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| 1950s | Joey Garcia '90 |
| 1960s | Sam Starks '83, '86 |
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On a mission
For Sacramento-area readers the name Joey Garcia (’90, Journalism) calls to mind straightforward advice on everything from parenting to office politics. Even sex addiction.
But many do not know that the Sacramento News & Review’s “Ask Joey” advice columnist is also a high school teacher on a mission to eradicate poverty in her home country of Belize.
Born in the small Caribbean nation and now a naturalized American citizen, Garcia grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Four years ago she established the nonprofit educational charity Rise Up Belize. The program offers free weeklong summer professional development courses in Belize to 100 teachers, and free summer camps to 100 Belizean students, each year.
“Without a good education they can’t really rise up out of poverty,” says Garcia, who teaches theology classes at Sacramento’s St. Francis High School.
Garcia hopes her program encourages more Belizean children to attend school in a country where, because of poverty and expensive tuition, only 50 percent of school-age children attend elementary school, with a mere 30 percent completing it.
In partnership with the Sacramento Area Reading Association, Rise Up Belize provides students with non-fiction and fiction books, and free backpacks filled with school supplies. Students are also invited to participate in an essay contest where they can win cash prizes.
While at Sac State Garcia wrote for The State Hornet and was an Associated Students vice president in 1985.
Since graduating, Garcia has worked in all areas of media. She has been a reporter and anchor for several radio stations in the Bay Area, worked in public relations in Davis and Sacramento, and as a freelancer, has written for Sacramento Magazine, The Sacramento Bee’s Neighbors section, the Children’s Advocate, and Government Technology magazine. She also worked a stint as a producer for CBS 13 News.
Her column “Ask Joey” appears weekly in the Sacramento News & Review. And she can be heard giving relationship advice Monday mornings on V101.1 FM during the Lee and Andrea Morning Show.
“I like to be a little silly sometimes so we can all see that issues in romantic relationships are not the end of the world, especially compared to the extreme poverty and physical suffering that exists in the world,” she says.
Garcia is currently on the lookout for more teachers and school psychologists willing to volunteer in Belize this summer. Those interested can e-mail Garcia at askjoey@earthlink.net.
Service Provider
For Sacramento State Alumni Association Board of Directors president Sam Starks (’83, English, ’86, Sociology), community engagement isn’t just a job—it’s a way of life. Starks, who holds two Sac State degrees, works for SMUD’s customer and community relations department. But that’s by day. By night, he continues a years-long tradition of making a difference through service.
“My father told me a long time ago that what you do from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. is for your family. What you do the rest of the time is for the community,” Starks says. “That made a big impression on me.”
Commitment to community is part of his day job as well. A major component of his work involves identifying the needs of low-income SMUD customers through promotions and rebates.
One of Starks’ pet projects was the establishment 10 years ago of the California Forum Crossroads, a non-profit organization dedicated to framing community discussions around topical issues. “The idea was to get the low-income community—traditionally a powerless, voiceless community—engaged in a dialogue about problems that concerned them,” says Starks.
“I soon found, after we’d had a few forums, that the participants weren’t necessarily empowered by conquering the issue,” he says. “It was the process—gathering together, discussing ideas—that made them feel like they had an important space in the community. And many people were moved into action by the discussions.”
Forums have focused on topics such as economic empowerment, AIDS and crime prevention. Recently, the group took part in a discussion on the sub-prime mortgage crisis, “because this is something that’s hitting low-income people harder,” says Starks.
Starks also works with MLK 365, helping schools and community organizations promote Martin Luther King Jr.’s values of civic action through nonviolence. “We want people to ask themselves, ‘What would Martin Luther King do in this situation?’ and react in a sensible, responsible way.”
In addition, Starks serves on the boards of the Nehemiah Housing Corporation and OK Kids.
Starks also realizes the value of his work with the University’s Alumni Association. “I’m committed to the Sacramento State Alumni Board of Directors for the same reason I’ve been committed to other community groups in the past. I strongly believe in the University’s mission and its value,” says Starks.
“People can change their station in life and improve themselves through a college education. As an alumnus, I consider myself to be a University ambassador to the community, and I hope other alumni feel the same way.”
Helen K. Benoit Duran, ’57, B.A., English, retired from the Roseville City School District Board and is now president and grant chair of Placer County Division 67 of the California Retired Teachers Association. The division awards nine $250 beginning teacher support grants to Placer County public school teachers in their first three years of teaching. Duran oversees this program. She lives in Roseville.
Sharon Foote Cann, ’59, B.A., Social Science, ’77, M.S., Social Science, used the extracurricular activities she took part in as a student at Sac State to set the path for the rest of her life. After working in student placement on campus she worked with the American Red Cross in Korea, Morocco and France, where she met her husband and stayed for three years. When her husband retired she started working and got a degree in library science. She worked for a hospital and then joined Georgia State University as its education librarian. After six years, she was employed by the Georgia Baptist Nursing College as director. After working in different libraries for 20 years, she retired. She and her husband, Donald, live in Bluffton, S.C. but still have family living in the Sacramento area. She keeps up with California by checking The Sacramento Bee and is planning to come to Sacramento next year for her high school and college reunions.
Donald Gary Trent, ’60, B.A., Business, ’70, M.B.A., taught in the San Juan Unified School District for 30 years and after retiring, he and his family opened a used bookstore called “BOOKworm.” They now have stores in Fair Oaks, Rancho Cordova and Roseville. Their newest shop is the “Book Bag” in Carmichael, owned by their daughter. A true Hornet family, they have a son who attended Sac State, a grandson entering the engineering program and their only granddaughter is on Sac State’s golf team. Trent and his wife, Willa, live in Orangevale.
Jack C. Jenkins, ’64, B.A., History- Social Science, is involved in a consulting business providing advice to amateur and professional athletes and their families. He has teamed with his two sons, Brett and Geoff, who were All-Americans at the University of Southern California. Both sons are professional baseball players and Geoff has just completed his tenth year with the Milwaukee Brewers. As a former high school and college baseball coach, Jack has helped several players and their families navigate the road to college and playing at the professional level, helping athletes to handle the stress of competition. He has written several articles on motivation and is working with area baseball coaches and parents on successful and healthy ways to support their athletes. For many years, he has taught weekend courses at Sac State’s College of Continuing Education. He makes his home in Stockton.
John Zeltin, ’64, B.A., Psychology, is a vice president-senior manager with American Express at its headquarters in New York. He has been with the company for 18 years and lives in the city. Zeltin travels frequently because of his job and hopes to visit Sac State on one of his trips to the West Coast.
Elvin Mahlon Whittle, ’68, B.A., Business Administration, is the new president of the noon Rotary Club of Woodland. A Rotarian since 1986, Whittle is also owner of Whittle and Associates Real Estate. He recently chaired the 2007 annual Rotary Dinner/Auction which raised more than $30,000 for newborn hearing monitor equipment at Woodland Healthcare and scholarships for the Rotary Endowment program. Whittle has three sons and three grandchildren who all live in Woodland where Whittle and his wife, Jan, also make their home.
John Michael (Mike) Dunker, ’72, B.A., Environmental Resources (Park Management and Recreational Activities), is a Rio Dell city councilmember and has been appointed to the Northcoast Regional Water Quality Control Board. He is also chair of Rio Dell’s recently revitalized parks and recreation commission. Dunker and his wife reside in Rio Dell, a community on Highway 101 in Humboldt County.
Kim McCann Lawson, ’76, B.A., Drama, has been the program director and an associate professor at Sacramento City College and now is the program director of Short Center South, a fine arts program serving 125 adults with developmental disabilities. After playing a key role with the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival for 22 years, she retired this past summer after the final production of Macbeth. This gives her more time to spend special visits with her two-year-old grandson, Mark Lawson III.
Timothy A. Bryan, ’79, B.S., Accountancy, has been promoted at Perry-Smith LLP to senior vice president for valuation and forensics service. He provides computer forensics and electric data recovery services to attorneys and clients as an expert witness in litigation matters and as a consultant in non-litigation matters. He also directs the firm’s electronic data processing audit efforts and provides SAS 70 audit reports on outside service bureaus. Bryan and his wife, Felicia, live in Davis.
David R. Bennett, ‘81, B.S., Business Administration (Marketing), is CEO and a founder of ECO:LOGIC Engineering, based in Rocklin where he lives. ECO:LOGIC is a 160-person consulting firm that plans, designs and oversees the construction and operation of municipal water and wastewater infrastructures. The company is listed in the Engineering News Record top 500 engineering firms in the nation, and has been listed on the Business Journal’s “Fastest-Growing Companies” list for 10 successive years.
Mark Carrington, ’82, B.S., Business Administration (Marketing), has been brought on as the CEO for Coversant, Inc. He is overseeing a Series “A” financing round that’s halfway to its $1 million goal. A larger “B” round is planned for late this year or early 2008. The Orangevale-based start-up will use the money to speed the rollout of a Coversant software product that permits secure, spam-free instant messaging. Carrington is the former vice president of Meridian Systems and lives with his family in Granite Bay.
Sharon A. Lueras, ’83, B.A., Sociology, has been named to the Sacramento Superior Court by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is the third Sac State graduate out of five judicial appointments made in the county this year. She has been managing the legal affairs of the state’s investing and financing regulation agency, and has been involved with local prosecutions. Before she assumes her post as judge, she is serving as lead corporations counsel with the California Department of Corporations. Lueras also served as a deputy attorney general for the state from 2002-05 and before that was a deputy district attorney for Sacramento County for 11 years. Lueras and her husband, Chip, live in Fair Oaks with their two teenage children.
Frank Malaki, ’87, B.A., Journalism, recently accepted the position of sailing and windsurfing coordinator at the Sac State Aquatic Center, after 21 years with the City of Sacramento and as a petty officer with 22 years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. He has been in the boating industry for more than 30 years and also has a background in sailing and windsurfing instruction. Malaki was the assistant director of the Aquatic Center from 1983-86. He loves sharing the experience he gained from years in small boats of all kinds with the staff and customers. He lives in River Park.
Stephen Becker, ’89, B.A., English, finished his master of divinity—with honors—degree in pastoral ministry this spring at the cooperative program of Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Ind. and Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, England. Currently he is a licensed minister at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Elk Grove. Becker has also been accepted and has started studies in a doctoral program, again through Trinity and Canterbury. He and his wife, Vanessa, live in Elk Grove.
Alan Lipton, ’90, B.A., Government, writes that he is enjoying retirement but is very busy volunteering as a community activist. He lives in the Arden/Arcade area of Sacramento.
Rebecca M. Dean, ’92, B.S. Nursing ’07, M.S., Nursing, completed her master’s degree and has opened a private practice as a gero-psych CNS. She does consultations, assessments, counseling and case management services, specializing in geriatrics and psychiatric issues with a focus on dementia. Dean opened her practice in July 2007 and recently obtained approval as a Medicare provider and can accept clients with Medicare. She and her family live in Carmichael.
Brandon Yip, ’92, B.A., Music, is a classical guitarist and has performed professionally since 1985, while also getting a degree. He is currently an adjunct faculty member at Sac State and American River College. He also serves as director of the Guitar Conservatory at the Arts Academy as well as artistic director for the Sacramento Guitar Society. Most recently, he played at the Sonora Opera Hall, featuring music from around the world. Yip is a highly regarded soloist and has been recognized with many awards for his performances.
Laurie Teunis Kelly, ’93 and ’96, B.A., Education (Multiple Subject Credentials), is employed by the Prince George County Schools in Maryland where she is an elementary classroom teacher. She was recently recognized with a community service award by the Maryland State Development Authority for her work in pedestrian safety. Kelly and her family live in Takoma Park, Md.
Jennifer L. McQuarrie, ’95, B.A., Liberal Studies, ’96, Education (Multiple Subject Credentials), has joined Palmer Kazanjian as an associate attorney. She will focus on employment, business, commercial and real estate ligation and educational law. Her office is on the Capitol Mall in Sacramento.
Anna Levick Haley, ’98, ’03 and ’04, B.A., Education (Multiple Subject Credentials), is a music teacher and librarian in the Alameda Unified School District. She also gives private piano lessons and runs preschool rhythm groups. Haley and her husband are the proud parents of a toddler, Simon Piercy Haley Moskalev, and they live near the UC Berkeley campus.
Shelia Sidqe, ’99, M.S., Education Administration and Policy, was hired by Hiram Johnson High School in August to be a special counselor dedicated to helping students with college applications, including filling out financial aid forms. “Operation College” was started with Sidqe as the centerpiece and her main focus is to establish a college-going culture at the high school. The program has sponsored three popular “family nights” at which the college-application process is explained to students and parents. Sidqe says she enjoys working with seniors, and this new position helps her to connect significantly to those students.
Misty Y. Pacheco, ‘03, Biological Sciences, is serving in the Peace Corps in Kenya as a public health volunteer. She is working to increase awareness of health issues including HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, malaria, malnutrition, and other water-borne and infectious diseases. After graduating from Sac State she earned a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Southern California and worked as a health educator for Kaiser Permanente.
Theresa Bazacos, ’04, B.A., Psychology, is a graduate student at the California School of Psychology where she is completing the third year of a five-year clinical psychology doctoral program. Her dissertation topic explores the events and pathways adults of Mexican origin encounter on the way to receiving public health
