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Alumni Messages

Previously Posted Messages

Arranged According to Graduation Date

Name: Barbara Collier-Conrad
Email:
Year Graduated: 1967
What's going on?: It looks like I'm the oldest to post a message now!  I just retired in June, 2009, after teaching 40 years!  (I taught in Florida and Georgia.)  My entire career has been in Elementary Education. I loved majoring in English.  We had good professors, and classes were small enough that we could have good discussions and the professors actually knew who we were!  In 1967, women did not have an abundance of choices for careers, and I chose to teach.  Since we could choose to be trained in elementary or secondary education, I chose elementary.  I had never intended to teach before I went to college, but it just worked out that way.  I have never regretted it!  I have always felt that I was able to have the best of both worlds--majoring in something I loved, and then being able to work with young children.  Through the years I have done free-lance writing, editing, tutoring, and was a paralegal for a short while.  I had a long career in teaching because I never stopped loving being with children and being a teacher.

Name: Thomas Powell
Email:
Where are you?: Hardwood Lumber Company
Year Graduated: 1968
What's going on?: I'll claim the title of oldest graduate for a while. My degree is a B.S., Cal Poly didn't award B.A.'s when I graduated. After graduation I was in the Navy for a few years (Naval Security Group) and then went into the hardwood lumber business. I married another Cal Poly graduate who is a teacher and we have two adult children and two fine grandsons.

Name: Carol Sklenicka
Email:
Where are you?: Milwaukee, WI and Jenner, CA
Year Graduated: 1971
What's going on?: Now I am the oldest alum who has posted a message here. After I finished my B.A. at Poly in 1971, I stayed and got a teaching credential and took all the upper level courses I hadn't been able to fit into my schedule earlier -- I particularly remember Modern Poetry with Patrica Brenner, Romantic Poets with Michael Wenzl, and a course in Critical Theory with Gerald Sullivan. It was a great education even though at that time the rest of the academic world didn't even think Poly had an English Department. I taught high school in Ventura County for three years and then, following Dr. Brenner's example, I went to the Bread Loaf School in Vermont to work on an M.A. While I was there I found out that graduate schools gave fellowships to their students. I applied to various places and was turned down by all the UC campuses (who were prejudiced against Poly at that time, I heard) but accepted at Washington University in St. Louis, where I got to study with Howard Nemerov and Stanley Elkin. I earned a Ph.D. there and published a book about D. H. Lawrence with Univ. of Missouri Press. Then I married a poet and moved with him to Wisconsin, where he made a career in business and I taught English at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and Marquette University. I have a son and a daughter, both in college now, and have quit teaching in order to write full time. My current project is a biography of RAYMOND CARVER, for which Scribner recently gave me a a contract. It will be published in about four or five years. One of the great things about this project is that I must interview people in California. We have also purchased a house in Sonoma County and are planning to retire there in a few years.

Name: Mary (Coleman) Baskauskas
Email:
Where are you?: Stanford University Company
Year Graduated: 1973
What's going on?: Since there aren't any messages from my era, I thought I'd post one. After graduating, I stayed on another year to get my teaching credential. At that time, there were tons of us trying to get teaching jobs. Rather than taking one in some "podunk" town or in the sprawl of L.A. county, I took off for a year of travel. My adventures in the South Pacific, Asia etc. were life-altering. When I came home, I realized that I didn't really want to be a teacher. Instead I ventured into the business world (IBM & Xerox). I married the love of my life, Mike Baskauskas, in '81. I was a "stay-at-home, soccer mom" with our 4 kids until the youngest started school five years ago. I now work in External Relations for Stanford Law School (a wonderful working environment). I discovered this website as I perused the Cal Poly homepage in anticipation of my daughter appying here next year. Hope she ends up here so I can come visit my old haunts.

Name: Ian Seaton
Email:
Where are you?: Chatsworth Productions, Inc.
Year Graduated: 1974
What's going on?:  Long strange trip.  I am currently a Technical Applications Development Manager specializing in thermal management for data centers and living outside Austin, TX.  Geographically, I got here via Elkhart, IN; Atascadero, CA; Los Angeles, CA and SLO.  Vocationally, I got here via strategic marketing, product management, sales engineering, quality engineering, quality circle facilitating, industrial training, TAing at USC and lecturing at Cal Poly.  While the past 30 years represent a steady departure from my English studies, my degree has still carried me to and through these doors.  I still fondly remember classes from Landwehr, Kann and Wenzl.  I also remember hosting a radio show on KCBX and wondering how much trouble I was going to get in from the FCC when John Kerr read "tallywacker" off one of his poems.

Name: Gregory Dawley
Email:
Where are you?: Altadena, CA
Year Graduated: 1976
What's going on?: I too am one of the oldsters on this page. I remember, with special respect and fondness, Professors Sullivan and Wenzl from those days in the mid ‘70s, and I even remember a fair amount of what they taught me. After graduation, I worked nine years in the title insurance industry in Los Angeles, during the last four of which I attended law school at night. Since 1991, I have been partner in a small law firm in Los Angeles. When I was attending Cal Poly, it never occurred to me that I would end up a lawyer, but I can say from personal experience that English truly is an excellent pre-law major. The training in writing is invaluable, and it doesn’t hurt to have a background in literature when you are trying to turn a potentially boring set of facts into a compelling story. I have been happily married for 23 years and have two children.

Name: David Kalar
Email:
Where are you?: Self Employed
Year Graduated: 1980
What's going on?: On graduating, I secured employment as an Engineering Writer/Editor for FMC Corp., Itek, Optical Systems Div., and Westinghouse, Marine Division where I worked my final two years as a Non-Metallics Materials Test Engineer. During this time, I also flew for the Air Force Reserve; initially on C-141 cargo aircraft, and subsequently on the KC-10 Tanker aircraft. I worked full time for the reserves as a technician, training flight engineers, and retired from the reserves when the unit moved from Barksdale AFB, LA to McGuire AFB, NJ. I then worked for drag racer, Konnie Kallita, at his American International Airways flying his Cargo DC-8 aircraft in world wide service. I am currently self employed repairing outboard motors here in Louisiana, living out in the woods, commuting to work on foot (about two hundred feet), and am loving it. I am also toying with the idea of pursuing an MA in English, just because I want to!

Name: Julie Thompson
Email:
Personal URL: http://online.santarosa.edu/homepage/jthompson
Where are you?: Santa Rosa Junior College
Company URL: http://www.santarosa.edu
Year Graduated: 1990
What's going on?: I guess I do what many other Cal Poly English grads are doing: work, laundry, dishes, parenting, and watching life go by in too much of a hurry. That's the overview, though. The real juice is, as always, in the detail. I have a great son, Eli, who is four and who (like most four-year-olds) knows everything. He's often right, especially when it comes to issues of justice. Kids are very keen on that. For my porridge, I teach English at Santa Rosa Junior College. I'm in a great department at a wonderful campus. I feel lucky to be here: Lovely colleagues, bright students, and a lot of autonomy in my work. If you've ever seen Sonoma County, you know how beautiful it is. We spend a lot of time outdoors, and I garden like a fiend from the end of May till mid-August, when school starts again.

Name: Greg Choy
Email:
Where are you?: UC Berkeley
Year Graduated: 1990
What's going on?: After three years at UMinn, I moved to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, where I was a professor of English for two years. In 2004, the opportunity for my wife and I to live and work in Berkeley was too strong to ignore, so off we went to the Bay Area where I now teach courses in comparative multiethnic American lit, Asian American lit, and Asian American art and artists in UC Berkeley's Department of Ethnic Studies.

Name: Laurie Miller
Email:
Personal URL: http://mason.gmu.edu/~llmiller
Where are you?: George Mason University, English Language Institute
Company URL: http://www.gmu.edu
Year Graduated: 1990
What's going on?: After leaving the "nest" of San Luis (I got my BS in Bio in '86 and took my time to hang out at Linnea's and surf at Pismo and Shell Beach while working on my MA in English for four years), I hit the Mid-West and entered the Linguistics Ph.D. program at Indiana University in August of 1990. It's then that I fell into EFL (English as a Foreign Language)...I needed a fellowship, and even though I was a general linguist, I took the fellowship in the applied program. After two years I ran out of money and cut my losses, taking an MA instead of a Ph.D. I moved to Washington D.C. and began life as a professional Adjunct in English departments and intensive English programs at four different universities (all at once). After four years, I was hired as full-time faculty at George Mason.

I've been at Mason for eight years now, and it has changed a lot. It's really growing in size and reputation (internet technologies). I am still teaching EFL about 25% of the time, but I am also the LAN adminstrator for our student lab (language learning software went multi-media long before most of the other software, so I "learned by doing" and became our department's "techie." I'm also doing a fair amount of work on on-line course development and delivery.

Name: David Reed
Email:
Grad Date: B.A. English 1990.
What's going on?: Since leaving Cal Poly I considered getting a Ph.D. but went the career-route instead. I've been working in the computer software and hardware industry as a Quality Assurance automation expert, dabbling a bit in financial application development and web development. I'm currently Director of E-Consulting at Segue Software, a position that requires a lot of domestic and international travel. On a more personal note, I'm married to a wonderful woman and have a beautiful daughter who entered this world in December 1997. The three of us currently live in San Bruno, California, which is very convenient to the airport I fly out of very regularly.

Name: Norman S. Gould, Ph.D
Email:
Year Graduated: 1991
What's going on?: am seeking information concerning english department faculty during the years 1952-54. I would like the names of of the staff who was there during that period. You may have this info in catalogs that were available at that time. If you do not have this info in the department ,perhaps you can tell me where I can access it.Thanks for your help...Norman Gould

Name: Kristen Vierregger
Email:
Where are you?: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Company URL: http://www.med.upenn.edu
Year Graduated: 1991
What's going on?: I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up! It's a world away from my lit days, but I've decided that my time and talents are best suited in medicine.

I returned to school and entered a Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program at Scripps College in Claremont to catch up on all the science prereq's I missed as an English major. I've landed at Penn and, at 34, am the oldest matriculating student in my class. My prevailing thought, however, is that, god(ess) willing, I'll turn 40 no matter what I do, and at that point I'd much prefer to be pursuing my passion than stymied in an unfulfilling career. And "the voyage of the best ships is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks," right?

Name: Laura L. Mariani
Email:
Where are you?: Intel Corporation
Company URL: http://www.intel.com
Year Graduated: 1991
What's going on?: I've been living and working in the SF Bay Area since graduation. Currently working at Intel Corp as a Sr Admin Asst. Good gig! Still reading great lit and writing in my spare time. Just moved to a cool apartment in the San Carlos hills and am having fun cruising the curves in my convertible. Am blissfully single and enjoy spending time with my pals from Poly! Trying to locate Michelle Hampton and Troy Mott, both ENGL '91,...If you're out there M & T, drop me a line! I miss ya! My niece starts at SLO this fall so look out Profs Keesey and Clark! (Alas, she won't be ENGL, but she appreciates a good lit classic! I won't let her escape you!)

Name: Tom Slater
Email:
Where are you?: Lucia Mar Unified School Dist.
Year Graduated: B.A. English 1991
What's going on?: Teaching 8th grade English at Mesa M.S. Writing for Surfer, New Times, & Rock & Ice Mag. occasionally. Living in Arroyo Grande thinking about the grad program...hmmm.

Name: Dana (Howard) Lopez
Email:
Where are you?: Ontario-Montclair School District
Year Graduated: 1992
What's going on?: I am currently longing to visit San Luis Obispo. These days, I am teaching part-time at the elementary level in beautiful Montclair, Ca. This year it's second grade, next year will be first grade, and have taught all the others from K-6. Pre-NCLB, I had the freedom to be as creative as I could possibly be, and for three years, I taught one group of students starting in fourth grade and saying goodbye to them in sixth grade. During this time, we wrote tons of poetry, and I was able to incorporate art at every level; math, science, writing, social science, health, etc. In 2003, I was awarded the Southern California's BRAVO Award, given to a general education teacher who integrates art in their daily lessons. This came right before I was told not to use anymore art, but rather follow the scripted adopted program. Needless to say, I still love teaching, but it has lost it's luster. At this time, I was traveling quite a bit on my off-months, writing travel articles and enjoying my singlehood. I traveled near and far, to Alaska, Africa, Canada, Portugal, Spain, England and around the U.S. I then met Mr. Right, settled down a bit, and am now a part-time teacher and full-time mama to a two-year-old boy named Noah. I began and have almost completed a graduate program in Science Education. I spend most of my time these days taking walks with my son and our 17-year old dog. I cannot believe it's been almost 15 years since I was an undergrad at Cal Poly. Those days in Kevin Clark's creative writing classes are some of my fondest memories.

Name: Erin Egli Bell
Email:
Where are you?: Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes
Company URL: http://www.lblp.com
Year Graduated: 1992
What's going on?: I'm currently the director of in-house training for my San Luis based company. I'm married to Cal Poly alum Rodney Bell and we have two sons-Jack and Jonah.

Name: Erin Egli Bell
Email:
Year Graduated: 1992
What's going on?: Forgot to mention in my previous message that in May I received my M.F.A. from Emerson College in Boston.

Name: Holly Gibson Castille
Email:
Where are you?: Tallahassee
Company URL: http://www.tallymarket.com
Year Graduated: 1992
What's going on?: Took me a minute to remember my graduating year so this will be interesting! After Cal Poly I went east to DC and have been a newspaper reporter, energy industry specialist, and freelance writer over the years. Downshifted to Tallahassee, where I quit to focus my energies on my amazing autistic son. The only thing more challenging than raising a little boy who is more intelligent and charming than I'll ever be is adding a now-toddler little girl to the mix. Still dabbling in small business PR from home while I figure out what I want to do when I--er I mean my kids--grow up.

Name: Patricia Evans
Email:
Where are you?: Dublin Unified School District
Year Graduated: 1993
What's going on?: After earning my B.A. in English, I came very close to staying in SLO to earn my teaching credential.  However, after a bad break-up, I moved back to the Bay area and attended San Jose State University where I earned my Secondary Teaching Credential.  I now teach at the same high school that I attended, Dublin High.  This is my fourteenth year and I absolutely love it!  I've taught every level, but I particularly like Junior American Literature which was my passion in college.  I work in a supportive and cohesive department that values articulation and new ideas.

Name: Jeffrey Keating
Email:
Where are you?: Lindamood-Bell
Year Graduated: 1993
Company URL: http://www.lblp.com
What's going on?: Well, the boy Henry was born June 26, 1999. We're still in Menlo Park and the last book I read was "Me- The Jimmy 'Big Boy' Valente Story" by Garrison Keillor

Name: Joy Hancock
Email:
Year Graduated: 1993
What's going on?: Looking for a new job - any full-time English Instructor positions out there? OR - for the last five years, I have been more in "computer work" - as a Systems Coordinator, upgraded a peer to peer computer workgroup to an NT 4.0 domain including installation of software, transfer of data, purchase and configuration of PCs, set up of DSL, sharing of network printers, security and backup. Managed e-mail system and shared electronic filing system. Implemented Jamis system, requiring a completely new structure for and overhaul of existing accounting system which allowed for tailored government accounting with monthly re-calculations of fringe benefit, overhead and G&A burdens. Constructed Access databases for contract coverage, in process and issued patents, purchasing, customer management, job costing with per unit price and inventory management as well as human resources. Trained employees in the use of new software. Supervised temp employees. Rewrote !! and edited a "Policy and Procedures Manual." Proofread, formatted and readied government proposals and contract reports including complex forms and electronic submissions. Supervised and balanced inventory. Prepared and transmitted P/R to ADP. Handled all aspects of purchasing and A/P. Handled all company expense reports including foreign travel and per diems. Discovered $200,000 issued patent costs that were not being properly amortized due to possible patent splits (parent/child) that were never completed. Noticed uniform expenses could be reduced by canceling unused employee accounts and combining little used employee accounts into generic accounts and took action. Balanced gas tank demurrage and lowered costs by proving some costs were for tanks no longer in use on location. Experienced with computer system administration, Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Adobe Acrobat and Jamis.

Name: Denise Maduli-Williams
Email:
Where are you?: City Colleges of Chicago
Company URL: http://faculty.ccc.edu/colleges/hwashington/esl/
Year Graduated: 1994
What's going on?: After graduation, I immediately went to Botswana where I taught EFL as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Then I came back to the states and went to New York City where I got my M.A. in TESOL as a Peace Corps Fellow at Columbia University. I taught ESL in NYC public high schools and then worked as the Arts-in-Education Director for the Michael Mao Dance Company, heading up a program called ESLdance. In 2000 I moved to Chicago and am recently tenured as an assistant professor of ESL at Harold Washington College, one of the city colleges of Chicago. I loved my time at Cal Poly and often think back to those sunny summer days spent at Avila Beach (especially during Chicago's loooooooong winter months).

Name: Steve Iglesias
Email:
Where are you?: School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Company URL: http://www.artic.edu
Year Graduated: 1994
What's going on?: Well, I graduated from the English undergraduate program in the Fall of 1994. After that, I meandered for a while in San Luis Obispo while I contemplated my future. Finally, I decided to pursue an M.A. in English. I started the graduate program at Cal Poly, but I discovered that I really wanted to do more creative writing and that option really didn't exist at Cal Poly at the time. So, I transfered to Cal State Northridge (CSUN) where I would be able to do just that. Well, I finished my M.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing in June of 2000. While at CSUN I also taught Freshman Composition as a Teaching Associate and I earned a B.A. in French. Currently, I'm living in Chicago and attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I am pursuing an M.F.A. in Writing with concentrations in Poetry and Literary Translation. Many of my poems are beginning to published in journals as well as my literary translations from Spanish and French into English. As a matter of fact, I'm in the midst of working out a book deal for my translations of Chilean poet Vicente Huidobro. On top of all of that, I teach both Creative Writing and Freshman Composition at the School. I owe all of my success to the wonderful undergraduate program at Cal Poly!

Name: Jennifer L. Hertz
Email:
Where are you?: United States Bankruptcy Court, Boston
Year Graduated: 1995
What's going on?: After graduation, I moved to Oregon and pursued what I though would be a highly lucrative career in wine tasting. After a year of wine slavery, I moved to Boston to go to law school at Suffolk University. I graduated last year (1999, passed the Massachusetts bar exam and am clerking for a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in Boston. I've completely lost touch with many English major chums, so if there are any '95s out there, email me!

Name: Mike Guerena
Email:
Personal URL:
Where are you?: Cal State University, San Marcos
Company URL: http://www.csusm.edu/ilast
Year Graduated: 1995
What's going on?: After leaving Cal Poly (kicking and screaming), I ended up in San Diego. Spent a year and a half in no-brainer jobs, then eventually ended up in teaching credential program. Taught High School English for semester and hated it. Ventured into web design business, but after making very little money, I went back into the classroom again, this time with 5th graders in Encinitas. I stayed there for four years before being lured away by Cal State San Marcos to work on a grant program to instruct and mentor K-12 teachers in using technology. Currently am finishing the Masters program in Educational Technology at San Diego State University. Not crazy enough to think of pursuing PhD yet. I currently live on an avocado grove in Fallbrook, CA with wife and two kids, Cassandra Joelle (3) and Dylan Thomas (5 months). Miss the SLO life. Maybe one day be back.

Name: Elizabeth Ahten-Anderson
Email:
Where are you?: Durham Public Schools
Year Graduated: 1996
What's going on?: After a few adventures, I've settled in Durham, North Carolina. I'm a Reading Recovery Teacher, working with K-2 literacy. Making a difference everyday and loving it! Keep in touch!

Name: Julie Espy
Email:
Personal URL: http://www.howdylicious.com
Where are you?: Orange County Tranportation Authority
Company URL: http://www.octa.net
Year Graduated: 1996
What's going on?: After leaving Cal Poly in '96, I headed up to UC Davis to work on my doctorate. Getting a Ph.D. is a wonderful, terrifying, and lonely experience. I made it through the course work before finally realizing that I wanted to take a step back and ponder what really mattered in my life and where exactly I was going. Needless to say, I realized the prospect of teaching and doing research for the rest of my life was not how I wanted to spend my time, so I packed it in and headed back to sunny southern California. Upon arriving, I worked as Program Manager for the United Way, teaching people at different companies how to raise money - basically managing all the internal and external corporate training. After two years there, I moved to the Orange County Transportation Authority, where I currently hold the title of Sr. Training & Development Administrator. I really enjoy the blend of teaching and corporate life that training offers. I am in the classroom 1-2 days a month, and the rest of the time I meet with vendors, manage scheduling, and work as an internal consultant for other departments to educate their staff. For those of you considering a Master's at Poly, it was the BEST experience of my life. My background in composition ALWAYS helps, and the certificate in Business Writing has paid off in spades! The money is good, I have job security, and I still scratch the itch to teach by picking up spare classes at CSU Long Beach. The best of all worlds! Most of all, I am still involved with college radio (a love which started at Cal Poly) and am currently the General Manager of radio station KUCI 88.9fm at UC Irvine. Check us out at www.kuci.org where I still do my version of the Burnt Dog Rodeo - now called "Howdylicious!" My one fear was that my intellectual life would fade out after college, but I find that intelligent people and conversations are where you find them. I still read and keep up with folks from my master's and doctorate programs, and am involved in a reading group and do freelance writing whenever I can. The life of the mind lives on!

Name: Rebecca Board Liljenstolpe
Email:
Personal URL: http://www.deanza.edu/faculty/rebeccaboard
Where are you?: De Anza College, Cupertino CA
Company URL: http://www.deanza.edu
Year Graduated: 1996
What's going on?: (2005 update) Life is good. After taking a year's professional development leave to study Online Teaching and Learning Theory at CSU Hayward and UCLA, I have returned to De Anza CC and continue to teach literature and comp courses. Still over the hill but now in Capitola. We needed more space for our two daughters, Ryann Mae (nearly 3!) and Blythe (5 months). I still find myself drawing upon my early teaching experiences at Cal Poly and just this week told my students a story from my Writing Lab and WPE days. It's been almost 10 years! and I often think of my teachers and classmates--especially Julie, Lisa, and Ginger, MK, Kevin, Hampsey--and wish you all the best. Cheers -rebecca.

Name: Elizabeth Ahten-Anderson
Email:
Where are you?: University of Mississippi
Company URL: http://www.olemiss.edu
Year Graduated: 1996
What's going on?: Working with student-athletes in the SEC, working in Faulkner's stomping grounds...can't beat it!!

Name: Jessie McKay
Where are you?: California Department of Corrections
Year Graduated: 1996
What's going on?: Hello, fellow alumni! After getting my B.A., I earned a teaching credential at Cal Poly. I taught junior high for a year, did sub work for a year, and am now a Correctional Teacher at California Men's Colony. This is not what I expected I would be doing, but it has turned out wonderfully!

Name: Rebecca Board Liljenstolpe
Email:
Personal URL: http://www.deanza.edu/faculty/rebeccaboard
Where are you?: De Anza College, Cupertino CA
Company URL: http://www.deanza.edu
Year Graduated: 1996
What's going on?: After Dr. Simon had urged me via several emails to post my whereabouts on this alumni page, here I am months later, in typical i-don't-want-to-grade fashion, procrastinating. I guess nothing has changed in this respect. As far as letting anyone who cares know what's going on . . . ? After earning my M.A. in '96, I acccepted a full time position at De Anza College, smack in the heart of Silicon Valley. Working in the Cal Poly Writing Lab and teaching the basic skills classes were invaluable experiences that got me my job. I should also stress that technological emphasis is usually a plus, too. I just had my final classroom visitation and will soon have my last student evaluations, and should I avoid gunning down one of my students, I will receive tenure this winter quarter. I teach the usual litany of comp classes along with Intro to Drama and Intro to Poetry. Last year I put together a distance learning class and teach the equivalent to 215 all online! The web address I cited here will take you to my course site and give you an idea of what you can do from a distance--in my case, from Santa Cruz. I still commute over the hill four days a week for my on-campus classes, but I envision teaching more of my classes online in the future. The academic version of telecommuting from the beach is very cool, but there are other pros as well. Contrary to popular belief, I have more contact with my online students and know their writing better than I do my on-campus students. Most distance learning students are self-motivated and well-organized and seem to have more life experience than the average student. But probablly the biggest bonus--and I say this after four years of full time community college teaching--I only see my students being productive. Their assignments appear and I read them. They post comments on the reading to the listserv and I listen. Frankly, it's saving my life. In fact, I will be presenting my experiences teaching online and using technology this Spring at ! the 4Cs convention in Denver. I am chairing a panel presentation entitled, "Fear and Loathing in Freshman Composition: What to do with unwilling and unprepared students." In addition to teaching online comp, I get to pull out my Hampsey notes and spin yarns about those wacky Greeks and their drama contests. And Kevin's encouraging words, so supportive even after someone has just read her poem about Neil Diamond, always run through my mind when I respond to student comments in my poetry class. If anyone wants to swap war stories or cares to learn more about teaching online or at the community college level, feel free to contact me via email. And now it's back to grading . . . -rebecca. (2005 update) Life is good. After taking a year's professional development leave to study Online Teaching and Learning Theory at CSU Hayward and UCLA, I have returned to De Anza CC and continue to teach literature and comp courses. Still over the hill but now in Capitola. We needed more space for our two daughters, Ryann Mae (nearly 3!) and Blythe (5 months). I still find myself drawing upon my early teaching experiences at Cal Poly and just this week told my students a story from my Writing Lab and WPE days. It's been almost 10 years! and I often think of my teachers and classmates--especially Julie, Lisa, and Ginger, MK, Kevin, Hampsey--and wish you all the best. Cheers -rebecca.

Name: Kevin Luttrell
Email:
Where are you?: CMP Media/Miller Freeman
Year Graduated: 1996
What's going on?: This could get long and convoluted; not to mention boring to the uninitiated. Therefore, to save space the sanity of anybody interested in reading about me, I'll provide only the slimmest of details.

To start, I was the managing editor of the Byzantium in 1996 which was probably my single biggest achievement at the time. Last year (1999) I found myself in Dublin, Ireland so I went to Trinity College and requested a meeting with the head librarian in charge of The Book of Kells exhibit. Eric Vellozi (my graphics guy) and I based the theme of the 1996 Byzantim on the Book of Kells so I wanted to make a gift to the library as tribute. The meeting culminated with Byzantium on display at the Book of Kells exhibit with a plaque mentioning Kevin Clark, myself, Eric, and Cal Poly. The project came full circle but I digress.

I've been an avid surfer and snowboarder for as long as I can remember so I woke up one day in October of 1996 and decided to move to South Lake Tahoe and work in the snow-sport industry. During my four-years in Tahoe I was the spokesperson and media relations person for the Kirkwood ski resort during the El Nino winter of 1997-98. although Kirkwood was a good place to work, my main source of employment was as the marketing manager for a chain of snowboard shops in SLT. During the first summer I taught web design, kayaking, and Internet issues at a computer camp (based at Kirkwood). The following summer I went to Costa Rica and worked at a surf camp for teens. Let's just say that is was a very pivotal experience. There's nothing like living in the jungle, an hour away from the nearest town, and surfing world class waves. But just for kicks, you are also responsible for 200 teens over the course of three months and you only have 9 days off. Otherwise you are at work 24 hours a day. Given the chance, I'd do it all over again. Between Tahoe and Central America, the stories I came back with will carry me throughout my life.

Last summer I was in Dublin, laying in my bunk in a Hostel, nd I decided to finally enter the "real world" so when I came back to the U.S. I moved to the Bay Area. 1999 was a year of transition but today I work for Miller Freman/CMP Media as a sales rep for three software development trade shows we produce. There is all of the perks and stresses one would expect from a professional job with a global company. Although my bio is a bit different than the norm, no matter where I found myself I always positioned my occupation to maximize the benefits of the circumstance. San Francisco is home. The Bay Area has the right blend of outdoors and urban chic.

Name: Jennifer Sablan
Email:
Where are you?: New York University
Year Graduated: 1996
What's going on?: 11/99: finishing my thesis work so that I can finally graduate with an MA in Cinema Studies from New York University... working as an assistant producer for a post-production facility in New York City... dreaming of the day I can move back to California (not that NY's not a great place to live, it's just not California =) )

Name: Christie (Stelly) Espinoza
Email:
Where are you?: Bank of America
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: After completing my B.A. in English, I earned a teaching credential through Cal Poly's program.  I am now an instructional designer for Bank of America and living in Southern California with my husband and daughter.

Name: Cal Eustaquio
Email:
Where are you?: Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: Hi Folks! I graduated with a BSEE/BA English in 1997. I am currently attending law school but the biggest accomplishment to date is passing the United States Patent and Trademark Office test, popularly known as "the patent bar."

Name: Trisha Ginsburg (Oksner)
Email:
Personal URL: http://www.oksner.org
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: Thought I would update my prior information. I quit my Bay Area life to move back to SLO and marry my college sweetheart, David Oksner (CPE '99). We bought a home in the village of Arroyo Grande and are expecting our first child, a boy, in June. I am freelance writing in Corporate Communications for Bay Area companies after stints in teaching (got my K-12 teaching credentials and am subbing in Lucia Mar and Santa Maria-Bonita districts) and journalism, working for The Tribune for two years in SLO.

Name: Richard Carrillo
Email:
Where are you?: Chatsworth High School
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: After leaving I joined a small marketing firm as the Info Systems Manager and got married. Talk about change, just six months prior I was hangin' with my friends and sharing drinks and great conversation with people who were going to be important. Suddenly I was in that little place I never wanted to go...corporate America and I was bringing the paycheck home to my wife. While working in IS, I consulted with a few companies as a tech writer, database jockey, and office automater. Then I took a good look at what I was doing and realized this was not what I intended for my life. I never wanted to be the corporate guy, playing corporate politics, and worrying about somebody else’s bottom-line. And, so, I quit. Then they offered me more money. And, so, I stayed, but only until they found someone to replace me, which only took them a year! In any case, I was free, and broke, with a new house payment. I decided to go to plan “A” and pursue teaching, like always thought I would. Before completing my credential, I was hired on at Chatsworth High in Southern California. Somewhere down the line my duties at Chatsworth expanded to Webmaster and Head Wrestling Coach. In fact, we just won our first sectional championship in 30 years. It has been great. My wife and I are both teachers, we have two great sons, and like to take naps when we can. I can’t really complain about things, well I could, but why bother. Continue to be well.

Name: Michael Gould
Email:
Where are you?: Association of London Government
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: After finally graduating from Poly with my MA (a bit of a saga in its own right) I am putting my degree to use by being a cog in the great machine of government. I am currently working with the Home Office (read as: Secretary of State) in the Asylum and Immigration Dept. More precisely, I am a liason between the Home Office and the local governments within London. This means I spend half my time on the ground as a "visiting officer" seeing to people who have claimed political asylum in the UK, and the other half of the time trying to think up policies for the government to pass off as law (usually unsuccessfully). I actually use my MA teaching short courses or evenings (flexible work hours with the gov't) with Richmond College. London is cold and damp, but as I'm a confirmed theatre junkie, I can pick just about any night of the week and get to a show to feed my habit. (At least it keeps me warm and out of the massage parlours) If you're planning to come through London at any time, drop me a line and I'll stand the first round.

Name: Christopher Constant
Email:
Where are you?: Assets, Inc.-- Anchorage, Alaska
Company URL: http://www.assetsinc.org
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: After graduating in 1997, I worked in Washington, DC for about 7 months. Realizing that I was not made for the Capitol, I moved to Anchorage, Alaska to be with friends and family. I worked for three years in a not-for-profit company providing substance-abuse treatment services to teens. I also developed a training program for the State of Alaska, on how to effectively work with people who experience co-occurring psychiatric and substance related disorders. This training is comprehensive, and really put my writing skills to the test. Anyhow, I am now working as the Community Relations Director for a 20+ year-old firm that provides housing and job opportunities to individuals with disabilities and/or mental illnesses. I am also working on a career as an Artist and have been a finalist in several rather large public commissions for sculpture. I haven't receive any of them yet, but one is on the horizon. If you would like to see some of the artwork or just to say hi, email me at .

Name: Nicole Cortz
Email:
Where are you?: LBCC and UC Riverside
Company URL: http://www.lbcc.cc.ca.us
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: After subjecting myself to two years of freeway flyer hell in SLO and in LA, I returned to UCR for my Ph.D. Barring any unfortunate exam or dissertation mishaps, I shall be named Doctor very soon. The studies are over! Meanwhile, I joined the English faculty at Long Beach City College where I teach all ranges of comp, lit, and creative writing. All are quite interesting, although my favorites are the basic skills courses and American lit, of course. I certainly enjoy the diversity of students here and learn from their stories each day. Besides teaching duties, I discovered the immense capacity of campuswide faculty participation and committee membership, of which I am very active. You may see me busily scurrying across the campus to attend any number of meetings--creative writing reading series, curriculum rep, comp chair, club sponsor, faculty mentor. (They don't teach you this in grad school!) When avoiding lesson plans, grading, and committee meetings! ! , you will most certainly find me surfing, traveling, and writing, in that order. Stay in touch my fellow grads.

Name: Trisha Ginsburg
Email:
Personal URL: http://www.w6bhz.calpoly.edu/~tginsbur
Where are you?: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Company URL: http://www.sgi.com
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: I am working as a "Communications Consultant" for the intranet site at SGI. My job is within an HR function, and includes writing, editing, website development, strategic communications planning, and project management.

Name: Kevin Menton
Email:
Where are you?: Cal Poly Pomona
Year Graduated: M.A. 1997
What's going on?: when kvn menton is not contemplating the existential quandries of being a DWM, he teaches composition courses at cal poly, pomona. he likes to spend his weekends awash in the babylonian excesses of the bong leach collective-- a confederation of musicians, artists, and freaks-- in long beach city, where he currently resides in a semi-nomadic fashion. he still enjoys the occasional contemplation of English literature, yet his latest passion involves impersonating hindi yogis, holding his breath, and meditating upon the veil of maya. shantih shantih shantih.

Name: Mario Perotti
Email:
Personal URL: http://www.power-slave.com
Where are you?: Nextron Communications
Company URL: http://www.nextron.com
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: After graduating with an English degree and a certificate in technical communications, I went to work for Nextron Communications in South San Jose as a technical writer. Up until recently I had been in charge of all documentation relating to our software including User Guides, White Papers, and Release Notes. As a result of this position, I have been given the opportunity to travel for the company and have seen North Carolina, Seattle, Denver, Minnesota, LA, and Paris, France. I have been promoted to a manager now, and head up the Software production group where I manage the documentation, training, software quality assurance and scheduling teams. On a personal note, I have started up an On-line magazine which covers the Northern California Underground Metal Scene. Dedicated strictly to music, this Webzine includes reviews, interviews, schedules, band profiles, and much much more. As a result of this continuing endeavor, I have begun to promote concerts as well. We are located at http://www.nextron.com.

Name: Christine Steele
Email: christine.steele3@gte.net
Where are you?: Saint Joseph High School
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: After graduating from Cal Poly, I began to teach English at St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, California. Thank you Cal Poly English Department for preparing me for my career in teaching. I miss everyone and will visit soon. Sincerely, Christine Steele

Name: Liziel Zapata
Email:
Where are you?: Glendale Unified School District
Year Graduated: 1997
What's going on?: I'm currently in my 2nd year teaching preschool special education on a special education campus. I'm working towards my special ed credential at Cal State LA. I'd really love to hear from anyone. Drop me an e-mail. :-)

Name: Elnora Supp
Email:
Personal URL: http://graduatestudent-insider.blogspot.com
Where are you?: The New School, NYC
Company URL: http://www.newschool.edu/mediastudies/progstudy.aspx?s=1
Year Graduated = 1998
What's going on?: Hello My Dear Cal Poly Professors and fellow Alumni. Following is an update on what I've done and where I've been since graduating from Cal Poly in 1998. The year before I graduated, my senior project was publication of the 1997 issue of Byzantium. As the Editor, I worked almost a full year with my very talented Art Director, Tess, who designed the entire issue. Together we worked hard to complete this project -- from initial concept to print publication. After graduating from Cal Poly, I landed my first job as a Web Developer and have since worked my entire career with Bay Area start ups in the last 7+ years -- working as both a Web Developer specializing in Search Engine Optimization and also working very recently as a Web Designer as well. In May 2007, I will complete a master's degree in Media Studies from The New School in NYC, formerly known as The New School for Social Research. From this fantastic master's program, I learned I am very interested in New Media Ethics, The New, New Media: Web 2.0, Digital Design, and the study of how new mediums in both technology and the media are affecting how we communicate on a global scale -- both professionally and socially. When I entered the master's program in 2004, there was no doubt in my mind that this was the right graduate program. It combines my background in English and Web Development, blending critical thinking in media theory, writing, digital and graphic design, Web design, and Web production with the new media while being sensitive to global social issues and understanding our rapidly evolving technological age. It's a remarkable graduate program -- light years ahead. A big thank you and hugs to Professor Robert Webber, from NYC, who recommended the M.A. in Media Studies program. He knew from the start this was the perfect fit. After working full-time while also attending grad school full-time since 2004, I chose to take time off from February through August of this year (2006) to concentrate on my graduate studies. When I started looking for work again in August, I decided I wanted to spread my wings and branch out into management in a job where I can continue to use my many years of Web experience and English background in a management role. To my delight and surprise I landed a job as Manager - E-Commerce for one of the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For by Fortune Magazine for the last 7 years in a row. How cool is that?! In retrospect, I can honestly say I owe much of my success in grad school and my professional career from my undergraduate training at Cal Poly. The 'learn by doing' teaching philosophy from this remarkable University has served me very well through the years. Additionally, I have my English Professors to thank deeply for giving me the courage to write, for teaching me to write well including learning "transitions" (ha), to keep my thoughts cohesive in a well-organized essay while pulling threads from literary masterpieces, to think critically about the human condition, and to never forget our very 'human-ness' – Professors Nancy Lucas, Kevin Clark, Larry Inchausti, John Hampsey, Patricia Troxel, Richard Simon, John Harrington, Carol MacCurdy, Doug Smith, Habib Sheik, Johanna Rubba, Robert Webber -- all have taught me great lessons. Without your mentoring, I wouldn't be where I am today. I cannot thank you enough. Thank you, thank you!

Name: Hans Schmidt
Email:
Where are you?: Carmel High School
Year Graduated: 1998
What's going on?: After finishing my M.A. in Lit I moved to Monterey to begin teaching at Carmel High School. I have been here ever since. I teach ninth grade English, so I have been deeply influenced by Inchausti's Spitwad Sutras. There is nothing like the innocence of a ninth grader on the the first day of high school. I also coach basketball here at CHS and really enjoy it. I have written two books on coaching basketball and am looking forward to doing more writing.

Name: Rachael Phillips
Email:
Where are you?: UC Davis Law School
Year Graduated: 1998
What's going on?: After I graduated in December of 1998, I took a sales position with Mayfield Publishing Company, a small college texbook publisher (now owned by McGraw-Hill), where I earned the distinction of being the one sales rep who actually read the books I sold. I would recommend a sales position to almost anyone looking to enter the publishing industry. It was one of the most fun and challenging jobs I've had, and involved a high degree of responsiblity and autonomy when compared with other assistant-type entry-level jobs in publishing. After 2 1/2 years, I decided to go to law school. I'm starting my first year at UC Davis Law school and am excited about what the future holds.

Name: soyratspakian
Email:
Where are you?: stockton guadalajara queretaro avignon lucca
Year Graduated: 1998
What's going on?: MA in '98 since then taught at various high schools, community colleges and a university or two in Mexico, where I met my wife. Now teaching at an alternative high school while I do my JD. Reading too much still but no more lit stuff, mostly economics. To age is hell. See you all at the wharf to wharf.

Name: Valerie Hansen
Email:
Where are you?: Hoover High School
Company URL: http://hoover.sandi.net
Year Graduated: 1998
What's going on?: I posted a meassge way back when, so I thought I'd update my information. I am now teaching 10th grade English at Herbert Hoover High School in San Diego. I just bought my first house with my fiance, Michael. We plan to marry next summer.

Name: Jennifer Koller
Email:
Where are you?: El Capitan High School
Company URL: www.guhsd.k-12.us
Year Graduated: 1998
What's going on?: I am teaching 12th and 9th grade at El Capitan High School in East San Diego. I am living in Pacific Beach and paying way too much for rent. Things are great...I think I am ready for a break from teaching...This is hard work!!!!!

Name: Eric Marshall
Company URL: www.ibm.com
Year Graduated: B.A. English 1998.
What's going on?: Working as a Technical Writer / Software Engineer for IBM in Austin, Texas.

Name: lisa anacleto
Email:
Where are you?: Albuquerque Journal
Company URL: http://www.abqjournal.com
Year Graduated: 1998
What's going on?: i graduated in '98 from 'the program' and left the country to join the peace corps in poland. after a brief time, i came to the realization that, while polish people are cool, and polish food is wonderful (the beer and homemade vodka is even better), i wanted to be back in the southwest. i moved to new mexico to pursue the teaching license i started while working on my m.a. currently, i'm the outdoor/recreation editor at the albuquerque journal. i also edit copy on the sports desk. goal is to start student teaching (possibly on a neighboring reservation) as soon as January 2000. our path never seems to take us where we think it will, does it? lma

Name: Marisa Voorhees
Email:
Where are you?: Kellogg School of Management
Company URL: http://alumni.kellogg.northwestern.edu
Year Graduated: 1999
What's going on?: Currently residing in Chicago, desperately miss the beach during the winters here. How many other Cal Poly alumni are in Chicago???

Name: Dru Zachmeyer
Email:
Where are you?: UCLA Law
Company URL: http://law.ucla.edu
Year Graduated: 1999
What's going on?: I'm currently a summer law clerk at the Fresno firm McCormick Barstow. Next year is my final year at UCLA law, so I'm enjoying my last summer of relative freedom before a beginning a lifetime of legal servitude.

Name: Heather Marlow Freeman
Email:
Where are you?: Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford
Company URL: http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/ Year Graduated: 1999
What's going on?: I am graduating June 2002 from UCSF's Master's of Science in Nursing program in the neonatal specialty. I am happily married to a Cal Poly alumnus (the engineering sort) and have a gray cat named Cleo.

Name: Tricia Hanover
Email:
Where are you?: Santa Clara University School of Law
Company URL: http://scu.edu
Year Graduated: 1999
What's going on?: I'm in my first year of law school at Santa Clara. Things are crazy as expected, but I enjoy it so far. However, I miss Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo.

Name: Henry Trotter
Email:
Where are you?: Yale University
Company URL: http://www.yale.edu
Year Graduated: 1999
What's going on?: After graduating from Cal Poly in 1999, I went to Yale University to start an MA in African Studies. During the past three years I've had the chance to study with fantastic profs, revel in amazing resources, and bask in the beauty of the neo-gothic architecture. I also went to Cape Town, South Africa last year to do my thesis research. I am nearing my graduation date for the MA and preparing to enter into doctoral studies in the fall. I was accepted to Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and UCLA with full-ride offers for their History PhD programs (this is shameless self-promotion Trotter! : yes it is). I plan to stay at Yale (top history program in the country) and follow in the footsteps of one of my Cal Poly mentors, Nancy Clark, of the history department, who also studied African History at Yale. What's sad is that whenever I wear my Cal Poly t-shirt at Yale, everyone thinks I went to Cal Tech! Sometimes I tell them the truth, sometimes I don't.

Name: Marco Araujo
Email:
Where are you?: Haight Ashbury Free Clinics; UC Berkeley
Year Graduated: 2000
What's going on?: After graduating with my BA, I moved to San Francisco and have lived here ever since.  Thanks to the tech writing certificate, my first post-grad job had me writing software manuals in Silicon Valley.  (I moved here just as the bubble was bursting.)  Watching many jobs go overseas and growing tired of the commute, I took refuge in the nonprofit sector, writing grants and managing databases for a variety of agencies -- currently for Haight Ashbury Free Clinics.

All the while, I've studied filmmaking and counseling, dabbled in theater production, traveled all over the world, and I'm about to begin the Master of Public Health program at UC Berkeley.  I'm planning to focus on global heatlh policy, hopefully to eventually end up in an international agency.

Happy to see so many familiar names still on the faculty list...  Be well...

Name: Scott Cody
Email:
Where are you?: Los Angeles
Year Graduated: 2000
What's going on?: I think I was standing in front of Dan at graduation. So mine also says 2000, but I really finished my English BA in '01. I am teaching eighth grade English in South-Central Los Angeles, and it is nothing like you see in the movies. These are good kids who really do want to do well. I'm probably going to be here for a bit, then go back to school for my MA or head toward the administrative jobs. Big ups to Dr. Keesey, Fitz, Rummell, Roberts, Cushing, Inchausti (Spitwad Sutras!), and the rest of the department, the best-kept secret of the CSU system.

Name: Scott Iler
Email:
Where are you?: Glennville, Ca
Year Graduated: 2000
What's going on?: I finally finished my senior project, whewww.... I live in a small town outside of Bakersfield called Glennville. I recently got married to a Czech woman and am having the time of my life. I work on a ranch. I do the basic branding, milking, butchering, etc. I too work at a local school in the afternoons teaching both history and PE. We plan on moving back to SLO and I will pursue my teaching credential. Ok gotta go.

Name: Dan Croxall
Email:
Where are you?: Cuesta College
Year Graduated: 2000
What's going on?: Okay, it says I graduated in 2000; it was actually 2001 when I got my MA in English from Poly. I am currently a part-time English instructor at Cuesta and Hancock, but I am patiently waiting for the immovable door to open into Cal Poly's lecturer pool. Think it's possible??? Oh well, in my free time I love to hang out with my wife Laura (who is pregnant and due October 10, 2002) and my bulldog Lucy. I also love surfing and working on my Volkswagen bus. SO MANY PAPERS AHHHH!

Name: Kristen Roush (formerly Goodwin)
Email:
Where are you?: Saddleback Valley Unified School District
Company URL: http://www.svusd.org/p_home.asp?tid=3343
Year Graduated: 2002
What's going on?: I graduated in 2002 (no button available on this thing) and stayed to get my single subject teaching credential in English. I left SLO in 2003 to move down to Orange County and teach 8th Grade English. I got married in 2003 to Chad Roush, and we are now pregnant with our first baby! I love teaching and am attempting to have the same impact on my students as all my great Cal Poly English teachers did on me.

Name: Katie Isaacs
Email:
Where Are You: Valley Christian High School
Company URL: http://valleychristian.net
Year Graduated: 2004
What's going on?: I graduated in 2004 with a BA in English. I took a year off to travel and then decided to continue studying literature at San Jose State University. I received an MA in English from SJSU last May. I am currently teaching 9th and 10th grade English at VCHS in San Jose, CA.

Name: Elissa Hansen
Email:
Where are you?: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Company URL: http://english.cla.umn.edu
Year Graduated: 2005
What's going on?: I graduated in 2005 and started in Fall 2005 at the University of Wyoming's English Master's program. I finished up that degree in May 2007, and am beginning my doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in Fall 2007. Thanks in large part to Debora Schwartz's encouragement and influence, I've stuck with medieval English lit and plan to focus my Ph.D. research in that area. I'm particularly intrigued by visionary lit and female textual practice, so my dissertation will likely focus on female contemplatives and their appeal to domestic women, among other social segments. My Master's thesis dealt with Julian of Norwich, the 14th-century anchorite, but I'd like to branch out to continental as well as English texts. Now I just have to learn some more languages! On the home front, Lars and I just celebrated five years of marriage, and he's looking forward to beginning UMN's Ph.D. program in Geophysics (he also got his Master's at Wyoming). Our packed schedules (and current indigence) have pushed the possibility of a family into the distant future--maybe once we're Drs. Hansen and Hansen. Wait, and once we find jobs in academia...the two-body problem rears its head... Thanks so much, English department, for putting me on the track to success in literary studies (and technical writing, which has helped to pay the bills and to make the world a better place). Your emphasis on critical thinking, interdisciplinary research, and careful, specific argumentative writing prepared me to shine in my MA program, and continues to provide a solid foundation for my work. May funding increases never pass you by. Shout-outs to Schwartz, Gillette, Fitzy, and Rummell--your mentoring makes a difference.

 
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