Alumni Spotlight

David Good '11, M'15 has spent much of his life navigating two very different worlds.

Born in Pennsylvania but with deep roots in the Amazon rainforest, David grew up balancing two identities. His mother is a member of the Yanomami people, an Indigenous community that lives deep within the Amazon. When he was a child, he became separated from her and spent the next two decades in the United States, unsure how his heritage would shape his future.

It was during his time at East Stroudsburg University that the journey truly began to come into focus.

At ESU, David studied biology while also wrestling with deeper questions about identity and belonging. The community he found among faculty, staff, and fellow students gave him the confidence to open up about a part of his life he had hidden for years.

"I spent 20 years being ashamed or embarrassed of being this Indigenous person," he said. "But during my time at ESU, I realized I didn't have to be ashamed of who I was."

That realization sparked a life-changing mission.

In 2011, David reunited with his mother after nearly two decades apart, traveling to the Amazon rainforest to reconnect with her and his Yanomami family. The experience led him not only to reconnect with his family but also to rediscover his Yanomami heritage. It also shaped the path his career would take.

Today, David is completing his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. His research focuses on the gut microbiome of the Yanomami people, whose microbial communities are among the most diverse ever documented in human populations. Scientists believe studying these microbial communities could provide insight into autoimmune disorders, chronic disease, and the impact of industrialization on human health.

But David's work reaches beyond the laboratory.

He founded the Yanomami Foundation to support Yanomami-led initiatives in education, health care, and ethical research collaboration. He has also shared his story through speaking engagements, writing, and filmmaking.

One of his most personal projects is the documentary Wayumi, which follows the emotional journey of bringing his mother from the Amazon rainforest to Pennsylvania so she could reunite with family members she had not seen in decades.

The film captures a deeply personal moment that ultimately brought his two worlds together.

"Wayumi" is a Yanomami word used when a community leaves their village and travels together through the forest in search of something new. For David, the term became a fitting metaphor for the journey that brought his family back together.

The documentary premiered at DOC NYC, the largest documentary film festivals in the country, and David will return to East Stroudsburg this spring for a special homecoming screening.

For David, that moment carries deep meaning.

It was at ESU where he first began to understand that embracing his identity could become a source of strength rather than something to hide.

"That support from the ESU community helped me rediscover who I am," he said. "It helped me start this journey."

Today, whether in the Amazon rainforest, a research laboratory, or a film screening, David continues to build bridges between cultures, communities, and ways of understanding the world.

And it all traces back to the moment he found the courage to embrace both sides of his story.

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To support and learn more about the advocacy work with the Yanomami people, visit yanomamifoundation.org.

To learn more about the documentary Wayumi, visit shabonomedia.com.

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Glenn Clark ’74 has done a lot in the 50 years since graduating from East Stroudsburg University. He built a successful career in insurance, started a family, lived abroad, and founded a nationally connected professional network for alumni. Even with all that life experience, his roots in East Stroudsburg still run deep.

“I got to be student government president. I was active in fraternity life. I did my share of shenanigans and that kind of thing, but I did have the realization that I’m paying for this,” Glenn said. “It was the first time I was paying for something. And you’re not going to goof off too much if you’re paying for your credits.”

That kind of grounded mentality carried him far. After starting his career with Allstate, Glenn worked his way through the insurance industry and eventually became an entrepreneur, founding Rockwood Programs, a national specialty insurance agency. Today, he teaches complex insurance concepts to clients across the country and sees himself as an educator in every sense.

His passion for leadership and service did not fade with time. Glenn reconnected with the university through the Alumni Association Board of Directors and later joined the Foundation Board. Along the way, he saw a gap between students and alumni in the professional world and decided to do something about it.

He created the Warrior Business Network (WBN), a grassroots LinkedIn group that connects alumni and students for networking, mentorship, and internships. The group launched in 2024 and quickly gained hundreds of members across the country. Glenn can often be found at Homecoming wearing WBN swag and recruiting new “deputies” to join.

“You can beat anybody with hard work. And I’m probably living proof of that,” he said. “So much of my personality was developed. My adult personality was developed in the experience that I got in college.”

Through it all, the Warrior spirit remains.

“Every time I see black and red, I kind of get fired up.”

You might not expect to find East Stroudsburg University gear in Southern California. But for Dustin Ghaul ’11, it’s more than a sweatshirt. It’s a signal.

A signal that even after 14 years, two kids, and a growing business on the West Coast, the values he learned at ESU still travel with him.

After graduating with degrees in Elementary and Special Education, Dustin and his then-girlfriend, Colleen Ruddy ’11, packed up their car and drove across the country. “No jobs lined up,” he said. “Just a dream and excitement.” That leap of faith led them to Huntington Beach, where they still live today. Now, they’re raising a family and running a lifestyle golf brand that’s been seen on everyone from Jake Elliott and Nick Swisher to Zac Efron and David Spade.

Palm Golf Co. is changing the way people see the game.

“We wanted to make golf more approachable. Less serious. It should be fun,” Dustin said.

Palm Golf started with expressive gloves that brought personality to a traditionally buttoned-up sport. Today, it’s a full lifestyle brand blending golf, fashion, and streetwear.

Palm isn’t just about looking good on the course. It’s also about doing good off of it.

The company released a St. Jude collection featuring a glove, hat, and towel, with 100% of profits going directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and is now in talks to launch a similar campaign with the American Cancer Society. That mission to give back isn’t something Dustin adopted when Palm took off. It’s something that’s always been there.

And it started back at ESU.

While studying education, Dustin built more than a résumé. He built relationships. “I still hang out with all my friends from college on a frequent basis,” he said. “We still wear ESU gear often out here.” The bonds he formed at ESU gave him a support system that carried beyond campus. The Warrior spirit shaped how he approaches leadership, branding, and community.

Even though his career veered away from the classroom, Dustin says the mindset he developed at ESU gave him the confidence to explore new possibilities and take ownership of his ideas.

“ESU gave me a foundation. It’s where I started figuring out who I was.”

Palm Golf Co. may be headquartered in Huntington Beach, but its roots are grounded in East Stroudsburg. Its vision reflects the kind of impact Warriors carry with them long after they graduate.

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To learn more about Dustin’s work, visit the Palm Golf Co. website.

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