administration, Human Resources, Project Management from California State University, Bakersfield in 2008.

Nick Reid * (2011) is back in Bakersfield, intending to enroll in the MBA program at CSUB. He was attending Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, 2011-2012. While at CSUB, Nick was very involved with PRSSA.

Cristina Reyes is the Community Outreach Director for Radio Campesina/KMYX 92.5 in Bakersfield.

Carole (Richwine) Seckler is in Reno, Nevada, teaching high school English since 2001. Prior to her move north, Carole worked in PR at Memorial Hospital until she left for Sacramento and the California Farm Bureau Federation. She stayed there for four years, before heading to Reno.

Irene Rodriguez * (2007) has re-located to Las Vegas and is pursuing a career in PR and/or marketing.

Monique (Poulton) Rogers * is co-owner of ARRC Technologies in Bakersfield with her husband Alex. Monique's title is Corporate Administrator & Marketing Director. She also volunteers to match foster children in the area with software and hardware and computer technical help and has been the subject of Bakersfield Californian articles. She has been on the boards of the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, the San Joaquin Hospital Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club, Arts Council of Kern, MARE, Kern Kiwanis and Youth Leadership Bakersfield. She was awarded the Individual Humanitarian Award from the Chamber's Beautiful Bakersfield Committee in 2005 for her work with foster youth and parenting teens. She was named Outstanding Alum of the Department of Communications in 2010.

Danny Rogan (2002) is with Kaiser Permanente Panorama City as their Public Affairs Communications Specialist.

Melody Saberon * (1998) is the North America Marketing Project Manager for ProSoft Technology in Bakersfield. On top of being mom, she also volunteers her time supporting efforts in raising funds for the American Cancer Society since she is a cancer survivor. She is a former (volunteer) media relations specialist and advice columnist for Gatehouse Media's now defunct Bakersfield Independent Media, Face Bakersfield. Melody also continues to write reviews for books published by Cleis Press. She used to write movie reviews and sports articles for The Runner.

Michelle St. John

Christine Saldivar * left KBAK-TV in 2008 after many years on the morning anchor team. She launched her own talk show via podcast, Talkalicious. Her web site's one-year anniversary has just passed! She has been married for many years to Joe, a professor at Bakersfield College.

Raushel Salyards * (2012) continues in her career at CSUB's Extended University as the evaluator for Regional Programs.

Maya Sanchez * (1991) left her job as a reporter with KTLA in Los Angeles. Prior to KTLA, she worked at KGET-TV in Bakersfield as a reporter and weekend anchor. She was named Outstanding Alum of the Department of Communications in 2005. Her Facebook page has a photo of her hugging Geraldo Rivera.

Lupe Santos * (2008) is enrolled at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, getting her teaching credential. She moved from Texas, where she worked at a branch of the Bank of America, while her husband was stationed there in the military. They are now stationed in Santa Maria.

Jeff Schilling * (2003) is now married to fellow Comm. alum, Marci Greenfield. Jeff swam with the Runners from 2000-2003.

Cheryl Scott * is Vice President, Kern Economic Development Corporation, in Bakersfield.

Nicole (Montoya) Searfoss * (2005) married, gave birth to a baby girl, and developed a new direct sales company.

Danay Sempel * (2007) is working at Three-Way Chevrolet. She married fellow Comm. grad Matt Jones in Fall 2007.

Lavinia Sfetcu * (2011) is enjoying the music scene in Bakersfield and beyond, getting photo passes early summer 2012 at the Coachella Music Festival.

Emily Shapiro * (2009) is now a full-time general assignment reporter for The Porterville Recorder. She had been a regular stringer for the Recorder, as well as freelancing, most notably for a real estate magazine. She was also substitute teaching. Emily succcessfully completed her contract as an English teacher in Seoul, South Korea in 2010-2011.

	Pam Stewart * (1995) was the department's Outstanding Graduating Senior in1995. Pam retired from her job as managing editor of the Kern Valley Sun to breed Cockapoos at her home near Kernville, and teach part-time at the local high school. Check out her pups online!

Mark Stinnett teaches English at Shafter High School. He served as the newspaper adviser there as well for many years.

Alexis Stokes * (2008) is editor of the Wasco Tribune and the Shafter Press and also works at the Olive Garden.

Cassie (Stotts) Rajewich * (2007) is the Assistant Director of Admissions at the Art Institute of Las Vegas, Nevada, having earned another degree as an enrollment counselor from the University of Phoenix in 2009. She married Daniel in Las Vegas in late 2011.

Melissa Sullivan * (2011) landed a PR job soon after graduation and is the Public Relations Specialist for ProSoft Technology in Bakersfield. She is also enrolled in the Masters of Public Administration program at CSUB.

Stephanie Sutton lives in beautiful San Diego and works as a pharmaceutical representative.

Ashley Tapia (2010) is the Outstanding Graduate for the Communications Department in 2010. She took CSUB-AV Comm. adjunct professor Cynthia Kinkaid to the celebration in her honor on the campus. She works full-time for the City of Palmdale in the Special Events office.

Gabrielle Temple (2008) graduated from the Master’s program at National University, in Strategic Communications. in January, 2012, and will be an adjunct professor at College of the Canyons beginning in Fall 2012, teaching Small Group Communications. She also works full-time at the college, on a grant from the National Science Foundation, serving as Project Manager.

Stacy Tesar (Hayden) * (1998) gave birth Feb. 17, 2009 to Jackson Alexander Hayden. She is married to Gary and also has another son, Benjamin. She worked in outside sales (temporary services, payroll services and pharmaceuticals) from 1997-2002 and is now in education, working for Bakersfield City School Districts' Rafer Johnson Children Center as a Preschool teacher for students with Speech/Language impairments. She earned a Masters in School Counseling from University of LaVerne (2007) and is currently working toward her credential as an Education Specialist for Mild/Moderate Special Education.

Diana Torres (2008) is the administrative assistant for the CSUB Communications and Modern Languages departments. Good thing she had most of us as profs!

Brian Torsney * (2011) put himself through school by cashiering at Albertson's in the Antelope Valley. He is a member of a band, Mae West, finding gigs throughout the Lancaster area.

Julie Tran * (2012) is a family sales counselor at Dignity Memorial in Bakersfield.

Michael Trujillo * (2006) left his marketing job with the Bakersfield Condors to enter the graduate Comm. program at Chico State in Fall 2007. After graduating, he is now an adjunct professor at Redbluff College. His wedding to Amy Mitchell, fellow CSUB grad, took place in Fall 2008. He was on the award-winning CSUB Men's swim team while in Bakersfield.

Shantell Trujillo graduated from the University of Texas Law School, and is now a law clerk here in Bakersfield, working for Daniel Rodriguez & Associates, a personal injury law firm.

Christie Unruh (2005) accepted a job at Cal Poly SLO to work with Campus Crusaders there, an organization very dear to her heart at CSUB. Christie was the Outstanding Graduate for the Communications Department in 2005.

Kevin Valentine * (2011) works at State Farm Insurance in Bakersfield and is applying to graduate school in Texas.

Evabelen Ventura * (2011) is now in the MPA program at CSUB. She was an active board member of CSUB's PRSSA as an undergrad. She also held an on-campus job at Admissions and Records. She is engaged to be married to fellow Runner, J.R. Perez, active on the ASi.

Mallory Votaw * (2010) completed her internship and is now project manager for the Marcom Group, an award-winning marketing agency based in Bakersfield. To help put herself through CSUB, she worked at Kern Schools Federal Credit Union and made pizzas at Papa O's.

Sierra Warfield * (2011) is working as a Career Counselor at The Hopper Group, a company dedicated to providing mental health treatment for adults.

Greg Watson is selling and renting farm equipment for Hertz.

Johnny G. Watson * is the Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Arvin High School. He teaches three subjects: Video Production, Advanced Video Production, and AVID. He also coaches Track and Field and acts as Advisor of three clubs on campus: The Video Production Club, Track Club, and Block A Club. He also teaches after-school Workforce Video Production. He worked for many years at KBAK-TV in Bakersfield, and still fills in there on a part-time basis. After his BA in Comm. from CSUB, Johnny earned his MA in Educational Administration, and his credential. He was ranked 5th in the country as a Master's Track and Field Athlete in 2005. He has been a keynote speaker at many conferences and for many corporations in Southern California. His most recent adventure is starting his own video production business. It's called Real 2 Reel Productions. His focus is weddings, quiencieneras, sports highlight videos and other occasions that need video work done. He was named Outstanding Alum of the Department of Communications in 2006.

Jill Watts * (2006) is a regional accounts manager for the animal health branch of Abaxis, which supplies point of care blood analyzers to the medical market and the veterinarian market. She sells capital equipment to veterinarians- ie. hematology, chemistry, blood gas and immunoassay. Jill left her job as the Fresno-area Medical Consultant for PSS World Medical, part of the medical distribution company, Kern Surgical Supply. She now lives in Santa Monica but her sales area spans from Fresno to Tehachapi, from Santa Barbara to Redondo Beach.

Amber Webster * (2010) is a member services representative for Kern Federal Credit Union in Bakersfield, enjoying her family, friends and colleagues.

Carlene Welch * (2012) will return to her job as sales associate at 4G Verizon Wireless, while saving for grad school at Sacramento State. At CSUB, Carly was very involved as a member of Gamma Phi Beta.

Danny Wells * has been a police officer for the City of Bakersfield for many years. Married to Cerrena, he is the father of two young kids. He was one of the officers in charge of "Life Interrupted," a media campaign aimed at junior and high school students. In this capacity, he worked with an intern from the Comm. Dept. (Oscar Lozoya) on shooting and editing fresh video for the campaign. Danny can also be seen on screen, most recently in the "Lights" music video, filmed in the desert near Lancaster. He can also be seen in a new Nike ad, and has recently been an extra on the TV show "Castle." He also sells real estate.

Rosanna Westmoreland is Vice President of Communications and Marketing for the California Medical Association, based in Sacramento. Prior to this, she was the manager of the California Farm Bureau Federation Communications/News Division. Along with her BA from CSUB in Communications, she has a master's degree from the University of Phoenix and a national accreditation in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America.

Michael Whittaker * (2009) is marketing director for Glinn & Giordana Physical Therapy in Bakersfield. He is married to Christine Nasrawin-Whittaker, also a Comm. grad. He is also active in the Business Leaders of Bakersfield and the Active 20-30 Club of Bakersfield.

Raquel Wilder * (2009) now works for a Sacramento lobbying and consulting firm that is interested in energy, transportation and power. Prior to this, she was the fund development coordinator for the ALS Association also in Sacramento, where she lives with her two children. She had worked at ALS as a part-timer and was hired full-time soon after starting there.

	Kevin Willey * (1994) is a Producer/Director for Brighthouse Networks in Bakersfield, planning and shooting commercials and also producing original programming (Channel 300). His team also covers most of the sports in town: Condor's, Jam, CSUB Basketball, and High School Football. He recently completed his Masters degree in Media Studies online through The New School University in New York. He is father to three children (two girls, ages 11 and 10, and a boy, age 7.) His wife Kelly is teaching music.

Don Williams went on to graduate with his Masters in Film and Video in 2000. He directed an award- winning hip hop documentary to graduate from the Academy of Arts in San Francisco. Since graduating, he's been employed at advertising giant Young and Rubicam in their San Francisco office as an editor. Don now lives in Los Angeles, starting there as a casting editor for a reality TV show. He moved on to work on movie trailers and his present job is as an assistant editor/head logger for reality TV shows. He's planning to direct music videos and commercials as the next stage in his career. Don is the proud father of a little boy.

Sean Wisheropp * (2010) recently was promoted to Senior Game Advisor at GameStop. He works full-time at the state prison in Delano in human resources. Sean put himself through classes largely by stocking shelves at the local Rite Aid, but found time to devote himself to fundraising and having fun with the CSUB PRSSA chapter. Sean loves his Cowboys!

Lisa Smith Wuertz * (2006) left her position as an award-winning journalist with the Northwest Voice (a subsidiary of the Bakersfield Californian), to seek other adventures. She is now the mother of three, and is married to Stephen. Lisa also won writing awards while reporting for MAS Magazine (also affiliated with the Californian). She currently writes a blog, Daylight Rising.

Daren Yurosek (2002) passed away April 12, 2009. Daren came to CSUB after graduating from Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, where he majored in marketing and management. He worked for Boskovich Farms in Oxnard between college and CSUB. Working with CSUB's Services for Students with Disabilities, Daren succeeded in earning his degree in Communications. RIP, Daren.

P.K. Zander * (1991) is the area sales manager for WorkingLogic HR, which does Human Resources outsourcing. Prior to this, he was sales manager in Bakersfield for Clear Channel Radio, and before that he was the sales manager for KGET-TV in Bakersfield.

Becky Zelinski * (2002) lives on California's Central Coast and works with the wine industry, as the owner of First Crush, which she describes as "a weekend wine making experience for couples, small groups or teams who want to enjoy the experience of making wine from berry to bottle." She is also Chief Operating Officer of Precision Ag, Inc. with her husband, Lowell. She runs her Berry to Bottle Wine Tour several times a year.

Alum: If you see I have some facts wrong or you'd like to add some personal details or even pictures, let me know by e-mailing me. If you want to get in touch with other alumni on this list, e-mail me and I will try to pull up details for you. If there are fellow alum I have missed (and there are plenty!), have them send me an e-mail. I will be building and modifying this list probably until I retire.