Class Notes
The latest news and successes of Toro alumni.
Contents
1980s
WILLIAM GREENE (BS ’80) is interim chief financial officer of Moving iMage Technologies, provider of custom-designed and third-party technology and services for cinema exhibition and an emerging business in live entertainment and esports venues.
1990s
GERT WILLIAMS (BS ’90) founded the nonprofit Joseph Learning Lab, which helps underserved children in grades K-12 get caught up with reading, math, and other core courses after school, getting on the path for college and career success.
SARAH CURRIE (BS ’96) has been named chief nursing executive and senior vice president of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Currie will lead the institution’s Magnet-recognized nursing program, and will also oversee the institution’s Nurse Residency Program.
ROBIN MEEKS (BA ’98) was named chief marketing officer and associate vice president at Seattle University (SU). Meeks will lead a team of marketing colleagues and campus partners in elevating the academic reputation of SU and strengthening brand alignment and enrollment marketing.
JULIA PARTON (BA, ’98) was recognized as the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. Julia serves on seven boards of directors, as well as working as Malaga Bank’s first vice president of business development.
JENNIFER RANDLE (BS ’99) has joined MaC Venture Capital, a majority Black-owned venture firm, as its first chief operating officer. In this role, Randle will support firm operations from finance and accounting to investor relations and IT.
LYNNE SHEFFIELD (MS ’99) joined the Santa Barbara Unified School District as the assistant superintendent of education services. Sheffield comes to Santa Barbara from the Moreno Valley Unified School District, where she was the director of student services.
CARMELITA JETER (BS ’06) joined the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as the new head coach of their track and field and cross country programs. Jeter, a former Olympic champion, comes to Las Vegas after serving as assistant coach at the University of Southern California for the last two years.
2000s
PAMELA BROWN (BS ’00) was honored at the 2023 Inspirational Women Forum and Leadership Awards. Brown is executive vice president of finance for Skybound Entertainment, and received the award in the category of Company Executive, Midsize Company.
BROOK BALDWIN (MA ’05) joined Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) as the organization’s vice president and chief nursing executive. Baldwin also serves as associate dean of clinical affairs in the OHSU School of Nursing. She previously held the role of chief nursing executive for UCI Health.
VICTORIA HURST (MA ’03) has been named the special education director of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Hurst has worked as a special education coordinator for the past 13 years, and has also worked as assistant principal, teacher, summer school intervention teacher, and literacy specialist.
JOSÉ LUIS SOLACHE (BA ’06) is president and CEO of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, where he works to promote economic growth in Lakewood by providing networking and advertising opportunities to local businesses. He also continues to serve as a member of the Lynwood City Council, a role to which he was first elected in 2013. Solache is also treasurer of the CSU Alumni Council.
2010s
NICO PAYNE (BA ’13) joined the ABC30 Action News team in Fresno, Calif. Previously, Payne spent two years as a reporter and weekend weather anchor in Palm Springs, Calif. Payne began his career in Los Angeles, where he spent five years being mentored by some of the best in the broadcast industry.
KATRINA MANNING (BS ‘10/MPA ’17) was named a Woman of Influence in the field of health care by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Manning works for Blue Shield Promise Health Plan as community engagement manager, and also serves as a councilperson for the City of Hawthorne.
IMELDA HUERTA (MPA ’15) has been promoted to assistant city manager for the City of Vista. Huerta, a Vista native, began her career in public service with the city in 2000 and has held several positions with the city including management analyst and development services technician.
2020s
TAYLOR HELMES (BS ’21) joined the Action News Now team in Chico, Calif., as a producer and reporter. While studying at CSUDH, Helmes was managing editor and editor in chief of the student newspaper, The Bulletin and interned with EdSource’s California Student Journalism Corps.
JONATHAN MOLINA MANCIO (BS ’23) has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Molina Mancio previously served as vice president of finance for the California State Student Association. He was president and CEO of Associated Students, Inc. at CSUDH during the 2021-22 school year.
KRISTIN MCGUIRE (BA ’21) is executive director of Young Invincibles, an organization that seeks to amplify the voices of young adults in the political process and expand economic opportunity. McGuire is also the first Black person elected to the School Board in Covina.
In Memoriam
LINDA BROWN (BS, ’88) passed away on October 18, 2023, at the age of 66. Brown was a Toro through and through, as she began working for the university upon her graduation. She was an active member in the CSUDH Alumni Association, holding the titles of president, vice president, and treasurer.
DAVID CARLISLE, II (BA ’73) passed away on August 5, 2023, in New Palestine, Ind. Born in West Palm Beach, Fla., he went to school in California and spent the remaining 34 years of his life in and around Indianapolis. He had an uncanny ability to make any stranger a friend, and would often go the extra mile to make someone smile.
GRACE COLEMAN (MS, ‘73/’84) died on December 9, 2022. An extraordinary alumna, her legacy includes defying societal norms, earning multiple degrees, and dedicating over 40 years to her career as a marriage & family therapist.
KATHLEEN ANN GALLAGHER (BS, ’99) died on July 19, 2021. Gallagher was a registered nurse for 46 years, including positions at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, French Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente Hospital, San Francisco. She was well respected for the decades of bedside care and time and mentorship she shared with her co-workers.
GARRY HART passed away on August 13, 2023. He began his career at California State College, Dominguez Hills in 1970 as assistant professor of mathematics and coordinator for academic advising. In 1975, he became an associate professor, then a full professor in 1983, while also serving as Academic Senate chair from 1983-1984. Hart retired in 2007 and became emeritus faculty in 2011.
MONICA DOLLE CHIRALO MAJOR (BA ’87) passed away on January 6, 2023. She was born in Santa Monica, Calif. and taught piano, guitar, and flute lessons—in addition to being a clothing designer, knitter, and seamstress, designing unique patterns and products which she sold under the “Miss Monette” label. Major also worked at the U.S. embassy in Nigeria and enjoyed overseas travel and cruises.
TERU MIYAHIRA (MS, ’76) passed away on January 19, 2012, at the age of 80. He was born on May 5, 1931 in Kealia, Kauai in Hawaii, and had been a longtime resident of Carson, Calif. Miyahira worked as a microbiologist in Los Angeles until he retired in 1993.
JANELLE NELSON (BS, ’22) passed away after a short illness on November 26, 2023. Nelson was among 75 student leaders who participated in a meeting at the White House with Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss protecting reproductive rights. She was attending her first semester at University of California, Los Angeles in Master of Social Work program.
ROBERTA BOBBI NOEL-HARRINGTON (aka BOBBI NOEL) (MA ’79) passed away on March 7, 2023. Born in Long Beach, Calif., she worked as a teacher for second grade English language learners. In 1992, she moved to Guerneville, Calif., and shared her teaching gifts in the local school districts, teaching ESL, coordinating a homeschool program, running an after-school program, and working as a substitute classroom teacher. She retired in 2004.
EDITH ROSEMUND (BS/BA ’77) died on July 17, 2023, at age 95. Edith moved from California to Everett, Wash. in 2018 to be cared for by her youngest daughter while residing at Brookdale Senior Living. Edith was a loving mom and dedicated grade school teacher in Southern California for over 30 years. She was a life member of Delta Theta Sorority and served her West Rancho Dominguez and Compton communities for many happy years.
ZORANNA SCHAFFER-KNEGO (BA, ’13) died on October 11, 2022. A devoted artist and educator, she nurtured creativity in her students and leaves behind a legacy of beautiful art that reflected her passion and playful guidance.JAMES STEVEN VANMANEN (MS, ’76) passed away on May 28, 2023, at the age of 90. VanManen served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was an avid runner, participating in many marathons and 10k races during his lifetime. He also took up downhill and cross country mountain biking, racing into his 80s.
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