Quote of Amy Tan on a wall in the Student Union.
Amy Tan, '72 BA English and Linguistics, novelist, author of The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetter's Daughter and others.

Notable Spartans

With more than 275,000 alumni, Spartan Pride is visible throughout the world. Nearly 41 percent of SJSU grads remain in the Silicon Valley, and many have gone on to become households names. Here are some of SJSU’s most notable Spartans.

Illustration of Mary Blair with a flower pattern background.

Mary Blair

‘31 Fine Arts - San José State College
Artist, graphic designer and illustrator who helped create Disney's Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Peter Pan (1953)

John Carlos.

John Carlos

‘05 Honorary Doctorate
Bronze medal, 200 meters, 1968 Olympics

Harry Edwards.

Harry Edwards

’64 Sociology, ’16 Honorary Doctorate
Professor emeritus, sports sociologist, founder of the SJSU Institute for the Study of Sport, Society, and Social Change (ISSSSC), activist, and author

Lou (Henry) Hoover.

Lou Henry Hoover

1893, Teaching credential from San José State Normal School
First lady to Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. President

Senator Gaylord A. Nelson.

Gaylord A. Nelson

'39 Political Science
Founder of Earth Day, former U.S. Senator and governor of Wisconsin

Tommie Smith in his SJS tracksuit.

Tommie Smith

‘69 Social Science, ‘05 Honorary Doctorate
Gold medal, 200 meters, 1968 Olympics

Yosh Uchida.

Yosh Uchida

‘47 Biological Science, ‘04 Honorary Doctorate
SJSU judo coach, coached first US Olympic judo team in 1964, entrepreneur

Peter Ueberroth holding an award as in pitching a ball.

Peter Ueberroth

'59 Business
Former Major League Baseball Commissioner; head of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles; Time Man of the Year for 1984

Bill Walsh being carried on the shoulders of the football team.

Bill Walsh

‘54 Physical Education, MA ‘58 Physical Education
1993 Pro Football Hall of Fame; former head coach and general manager/vice president of the San Francisco 49ers; former head coach of Stanford football team