Distinguished Alumni

• Arts and Entertainment

  • Coby Bell (b. 1975) BA 1997 Radio/TV/Film, actor and producer who has appeared on television shows Burn Notice and Third Watch

    Mary Blair (1911-1978) artist, graphic designer and illustrator who helped create Disney's Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Peter Pan (1953)

    Irene Dalis (1925-2014) BA 1946 Music, HDR 1999, former Metropolitan Opera star and founder of Opera San Jose, Tower Award 1974

    Robert Graham, (1925-2014) BA 1982 Art, internationally acclaimed sculptor whose work includes the Olympic Gateway in Los Angeles

    Jerome "Jerry" Juhl (1938 - 2005) BA 1961 Theatre Arts, head writer and producer for The Muppets and Fraggle Rock

    Titus Kaphar (b. 1976) BFA 2001 Art/Pictorial Arts, artist, founder and president of NXTHVN, a new arts model that empowers emerging artists and curators of color through education and access 

    Omar Benson Miller (b. 1978) attended 1996-2001, Radio/TV/film major, actor
    Stephanie “Stevie” Nicks (b. 1948) attended 1968-1970, Communications Studies (Speech) major, singer, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for Fleetwood Mac (1998) and for solo career (2019)

    Steve Silver, founder of Beach Blanket Babylon, a popular cabaret show in San Francisco that ran from 1974 to 2019

    Tom and Dick Smothers, popular comedy duo:Richard “Dick” Smothers (b. 1939) HDR 2000

    Thomas “Tom” Smothers (b. 1937) HDR 2000

    Luis Valdez (b. 1940) BA 1964 English, HDR 1988, prize-winning playwright, actor and director

    Christian Vera (b. 1980) BS 2004 Public Relations, host of RightThisMinute

• Business

  • Donald Beall (b. 1938) BS 1960 Engineering, former chairman and CEO of Rockwell

    Charles W. "Chuck" Davidson (1930-2021) BS 1957 Engineering, HDR 2014, major Bay Area home builder, and founding chair of the SJSU Tower Foundation

    Jenny Dearborn (b. 1969) MBA 2004, chief people officer at Klaviyo

    Jenn Drago Ericksen (b. 1987) BS 2011 Public Relations, publicist for Marc Lore, former director of corporate communications at Walmart 

    Deborah Ale Flint (b. 1967) BS 1990 Accounting, president at Greater Toronto Airports Authority, former chief executive officer of Los Angeles World Airports (2015-2020) 

    Molly Q. Ford, Vice President, Global Equality Programs at Salesforce 

    Robert G. Foster (b. 1947) BA 1968 Social Science, HDR 2015, former president of Southern California Edison, CSU trustee (1997-2006), mayor of Long Beach (2006-2014)

    Robert W. Foy (1936-2017) BS 1959 Business Administration, former chairman of the board, California Water Service Group

    Charles Gingold (b. 1934) BA 1956 Radio/TV/Film, former vice president, Discovery Channel

    Carl Guardino (b. 1961) BA 1989 Political Science, former president and CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group

    William Hauck (1940-2014) BA 1963 Social Science, HDR 2014, former president of California Business Roundtable, CSU trustee (1993-2009)

    Omid Kordestani (b. 1963) BS 1984 Electrical Engineering, former executive chairman, Twitter

    Aundrea Lacy (b. 1968) BS 1993 Journalism,  entrepreneur and founder of Luv's Brownies

    Roop Lakkaraju (b. 1970) BS 1992 Accounting, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 

    Donald Lucas (1934-2017) BS 1959 Marketing, HDR 2012, founder of the Lucas Dealership Group, and philanthropist

    Jessica McClintock (1930-2021) BA 1963 Elementary Education, fashion designer

    Jenny Ming (b. 1955) BA 1977 Home Economics, HDR 2012, former president, Old Navy

    Xochitl Monteon (b. 1971) BS 1994 Environmental Studies, vice president  of Information Technology Governance and chief privacy officer, Intel. 

    Gordon Moore (b. 1929) Attended in late 1940s before transferring to University of California, Berkeley (BS 1950 Chemistry) founder of Intel Corporation and philanthropist

    Dierdre O'Brien (b. 1966) MBA 1993, senior vice president of retail and people at Apple Inc. 

    Clifford “Barry” Swenson (b. 1939) BS 1963 Industrial Management, Barry Swenson Builder

    Peter Ueberroth (b. 1937) AB 1959 Business Administration, HDR 1986, former Major League Baseball Commissioner, head of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Time Man of the Year 1984

• Community Leadership

  • Lisa Andrew (b. 1964) BS 1989 Natural Science, MA 1999 Educational Leadership, executive director Silicon Valley Education Foundation

    Milan Balinton (b. 1982) BA 2010 Communication Studies, executive director, African American Community Service Agency

    Frank Carbajal (b. 1969) BA 1994 Social Work, founder EsTiempo and Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit

    Harold (Hal) Donaldson BA 1979 Journalism, president, Convoy of Hope 

    Kari Lee (b. 1968) BS 1991 Occupational Therapy, executive director at YMCA of San Francisco 

    Meta Mereday (b. 1962) BS 1984 Advertising, founder Veterans Entrepreneurial Development Initiatives, a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting veteran-owned businesses

    Peter Olson (b. 1969) BA 1996 Anthropology, executive director, Peninsula Volunteers, Inc. 

    Sarah Roberson (b. 1977) BA 2009 Political Science, vice president and executive director at City Year Little Rock 

    Shaun Tai (b. 1980) BS 2007 Advertising, co-founder and executive director at BRIDGEGOOD 

    Kim Vu (b. 1978) BS 2001 Management, global head of diversity, equity and inclusion at Remitly, founding chair at The Respect Institute

• Education

  • Charles W. Childs, 1867, San Jose State Normal School principal, 1889-96 

    Dr. Marshall E. "Mark" Drummond (b. 1941) BS 1964 Management, 1969 MBA, former chancellor of the California Community College system, chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District, president of Eastern Washington University; currently Provost of Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Fernando Delgado (b. 1966) BA 1988 Political Science, president at Lehman College 

    Stacey Johnson (b. 1955) BA 1980 Public Relations, former president East and Winter Park Campuses at Valencia College

    Pamela Luster (b. 1956) BA 1978 Speech Pathology, MA 1980 Audiology, president, San Diego Mesa College 
    Dr. John E. Maupin, Jr. (b.1946) attended 1964-1969, president, Morehouse School of Medicine

    William E. Pence (b. 1949) BA 1972 Biology, National Science Teachers Association “Outstanding Biology Teacher”

    Margaret Shallenberger McNaught, 1880, first state commissioner of elementary schools, first woman to teach in the School of Education at Stanford University (1891) 

    Henry Suzzallo (1875-1933) attended SJSU briefly before earning a bachelor’s in 1899 from Stanford University, president of the University of Washington (1915-1926)

• Journalism

  • Amelia Ashley-Ward (b. 1957) BA 1979 Journalism/Photojournalism, publisher of San Francisco’s oldest Black newspaper, the Sun-Reporter 

    Marcos Breton (b. 1962) BA 1984 Journalism/Photojournalism, columnist for the Sacramento Bee

    Valerie Coleman-Morris (b. 1946) BA 1968 Journalism, former anchor for CNN Financial News

    Eric Grigorian (b. 1969) BS 1999 Journalism/Photojournalism, recipient of the 2002 World Press Photo of the Year Award

    Vergil P. “Pat” Hughes (b. 1955) BA 1978 Radio/TV/Film, play-by-play broadcaster for the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs

    Kim Komenich (b. 1956) BS 1979 Journalism/Photojournalism, 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer for the fall of Ferdinand Marcos

    Steven M. “Steve” Lopez (b. 1953) BA 1975 Journalism, HDR 2011, Los Angeles Times columnist, author of the best-selling book The Soloist

    Brad M. Mangin (b. 1965) BA 1988 Journalism/Photojournalism, sports photojournalist

    Monte L. Poole (b. 1955) BA 1985 Journalism, NBC Sports Bay Area commentator

    Marcio Sanchez (b. 1970) BS 2007 Journalism, Photojournalist, part of the Associated Press team awarded the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news

    Steve Scott (b. 1961) BA 2020 Journalism, WCBS radio news anchor

    George Skelton (b. 1937) BA 1959 Journalism, Los Angeles Times columnist

    Marc J. Spears (b. 1972) BS 1995 Journalism, senior NBA writer for The Undefeated at ESPN

    David Willman (b. 1956), BA 1978 Journalism, 2001 Pulitzer Prize-winner for investigative reporting, Washington Post investigative reporter

    Ysabel Duron (b. 1947) BA 1970 Journalism, award-winning San Francisco Bay Area television news journalist

    Damian Trujillo (b. 1970) BA 1993 Journalism, KNTV NBC Bay Area News reporter

• Literature

  • Lorna Dee Cervantes (b. 1954) BA 1984 Creative Arts, author of Drive: The First Quartet and other poetry collections and numerous anthologized poems

    James D. Houston (1933-2009) AB 1956 Radio/TV/Film, author of Farewell to Manzanar, Continental Drift, Snow Mountain Passage, and others; Lurie Distinguished Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at SJSU in Spring 2006

    Jayne Ann Krentz (b. 1948) MA 1971 Library Science, fiction author who also writes under the names Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle

    Edwin Markham (1852-1940), AB 1872, poet laureate of Oregon (1923-1931); he read his poem “Lincoln, the Man of the People” at the Lincoln Memorial dedication in Washington, DC, in 1922

    Sandra McPherson (b. 1943) BA 1965 English, author of The Year of Our Birth, Expectation Days, and other poetry collections

    Amy Tan (b. 1952), BA 1973 English and Linguistics, novelist, author of The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetter's Daughter, The Opposite of Fate, and others

• Politics and Law Enforcement

  • Ralph S. Abascal (1934-1997) BS 1961 Management, founding director of the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment and received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the American Bar Association in 1995

    James T. “Jim” Beall, Jr. (b. 1951) BA 1974 Political Science, former California state senator (2012-2020), California state assembly member (2006-2012), Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, District 4 (1994-2006), San Jose City Council (1980-1994)

    Lee P. Brown (b. 1937) MA 1964 Sociology, former mayor of Houston (1998-2004), police chief of Houston (1982-1990)

    Ben Nighthorse Campbell (b. 1933) former Colorado senator (1993-2005), first Native American in the US Senate and was on the first US Olympic judo team 1964

    Albert E. Carter (1991-1945) bachelor’s 1903, former US congressman from Oakland (1925-1945)

    Cynthia M. “Cindy” Chavez (b. 1964) BS 1987 Political Science, Santa Clara County supervisor, former San Jose City Council member (1999-2006)

    Michael K. “Mike” Deaver (1938-2007), BA 1960 Political Science, deputy chief of staff to President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985)

    Robert C. Doerr (1914-2013) BA 1937 Elementary Education, former mayor of San Jose (1956-1958)

    Leslie C. “Les” Francis (b. 1943) BA 1965 Social Science, 1966 Secondary Education Teaching Credential, Democratic political consultant, deputy assistant and deputy White House chief of Staff to President Jimmy Carter.

    Michael M. “Mike” Honda (b. 1941) BA 1968 BA Biological Science, 1970 Secondary Education Teaching Credential, MA 1974 Education, former US Congress member (2001-2017), California State assembly member (1996-2001), and Santa Clara County supervisor (1990-1996)

    Lou Henry Hoover (1874-1944) 1893 Education Teaching Credential, former first lady to President Herbert Hoover

    Evan Low (b. 1983) BA 2003 Political Science, California State Assembly member, and former mayor of Campbell (2006-2014)

    Gaylord A. Nelson (1916-2005), BA 1939 Political Science, founder of Earth Day (April 22,1970), former US senator (1962-1981) and governor (1959-1963) of Wisconsin, Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1995.

    Franklyn “Lyn” Nofziger (1924-2006) BA 1960 Journalism, director of communications for Governor Ronald Reagan (1966-1968), conservative Republican political consultant and advisor

    Raul A. Peralez (b. 1982) BA 2004 Mathematics, San Jose city councilmember, District 3

    Edward J. “Ed” Rollins (b. 1943) attended 1965, Republican campaign consultant and advisor

    Dr. Fernando Torres-Gil (b. 1948) BA 1970 Political Science, director of the Center for Policy Research on Aging, UCLA School of Public Affairs, he was the first assistant secretary for aging in the Department of Health and Human Services appointed by President Bill Clinton.

    Susanne B. “Susie” Wilson (1928-2018) BA 1976 Political Science, San Jose City council member (1973-1978) and Santa Clara County supervisor (1979-1990)

    Ken Yeager (b. 1952) BA 1976 Political Science, former Santa Clara County supervisor (2006-2018), San Jose city council member (2000-2006), he was the first openly gay elected official in Santa Clara County. 

• Science/Engineering

  • Ray Dolby (1933-2013) attended 1951-1952, 1955 Engineering major, founder of Dolby Laboratories

    Dian Fossey (1932-1985) BA 1954 Occupational Therapy, gorilla researcher, conservationist, and author

    Robert M. Haberle (b. 1945) BS 1972 Meteorology, MS 1974, Meteorology, planetary scientist at NASA Ames and a team member for the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station

    PJ Iranitalab (b. 1977) MS 2009 Biomedical Engineering, vice president of engineering at Axon Therapies, previously vice president of research and development at Boston Scientific

    John Kanalakis (b. 1970) BS 1992 Physics, director of engineering at Roku

    Jeremy King (b. 1969) BS 1992 Information Systems Management, senior vice president and head of engineering at Pinterest

    Erica Lockheimer (b. 1975) BS Computer Engineering 2000, vice president of Engineering, LinkedIn Talent Solutions and LinkedIn Learning

    Stephen Morse (b. 1942) BA 1964 Microbiology, 36-year career at the Centers for Disease Control

    Mark Pasquale (b. 1984) Mechanical Engineering, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin

    Edward A. “Ed” Oates (b. 1946) BS 1968 Mathematics, co-founder of Oracle

• Sports

  • Jack Scheberies (b. 1928) 1952 USA National Amateur Boxing Heavyweight Champion

    Tariq Abdul-Wahad (b. 1974) BA 2008 Art History, former player for Dallas Mavericks (2002-2005)

    Rashied K. Davis (b. 1979) BA 2006 Sociology, former player for Chicago Bears (2005-2010)

    Steven L. “Steve” DeBerg (b. 1954) BS 1980 Physical Education, former NFL quarterback for San Francisco 49ers (1977-1980), Denver Broncos (1981-1983), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984-1987, 1992-1993)

    Dr. Harry W. Edwards (b. 1942) BA 1964 Sociology, HDR 2016, professor emeritus, sports sociologist, consultant for San Francisco 49ers, activist, and author

    Jeff Garcia (b. 1970) BS 1997 Marketing, former NFL quarterback for San Francisco 49ers (1999-2003), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007-2008)

    George F. Haines (1924-2006) BA 1950 Physical Education, founder of the Santa Clara Swim Club (1950), three-time head swim coach of US Olympic swim teams (1964, 1968, and 1972), International Swimming Hall of Fame (1977).

    Patricia A. “Pat” Hurst (b. 1969) attended 1987-1991 Management major, professional golfer

    Juli Inkster (b. 1960) attended 1978-1982 Undeclared major, professional golfer

    James Jones (b. 1984) attended 2002-2007 Sociology major, NFL Network Analyst, former wide receiver for Green Bay Packers (2007-2013)

    Arron Oberholser (b. 1975) BA 1998 Radio/TV/Film, professional golfer, analyst and commentator for the Golf Channel

    Patricia “Patty” Sheehan (b. 1956) attended 1979-1980 Physical Education major, professional golfer

    Yoshihiro “Yosh” Uchida (b. 1920) BA 1947 Biological Science, HDR 2004, judo coach of SJSU teams since 1940 and the first US Olympic judo team in 1964, entrepreneur

    Kenneth P. “Ken” Venturi (1931-2013) BS 1953 Physical Education, professional golfer, CBS Sports analyst

    Richard “Dick” Vermeil (b. 1936) BA 1958 Physical Education, MA 1959 Physical Education, Secondary Education Teaching Credential 1959, former coach of the Kansas City Chiefs (2001-2005), St. Louis Rams (1997-1999), Philadelphia Eagles (1976-1982)

    William “Bill” Walsh (1931-2007) BA 1954 Physical Education, MA 1958 Physical Education, head coach (1979-1988) and general manager/vice president (1999-2000) San Francisco 49ers), head coach of Stanford University (1992-1994), Pro Football Hall of Fame (1993)

• Olympic Medalists

  • Kevin Asano (b. 1963) BS 1989 Accounting, judo, 1988, silver

    Charles “Chuck” Adkins (1932-1993), attended SJSU 1952, boxing, 1952, gold

    Bob Berland (b. 1961) BS 1984 Marketing, judo, 1984, silver

    John Carlos (b. 1945) attended 1968-1969 Recreation major, HDR 2005, track and field 200 meters, 1968, bronze

    Jim Doehring (b. 1962) attended 1983-1985 Physical Education major, track and field shot put, 1992, silver

    Lee Evans (1947-2021) BA 1970 Physical Education, track and field 4x400 meters and 400 meters, 1968, two gold medals

    Stephen W. “Steve” Hamann (b. 1950) BS 1974 Physical Education, water polo, 1984, silver

    Marti Malloy (b. 1986) BS 2010 Advertising, MS 2015 Mass Communications, judo, 2012, bronze

    John G. Powell (b. 1947) BA 1969 Social Science, track and field discus, bronze in 1976 and 1984

    Ronnie Ray Smith (1949-2013) BA 1972 Sociology, track and field 4x100 meters, 1968, gold

    Tommie Smith (b. 1944) BA 1969 Social Science, HDR 2005, track and field 200 meters, 1968, gold

    William Samuel “Willie” Steele (1923-1989) attended in the early 1940s, track and field broad jump, 1948, gold

    Jill Sudduth (b. 1971) attended 996-1997  Biology major, synchronized swimming, 1996, gold

    Michael L. “Mike” Swain (b. 1960) BS 1985 Marketing, judo, 1988, bronze

    Lynn M. Vidali (b. 1952) BS 1977 Physical Education, Teaching Credential 1977, swimming, silver in 1968 and bronze in 1972