Colorado Mesa University

EDUCATIONAL DIRECTION David Forgues, '97 By Sharon Sullivan As a first-generation college student growing up in southern California, David Forgues received little guidance from his parents when it came time to choose and enroll in college. It simply wasn't part of their experience. After receiving a college viewbook in the mail from Mesa, Forgues, on his own, As a sophomore Forgues got involved with the Residence Hall Association and student government. He became residence hall director at Monument Hall when it first opened. "It was a lot of responsibility," Forgues said. "I supervised a staff." He found a mentor in then assistant director of housing Tammy Erickson- Piper. During his senior year, she suggested he make working with college students a career. "She was the most influential person for me," Forgues said. After graduating from CMU with a bachelor's degree in English, Forgues continued his education at State University of New York in Buffalo, where he earned a master's degree in student affairs and higher education. His educational experiences and time at Mesa have led to a fulfilling career at California State University in Fullerton, where the 42-year-old is vice president of human resources, diversity and inclusion. Located 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, CSU-Fullerton has a diverse student body of more than 40,000 students that also includes a high number of first-generation, low-income students, which keeps Forgues busy. "I'm passionate about higher education — it definitely changed the direction of my life," Forgues said. • bought a plane ticket to Grand Junction to check out the school. "I wanted to walk around the campus. I needed to see it," he said. "I walked from the airport to campus. I wasn't old enough to rent a car." Being a mountain biker and skier, Forgues said he enjoyed not only the CMU campus but also appreciated the Grand Valley's landscape. After touring the campus, he walked back to the airport, returned to California and told his mom he was going to Colorado to attend Mesa. It was 1994. Junction, Bethany went on to join the U.S. Navy. She is now serving in the Navy as a chaplain assistant. Bethany is stationed in Italy and enjoys her time working and exploring in different areas. While studying at CMU she was involved in Young Life and Campus Ministry. Bethany loved all the opportunities she had with Young Life and all the friends she has met on her journey so far. In Memoriam Alfred Goffredi, '40; Wes Harlan, '42; W.R. "Bob" Bray Sr., '46; Stanley Olson, '50; Alan Atchison, '52; Eva Wheeler, '52; Betty Hall, '56; Richard Clamp, '58; SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTE TODAY. Keep your friends, classmates and the CMU Alumni Association up-to- date by submitting a Class Note. Visit SupportingCMU.org/alumni/class-notes to tell us what's new with you! Michael Kramer, '58; Richard Looney, '58; Ronald Bell, '59; Robert Stokes, '59; Neil Bankert, '61; Eugene Place, '65; Barbara Burkhard, '69; Jerry VanPelt, '71; Randy Christensen, '74; Brenn Luff, '74; Merry Lee Kuboske, '76; Robert Kirgin, '78; Edward Loshbaugh, '81; Beth Wagoner, '84; Blake Woods, '87; John Hill, '90; Earl Williams, '91; Nicholas Lancaster, '96; Juliet Heniford, '98; Daryl Miller, '99; Casey Gillenwater, '16; Tanner Donahue, '17 Faculty and Staff: Patrick Doyle, former administrator; Becky Hetherington, former staff; Sally Matchett, former professor; Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Herbert Weldon 48

• Cover