List of California State University, Long Beach people

The following is a list of notable people associated with California State University, Long Beach. CSULB has more than 320,000 alumni as of 2018.

Alumni

Entertainment

• Millicent Borges Accardi: poet and writer, NEA winner
• Paul "Coy" Allen: television director, Sam & Cat; television producer, ', '; music video director
• Richard Bach: fiction and nonfiction author, Jonathan Livingston Seagull
• Tony Baxter: Disney Imagineering executive
• Guy Bee: director of ER
• Daniele Bolelli: author
• Jan Burke: mystery author, 2000 Edgar Award for Best Novel
• Bobby Burgess: actor and dancer on the TV shows Mickey Mouse Club (the original series), The Lawrence Welk Show, and The Donna Reed Show
• Chris Carter: creator and producer of the X-Files
• Agnes de Mille: award-winning choreographer, niece of Cecil B. DeMille
• John Dykstra: winner of two Academy Awards for special effects
• Jonathan Fahn: voice, TV, and film actor; film and stage director, producer, and writer
• Matt Gourley: actor and comedian; co-creator of Superego
• Donna Hilbert: poet and writer
• Mark Steven Johnson: director of Hollywood thriller Daredevil; writer of Grumpy Old Men and sequel Grumpier Old Men
• Joe Johnston: director of Jurassic Park III and Jumanji
• Bob Kevoian: radio host
• J. F. Lawton: author of Pretty Woman
• Raymond Lee: actor
• Steve Martin: actor and comedian
• Tim Minear: television writer and producer, X-Files, Angel, Firefly, Wonderfalls
• Manny Montana: actor, Good Girls
• Joon Park: singer and entertainer, member of South Korean group g.o.d
• John Roland: longtime reporter and anchor for WNYW in New York City 1969–2004
• Stu Rosen: winner of 10 Emmy awards
• Steve Ryan: author, game creator, syndicated puzzle columnist, TV game show historian and creator, Blockbusters
• Penelope Spheeris: film director, producer and screenwriter best known for Wayne's World and The Decline of Western Civilization trilogy
• Steven Spielberg: filmmaker, student 1965–1969 and 2001–2002
• David Twohy: author of Terminal Velocity and The Fugitive
• Cristina Valenzuela: animation and video game voice actress
• Maitland Ward: actress, Boy Meets World
• Bill Wasserzieher (B.A. and M.A.): music and film critic, fiction writer
• Jessica Williams: comedian and correspondent on The Daily Show
• Stan Winston: special effects designer
• Bob Woods: actor, One Life to Live
• Linda Woolverton: screenwriter, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King
• Jennifer Yuh Nelson: animation film director and storyboard artist

Music

• Dave Alvin: singer-songwriter: founder of The Blasters, former member of X
• Arleen Auger: opera singer
• John Bettis: songwriter, has 26 gold and 10 platinum records
• Larry Carlton: jazz fusion guitarist
• Richard and Karen Carpenter: The Carpenters, pop duo
• Melissa Hasin: cellist
• Bobby Hatfield: half of The Righteous Brothers and Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame inductee
• Greg Kriesel: bass player for The Offspring
• Bill Medley: half of The Righteous Brothers
• Bradley Nowell: lead singer and guitarist of rock band Sublime
• Jae Park: member of the South Korean boy band Day6
• Joon Park: member of the South Korean boy band g.o.d
• John Patitucci: Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist
• Basil Poledouris: film composer
• Jenni Rivera: singer-songwriter
• Mark Turner: jazz saxophonist
• Heather Youmans: singer-songwriter
• Tóc Tiên: Vietnamese singer

Government and politics

• Kathy Augustine (M.P.A.): Nevada State Controller (1999–2006)
• Patricia Bates (B.S.): serving in the California State Senate
• Ian Calderon (B.A. 2008): member of the California State Assembly
• Debbie Cook (B.S.): mayor of Huntington Beach
• Kevin Drum (B.A. 1981): political blogger and columnist
• Robert Garcia (B.A. 2002): U.S. congressman and former mayor of Long Beach
• George Gascón (B.A. 1977): Los Angeles County district attorney, former district attorney of San Francisco, former police chief
• Brad Gates (B.S., M.S.): 11th sheriff of Orange County, California
• Lena Gonzalez (B.A.): serving in the California State Senate
• Eklil Ahmad Hakimi (M.S. 1998): former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan
• Tim Leslie (M.P.A.): California state senator
• Kevin McCarty (B.A.): mayor of Sacramento
• John Moorlach (B.A. 1977): California state senator
• Patrick O'Donnell (B.A., M.P.A.): member of the California State Assembly
• Jenny Oropeza (B.S.): California state senator
• Curt Pringle (B.A., M.P.A.): speaker of the California State Assembly and mayor of Anaheim
• Dana Rohrabacher (B.A. 1969): United States congressman
• Gloria Romero (B.A., M.A.): California state senate majority leader
• Wade Sanders: deputy assistant United States Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs and convicted sex offender
• John G. Schmitz (M.A. 1960): United States congressman and 1972 American Independent Party candidate for president of the United States
• Kelly Seyarto (M.P.A.): member of the California State Assembly
• Edward Ulloa (B.A.): attorney and former criminal prosecutor

Sports

• Guy Baker: head coach of the USA Women's water polo team; led the team to three consecutive Olympic medal ceremonies (silver 2000; bronze 2004; silver 2008)
• Gil Castillo: amateur wrestler; retired MMA fighter
• Amber Corwin: figure skater and costume designer
• Paul Goydos: PGA golfer
• John Mallinger: PGA golfer
• Pat McCormick: four-time Olympic gold medalist, won both the platform and springboard events, in both (1952 and 1956)
• Mark O'Meara: champion golfer
• Tim Shaw: Olympic silver medalist 1976 and 1984 (water polo), Sullivan Award Winner
• Dwight Stones: two-time Olympic high jump bronze medalist (1972 and 1976); sports commentator

Baseball

• Abe Alvarez: pitcher, Palfinger Reggio Emilia (Italy)
• John Bowker: first baseman, San Francisco Giants
• Brent Cookson: retired outfielder, Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Dodgers
• Mark Cresse: bullpen coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Bobby Crosby: shortstop, Pittsburgh Pirates
• Matt Duffy: infielder, Tampa Bay Rays
• Jarren Duran: outfielder, Boston Red Sox
• Danny Espinosa: second baseman, Washington Nationals
• Marco Estrada: pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays
• Mike Gallo: pitcher, MLB free agent
• Jason Giambi: retired first baseman, Colorado Rockies
• Chris Gomez: shortstop, MLB free agent
• Jared Hughes: retired pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
• Evan Longoria: third baseman, Tampa Bay Rays
• Paul McAnulty: outfielder, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Cesar Ramos: pitcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Jeremy Reed: outfielder, Toronto Blue Jays
• Termel Sledge: outfielder, played for Montreal Expos, Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres
• Steve Trachsel: pitcher, MLB free agent
• Troy Tulowitzki: shortstop, Toronto Blue Jays
• Jason Vargas: pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
• Nick Vincent (born 1986): pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization
• Jered Weaver: pitcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Vance Worley: pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

Basketball

• Andrew Betts: Charlotte Hornets 1998 draftee
• Deishuan Booker (born 1996): basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Cindy Brown: Olympic gold medalist (1988), ABL (Seattle Reign), and WNBA (Detroit Shock)
• James Ennis: Miami Heat
• George Gervin: leading scorer four times in a row with the San Antonio Spurs
• Lucious Harris: Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Juaquin Hawkins: Houston Rockets
• Craig Hodges: Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls 1991 and 92 NBA champion
• Gabe Levin (born 1994): American-Israeli basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Mike Montgomery: head coach, University of California, Berkeley
• Ed Ratleff: Houston Rockets, Olympic silver medalist (1972)
• Bryon Russell: Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets
• Jerry Tarkanian: coached Long Beach State 1968–1973, later at UNLV and Fresno State
• Chuck Terry: Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, New York Nets
• Penny Toler: first player to score a basket in the WNBA, head coach and general manager of the Los Angeles Sparks
• Michael Wiley: San Antonio Spurs
• Morlon Wiley: assistant coach, Orlando Magic; younger brother of Michael Wiley

American football

• George Allen: head coach, coach of the Washington Redskins, coached the Los Angeles Rams
• Russ Bolinger: NFL offensive lineman
• Willie Brown: NFL, NFL Hall of Fame Oakland Raiders' defensive back
• Dan Bunz: NFL, San Francisco 49ers' linebacker
• Terrell Davis: NFL, Denver Broncos' football running back
• Jim Fassel: former offensive coordinator of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and former head coach of the New York Giants
• Steve Folsom: NFL tight end
• Jeff Graham: NFL quarterback
• Mike Horan: NFL, Denver Broncos' punter
• David Howard: NFL linebacker
• Lynn Hoyem: NFL offensive lineman
• Ron Johnson: football player
• Charles Lockett: NFL wide receiver
• Mike McCoy: Coach, San Diego Chargers
• Terry Metcalf: NFL, Arizona Cardinals' running back
• Dean Miraldi: NFL, offensive lineman
• Billy Parks: NFL, wide receiver
• Ben Rudolph: NFL, defensive lineman
• Mark Seay: NFL, San Diego Chargers' wide receiver
• Jeff Severson: NFL, safety

Rowing

• Joan Lind Van Blom: Olympic rower; silver medal in single sculls, 1976 Montreal; silver medal in coxed quad sculls, 1984 Los Angeles; first woman to receive Olympic medal in the sport for the US

Volleyball

• Tara Cross-Battle: Olympic volleyball player
• Bob Ctvrtlik: Olympic gold medalist (1988), volleyball, IOC member
• Tayyiba Haneef-Park: Olympic silver medalist (2008), volleyball
• Brent Hilliard: head coach, University of San Diego, Olympic bronze medal (1992), Volleyball National Championship and NCAA Player of the Year (1992)
• Tom Hoff: Olympic gold medalist (2008), volleyball
• David Lee: Olympic gold medalist (2008), volleyball
• Misty May-Treanor: Olympic gold medalist (2004,2008 and 2012), women's beach volleyball
• Danielle Scott-Arruda: Olympic silver medalist (2008), volleyball
• Scott Touzinsky: Olympic gold medalist (2008), volleyball

Visual arts

• Chris Bachalo: illustrator, DC and Marvel Comics (X-Men)
• John Cederquist (born 1946): sculptor, BA in 1969, MA in 1971
• Cathy Cooper: stylist, painter, model
• Helen Feyler-Switz: sculptor, painter, art instructor
• Alex Gardner (born 1987): figurative painter
• Roberta Gregory (born 1953): comic book writer
• Seonna Hong (born 1973; B.A. in art): painter
• Gerhardt Knodel (born 1940; M.F.A 1970): textile artist, installation artist, educator
• Gilbert "Magú" Luján (1940–2011; B.A. in art 1969): Chicano sculptor, muralist and painter
• Betye Saar (born 1926): assemblage artist
• Shag (Josh Agle; born 1962): painter and designer
• Greg Simkins (born 1979; B.A. in studio art): painter
• Linda Vallejo (born 1951): artist known for painting, sculpture and ceramics

Journalism

• Scott Stantis: editorial cartoonist for The Chicago Tribune, creator of the comic strips The Buckets and Prickly City

Academics

• Erin Gruwell: inspiring teacher from Freedom Writers, the book and movie
• Robert W. Hillman: Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, University of California, Davis
• Robin Kelley: Distinguished Professor and Gary B. Nash Chair in U.S. History, University of California, Los Angeles
• Lee Mallory: poet, author and retired English professor at Santa Ana College
• Dennis J. Murray: president of Marist College
• John Sailhamer: academic and theologian

Other

• Andrew Berardini: writer, art critic, curator
• J. Jon Bruno: Episcopal bishop of Los Angeles
• Linda Burhansstipanov MSPH, DrPH: Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma member, public health educator and researcher focused on Native American cancer care and support
• Neil Campbell: biologist, author
• Ronald Chagoury: co-founder and CEO of the Chagoury Group
• Donna L. Crisp: U.S. Navy rear admiral
• Libby Gill: leadership speaker, executive coach and author
• Ken Hoang: professional Super Smash Bros. player, with the nickname "King of Smash"
• Palmer Luckey: creator of the Oculus Rift, ranked #26 on Forbes 2015 list of America's richest entrepreneurs under 40
• Alex Meruelo: billionaire owner of the Meruelo Group, the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL, Fuji Food, multiple radio stations, casinos and Colom Island
• John Platt: Microsoft researcher, astronomer
• J. Warner Wallace: homicide detective and Christian apologist
• Laura Yeager: U.S. Army general

Fictional

• The character Alan Harper (Jon Cryer) on the sitcom Two and a Half Men graduated from CSULB. This was stated in the episode "The Salmon Under My Sweater".

Faculty

• Phil Alvin: taught mathematics at CSULB; member of The Blasters band
• Xiaolan Bao: professor of history
• Vera Barstow: violinist and teacher
• Verne Carlson: taught cinematography, author and cinematographer
• August Coppola: professor of Comparative Literature
• Karla Diaz: school of art
• Fitzhugh Dodson: taught in the Psychology department from 1962
• Robert Eisenman: professor of Middle East Religions and Archaeology and director of the Institute for the Study of Judeo-Christian Origins at California State University, Long Beach; visiting senior member of Linacre College, Oxford University; expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls
• Karen L. Gould (born 1948): president of Brooklyn College
• Jack Green: professor of the Geological Sciences; a volcanologist and lunar planetary scientist
• Steve Horn: professor emeritus, former president of the university; 5-term former U.S. congressman
• Maulana Karenga: former head of Black Studies Dept., author and activist best known as the founder of the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa
• Alan Lowenthal: professor of community psychology, state senator
• Kevin MacDonald: evolutionary psychologist professor, anti-semitic conspiracy theorist, white supremacist
• Ilan Mitchell-Smith: English professor, former child actor
• Clifton Snider: poet, novelist, literary critic specializing in Jungian and queer criticism
• Shira Tarrant: author and cultural critic; Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department

References