Distinguished Alumni

Each year the College of Natural Sciences, together with the University, recognizes one of its outstanding alumni. These individuals serve as role models for students of today by highlighting how the California State University, Chico experience has made a difference in their lives.

The information listed below is from the Distinguished Alumni Award program from the year that the Alumnus was recognized.

2007

As the founder and CEO of Etaran Instruments, Inc., Edward Tarver has patented an ion mobility spectrometry instrument that is used in chemical detection and identification and has great implications for the military in the field of chemical warfare and counter terrorism. Tarver is also a mural artist and has designed school logos for San Jose State and De La Salle High School. He was a professor at Grambling State University and has served as president of the Faculty Advisory Council to the Board of Trustees/State Colleges, Louisiana, and as vice president of the Faculty Advisory Council to the Board of Regents/State Colleges, Louisiana.

Published: April 27, 2007

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2006

James Millerd launched 4D Vision Technology, Inc. in 2000 to commercialize patented technology. As the chief technology officer for the 4D Technology Corporation of Tucson, Arizona, Millerd leads a team of engineers to develop state-of-the-art optical instrumentation. Author of more than 30 publications, Millerd has been granted four U.S. patents, and has four more U.S. patents and one foreign patent pending. He has also received several awards for his work with interferometers and a NASA Certificate for Recognition for his development of a Novel Laser Doppler Vibrometer. Millerd serves on the CSU, Chico Physics Advisory Board. Millerd has B.S. degrees in Physics and in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electronic Engineering, Quantum Electronics and Optics from the University of Southern California.

Published: April 21, 2006

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2005

Colonel Douglas G. Jackson is the Department Head of the Primary Care Clinic at the Port Hueneme Naval Ambulatory Care Center. Jackson began his career as a secondary science and math teacher in the Kingdom of Tonga. In 1976, Jackson worked as a research assistant for the World Health Organization Project in Tonga. Back in the United States, Jackson joined the military following his graduation from the nursing program at CSU, Chico. He earned his MS in health service administration from Central Michigan University and his family nurse practitioner specialty from UCLA. He has served as clinical coordinator and assistant professor at Uniform Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, where he was awarded the Dean's Teaching Award. Jackson has received several Meritorious Service and Achievement Medals from the United States Army.

Published: April 14, 2005

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2004

Dr. Jane M. Hightower made a big splash in the media with her study linking mercury poisoning with high-end fish consumption. This led to her participation in more than 75 media interviews to an FDA warning to limit fish consumption for reproductive age women and for infants and small children and to Proposition 65 enforcement and law suits brought about by California State Attorney General Bill Lockyer. Hightower was recently elected to the San Francisco Medical Society Board of Directors and received recognition from San Francisco Magazine as one of the top 500 doctors in the San Francisco Bay Area (January 2001) and as a Green Giant for outstanding environmental contribution (June 2003).

Published: April 17, 2004

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2003

Antoinette Procopio began her 24-year career in aerospace as one of the first feamle engineers to perform integration and testing of communication satellites. Her career began with Huges Space and Communications Company, now Boeing Satellite Systems. Procopio has held several positions of increasing responsibility and is now spacecraft manager. She has served on 12 launch-site campaign teams performing final integration, inspection, and testing of satellites boosted by Delta, Atlas, Titan, Ariane, and Space Shuttle launch vehicles. In her current role, Procopio is responsible for leading various teams in the successful integration assembly, and test of commercial and government satellite programs. Procopio is a charter member of the CSU, Chico Department of Mathematices Advisory Board.

Published: April 19, 2003

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2002 Edo D. Pellizzari

Dr. Edo D. Pellizzari, Vice President for Analytical and Chemical Sciences at Research Triangle Institute (RTI) in North Carolina, is responsible for the management and technical leadership of large chemical analysis and analytical methods development contracts with EPA, state and industrial clients. Pellizzari is a member of the EPA's Food Quality Protection Act, Health Effects Institute's Review Committee, EPS's Science Advisory Board, and several National Academy of Sciences' review committees. Pellizzari has over 500 publications to his credit. Government agencies seek Pellizzari's expertise and advice in air and water pollution, characterization of pollutants in environmental and biological media and synfuel production.

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2001 Michael Strand
            Department of Biological Sciences, 1967

Mike Strand is the Co-owner of SYMON Communications, Inc. Strand’s Houston-based company, SYMON Communications, Inc., specializes in visual communication software for call centers, help desks, and command centers. He is primarily responsible for establishing the international expansion of the company. Following college and before entering the computer industry, Strand served three years in the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery 1st Lieutenant. Prior to co-founding his company in 1984, Strand held major account executive positions at ITEL Computer/Rail Leasing and IBM’s Large Systems division. His near-retirement goals include volunteer and advisory involvement with CSU, Chico, Outward Bound and Expeditionary Education initiative programs.

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2000 Marshall L Ginter
            Department of Chemistry, 1957

Marshall L. Ginter is a professor at the Institute for Physical Science and Technology at the University of Maryland and an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana. His current research centers on electronic structures in atoms and small molecules, high resolution spectroscopy, vacuum ultraviolet and soft x-ray spectroscopy and high and ultra high vacuum instrumentation. Ginter graduated cum laude in 1957 with a BA in Chemistry and a minor in Physics. He received his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt in 1961. His academic career includes positions at Vanderbilt, the University of Chicago, Physikalische Anstalt de Universitat Basel, as well as University of Maryland and University of Urbana. He was a consultant for twenty-eight years for the E.O. Hulbert Center for Space Research, Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C. and a guest worker at the National Bureau of Standards in Gaithersburg, M.D. A writer of more than 100 articles, Ginter has published articles in publications such as Journal of Chemical Physics and the Journal of Optical Society of America. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the Optical Society of America.

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1999 Judy Martin-Holland
            School of Nursing, 1977

Judy Martin-Holland is a pulmonary clinical nurse specialist and family nurse practitioner at the Summit Medical Center and also at Bay Area Pulmonary Medical Associates in Oakland, CA. In addition, she is a pulmonary CNS/FNP consultant for Pacific Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Martin-Holland has received licenses and certifications including Registered Nurse, Critical Care Nurse Certification, California Community College Teaching Credential, Nurse Practitioner, and she is in the process of receiving a Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification. Martin-Holland serves as an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Physiological Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco.
She is President of the American Nurses Association for the State of California. Martin-Holland earned her B.S. in Nursing from CSU, Chico in 1977. She went on to earn a masters of public administration from CSU, Hayward in 1981, and a masters of science in nursing with a specialty in cardiopulmonary from University of California, San Francisco in 1985 and her post-masters family nurse practitioner certificate from University of California, San Francisco in 1995. She also devotes time to such groups as the Bay Area Black Health Consortium, the National Black Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau International.

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1998 Jack Farmer
            Department of Chemistry, 1969

Jack Farmer is a research scientist in the Exobiology Branch of the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California. He received his B.A. in Geology from CSU, Chico in 1969 and his M.S. in Geology from the University of Kansas in 1971. In 1978, he received a Ph.D. in Paleobiology from UC, Davis. He was a graduate research assistant at the University of Kansas, and became a research associate during and after his studies at UC, Davis. In 1981, he became a senior geologist for Exxon Company in the Western Division Production in Thousand Oaks, California, and served as a senior post-doctoral fellow for the National Research Council at the NASA Ames Research Center. In 1993, Farmer became a research scientist for SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center. Farmer continues to share his passion for geology through college teaching, television appearances, and numerous abstracts and papers published in professional journals and books. On a personal level, he is involved in education outreach with the local Native American community.

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1997 Walter Eugene Ryley
            Department of Physical Sciences, 1972

Gene Ryley is president of Cupertino Electric, based in San Jose, California. He received his B.A. in 1972 and M.A. in 1974 in Physical Science from California State University, Chico. His five years of experience with state and federal programs involved supervision of scientific research and formation of guidelines and legal standards. Gene taught physical science for one year at Butte College. His experience during his career with Cupertino Electric includes that of an electrician, project manager, chief estimator, and vice president of sales. In January 1995, Gene was appointed to the position of Executive Vice President, and in January 1997 he was appointed to the position of President of Cupertino Electric, Inc. He is a member of the National Association of Electrical contractors and a member of the National Association of Electrical Contractors and a member of the executive committee of TEC, an organization of Chief Executive Officers. Tennis and golf are two of Gene’s special interests, and he has won three national championships in sailing.

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1996 Kenneth E. Lange, D.D.S.
            Department of Biological Sciences, 1965

Dr. Kenneth E. Lange received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1969 from the University of the Pacific, School of Dentistry, and returned to Chico to establish his practice. He is a past president of the California Dental Association, and received their Most Improved Communications Awards in 1985 and the Chico Unified Teachers Association Public Service Award in 1992. Lange has been very active holding many professional offices in the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, Northern California Dental Society, Butte County Health Planning Council, Northern Regional Health Systems Agency and Medical Quality Review Board—Region 1. He is also an honorary member of the American College of Dentists, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the International College of Dentists. Lange is passionate about his community involvement. He has held many leadership positions in the Greater Chico Chamber of Commerce, including the position of president during 1992–1993. Other community membership involvement includes Chico Community Foundation, Chico Economic Planning Corporation, Chico Lions Breakfast Club, Chico State Associates and Century Club, Chico Scholarship Association, Little League and Youth Soccer Coach, and Parent Teacher Associations in area schools.

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1995 Leta B. Cox
            School of Nursing, 1981

Leta Cox is currently the Chief Nurse Executive at Mercy Medical Center, implementing progressive ways to provide high quality patient care in the changing health environment. She has served as an instructor in the Statewide Nursing Program and has taught at Shasta Community College. Ms. Cox is certified as a Nurse Administrator, a Medical/Surgical Nurse and a Public Health Nurse, and she serves on the American Heart Association’s board of directors. She was awarded Woman of the Year by the Business and Professional Woman’s Association of Redding in 1993 and the Philosophy in Action Award for Quality and Excellence in 1994 by Catholic Healthcare West.

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1994 Dr. Floyd L. English
            Department of Physical Sciences, 1959

Dr. Floyd L. English has been Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Andrew Corporation, an international supplier of antennas and transmission lines to the telecommunications industry since July 1983. He was named Chairman of Board of Andrew Corporation in September 1994. From January 1982 to July 1983 he was President and Chief Operating Officer and was elected to the Board of Directors in 1982. Dr. English earned his masters and doctorate in physics from Arizona State University. He studied bulk and surface phenomena in semiconductor and ferroelectric materials at the Sandia Laboratories in New Mexico and later was director of marketing for a division of the Collins Radio Company. He joined Andrew Corporation in 1980 and is on the Board of Directors of the Executives’ Club of Chicago, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy Fund for Advancement of Education and the National Engineering Consortium. He has authored numerous technical publications.

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