MATSNATION ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW
CHRISTOPHER SEVERSON, CLASS OF 1992

Please tell us a little about yourself and your history with Miramonte High School.

CS: I graduated from Miramonte High School in 1992. My four sisters also all graduated from Miramonte. My oldest four children all attended Miramonte. The youngest is a freshman at Campo (in order to take German).

Can you tell us what you’ve been up to since high school?  

CS: I graduated from Brigham Young University in Economics and was a church missionary in Paris, France, for two years. I attended medical school and emergency medicine residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin. I was on the Orinda Union School District Board of Trustees for four years, from 2010-2014, and am serving on the Acalanes Union High School District (“AUHSD”) Board from 2018-2024. 

Mostly, I like to run. I’ve done about 15 road marathons. I ran the Boston Marathon twice. Now I do more trail and ultramarathons. I’ve run seven 100-mile mountain races. 

Professionally, I am an Emergency Medicine Physician with Kaiser Permanente, where I’ve served as Chief of the Walnut Creek location since 2019. 

What is your greatest professional/personal accomplishment?

CS: I’m not sure it’s exactly an accomplishment – but I love my wife, Pamela Severson nee Glenn, and kids. We have five children and one grandchild. Some are done with college and working. Some are in college. One is in high school. 

What inspired your volunteerism? How did you decide to become involved with the AUHSD Board, and what path led to that?

CS: Volunteerism was mostly born from deciding that instead of complaining about stuff, to get involved and help out. I complain still, too – but less so, once I’m involved. 

My path to serving on the AUHSD Board was initially from the Orinda District Board. My kids got older and were more high school ages. There was an opening on the AUHSD Board that I applied for and wasn’t appointed. The next year,  I ran in the election and was elected. 

What can you say about your time at Miramonte?

CS: Miramonte was great – other than the parts that weren’t. I had a good group of friends. I spent a lot of time with Jason Brinkerhoff (who died of cancer in 2020) and Jessica Goldman. I always felt prepared academically. 

Did you have any favorite Miramonte courses or electives? School sports or activities? 

CS: My favorite courses were AP U.S. History and Gov/Econ with Mr. Chuck White. I played a little bit of football. I loved running track. Hurdles and the relays were my favorites. 

How have you stayed connected or involved with Miramonte and the alumni community? What message would you like to share with fellow alumni and current students?

CS: Reunions have been fun. There’s a Facebook group from my graduating class that keeps people in touch. Since I'm still in Orinda, I run into familiar faces from time to time, and with MatsNation starting up, it's exciting to have another way for alumni to come together.

The message I’d share is that it’s the people who matter the most and create the memories. Everyone is just doing the best they can – so extend some grace. 

Do you have any stories or memories to share about your time at Miramonte that you haven’t already mentioned? 

CS: Picking up a dead deer on the way to school for Mr. Otis McCain with Amy Rose and Jason Brinkerhoff was kind of crazy.

With Thanksgiving being later this month, can you share any favorite Thanksgiving traditions?

CS: Being around family and taking a nap. The best!