College of Communication & Education

Alumni, Parents & Friends

2018 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

president hutchinson with lori mcadams 

Lori McAdams

BA, Information and Communication Studies, 1978

Lori McAdams joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2004 as director of human resources, and by June 2006 was promoted to vice president. As vice president of human resources and administration, McAdams oversees the traditional Human Resources functions, including recruiting and staffing, training and education, and compensation and benefits.  McAdams holds a credit on a number of Pixar’s films, including Cars, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL•E, Up, Toy Story 3, and Monsters University. McAdams began her career in human resources at Lucasfilm Ltd., where she served as a leader. She then went on to Electronic Arts as a director of human resources, primarily for the Maxis Development Studio, and spent one year as an interim director of human resources at Tippett Studios before coming to Pixar. McAdams graduated from Chico State in 1983 and went on to complete her MA in human resources and organizational development from the University of San Francisco. McAdams lives in Lafayette, California with her husband of 32 years Danny McAdams. They have three adult children, Jonathan, Justin and Meghan, and a granddaughter Madison.

2017 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

michael finney, cme alumnus

Michael Finney

BA, Information and Communication Studies, 1978
7 On Your Side Host

Finney is an award-winning consumer advocate and host of 7 On Your Side on ABC7 in the Bay Area. Prior to his current role as a consumer reporter, he worked as a columnist, bureau chief, anchor, and reporter for various news stations in Idaho Falls, San Diego, and the Bay Area. Finney attributes his success to Bill Goggin, his journalism teacher at Ray Lyman Wilbur Junior High School in Palo Alto. “He is responsible for all of this,” Finney says. “He taught me, ‘The job of the journalist is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.’ That’s pretty much what I’ve been up to ever since.” Finney completed his bachelor’s degree from CSU, Chico in information and communication studies in 1978 and worked at both the KCHO and KCSC radio stations as a student. During his time working as a general assignment reporter after graduation, he produced a documentary, interviewed Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, and covered natural disasters like the Loma Prieta earthquake and Hurricane Iniki. Finney is also the author of Finney's Finds and Consumer Confidential, a best-seller on Amazon. He has received numerous awards for his achievements in journalism, including an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; the Golden Microphone Award from the Radio and Television News Association; and the McGraw Hill Editorial Achievement Award. Finney is an active member of the Bay Area Irish community, working as TV host for the San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade. He also co-founded the Friends of Camp Concord, an organization that has raised $1.6 million toward sending underserved youth to camp. Finney lives in Alamo with his wife, Brenda, and they have two children, Conner and Kelly.

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