Distinguished Alumni

Distinguished Alumni

For 20 years, CSU, Chico has honored alums who have made outstanding contributions in their fields. We proudly present the Distinguished Alumni for 2013.

Ray Griffin
College of Agriculture

Ray Griffin (BS, Agriculture, ’86) is a founding partner and general manager of FoodSource, a fresh produce supply chain firm based in Monterey. Throughout his career, Griffin has been dedicated to the agricultural industry in a variety of roles and has supported many professional and community organizations. He has been integral in developing new markets within the fresh produce arena, such as launching prepackaged fresh organic salads into Canada and building international trade for western vegetables. In 2005, FoodSource was acquired by C.H. Robinson, a Fortune 300 company.

Rear Admiral Robert L. Toney
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Rear Admiral Robert L. Toney (BA, Social Sciences, ’57) was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy in 1957. He commanded four organizations with the Navy and received numerous honors and decorations. He completed NATO Defense College in Rome and the National and International Security Course at Harvard University. Toney retired from the military in 1994 and moved from a life devoted to public service to a life devoted to community service. He has served on several boards, including the CSU, Chico Advisory Board.

Rand Hutchison
College of Business

Rand Hutchinson (Master of Business Administration, ’77) is president emeritus of Wanderful Media and has been a founder, president, chief executive officer, board chair, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer in areas including Web advertising, medical and health care technology, accounting, banking, and the public sector. He serves as board director and advisor to several organizations, is an angel investor, and teaches an entrepreneurial class at CSU, Chico. He also serves on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board and received the college’s 2007 Outstanding Entrepreneur award.

Lance Lew
College of Communication and Education

Lance Lew (BA, Speech Pathology and Audiology, ’79), the community marketing director for NBC Bay Area, is responsible for all community outreach efforts. He has served on numerous boards, committees, and organizations serving the Bay Area, and he has received many awards, including Cine Awards for two documentaries he spearheaded while working for CBS5 in San Francisco. He received recognition for his leadership with a multiyear, 160-location food drive for Second Harvest. He co-founded the Growing Up Asian in America essay and art contest.

Mark Fitzpatrick
College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management

Mark Fitzpatrick (BS, Computer Science, ’85) is co-founder, CEO, and managing partner of a new venture called FitzForm, designed to eliminate the need to fill out paper forms. With more than 25 years’ experience in software design, architecture, systems implementation, and sales, Fitzpatrick also co-founded YOUnite Inc., which holds patents on distributed patent sharing, and BlueChipExec, a job site focused on the smartest and fastest way to find a job.

Kelli Chipponeri
College of Humanities and Fine Arts

Kelli Chipponeri (BA, English, ’98) started her career as an assistant editor at Simon & Schuster. She moved to a senior editor position at Penguin, then took a brief break to teach high school English in Sacramento. Chipponeri then moved to Philadelphia as the editorial director at Running Press Kids, where she edited two New York Times best-selling books. She is currently the executive editor in the Children’s Group at Chronicle Books. She has also served as a juror for the Women’s National Book Association Pannell Award.

K. Darwin Murrell, PhD
College of Natural Sciences

K. Darwin Murrell (BS, Biological Sciences and Chemistry, ’62) served as the deputy administrator of Agricultural Research Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research arm, where his research focused on the protection of humans and animals from food-borne diseases. Murrell joined the University of Copenhagen in 2000, where his work focused on parasites transmitted from fish, and he was named honorary professor upon retiring in 2004. He has served as president of the American Society of Parasitologists, American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists, and the International Trichinellosis Commission.

Tim Colbie
Distinguished Alumni Service Award

Tim Colbie (BS, Business Administration ’92) is owner of Great Escape Travel. He has served as vice president and president of the CSU, Chico Alumni Association, president of the Chico Chapter of the Chico State Alumni Association, and vice president for communication and advocacy for the CSU Alumni Council. He currently serves as the chair of the CSU Alumni Council finance and development committee and on several boards and associations.