David Gates ‘98, ‘00
Retired Fire Chief, ISU Alumni Board President
I'm a non-traditional student who had a complicated journey to Idaho State University. After high school, I floundered in various degree programs and decided to join the Navy's nuclear power program. I spent nine and a half years in the Navy, which brought me to Pocatello, Idaho, near Idaho State University. I loved Pocatello and decided to continue my education while working for the Navy. I took two classes a semester and graduated with my B.A. in 1998. My advisor encouraged me to continue on and get my M.B.A., which I did in 2000. I reinvested my degree into the fire department and advanced through the ranks to become the fire chief of Pocatello. I'm now the president of the Idaho State University alumni board and the Bengal Athletic Boosters Board. I'm proud of my journey and the education I received at Idaho State University, which has helped me become who I am today.
Blaine Nisson ‘73
As an undergraduate, Idaho State had a profound impact on my life, so much so that I went back and got my master's degree at ISU. I was a first generation college student and I had incredible support of dedicated faculty and staff who helped create a pathway for me to be successful. One of those people, Dr. William E. "Bud" Davis, ISU President, helped launch my professional career in higher education when he suggested that I should put my marketing skills to work for the university. I applied and was hired as one of two Assistant Directors of High School and College Relations. After a few years, I decided I really liked working in higher education and went back to school to get my master's degree. After completing my master's, I chose to focus my career on administrative roles exclusively in community colleges in Oregon and Washington. Over my 38-year career, I gradually worked my way up to a division director, dean, vice president, and ultimately president of Umpqua Community College. Along the way, I completed my doctorate degree from Oregon State University in Higher Education Administration. My experience at Idaho State University was life-changing. I was very active in student government, a social fraternity as well as the business fraternity, all of which opened many doors for me. I learned the importance of making connections with students and tried to do that throughout my career. I am so grateful for the faculty, staff, and friends I made during my time at Idaho State and the opportunities it gave me.
Cassandra Tack ‘14
I am proud to have attended Idaho State University, where I was able to gain long-term relationships with my fellow classmates and professors. Two of my professors became lifelong friends and mentors, and I still look to them for guidance today. I started school later in life as a single mom, and I knew that an education would help me provide for my family and achieve my personal goals. I chose ISU because of its good reputation and because it was close to home. I started in the nursing program and then changed my major to healthcare administration. I then decided to pursue an MBA, as I wanted to avoid getting pigeonholed into only healthcare. I also had a minor in business administration, so an MBA was not much more to complete at that point. I was involved in Soca, a student association for healthcare administrators, but due to my full-time job and raising two kids, I didn't have much time to enjoy all the things on campus. After I graduated, I got hired with the College of Pharmacy as an administrative assistant and was promoted within the college year after year. In 2019, they offered me a promotion but suggested I finish my MBA first. I declined the job and finished my MBA, and then accepted the job once I was done. My education has been instrumental in my career, as it has helped me look at quality improvement, identify systems, and do project management and marketing. It has also allowed me to make professional connections with my classmates and the people I work with today. I love that my career has allowed me to learn and grow every day, and I have a tremendous amount of pride in being an alum and employee of ISU and the community. I am grateful for the amazing relationships I have been able to foster both here and all over the country.
Pete Black ‘98
Former ISU Alumni Board of Director/President
I am a non-traditional student and I had the privilege of attending ISU. My professors were very conscientious of my efforts and were very helpful in getting me to the end. This landed me the job I needed as a teacher. ISU managed to place almost every teacher that comes out of there, even in the days when there was somewhat of a surplus. My master's degree was made possible by three College of Education professors who worked with me hand in glove. Gene Davis, Dick Sagness, and Al Strickland were particularly helpful in pushing me along. Even now, we are colleagues and friends. ISU was definitely the university for me and I am grateful for the wonderful memories and the foundation it set for me.
Roger Wheeler ‘71
Former ISU Alumni Board President
I grew up in a small town in Idaho called Salmon and always wanted to be a pharmacist. However, after taking high school chemistry, I decided to pursue a degree in education instead. I ended up teaching for 34 years and was even a principal for a few years. I chose Idaho State University for my education because it was close to home and I was able to get a full tuition scholarship by playing in the band. I played the alto saxophone and was in the marching band, concert band, jazz band, and pep band. I loved my college experience and made many friends, some of whom I'm still in contact with today. I was even the president of the ISU alumni association for two years and helped plan the new alumni center that opened last August. I'm also proud of my work with the food service at ISU, where I worked my way up to assistant banquet chef. I learned a lot of culinary skills and still have a great recipe for blue cheese dressing that I can make for 500 people.
Richard Schultz ‘10
I had a great experience at ISU, where I was able to do experimental research in the engineering department. I was fortunate to have an amazing mentor, Dr. Brian Williams, who guided me through the process of organizing and conducting the experiments that formed the basis of my dissertation. Through this experience, I was able to develop relationships with my mentors and colleagues. I was also able to promote a new technique for addressing an issue in engineering designs and machines. My time at ISU opened many doors for me. As a result, I became a professor of practice in nuclear engineering at Texas A&M University and a research professor at ISU. I have been a part of the faculty at the nuclear engineering department at ISU for ten years now, and I have met and worked with many interesting colleagues. I am thoroughly enjoying my experience and am grateful for the legacy I have been able to create.
Gloria Thomas ‘74
I am grateful for my time at Idaho State University. I was the first in my family to attend this college, and it was intimidating for me, coming from a small town to the large college town of Pocatello. However, the campus was very welcoming, and I was able to get involved quickly. I participated in student life, including being a resident assistant and assistant residence hall director, which launched my first career in student affairs. Later on, I was the first chair clarinet in the symphony and the band, which taught me about teamwork and leadership as well as music. My favorite places on campus were Garrison and Turner Halls, the SUB, and the Fine Arts Building. I was the student head of the Student Curriculum Advising Program, which allowed me to meet students from all different backgrounds. I also had the unique experience of watching the Mini Dome being built from the ground up. When I looked out the window from my room at Garrison Hall in fall 1969, I saw one large red beam spanning what would become the Mini Dome and then Holt Arena. It was fun to watch the entire building go up that year, including the Art Deco panels on the front and back above the doors. I will always be grateful to the English faculty for their insistence on good writing and following standard grammar, punctuation, and style rules. My experiences as an English major prepared me to direct dissertations and publish research as a professor of Educational Leadership. Dr. Larry Rice in English, Mr. David Missal and Dr. Don McGlothlin in music, Mr. Jay Jensen in Student Affairs, Mrs. Rosemary Myers in Advising, Mrs. Dora Dean Young in Turner Hall, and many others set examples for me. ISU prepared me for my professional life when I graduated and went on to graduate school. My education at ISU became my passport to success, and I am thankful for the friendships, examples from faculty and staff, and opportunities to meet so many people.
Sonia Martinez ‘96
Graduating from ISU has become a source of pride for me. I was a first-generation student and had no idea what I wanted to do when I started. I was lucky enough to join the Hispanic Leadership Organization, and we hosted a large Hispanic dinner night that was very successful. I've since returned to ISU to work and mentor a new generation of students. I've also helped start a few student organizations, including the Society for the Advancement of Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. My degree opened doors for me and gave me the opportunity to work in different sectors. I also had the opportunity to go back to school and get my master's degree. I chose ISU specifically because I wanted to learn from Professor Mark Macbeth, and I was lucky enough to take every class he had to offer. I didn't have a great advisor when I was a student, but I'm now an advisor myself and I try to be the person I wish I had when I was a student. I'm a big advocate of ISU now and I tell everyone that we have amazing professors here. I'm proud to have graduated from ISU and I tell students that there's no reason to leave Idaho if you're here - we have amazing faculty and resources.
Krystal Chanda ‘07
Alumni Board of Directors
As a single mom of two kids, I was so grateful to have the support of the wonderful professors in the College of Engineering. I felt like I was getting more than just an academic education. One morning I emailed a professor to let him know that I would not be able to make class because my childcare had fallen through. He immediately emailed back and told me please not to miss class and to bring my daughter with me. My daughter jokes that she was taking college-level calculus when she was five. Another time I had to take both my children to office hours of one professor to ask questions about a large project. The professor had a wheel bearing on his desk that my seven-year-old son played with. He gave it to my son before we left. My favorite memory is with Dr. James Mahar. It was close to the end of the fall semester, and during an office visit regarding my senior design project, Dr. Mahar asked if I was ready for Christmas. Jokingly I told him no because I would only be able to get my kids something from the dollar store before Christmas. Dr. Mahar stood, opened his wallet, and asked me how much I needed to give my kids a good Christmas. I declined his offer because I really wasn't going to the dollar store for presents and I knew my parents would spoil them. These are just tremendous examples of how the professors saw everyone as much more than just students and truly wanted the best for all of us. The professors had real hands-on experience that I could use when I got out into the real world, which was particularly important for my engineering degree. Many of the professors did private consulting that allowed them to stay current on technology and real-world engineering problems. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with these professors as a Professional Engineer on the restoration of the "I" on Red Hill, which is something a lot of graduates don't get to do. I'm so thankful for my time at ISU and the impact it has had on my career. Go Bengals!