List of California State University, Long Beach people

Steven Spielberg

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.^[1]

Alumni

Entertainment

Steve Martin

Cristina Valenzuela

• Millicent Borges Accardi: poet and writer, NEA winner
• Paul "Coy" Allen: television director, Sam & Cat; television producer, R&B Divas: Atlanta, R&B Divas: Los Angeles; music video director
• Richard Bach: fiction and nonfiction author, Jonathan Livingston Seagull
• Tony Baxter: Disney Imagineering executive^[2]
• 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^[2]
• 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/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^[2]
• Tim Minear: television writer and producer, X-Files, Angel, Firefly, Wonderfalls
• Manny Montana: actor, Good Girls
• 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^[2]
• Linda Woolverton: screenwriter, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King^[2]
• Jennifer Yuh Nelson: animation film director and storyboard artist
• Joon Park: singer and entertainer, member of South Korean group g.o.d

Music

The Carpenters

• 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^[2]
• Melissa Hasin: cellist
• Bobby Hatfield: half of The Righteous Brothers and Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame inductee^[2]
• 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^[3][4]

Government and politics

George Gascón

Gloria J. Romero

Lena Gonzalez

• 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^[5]
• Lena Gonzalez (B.A.): serving in the California State Senate
• Eklil Ahmad Hakimi (M.S. 1998): former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan^[6]
• 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^[2]
• 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^[7]
• John Mallinger: PGA golfer
• Pat McCormick: four-time Olympic gold medalist, won both the platform and springboard events, in both (1952 and 1956)^[2]
• Mark O'Meara: champion golfer^[2]
• 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)^[8]
• John Bowker: first baseman, San Francisco Giants^[9]
• Brent Cookson: retired outfielder, Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Dodgers^[10]
• Mark Cresse: bullpen coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Bobby Crosby: shortstop, Pittsburgh Pirates^[11]
• Matt Duffy: infielder, Tampa Bay Rays
• Jarren Duran: outfielder, Boston Red Sox
• Danny Espinosa: second baseman, Washington Nationals^{[citation needed]}
• 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^[12]
• Jason Vargas: pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
• Nick Vincent (born 1986): pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization
• Jered Weaver: pitcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim^[13]
• 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^[14]
• 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^[2]
• 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^[15]
• 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

Misty May-Treanor

• 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^[16]
• Gerhardt Knodel (born 1940; M.F.A 1970): textile artist, installation artist, educator^[17][18]
• Gilbert "Magú" Luján (1940–2011; B.A. in art 1969): Chicano sculptor, muralist and painter^[19]
• Betye Saar (born 1926): assemblage artist
• Shag (Josh Agle; born 1962): painter and designer^[20]
• 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

• J. Jon Bruno: the 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^[21]
• Libby Gill: leadership speaker, executive coach and author
• Ken Hoang: professional Super Smash Bros. player, with the nickname "King of Smash"
• Palmer Lucky: 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^[22]
• 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^[23]
• 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^[24]
• 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^[25]
• Kevin MacDonald: evolutionary psychologist professor, anti-semitic conspiracy theorist, white supremacist^[26][27]
• 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

1. "CSULB is taking Beach Pride on the Road". California State University, Long Beach. November 16, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
2. "CSULB 50th Anniversary - Distinguished Alumni". csulb.edu. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
3. Brunner, Jeryl (2020-09-30). "Why This Successful Singer-Songwriter Won't Give Up Her Day Job". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
4. "Heather Youmans – Journalism". College of Liberal Arts. 2020-09-30. Archived from the original on 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
5. "GEORGE GASCÓN, 2012 Distinguished Alumnus". CSU Long Beach. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
6. Bewig, Matt (2012-01-15). "Ambassador from Afghanistan: Who Is Eklil Ahmad Hakimi?". AllGov. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
7. "Paul Goydos". PGA Tour website. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
8. "Abe Alvarez Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
9. "John Bowker Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
10. "Brent Cookson Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
11. "Bobby Crosby Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
12. "Troy Tulowitzki Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
13. "Jered Weaver Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
14. "Juaquin Juan Hawkins". Basketball-Reference.Com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
15. Wilson, Bernie (January 15, 2013). "Mike McCoy, former Long Beach State QB, is new San Diego Chargers coach, say sources". Los Angeles Daily News. Associated Press. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
16. Orzek, Kurt. "Worlds Without End: The Art of Seonna Hong". FLOOD. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
17. Miniature Fiber Arts: A National Exhibition. Textile Workshops. 1980. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-9604110-0-9.
18. "Overview Collection Information: Oral history interview with Gerhardt Knodel". Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. August 3, 2004. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
19. "'Magú' Luján dies at 70; influential Mexican American artist". Los Angeles Times. 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
20. Nancy Lackey Shaffer (2013-04-26). "The Cool and Capricious World of Artist Josh Agle, a.k.a. Shag". Highbrow Magazine.
21. "Executive Team". Chagoury Group. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
22. Willman, Chris (June 1, 1986). "Phil Alvin: New Blasters, Old Songs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
23. "Campus Directory Search Results". webapps.csulb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
24. "Board of Trustees for California State University (CSU) Approves Naming of Building at Cal State Long Beach for Former President Stephen Horn, Wife". CSU Newsline. California State University. January 31, 2003. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
25. "{2584E0CA-3609-4B19-BE92-117E5892E38E} Biography on State Senate website". dist27.casen.govoffice.com. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
26. "Kevin MacDonald" (PDF). Anti-Defamation League. November 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
27. Beirich, Heidi (February 6, 2014). "Anti-Semitic Theorist, Cal State Psychology Professor Kevin MacDonald Now Retired". Southern Poverty Law Center. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2020.