Alumni Updates

We love to see where our alumni are. If you'd like to be added to this page, please fill in the alumni update form. To contact someone on this page, please email us and we will pass on your email address to them

Name	Class	News
Joyce E. Pulliam-Fitzgerald	1981	I am currently the Production & Quality Control Manager for Elementis Specialties who own and operate the Hector Mine in Southern California. I've been very active in Women in Mining and with the Calif. Mineral Education Foundation. On a personal note, I have a son in the USAF who I am very proud of.
Kent Parish	1983	Graduated with BS in Geology from Sacramento State in 1983. Finished classwork in 1982 and then worked full time while finishing. Obtained MS in Geological Sciences from San Diego State Univ in 1990. Finished classwork there in 1986 and worked full time while finishing thesis. I don't recommend doing it that way. I have professional geologist registrations in two states and am a Certified Hydrogeologist in CA. I've been working in hydrogeology since 1986. Have been with my current employer (or one subsequently purchased by them) since 1989. I am now a Principal Hydrogeologist and Leader of our Hydrogeology/Modeling Group in our Sacramento office. I am currently a technical committee member and former President of the Sac Brach for the Groundwater Resources Association of California. I am also a Past Executive Vice President of GRA. I live in the Elk Grove area and have three children. Two in college. :-)) I am also an Assistant Scoutmaster for BSA and a USSF certified soccer referee. Other than the above, I haven't done much. . .:-))
David Hapner	1985	After graduation I worked for a buliding materials company in Reno, NV for 4 years. After becoming bored with a desk job, I joined the United States Air Force and soon became a pilot. I flew KC-135R aircraft, refueling other planes all around the world, for 8 years. I now fly Gulfstream G-III and G-V aircraft, and fly our nation's leaders around the world. I have been to every continent, except Antartica, and thoroughly enjoy what I do. My wife and I have four children. The oldest just graduated from UNLV and is trying to get into med school. The next oldest has been acdcepted into Pitt, Penn State, and VCU, and also wants to be a doctor. The youngest two are a freshman, and a fourth grader.
Suzanne McNaughton	1987	Worked as a Geologist for Teichert Aggregates, Brown and Caldwell Consultants, and Kennedy/Jenks Consultants. Returned to school, went to the dark side and got a second B.S. in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1999. Employed by Caltrans as a Transportation Engineer, Civil, for whom I test bridge foundations during road widenings and seismic retrofits to make sure they are safe for the traveling public of California. When you cross a bridge, think of me. : )
Debbie (Horner) Wilson	1988	Part owner and office manager of Scott E. Wilson Consulting, Inc. located in Englewood, Colorado.
Fred Gius	1989	Currently working as an Engineering Geologist for California's Office of Mine Reclamation. I had been providing environmental consulting services but I got bored. Too much business development and client relations, not enough geology. Things are better now.
Scott Wilson	1989	Own a mining consulting company with my wife Debbie who is also a Sac State geology Alum. Scott E. Wilson Consulting, Inc. is located in Englewood, Colorado.
Mike Berrington	1992	Completed geology coursework in 1991 and graduated in 1992. Have worked in environmental consulting since I graduated (even a couple years prior to graduation). Started out with small company in Sutter Creek, CA and worked there until 1993. Between 1993 and 2007 I worked for two, large, international consulting firms in Sacramento and hung my own shingle out for a couple of years. My wife and I moved to Reno between 2006 and 2007 (she accepted a position here in 2006 but took me till 2007 to sell house). I'm working out of a home office for a small, Rocklin-based firm owned by a friend and former co-worker. I'm a registered geologist in CA and just received my Certified Environmental Manager's license for Nevada. Now trying to diversify our bisness into Nevada. Still stay in contact with many of my geology classmates, as most of us haven't fallen far from the tree! We're interested in attending future geology alumni trips to re-unite with former classmates and faculty.
Jason Fedota	1992	After graduating from CSUS Geology I continued working in the environmental consulting industry until 1996. While finishing an MBA from UC Davis I transitioned my career into financial analysis and further into information technology while working at Sutter Health. After managing the implementation of a financial system for Sutter Health I joined Oracle's public sector sales team in 2000. For the past 8 years I have focused on selling Oracle software to State and Local government customers, primarily in the State of California. I live in Gold River with my wife and two boys Joe (7) and Jack (3).
Matt Fowler	1995	Wow time flies!! The most important thing that has happened to me since graduation is I got married in 1996 and had two beautiful little girls (fortunately, they look like their mother). I am orginally from the Redding area and moved back immediately after graduation, but Geology jobs were few and far between. I worked for a local Geophysicist for two years but soon there wasn't enough work to keep me going. From out of left field I was offered a teaching position at my old private high school teaching math and science, while still working for the geophysics company part time. I figured I would teach a year or two and then find a steady geology job. Five years later I was still teaching and I had begun working part time for a Geotech company. The school was absorbed by another school in 2002 and I didn't return, but went full time with the Geotechnical Firm doing field investigations and inspection work. By this time I realized that I truly wanted to teach and so I went back to school and got my teaching credential. I am currently teaching Earth Science and Physics at Foothill High School in Palo Cedro where I put together a CP Earth Science program for entering freshmen. This is where I belong. Did I mention I married into a cattle ranching family and for the past ten years have been learning the ins and outs of being a cattle rancher. My wife and I currently run our own ranch (her full time, me when schools out) with the help of our two daughters who are becoming quite the cowgirls. That's my life since graduation in a nutshell, hope it didn't bore you too much.
Joni Kropf (previously Hammitt)	2000	I'm now living in Reno, working as a geologist, am married, and have one daughter. I'd love to hear from everyone!
Dan Bayla	2004	Its all about travel and vacation! I have been able to be so lucky to travel to many places in Europe, the Caribbean and the Eastern US. Now all I want to do is travel the world. If you are interested you can check it out and I can hook you up with a free trip from my company (airfare, hotel, food). Just shoot me an email. I hope everyone is doing well.
Lila Aylstock	2005	I am working for an environmental consulting firm in Roseville. Since graduation Jeff and I got married and recently bought our dream house in Loomis. I'm looking forward to the alumni field trips to see the my former classmates and revisit all the great times we had in the field!
Teresa Butler	2005	Well, I graduated in December of 2004, and I am very active in AEG, and GRA. Currently, I am a staff geologist with Wallace-Kuhl & Associates, Inc. based out of their Rocklin office. I am close to getting my professional registration, and I will be returning to school for more Geology! Fun! Please stay in contact. I love to hear from everyone, and I hope to see you soon.
Brent Giese	2005	This is my third year teaching Earth Science. I am fully credentialed, and by December I will have earned a master's in Education. Also, I am a home owner. All this and more in BAKERSFIELD, you will see it on the way to Red Rock.
Wendy Orr	2005	Upon graduating from Sac State I spent two years working as an environmental consultant for a local engineering consulting company. During the time I spent there, I wrote numerous reports, installed groundwater wells, and logged soil and rock core. In Fall 2007, I began working on a master's degree at the University of Nevada in Reno. I am part of the Geomechanics Rock Fracture Research Group and am investigating the mechanics of faulting associated with the Upheaval Dome impact event in southeast Utah.
Travis von Dessonneck	2005	I just finished my classes for my master's at the University of Arkansas, and will be moving back to Sacramento this July.
Courtney Amalong	2006	Currently I am teaching 8th garde Physical Science at Twelve Bridges Middle School. I am looking forward to summers off! I live in Meadow Vista, and I have 2 black lab puppies. They take up most of my free-time. This year has been an excellent learning expereince being it is my first year teaching. I am enjoying every minute of it, and life has been good since I have graduated.
Mike Lyttge	2006	Since I graduated I've been working for the Bureau of Reclamation in the Sacramento office. I am a geologist and hydrogeologist in the Division of Design and Construction. Among other things, I work on dam safety projects, groundwater monitoring and of course report writing. I spend about 1/3 of my time in the field. I am really happy with what I'm doing; my education is serving me well. Thanks
David Barnard	2007	After graduating I took a trip through the SouthWest visiting friends, collecting rocks, minerals, and fossils, and enjoying geologic sites. Approximatley a year after graduation I became employed as a field geologist with a consulting firm in Rocklin, traveling between the cnetral valley and the coast. Not quite the field that I'm interested in, but it's a good job with a good company, and if nothing else it's a foot in the door and experience.
Mike McKinney	2007	Since graduating I have been contracted through the Land, Air & Water Resources Department (LAWR) at UC Davis to work for the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board in Rancho Cordova, CA. I am a Post Graduate Research/Junior Assistant with the San Joaquin River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Unit.
Robin Wham	2007	After graduating from Sac State, I have been hanging around Sac State! I have helped with the Rock Auction, TA'd for many classes and trips - any opportunity to TA a field class or help in the field is one I jump on. My "career" aspiration is to become the ultimate and divine field assistant until I can't walk on rocks anymore...no desk job for me. Have Brunton will travel...
Tim Diedesch	2008	I will be attending Idaho State University beginning Fall 2009 for grad school. My focus is in structural geology with a specific emphasis on continental tectonics and large-scale structures. Currently, I am the bass player for the Sacramento-based rock band Cuesta Drive. Although we will soon be going our separate ways, you can still listen to our music online at www.cuestadrive.com
Jeanette Hummel	2008	I work for Luhdorff and Scalmanini Consulting Engineers based out of Woodland. Wesley Andrews (class of 2008) also works with me. We are preparing to take the GIT in October. I miss all the staff and my friends; but will see you all at the Rock Auction!
Rebecca Tsang	2008	I'll be going to San Diego State in Fall 08 for my M.S. degree in faults and earthquake studies.

Last Updated: September 30, 2009