Alumni Updates

2010s

• Cynthia Allen (MPP 2010) recently earned a doctorate in public policy and administration from Walden University. 
   
• Daniel Chang (POLS 2013) entered UC Hastings College of the Law and is currently part of the UC Hastings’ Alternative Dispute Resolution Team. Chang placed seventh out of 227 teams at the 2014 American Bar Association’s Negotiation Competition in Chicago. In addition to competing and working through his second year in law school, he is working as a law clerk at Sungevity, a leading residential solar installation company. 
   
• Michelle Cristobal (POLS 2010) completed a two-month backpacking trip through Europe — beginning in Spain, going as far as the Czech Republic, and ending up in Italy in early 2014. She is a financial analyst with Mozilla, home of the Firefox Web browser, in Mountain View, Calif. In July, she was also hired as the music manager for Russian-Israeli classical guitarist Yuri Liberzon and is working with branding, promotion and event management. 
   
• Griffin Gonzales (POLS 2013) was hired to work for a nonprofit organization geared toward serving people, public school educators, and administrators throughout San Luis Obispo County. He plans to further his education in the near future by enrolling in a graduate program that focuses on health and the politics behind the Affordable Health Care for America Act. 
   
• Patrick Hale (POLS 2012) is the president and CEO of PHC Group Inc., a $6.4 billion privately held, highly diversified company that owns a number of other firms. He recently published his eighth novel, “High Treason.” Hale has also earned his doctorate, a Juris Doctorate, and a number of other advanced degrees in a range of disciplines. 
   
• Adriana Hidalgo (POLS 2013) moved to Washington, D.C., and completed an internship in the office of Congresswoman Lois Capps in fall 2013. Upon the completion of her internship in December 2013, she was offered a full-time staff position as Capps’ staff assistant. Since then, she has been promoted to legislative correspondent. Her responsibilities include drafting responses to constituent mail and managing the constituent mail system. 
   
• Kristin McCarty (POLS 2013) moved to Davis, Calif., and began a fully funded doctoral program in sociology at UC Davis with an expected graduation date of 2020. 
   
• Elizabeth Merson (MPP 2012) was recently promoted to program manager of Public Health Emergency Preparedness at the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department. She also just purchased a home in the area.  
   
• Elise Mullen (POLS 2011) is currently working in Washington, D.C., for Senator John McCain (R-AZ) on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. In this capacity, she helps conduct investigations on major companies facing accusations of tax fraud and abuse, as well as violations of banking and securities laws. Prior to this role, she served on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, working on cybersecurity issues for former Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). 
   
• Lanz Nalagan (POLS 2011) serves as political director for Christopher Cabaldon, mayor of West Sacramento. He is also the development assistant at the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Nalagan continues his political and nonprofit advocacy outside of work, managing local campaigns and consulting for non-governmental organizations.
   
• Amanda Robinson (POLS 2010) relocated to Santa Cruz County to begin her political career after travelling and volunteering throughout South America for seven months. She began with helping plan fundraisers and grow the volunteer base at a local nonprofit family resource center. Through this work she was offered a campaign manager position for a supervisorial race. Robinson then became very involved in the Democratic Central Committee of Santa Cruz County, where she served as secretary and now vice chair. She is also a representative to the California Democratic Party.
   

2000s 

• Charles Bell (POLS 2004) recently became the deputy city attorney at the San Diego City Attorney’s Office. He is also preparing to take over as president of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, the African American lawyers’ and judges’ association of San Diego. In addition, Bell is the president of the Cal Poly Black Alumni Affinity Chapter that was formed in January 2014. 
   
• Maureen Brocco (POLS 2007) is the research attorney for a court in Santa Clara.  
   
• Anthony Gaeta (POLS 2001) graduated from California Western School of Law in San Diego in 2005. He was recently named partner in his firm, Collinsworth, Specht, Calkins & Giampaoli, LLP, a San Diego civil litigation firm specializing in construction defect, insurance, personal injury, employment and general liability litigation. 
   
• Griselda Garcilazo (POLS 2001) is attending graduate school at Loma Linda University for a Master of Science in counseling.
   
• Darin Spiegel (POLS 2004) continues to practice law in San Luis Obispo County with specialties in civil litigation, personal injury, probate and trust litigation. 
   

1990s 

• Nick Kosla (POLS 1999) is working for Pulte Homes as director of planning and entitlement. He also volunteers as chair of the Orinda Planning Commission. Kolsa, his wife and two daughters are very involved in the elementary school.
   
• John Lipman (POLS 1992) is vice president of marketing and sales for a Redwood City medical device company that manufactures a novel treatment for sleep apnea. He lives in Livermore, Calif., with his wife and a daughter; his other daughter attends Cal Poly.
   
• Michael Pick (POLS 1999) operates his own law firm in San Luis Obispo, specializing in business and real estate litigation. 
   

1980s 

• Robert Burnett (POLS 1980) is employed with Citizens Business Bank in Arcadia, Calif., as the vice president of service manager operations. He is approaching his 34th year with the bank. He is also in his 34th year as a firefighter with the Sierra Madre Fire Department and holds the rank of battalion chief. He and his wife, Rosemary, have two daughters: Amanda, 23, and Paige, 21. 
   
• Marcia Godwin (POLS 1986) received tenure at the University of La Verne this past year and co-edited a book, “Local Politics and Mayoral Elections in 21st Century America: The Keys to City Hall.” 
   

1970s 

• Linda Barger Bodenlos (POLS 1972) has contributed 36 years of service to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service as the corporate knowledge and communications branch chief, located in Portland, Ore. She is looking forward to retiring in four years and plans to volunteer as a project manager, help children through therapeutic horseback riding, and have quality time with her two grandchildren. 
   
• Dan Hossbach (POLS 1972) retired in December 2014 after 21 years in the U.S. Army and 19 years teaching. 
   
• Clark Jarrett (POLS 1977) is in his 22nd year teaching history and economics at a magnet high school in downtown Los Angeles and is in his ninth year as a humanities adjunct assistant professor at a community college. 
   
• Jeff Peterson (POLS 1976) is enjoying retirement in Sonoma County with family and friends. He enjoys frequent trips to Lake Almanor. Between grandkids and assisting his wife, Teresa, with her hobbies, he certainly does not get bored.