Distinguished Alumni

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI are CWU graduates of 20 years or more, are recognized for achievement in their professional field and have made a positive contribution to society.

2008 - Ron Dotzauer

Strategies 360, the company which he started in 1985 as Northwest Strategies, Ron provides strategic counsel to a vast array of regional and international clients.

Ron's more than 30-year career in politics started in 1974, when he became the youngest elected county official in the state of Washington. He won the job of Clark County Auditor just two years out of college. After successfully directing Henry "Scoop" Jackson's re-election campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1982, Ron worked as Jackson's state director. In 1984, Ron ran Booth Gardner's successful gubernatorial campaign. In 2000, Ron stunned national political observers by leading Maria Cantwell to a victory in the U.S. Senate over a three-term incumbent.

Ron was an integral part of four national presidential conventions — both Democratic and Republican. He provided around-the-clock political analysis for several media outlets. Ron is the person the media turn to for quick-witted and accurate commentary on politics at all levels.

An Everett, Washington native, Ron attended Lewis & Clark College for advanced graduate work and received a BA from Central Washington University.

Learn more about Ron and Strategies 360 at
www.strategies360.com/team/members/dotzauer.html

2007 - Virginia Beavert

Virginia Beavert Keeps Legends and Language Alive Nothing defines a people as much as their language, and nothing signals the end of a civilization more than the demise of its native tongue. Yakama Nation elder Virginia Beavert feels this deeply in her mission to teach the language and literature of her people to younger generations.

Beavert, who is something of a legend herself, remembers riding with her grandmother on horseback over the plains of Zillah early in the twentieth century, hunting for herbs and roots. She learned the traditions of the Waashat religion from her great-grandmother and her mother, who she describes as a phenomenal woman who lived to be 103 years old. She learned the medicinal properties of herbs from her great-great-grandmother, who also imparted the tribal legends along with herbal lore. Her great-great-grandmother lived to be 120 years old.

Beavert didn't find her academic calling immediately. During the 1940s, she served in the war effort for four years with the U.S. Army Air Forces. After the war, she attended four years of college, worked for the Atomic Energy Commission, and later became a medical transcriptions and worked in hospitals throughout central Washington for many years.

In the 1970s, her stepfather, Alexander Saluskin, or Chief Wi-ya-wikt, citing his poor health, prevailed upon her to return to school to help him complete his life's work, The Sahaptin Practical Dictionary for Yakama. She entered Central Washington University when she was in her forties, in an era when college life wasn't geared to non-traditional students.

"It was hard," she remembers. "There was no counseling [for students like me]."

Dr. James Brooks, then Central's president, became a source of encouragement, providing resources to help her complete her degree. She received a Bachelor of Science in anthropology in 1986 and went on to earn her master's degree from the University of Arizona. She not only completed her stepfather's dictionary, but also published two more, as well as a book of Yakama legends.

As a member of the Yakama Nation, Beavert has served on the General Tribal Council, and received numerous fellowships, among them from the Smithsonian Institute, The Newberry Library, Dartmouth College, and the University of Mexico. She has also been honored with many awards and fellowships, including the Washington Governor's Heritage Award. Beavert continues to teach at Heritage University in Toppenish and at the Native Indian Language Institute, which is held every summer at the University of Oregon.

2006 - Ron Sims

King County Executive Ron Sims earned his degree in Psychology from Central Washington University in 1971. He has built his career in public service around the progressive principles of social justice, good government and environmental stewardship. He has a national reputation for boldness and vision, and is a champion of reforming government processes to better serve the people of the dynamic, forward-thinking Puget Sound region.

After graduating from Central Washington University, where he was elected student body president, Sims worked on consumer protection issues at the Washington State Attorney General's office and the Federal Trade Commission. Recruited to run the City of Seattle's juvenile offender program, Ron remained head of the program until becoming a legislative aide in the Washington State Senate.

In 1985, Ron was first elected to the King County Council. While serving in that capacity, Sims developed a reputation as a tireless legislator, working on a diverse palette of issues that led to advances in the areas of the environment, education, county budgeting, public safety and the protection of workers' rights.

In 1996 Ron was appointed King County Executive after then-Executive Gary Locke was elected governor. Easily winning election the following year, Sims was reelected by wide margins in 2001 and 2005.

As Executive, he is charged with overseeing the 13th largest county in the nation. It includes the city of Seattle, and with an overall population of 1.8 million, King County is home to about 30 percent of Washington state's population and alone accounts for more than 40 percent of the state's jobs. The County government has a workforce of over 13,000 and an annual budget of $3.1 billion.

Sims is the former chairman of the Sound Transit Board of Directors, a member of the advisory board of the Brookings Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Co-Chair of the Committee to End Homelessness, and founding Chair of the Puget Sound Health Alliance.

2005 - Michael B. Walen

When Michael B. Walen enrolled in Central Washington University, his goal was to teach. Thirty-five years later the geologist is a senior executive with Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, a century old energy company with $1.8 billion in assets and operations in the United States, Canada and the Gulf of Mexico.

Walen - Senior Vice President for Exploration and Production with Cabot Oil & Gas - says Central's advantage is the direct contact with students. "Central Washington University gave me a good education. I was never lost in the classes, it was a one on one environment. You were taught by full professors. It makes a difference."

Mike and his wife Jeannette (Aldrich) Walen have been married 36 years. Mrs. Walen graduated from Central with a degree in business.

Walen's work in oil and natural gas has taken the family from Bakersfield to Denver, Billings, Pittsburgh and in 1997 to Houston where they now live. He is in charge of company operations for exploration, land management, production, engineering and drilling. Cabot operates and manages 2,500 miles of pipeline, 4,500 wells, and 1.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. In the busy energy market, they will drill 300 new wells this year.

Michael Walen received his Bachelor of Arts in Geology from Central Washington University in 1970. In 1973, he earned his Master's in Geology from Western Washington University.

2004 - Warren G. Brain

Dr. Gene Brain is the recipient of the Central Washington University Distinguished Alumni Award for the College of the Sciences (COTS). Brain's diverse career is reflected in his education. After attending primary school in Thorp and graduating from Seattle's Roosevelt High School, he earned bachelor's degrees in biology and education at Central in 1951. "My professors at Central were instrumental in shaping my science career," says Brain.

Brain's experience as Class Platoon Leader at Central led to his service as a captain for the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952 to 1954. After a year of active duty in Korea, he returned to Washington and taught chemistry and biology at West Seattle High School.

Brain's family dentist, sensing his interest in the field, persuaded Brain to pursue a career in dentistry. He enrolled in the University of Washington and earned a D.D.S (doctor of dental surgery) in 1959. Brain ran his own general dental practice in Bellevue until 1965, when he sought an master of science in orthodontics at Temple University. Brain worked as an orthodontist in Renton for the next 26 years.

Brain's contribution to dentistry and orthodontia gained much recognition in the field. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists in 1990, as well as the Distinguished Alumni Award for the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1993. The Seattle-King County Dental Society honored Brain with the Award of Special Merit in 1994. At the same time, Brain received the Award of Merit from the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists.

He has served on Central's board of trustees and board of visitors. Brain currently resides in Thorp with his wife, Lillian, also an alumna of Central, where he spends time breeding and racing thoroughbred horses. He's proud of his Central roots.

"We are a true 'Central family,'" Brain said. "In addition to my sons, who are Central graduates, my two older sisters, Hazel Brain Dunnington, professor of English literature at Central, and Geraldine Brain Siks, professor of drama at the University of Washington, and my brother, George Brain, former dean of the School of Education at Washington State University, are all Central graduates."

2003 - William Bonaudi

Cle Elum native Dr. William Bonaudi was honored as distinguished alumni by the CWU Alumni Association during the annual homecoming banquet and awards ceremony in 2003. "Growing up in Cle Elum, CWU was the hometown school," Bonaudi says. "Central is where my career got its start and I have fond memories of campus. This is a surprising and complimentary honor."

Bonaudi was honored for his outstanding achievements in higher education administration. He earned a bachelor's in zoology from Central in 1964, as well as a master's degree in biology from Wayne State University, Michigan, and his Ed.D. in administration and organizational leadership from the University of Southern California.

"Because of the education I earned at Central many of my personal and professional goals have been attained," he adds.

First a science instructor at Macomb County Community College in Michigan, Bonaudi went on to serve as dean of instruction at Truckee Meadows Community College in Nevada for two decades. He then served as vice president of academic affairs at Northern Nevada Community College before taking up his position as president of Big Bend Community College in 1995.

"Over the years, it has been my pleasure to have assisted in the education of young people in science disciplines and helped others develop leadership skills, proving the cycle of education reaches far beyond the boundaries of the classroom," Bonaudi notes.

Bonaudi lives with his wife, Karen Jones, in Moses Lake. He has three children and eight grandchildren. (Northern Kittitas County Tribune, 10/23/2003)

2003 - Janine Pease

Janine Pease-Pretty On Top, who graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in Anthropology, is known for her success in taking a tiny tribal college on the Crow Indian Reservation and turning it into a fully accredited junior college of national acclaim.

Pease-Pretty On Top was the first woman of Crow lineage to earn a doctorate degree, which she received from Montana State University in 1993. In addition to two bachelor's degrees, a master's and the doctorate, she also has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Hood College in Maryland, Gonzaga University in Spokane, Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., and Utah Valley State College.

Despite her impressive list of personal achievements, Pease-Pretty On Top points out that her proudest moments are reserved for the students she so diligently serves. "We're seeing the first graduates in science and math and engineering," she said a few years ago. "While it might not seem real flashy, it's a huge success when we have a graduate. Every time we have a graduate, we get somebody off welfare."

2002 - William Allen Clintworth

William Clintworth, Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient for CWU College of the Sciences in 2002, was a well-respected and memorable student when he attended Central Washington State College. His academic skills stood out, as did his leadership in Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. William worked to develop field trips, a resource library of graduate school catalos, social occasions and study sessions for his fellow students.

After William graduated from Central in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in psychology, he began working at the library of Northern State Hospital in Sedro Woolley. He developed an immediate interest in his work and went on to receive his master's degree in Librarianship at the University of Washington in 1974.

William now serves as Executive Director of the University of Southern California Health Sciences Libraries, where he achieved national recognition for his accomplishments during the past 27 years.

2001 - Randy "Randy" Reneau

Randy Reneau, Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient for CWU College of the Sciences in 2001, is a consulting geologist in Austin, Texas who calls himself a "hired rock hammer." He formed Reneau Exploration and Development Company, an independent oil exploration and production company, in 1980; and Reneau and Associates, Consulting Geologists and Engineers, in 1990, where he's primarily involved in environmental geology and geohydrology.

While growing up in Chelan, Yakima and Grandview, Reneau says his interest in geology was peaked by summer visits to old mining camps in the Okanogan region. Even so, the 1973 CWU geology graduate didn't foresee a career in the field when he came to Central. "I started in pre-law at Central," Reneau recalls. "Then I took a geology course and got 'bit by the bug.'"

Reneau has also worked as projects manager and senior geologist for AZCO Mining, Inc., on a gold exploration project in Mali, was a diamond and gold exploration geologist for a Western Mining Company in Liberia, served as a uranium exploration geologist for Wold Nuclear in Caspar, Wyo., and was a uranium field exploration geologist for Continental Oil Company (CONOCO).

2000 - Barbara Bintliff

Barbara Bintliff received the Distinguished Alumnus Award at Homecoming 2000 for the College of the Sciences. Bintliff began her career as a Law Clerk with Gaddis & Fox in Seattle; then worked as a legal consultant to Environmental & Societal Impacts Group at the National Center for Atmospheric Research; Librarian at University of Denver Law Library; Professor and Librarian at University of Colorado School of Law; and visiting professor at University of Washington. She is currently Associate Professor of Law (tenured) and Director of the Law Library at University of Colorado.

1999 - Benedette September

Bernie was awarded the College of the Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award at the Homecoming Banquet, October 1999. Bernie was born in Kliptown, Johannesburg, South Africa. She was the first resident of the South African township of Davidsonville to complete a university degree in 1976, when she graduated from the University of Western Cape. Following her graduation, she embarked on a career in education as a primary, high school and college level instructor, teaching Afrikaans, English, history and guidance. She then came to the U.S., receiving her MS in counseling psychology from CWU in 1987.

In 1990 Bernie became the first black psychologist in full time private practice in Cape Province. She and her husband, Ron, opened a consulting business, Development Dynamics, which uses her expertise in race relations, anger and conflict management and focuses primarily on employment equity, management diversity, team building and related skills. Bernie was named South African Business Woman of the Year in 1995 and listed in the South African Who's Who in 1998. She now serves on the board of directors of ABSA bank, the largest bank in Africa, is a highly sought motivatonal speaker, does advice columns in magazines, regularly appears on radio and television talk shows and teaches part time at Stellenbosch University business school.

1998 - Annette Sandberg

Annette M. Sandberg, recipient of CWU's 1998 Distinguished Alumnus Award, graduated from CWU with a degree in Law & Justice in 1983 and her law degree from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1993. Annette joined the Washington state patrol upon her graduation. She quickly distinguished herself, being named 1988 trooper of the year for King County, promoted to lieutenant in 1993, and appointed chief in 1995 by Gov. Mike Lowry - becoming the first US woman to head a state police agency. She was re-appointed in 1997 by Gov. Locke.

"During her six-year tenure, Chief Sandberg built the Washington State Patrol into a modern public safety agency of which Washington can be proud," Locke said in a statement.

Annette M. Sandberg became the second Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in 2003 following her nomination by President George W. Bush and her confirmation by the United States Senate. Sandberg served in this capacity until March 2006.

1997 - Eugene M. Parsons

Eugene Parsons '52. Eugene worked briefly as a chemist at the Texas Electric Service Co. in Fort Worth following his graduation. He then accepted a commission in the U.S. Air Force. After his tour of duty he joined the Boeing Company where he worked first in flight tests, then in marine systems. He was a test pilot of the company's' commercial hydrofoil, then technical assistant and ultimately chief engineer for Boeing's marine division. Now retired, Eugene is a volunteer docent with the Museum of Flight in Seattle and is also a member of the museum's board of trustees.

1996 - Edward L. Schneider

Edward L. Schneider '69. He also has more than 23 years of classroom teaching experience. Edward Schneider is president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in Santa Barbara, Calif. The 65-acre garden is divided into California's eight climate zones and includes rare as well as native plants. In his duties, Schneider manages a staff of 50, 300 volunteers, a board of 20, 3,000 members and a $3 million annual budget. Schneider has been at the garden since 1992. He is also an adjunct professor of botany at the University of California, Santa Barbara, which is where Schneider obtained his doctorate in botany. Previously, Schneider was dean of the College of Science at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Schneider has a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Both his bachelor's and master's degrees are from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash. Edward has published more than 125 professional scientific papers, books, book chapters and abstracts.

1995 - Marilyn Grey

Marilyn Grey is recipient of CWU's Distinguished Alumni Award for the College of the Sciences for 1995. Grey worked for the Edmonds School District for 25 years after earning her master's degree in school psychology in 1967, her bachelor's degree in psychology in 1962, and her bachelor of education in English in 1960 - all from Central Washington University. She is the author of "It's All In Your Head: How To Use Your Right Brain To Do Just About Anything". Grey speaks to groups on topics such as stress reduction, team building, and empowering ourselves in times of change and describes herself as, "an astonishing success is my own eyes and having a world of fun being alive on this planet." Marilyn founded her own company, Grey Matter, and has been a convention speaker since 1980.

1990 - David R. Boyd

David R. Boyd '58, psychology major, earned a bachelors of arts and science degree from Central Washington College of Education in Ellensburg, Washington, and a medical degree from McGill University in Montreal, PQ, Canada. David headed the federal government's drive to create a system of effective emergency medical care across the nation drafting landmark national legislation leading to the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act of 1973. On November 18, 1998 in Washington, D.C., Dr. Boyd was honored at the American Public Health Association meeting. He received the Distinguished Career Award from the Injury control and Emergency Health Services Section.

Dr. Boyd was recognized for his visionary national leadership in trauma systems development, trauma care, and his life long commitment to the care of trauma patients prevention of injuries, and development of systems.

In 1972, Dr. Boyd provided congressional testimony on the need for a National Emergency Medical Service System. He also wrote the clinically relevant parts of the EMS Systems Act of 1973, Public Law 93-154. In 1974 Dr. Boyd was appointed the National Director of the Office of EMS Systems in the Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, where he established a lead agency for Trauma and EMS systems in every state and many local public health departments. He also established and worked for eight years in a private EMS systems consulting firm working with domestic and international clients.

Dr. Boyd has published over 110 scientific articles on trauma, shock and trauma/EMS systems, including a textbook on EMS. Included in his many honors is the Distinguished Career Award from the American Public Health Association.

1988 - Larry L. Pinnt

Mr. Pinnt, who retired as Chief Financial Officer of US WEST Communications in 1989, presently serves on the Boards of Directors for SAFECO Mutual Funds, First SAFECO National Life Insurance Company of N.Y., Key Bank of Washington, Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska, PREMERA, Cascade Natural Gas Corporation and the University of Washington Medical Center.

Mr. Pinnt obtained his BA in Mathematics from Central Washington University and has completed additional programs in Engineering Studies and Marketing at Stanford and at the University of Pennsylvania-Wharton School. He served in the Air Force as an Accounting and Finance Officer. He and his wife Joyce live in Woodinville and they have three children and numerous grandchildren. Mr. Pinnt is also an active community participant with the City of Woodinville, the Lutheran Bible Institute, and Washington Business Week.

In 1988 when Larry received this award he was executive vice president and chief financial officer at Pacific Northwest Bell, Seattle. He first served in the Air Force and then worked as an engineer with PNB, then moved into their financial and marketing areas, becoming an assistant vice president in 1976 and an officer three years later. He has served on the governing boards of Key Bank of Puget Sound, Key Trust of the Northwest, National Exchange carrier Association, Safeco Mutual Fund and Lutheran Bible Institute, Issaquah.

1986 - James E. Brooks

James E. Brooks '49, social science major, has been a student at Central (1946-50), its president (1961-78), received its Distinguished Alumni Award (1986), and received the CWU Distinguished Professor Award in (1989). He also served a two-year term as interim president of Yakima Valley Community College. He was a geography professor at Central and is currently active in "Friends of the Library." Central Washington University named the school's library after him. The library being named in his honor was planned, built and opened during his administration.

After stepping down as president, Brooks continued as a member of the university's geography and land studies faculty through 1993. He also served as interim president at Yakima Valley Community College. He and his wife Lillian (Literal) Brooks, an Onalaska High School graduate and fellow Central alumna, have lived in Ellensburg since 1961. They have five children and 17 grandchildren.

1983 - Herbert Legg Jr.

Herbert Legg, former State Democratic Party Chairman 1961-62was awarded Central Washington University's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1983. The son of a sheepherder and the oldest of 10 children, Legg grew up in the Kittitas Valley near Ellensburg, where he went to college at Central Washington University graduating in 1942 with a degree in Social Science.

Legg served as a naval officer on the USS Ammen, a destroyer that was involved in continuous combat in the North and South Pacific for nearly three years. He stared down Kamikaze pilots and learned he was a man of courage, not just conviction.

Legg spent much of his adult life as a college professor, tiring of lawyer work. He later worked at the state Employment Security Department, helping the disadvantaged until his retirement in 1995.

1980 - Daniel D. McCraken

Daniel D. McCracken a writer, lecturer, and consultant in the computer industry, received a BA in mathematics in 1950 and a BA in chemistry a year later, both from Central Washington University. He was awarded Central Washington University's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1980. He is an author, a former president of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and Professor of Computer Sciences at the City College, City University of New York. His Digital Computer Programming (1957) was the first textbook on the subject. Among his 25 titles are standard works on Fortran (1961, 1965, 1974, 1984, and 1988), Algol (1962), Cobol (1963, 1970, 1976, 1988, and 1990), and numerical methods (1964 and 1972). He has also published on the Intel microcomputer programming language PL/M (1978) and the Fourth Generation Language Nomad (1981). His books have been translated into 15 languages and have sold about 1.6 million copies.

After seven years with the General Electric Company in a variety of assignments in computer applications and programmer training, he spent a year at the New York University Atomic Energy Commission Computer Center, then (1959) went into full time consulting and writing on computer subjects. While at NYU he was a graduate student at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. He joined the City College Computer Sciences Department in 1981 and chaired it in 1989-91. His consulting clients include the Federal Aviation Agency, Honeywell, Shell Oil, IBM, Intel, Dun & Bradstreet, and Sybase.

In 1989 he received the Norbert Weiner Award for Social and Professional Responsibility from Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility and in 1992 the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education gave him their award for Outstanding Contributions to Computer Science Education.