COSAM News

College of Science and Mathematics, San Luis Obispo

Kurt Kline

I got the newsletter and am pleased with the progress being made at Poly. It has been a long time (1978) since I taught there and a lot of water has gone under the bridge. (I taught from 1975-1978  as an Assistant Professor- Fisheries, Aquatic Ecology.) I don’t see too many names in the Bio Sci Department that I remember, but time does take them away.

I retired to Italy for a few years and trained as a chef and have now returned to California. I am re-employed as a senior manager for an analytical chemistry laboratory in LA. I feel like after a 40-year career in environmental consulting it’s time to give back.

Since I left Cal Poly, I've taught at the university level and worked in private industry and as a consultant, I've been involved in a wide variety of environmental projects. One of my primary interests has been assessing the impacts of energy projects on aquatic ecosystems — water quality impacts from linear energy projects including transmission corridors and pipelines. I've also worked extensively on geothermal, solar and wind projects, and innovative projects in the off-shore marine environment. And I've actively participated in many oil spill impact analyses, including the Exxon Valdez.

Phil — I wish you luck in the following year.

Kurt Kline
B.S., Biological Sciences '70
Ph.D. Ecology, UC Davis, '78.

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Robin Trachtenberg

I'm going to Baylor University through the Army-Baylor University Doctoral Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy program. Baylor University is in San Antonio, Texas; through the fellowship I will earn my doctorate degree in physical therapy. This program is ranked fifth in the nation. The U.S. Army is paying for my tuition and living expenses. They are also giving me a substantial salary with full benefits on top of that. After earning my doctorate, I will serve as an Army physical therapist on military bases in the U.S. and abroad. My service requirement is 81 months, which includes my 27-month doctoral program. I am scheduled to be commissioned as a second lieutenant at the end of September 2011, and my program starts in January 2012. I would encourage students to look at the scholarship opportunities available through the U.S. military. I'm looking forward to this new adventure.

Sincerely,
Robin Trachtenberg
B.S., Kinesiology, '10

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Cheryl Pater

Nice to see Dean Phil Bailey is still playing with chemistry magic and still drawing crowds. Looks like April's Open House student preview day was a roaring success. The new Center for Science and Mathematics building looks like it is really going to be a gem. Phil, you must be very proud since you had such a huge part in getting it built.

I live in Maryland now and work on an Army base (the Aberdeen Proving Ground). I'm a contract project manager for the Medical Institute of Chemical Defense. Really cool stuff, and very useful. I still visit California regularly. One of the people I met at Cal Poly is getting married in October 2011, so it will pull some of the alumni together. Keep up the good work. I love the COSAM electronic newsletter.

Cheryl Pater
B.S., Biological Sciences, '88

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Jannelle Olivier

Math alumna Jannelle Olivier (2001) was selected as a 2011 Math for America San Diego Noyce Master Teaching Fellow. MfA SD is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving mathematics education in San Diego County public secondary schools.
Olivier has more than 10 years of experience teaching mathematics in San Diego County high schools. 

For the past six years, she has served as a math teacher leader at Olympian High School. She previously taught at San Ysidro High School, Serra High School and Kearny High School for the San Diego Unified School District. In addition to her Cal Poly degree, she holds a master's degree in education and a single subject-teaching credential in mathematics (2003) from UC San Diego, and an educational administration credential from National University in San Diego. Olivier and her family live in San Diego's Point Loma area.

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Kerry King

I've been teaching math ever since I graduated (B.S., Math, '81).  I've been here at Arcadia High School (near Pasadena) since the fall of 1983 and I've been coaching our Math Team since it's inception in 2005.

I love the electronic newsletters I've been receiving from Cal Poly. Thank you!  I've been sharing them with my juniors in AP Calculus in an effort to promote Cal Poly as a choice for them. We have a very high-achieving group of students here, most of whom (85 percent or so) go directly to a four-year college. Many of them seem to feel that they MUST go to an Ivy League school, or at the very LEAST a UC school.  I want them to know that they can get a terrific education at Cal Poly.
 
One thing I'd like to suggest to help with this goal: can you bring back the high school Math Contest at Open House (formerly Poly Royal)? It was a something I was involved with through Kappa Mu Epsilon (I think those are the right letters!) when I was there, but it was eliminated at some point.  I've got a great group of kids on my Math Team who would love to come to the contest (and hopefully win!) and maybe, just maybe, some of them might see the value of a Cal Poly education.
 
Thanks again for the newsletter!
Kerry King

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Luke Rond

Biochemistry grad Luke Aaron Rond (2010) is attending Midwestern University and working on a doctorate in osteopathic medicine and recently celebrated his first wedding anniversary. Rond married Amber Alyse Vallotton June 19, 2010, at Grace Church in Tracy in a ceremony officiated by the bride’s father, David Vallotton.
Read the wedding story

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Marie Samples

Hello, whoever is reading this! 

I was actually in SLO a few weeks ago (during finals week, June 2011) and dropped by campus. The construction site was very busy and on-track according to the timeline on a bulletin board.  I stuck my head in the Dean’s office, but he had just left for lunch. It was a beautiful, warm day – expecting some spring snow here tomorrow.  Miss that California sunshine!

After Cal Poly, I went to graduate school in chemistry then ended up as a forensic scientist.  I started out in a crime lab in CA, then moved to NY and continued my career with the NYC OCME.  Our lab is the forensic DNA testing lab for New York City, and is among the largest forensic DNA labs in the world.  Besides traditional DNA casework (sexual assault, homicides, etc.), the lab also applies DNA testing to determination of cause of death and is conducting research on additional applications of molecular biology to questions of forensic interest – such as tests for eye and skin color.

Forensics is a great field to apply the “Learn By Doing” philosophy – just about every course I took had value.  Polymer chemistry?  Good information for the analysis of fibers.  Organic chemistry?  Need it all to analyze drug samples and handle clandestine drug labs; both theory and the practical use of the GS-MS and FTIR were important.  DNA analysis?  The entire year of biochemistry is foundational knowledge.  Even some of those pesky biology courses ended up useful.

Less tangible are knowledge and skills ingrained during senior research, such as the scientific method, ability to trouble-shoot, and perseverance.  Requiring such a capstone experience must be valuable to every graduate.

Sincerely,
Marie Samples, M.S., F-ABC (and Cal Poly B.S. Biochemistry, '82)
Assistant Director, Department of Forensic Biology
Office of Chief Medical Examiner
New York

Read the Cal Poly Magazine Q&A with Samples

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