Alumni Chapter

Be part of CAL alumni by joining the SDSU Alumni Association and taking part in the events hosted by the Arts & Letters Alumni Chapter (ALAC). The ALAC seeks to serve the University and alumni by creating and fostering mutually beneficial relationships through networking, socializing and educational events.

The purposes of ALAC is to further the interests of the College of Arts & Letters and its alumni; to establish closer contact between the University and its alumni; to promote activities beneficial to alumni and the University; to assist in the recruitment of students and to publicize and promote both the ALAC and University interests. Be sure to keep track of news and events by visiting the Arts & Letters Alumni page.

Meet the ALAC Board

President, Lois C. Bruhn
Lois Bruhn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and an MS in Counseling and Guidance from SDSU. As a retired Manager of Workforce Development for the San Diego Community College District, her experience includes: management of grant and workforce training activities as well as, research, design and development of education programs and specialized teaching methods. Her corporate and consulting experience includes: human resource training and development in industry. Ms. Bruhn was previously the president of SDSU Alumni Association and is currently the President of the College of Arts & Letters Alumni Chapter.

Secretary, Susan Harrigan
Susan obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English from SDSU in 1962. After graduation, she was an International Stewardess/Flight Attendant until her retirement in 2003. Susan is an Aztec for Life and is the current secretary of the SDSU Arts & Letters Alumni Chapter. She is also an active community member and volunteers her time to a number of local organizations including: the Mission San Diego de Alcala, the Development Committee for Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Grammar School, and the Social Justice Committee for the Immaculata Church. She enjoys spending time with her family: daughter, son-in-law, and 2 grandsons.

Vice President, Anne Rosser
Anne Rosser graduated from SDSU in 1961 with a BA degree in Physical Education and Social Sciences. She retired as an educator from San Diego Unified School District after 40 years of service. Rosser has supervised student teachers from the School of Education. She is currently the Chairman of the Board of the San Diego Senior Olympics, Board Member of Youth Tennis San Diego, Church Council member, and Board Member of Pacific Beach Kiwanis. She is a community volunteer with the Famosa Slough and Pacific Beach Kiwanis. She enjoys travel and leading an active and healthy lifestyle.

Treasurer, Martha Beckman
Martha Beckman obtained her BA in History from San Diego State University in 1973. Martha spent her career in mortgage banking. She is currently serving on the Board of the Arts & Letters Chapter of the SDSU Alumni Association. Martha is also an Executive Member of the Aztec Club for the SDSU Athletic Department and Special Events Chair. She is a past member of the SDSU Alumni Association Board and Executive Committee.

Scholarship Chairperson, Cheryl Trtan
Cheryl began her love affair with San Diego State in 1971…first as a student and then as an employee in the Admissions and Records Office. She left “State” in 1976 to be a “stay at home mom” and to continue her studies at SDSU. In 1978, she was offered a “temporary” position in the Alumni Office which launched her career in Alumni Affairs. In 2010 Cheryl retired from SDSU after 36 years of service. She is a Life Time member of the Alumni Association, a member of the SDSU Retirement Association, a member of the SDSU War Memorial Committee and sits on the board of the Arts & Letters Alumni Chapter Board. She recently joined the SDSU Women’s Association and was asked to sit on the 2012 Homecoming Court Selection Committee. She continues to stay connected with the University in almost a full time capacity. 

Members-at-Large

Judge Victor E. Bianchini
Judge Bianchini is a retired San Diego County Superior Court Judge. He is also a retired U.S. Magistrate Judge and a retired Colonel of the United States Marine Corps. He was appointed to the position of U.S. Commissioner and served from 1968 to 1969. He was then appointed a U.S. Magistrate Judge by the Southern District of California in 1974 and served until 1982. He vacated that position to accept a California state court position. He retired as a superior Court Judge in 2002. After retiring from the state court bench, he was recalled part-time to the Western District of New York as a U.S. Magistrate Judge while he was engaged in a private mediation and arbitration practice in San Diego. He served the Western District until 2006, at which time he was appointed to a full-time position serving both the Western and Northern Districts of New York, where he currently continues to serve. He also serves the Central District of California and Southern District of California on special settlement projects. His duties primarily involve deciding habeas corpus petitions, Social Security Disability Appeals, and complex civil cases. 

Lesley Fong
Lesley Fong graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from San Diego State University in 2001. She received a Master of Arts degree in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco in 2003. Currently, she is the Director of Special Projects/Campus Liaison for the SDSU Athletics Department. Lesley has served as a member of the Arts and Letters Alumni Chapter Board since 2010.

Suzanne Johnson
Suzanne Penlank Johnson earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at San Diego State University. San Diego Unified School District was her employer for 35 years where she first taught English as she earned her counseling credential. She served first as a Site Counselor and then as Head Counselor at several secondary schools and at the Central Office. For a few years, she and her husband, Glen, spent the weekends racing their sailboat. As an avid reader, Suzanne is rarely without a book. She and her miniature schnauzer, Abbott, live in Mission Beach.

Robin Luby
Robin Luby graduated with highest honors in English in 1961 and earned her Secondary Teaching Credential in 1962. She’s remained connected with the university over all these years via continuing membership in Mortar Board Alumni, where she is a former president and current board member. Throughout a forty-year career teaching English in the Grossmont District, she maintained active participation in professional societies, including the Greater San Diego Council of Teachers of English, the California Association of Teachers of English, and the National Council of Teachers of English and its affiliate, the Council for English Leadership. She has served as local and state president and national board member for these organizations. She is currently a board member for the Friends of the Library for SDSU, the Division ‘69 (Eastern San Diego County) California Retired Teachers Association, as well as for BRIDGES , an organization that links community women with San Diego State University. Finding ways to support current students is a primary goal with she fulfills by acting as Scholarship Chair for both CalRTA and Bridges. Furthermore, she is currently serving as President of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS), a group that raises money to support graduate students in the sciences for four local universities, including SDSU. Luby has received the following honors: Distinguished Service award for CATE (2003), the Distinguished Alumna Award for Mortar Board (2003), and the 2010 Monty Award Library and Information Access, with her husband Chuck. She remains active in SDSU concerns, including serving in the recent Strategic Initiative Committee process.

Jeff Marston
Jeff Marston is president and government relations director for Marston+Marston, Inc. Marston’s background in, and keen understanding of, both public relations and public policy has allowed him to fully integrate the two. Marston brings over thirty years of community relations expertise and a proven track record of working with people of very diverse opinions throughout a given decision-making process. Mr. Marston holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from SDSU. He was previously the president and vice president of the SDSU Alumni Association and the Arts & Letters Alumni Chapter (ALAC). He continues to work with both boards.

Brian Verdugo
As President of L1 Technologies Inc., Mr. Verdugo is responsible for overseeing strategic direction, key partnerships, and growth of the company. He is very passionate about starting and restructuring companies, and continues to be an active member on the board of directors for many organizations. Verdugo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from San Diego State University. He remains very active with his alma mater as a member of the College of Arts & Letters Alumni Board, and volunteers his time to mentor the school’s future entrepreneurs.