List of San Diego State University people

This is a list of notable people associated with San Diego State University, a California State University campus located in the United States.

Entertainment, arts, and media

 * Lloyd Bryan Molander Adams, executive producer, channel executive and director
 * K.D. Aubert, fashion model, actress and Fantanas member
 * David Hasemyer, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist; B.A. Journalism 1979
 * John Baldessari, conceptual artist; B.A., 1953; M.A., 1957
 * Greg Bear, science fiction author; B.A. English, 1973
 * Jesse Billauer, quadriplegic, motivational speaker, surfer; B.A. Communications, 2002
 * Haley Bishop, actress
 * Christopher Bramble, Independent Playwright "John Milton's Paradise Lost"; B.A. Literature 2002
 * Luke Brugnara, businessman, casino mogul.
 * Justin Burquist, filmmaker and music video director
 * Brian Patrick Butler, actor and filmmaker
 * Russell Carpenter, cinematographer of Titanic; B.A. English, 1972
 * Dan Corson, artist; B.A. Theater, 1986
 * Erika De La Cruz, television host and media personality for Fashion Week; B.A. Film and Fashion
 * Amy Devers, furniture designer and TV personality (Freeform Furniture, Designer People, Trading Spaces, Home Made Simple); B.A. Furniture Design, 1997
 * DJ Rectangle, DJ/turntablist and Grammy Award-nominated dance/hip hop/club record producer; B.B.A.
 * Fred Dryer, actor-producer and former NFL player
 * Manny MUA, YouTuber; B.A., 2013
 * Faye Emerson, actress
 * Sid Fleischman, author of children's books and screenplays; B.A. English
 * Matt Flynn, drummer of Maroon 5 (attended briefly)
 * Courtney Friel, television host; B.A. Political Science, 2002
 * Vic Fuentes, lead singer of Pierce the Veil
 * Ted Giannoulas, The San Diego Chicken
 * Bob Goen, media personality and Entertainment Tonight anchor-correspondent; B.A. Telecommunications and Film, 1976
 * Mark Grace, long time Chicago Cubs first baseman, current color analyst for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Fox Sports
 * Justin Halpern, author; B.A., 2003
 * Crystal Harris, model
 * Fred Holle, fine art painter and educator
 * Brion James, actor
 * Darren Kavinoky, lawyer, TV personality
 * Julie Kavner, actress; voice of Marge Simpson, The Simpsons; B.A. Drama, 1971
 * Kathleen Kennedy, film producer; B.A. Telecommunications and Film, 1976
 * Cy Kuckenbaker, filmmaker, 1998
 * George Lewis, NBC Nightly News correspondent
 * Joe Liggins, R&B musician who wrote and recorded "The Honeydripper"
 * Jim Lindberg, lead singer of punk band Pennywise (band) (attended briefly)
 * Art Linkletter (1912–2010), veteran entertainer; B.A. Teaching, 1934
 * Cleavon Little, actor; B.A. Drama
 * Peter Menefee, costume- and stage-designer
 * Abby Martin, journalist, RT TV network; 9/11 conspiracy theorist; activist with mediaroots.org; B.A. Political Science, 2006
 * David McKenna, writer, "American History X"
 * Adam Montoya, Internet celebrity, known as SeaNanners; B.A., 2006
 * Kathy Najimy, actress; voice of Peggy Hill on King of the Hill
 * Gregory Peck, actor
 * Lisa Dergan Podsednik, model
 * Zach Porter, lead singer of pop band Allstar Weekend
 * Andy Rathbone, author of ...for Dummies books, technology writer; B.A. Literature, 1986
 * Constance Reid, author of several biographies of mathematicians and popular books about mathematics; B.A. 1938
 * Michael Matteo Rossi, Filmmaker
 * Marion Ross, TV actress (Happy Days)
 * Marisa Scheinfeld, photographer; M.F.A., 2011
 * Wally Schlotter, chairman of the San Diego Film Commission from 1978–1996
 * Whitney Shay, blues singer, 2008
 * Tammie Souza, television meteorologist; B.S. Biology
 * Suzy Spafford, cartoonist, creator of "Suzy's Zoo"; B.F.A., 1957
 * J. Michael Straczynski, writer; B.A. Psychology and Sociology, 1976
 * Susanna Thompson, actress; B.A. Drama, 1980
 * Salvador Torres, artist and muralist, father of the Chicano Park murals; M.A. Painting and Drawing, 1973
 * Joan D. Vinge, author; B.A., 1971
 * Alison Waite, model
 * Carl Weathers, actor/former professional football player, Apollo Creed in Rocky
 * Don Weeke, fiber and gourd artist, M.S.W, 1976
 * Raquel Welch, actress
 * Steve Yuhas, radio broadcaster and television personality
 * Jeanne Zelasko, sports journalist, Fox Sports
 * Saweetie, rapper. Saweetie attended SDSU for two years before transferring to the University of Southern California

Business

 * Charles Brandes, founder of Brandes Investment Partners; B.A. Economics, 1965
 * Norman E. Brinker, founder of Steak & Ale, former president of Jack in the Box, restaurateur innovator; B.S. Management 1957
 * Adelia Coffman, founding CFO of Qualcomm Incorporated; B.S. Accounting 1976
 * Vince Ferraro, Senior General Management and Marketing Executive, ExecRank's 2012 list of top 50 CMOs; B.S. Business Administration
 * Van Arsdale France, '34, founding employee training manager at Disneyland, co-creator of "Disney University"
 * Maruta Gardner, American educator and community activist; M.S. Administration and Supervision 1976
 * Rick Hamada CEO of Avnet; B.S. Finance 1982
 * Chris R. Hansen, hedge fund manager, unsuccessfully tried to lure the Sacramento Kings to Seattle in 2013
 * Nik Ingersöll, American entrepreneur and designer.
 * W. Craig Jelinek, President and chief executive officer of Costco.
 * Peggy Johnson, former Executive Vice President of Qualcomm, former Executive Vice President of Business Development at Microsoft, current CEO of Magic Leap; B.S. Electrical Engineering
 * Doug Manchester, real estate developer, namesake of Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego, publisher of the San Diego Union Tribune; B.S. Finance 1965
 * Robert O. Peterson, founder of Jack in the Box
 * Sol Price, founder of Price Club (later merged with Costco); B.A. Philosophy 1936
 * S. Donley Ritchey, former CEO and President of Lucky Stores and current director of The McClatchy Company; B.S. Accounting 1955, M.S. Management 1963
 * Jim Sinegal, Costco Chief Executive Officer, named to Time Magazine's 2006 list of The 100 most influential people; B.A. 1959
 * James M. Sweeney, founder and former CEO, CareMark, Inc. (now CVS CareMark), B.S. 1969
 * Russell Weiner, founder RockStar Energy Drink; B.A. Political Science 1992
 * Mike Wells, Prudential plc Chief Executive Officer

Science

 * Belle Benchley, Director of San Diego Zoo from 1927 to 1953
 * Samuel Kounaves, professor of chemistry at Tufts University
 * Joan Bybee, PhD (at UCLA), linguist; M.A. Linguistics
 * Laurance Doyle, PhD (at Heidelberg University), SETI astronomer; M.S. Astronomy
 * Jacques Gauthier, PhD (at UCB), Paleotonlogist and Professor at Yale University and Peabody Museum of Natural History; B.S. Zoology 1973, M.S. Biological Science 1980
 * Arthur Jensen, PhD (at Columbia University), Professor Emeritus of educational psychology at University of California, Berkeley; M.A. Psychology 1952
 * M. Brian Maple, PhD (at UCSD), professor of physics at University of California, San Diego; B.S. Physics 1963
 * Gordon Eugene Martin, MA, pioneering piezoelectric materials researcher for underwater sound transducers
 * Bridgette Meinhold, M.S. (from Stanford University), artist and author with a focus on sustainability; B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2003
 * Ellen Ochoa, PhD (from Stanford University), first Latina astronaut; B.S. Physics 1980
 * Mark M. Phillips, PhD (from UC Santa Cruz), US astronomer and cosmologist, Gruber Prize Laureate of 2007 for the discovery of Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe, member of the High-Z Supernova Search Team; B.S. Astronomy 1973
 * LaVerne E. Ragster, M.S., marine biologist; 4th president of the University of the Virgin Islands from 2002 to 2009
 * Bernard Rimland, PhD, autism researcher and founder of the Autism Society of America; M.S. Psychology
 * J. Michael Scott, PhD (from Oregon State University), biologist and ornithologist; M.S. Marine Biology
 * Gina Simmons Schneider, PhD, psychoanalyst, writer; B.A. Psychology 1983
 * Robert Titzer, professor and infant researcher; teaching certificate
 * Paul J. Zak, Professor and founder of the Neuroscience as a Service (NaaS) platform Immersion
 * David Wrenn, COO of SpinLaunch since October 2023

Politics and government

 * Muhammed Al-Jasser, PhD. (at UCR), Saudi Arabian economist who served as the Minister of Economy and Planning and Chairman of Saudi Telecom; B.A. Economics 1979
 * David Alvarez, San Diego City Council member
 * Karen Bass, mayor of Los Angeles
 * Roger Benitez, U.S. Federal Judge; B.A., 1974
 * Clair Burgener, U.S. Representative from California, 1973-1983
 * Ken Calvert, member of Congress, California; B.A., 1975
 * Ammar Campa-Najjar (born 1989), Democratic candidate
 * Kevin Faulconer, Mayor of San Diego; B.A. Political Science, 1990
 * Dusty Foggo, former CIA official
 * Georgette Gomez, San Diego City Council member
 * Mike Gotch, California State Assemblyman and San Diego City Council member
 * Shirley Horton, Assemblywoman 2002–2008
 * Duncan D. Hunter, former member of Congress, California; convicted felon
 * Brian Jones (born 1968), politician serving in the California State Senate
 * Steven T. Kuykendall, former member of Congress, California; M.B.A., 1974
 * Bill Lowery, lobbyist and former member of Congress
 * Mark Meckler, political activist
 * Rodney Melville, US judge
 * Mary Salas, CA State Assemblywoman
 * Lori Saldana, CA State Assemblywoman
 * Jerry Sanders, former mayor of San Diego, former Chief of Police
 * Glenn E. Trowbridge (born 1943), Republican member of the Nevada Assembly.
 * Howard Wayne, Assemblyman 1996–2002
 * Bob Wilson, former member of Congress, namesake of Bob Wilson Naval Hospital

Athletics and sports

 * Dakarai Allen, professional basketball player
 * Greg Allen, Cleveland Indians Outfielder
 * Rob Awalt, former NFL tight end
 * Marcelo Balboa, World Cup and MLS soccer star
 * Steven Beitashour, MLS All-Star Soccer, player for San Jose Earthquakes
 * Bud Black, former Major League Baseball pitcher and former manager of the San Diego Padres; B.S. Management 1979
 * Greg Boyd, former NFL defensive end
 * Vincent Brown, wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers
 * Willie Buchanon, former NFL cornerback
 * Michael Cage, former NBA player
 * Joe Corona, soccer player, Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente and United States men's national soccer team
 * Don Coryell, former NCAA and NFL head coach, member of the College Football Hall of Fame
 * Zylan Cheatham, New Orleans Pelicans forward.
 * Isaac Curtis, former NFL wide receiver
 * Tom Dahms, former NFL offensive tackle
 * Brad Daluiso, former NFL placekicker
 * Gordon Dallas, North American Soccer League player
 * Kerwin Danley, Major League Baseball umpire
 * Jeff DaVanon, MLB baseball player
 * Vernon Dean, former NFL cornerback
 * Will Demps, former NFL safety
 * Mike Douglass, former NFL linebacker
 * Fred Dryer, former NFL defensive end, actor
 * William Dunkle, offensive guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Darius Durham, former NFL wide receiver
 * Herm Edwards, former Kansas City Chiefs head coach
 * Gavin Escobar, Dallas Cowboys tight end
 * Brett Faryniarz, former NFL linebacker
 * Marshall Faulk, former NFL running back, star of the St. Louis Rams, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Roman Fortin, former NFL center
 * Malachi Flynn, Toronto Raptors guard
 * John Fox, football player
 * Ty France, Seattle Mariners infielder
 * Donte Gamble, American football player
 * Gary Garrison, former NFL wide receiver
 * Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, former NFL defensive end
 * Joe Gibbs, former NFL head coach of the Washington Redskins, Hall of Famer, and owner of NASCAR racing team Joe Gibbs Racing
 * La'Roi Glover, former NFL defensive tackle
 * Mark Grace, retired Major League Baseball player and World Series Champion
 * Robert Griffith, former NFL safety
 * Chris Gwynn, retired Major League Baseball player
 * Tony Gwynn, Baseball Hall of Famer
 * Tony Gwynn Jr., Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder
 * Az-Zahir Hakim, former NFL wide receiver
 * Tally Hall, goalkeeper for Major League Soccer (MLS)'s Houston Dynamo
 * Aaron Harang, San Diego Padres pitcher
 * Doug Harvey, former MLB Umpire and Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee 2010
 * David Hensley, MLB infielder
 * Ronnie Hillman, running back for the Denver Broncos
 * Alex Hinshaw, San Francisco Giants pitcher
 * Marty Hogan (born 1958), racquetball player
 * Mike Houghton, former Buffalo Bills guard
 * Bob Howard, former NFL cornerback
 * Tina Hutchinson (born 1964/1965), basketball player
 * Joe Jackson, gridiron football player
 * Monte Jackson, former NFL cornerback
 * Terry Jackson, former NFL cornerback
 * Hannah Keane (born 1993), soccer player
 * Freddie Keiaho, current NFL linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts and Super Bowl XLI Champion
 * Armen Keteyian, sports journalist, HBO Sports, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
 * Mike Kozlowski, former NFL safety
 * Joel Kramer (b. 1955), basketball player
 * Joe Lavender, former NFL cornerback
 * Travis Lee, former Major League Baseball player
 * Jeanne Lenhart, senior Olympian, volleyball player, Ms. Senior San Diego 2012
 * Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers forward, 2014 & 2019 NBA Finals MVP
 * Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (Anthropology 2013), professional Mixed Martial Artist, inaugural and current Bellator MMA Flyweight Champion
 * John Madden, former Oakland Raiders head coach, Monday Night Football color commentator
 * Steve Malovic (1956–2007), American-Israeli basketball player
 * Chris Marlowe, sportscaster, former Olympic volleyball player
 * Justin Masterson, Cleveland Indians pitcher
 * Matt McCoy, current NFL linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Jalen McDaniels, Toronto Raptors center
 * Bobby Meacham, former Major League Baseball player
 * Bob Mendoza, Rugby Player of the Year 1967, former Red Sox outfielder
 * Claudie Minor, former NFL offensive tackle
 * Rich Moran, former NFL punter
 * Kirk Morrison, Former Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, and Jacksonville Jaguars starting linebacker
 * Haven Moses, NFL wide receiver
 * Kassim Osgood, former NFL wide receiver
 * Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz (1921–2014), surfer and physician
 * Scott Piercy, professional golfer
 * Damon Pieri, NFL player
 * Chester Pitts, NFL, Houston Texans
 * Noel Prefontaine, Toronto Argonauts kicker
 * Jimmy Raye, VP of Football Operations for the Indianapolis Colts
 * Addison Reed, relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
 * Benny Ricardo, former NFL placekicker
 * Charlene Rink, former professional fitness competitor
 * Hubert Roberts (born 1961), American-Israeli basketball player
 * Arnie Robinson, Olympic long jump gold medalist
 * Patrick Rowe, NFL player
 * Brian Russell, former NFL safety
 * Ephraim Salaam, former NFL offensive tackle
 * Mike Saxon, former NFL punter
 * Xander Schauffele, professional golfer
 * Chaz Schilens, NFL wide receiver, formerly with Oakland Raiders, currently with New York Jets
 * Darnay Scott, former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
 * Casey Schmitt (born 1999), infielder for the San Francisco Giants
 * Brian Sipe, former Cleveland Browns quarterback
 * Marcus Slaughter, professional basketball player
 * Webster Slaughter, former wide receiver
 * Dave Smith, former Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Jeff Staggs, former NFL linebacker
 * Willie Steele, 1948 Olympic long jump gold medalist
 * Daniel Steres (born 1990), professional soccer player with the LA Galaxy
 * Stephen Strasburg (born 1988), Washington Nationals pitcher
 * Malcolm Thomas (born 1988), professional basketball player; currently plays for the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv
 * Kyle Turley, former NFL offensive tackle
 * Don Warren, former NFL tight end
 * Jeff Webb, former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
 * Ralph Wenzel, former NFL offensive guard
 * Jim Wilks, former NFL defensive end
 * Nate Wright, former NFL cornerback
 * Eric Wynalda, World Cup and MLS soccer player; Fox Sports broadcaster

Military

 * Robert Cardenas, retired Brigadier General; B.A. 1972
 * Thomas J. Haynes, Air National Guard general
 * Merrill McPeak, retired Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force; B.A. Economics, 1957
 * William J. Marks, USN Commander, spokesman for the Defense Intelligence Agency; M.A. Mass Communication and Media Studies, 2007
 * James E. McPherson, retired Navy officer, former 39th Judge Advocate General of the Navy; Bachelor of Public Administration, 1977
 * Eugene P. Wilkinson, first Commanding Officer of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571), the world's first nuclear submarine; B.S. Chemistry, 1938
 * Donald Erwin Wilson, U.S. Navy admiral; B.S. Accounting, 1954; M.S. Management, 1955

Crime

 * Kristin Rossum, toxicologist convicted of the murder of her husband
 * Duncan D. Hunter, US Representative plead guilty to conspiracy to misuse campaign funds.

Faculty

 * Joanna Brooks, English professor
 * Jeff Deverett, Film producer and professor
 * Jerry Farber, author, professor
 * Larry McCaffery, writer, editor, post-modern literary critic, professor
 * Khaleel Mohammed, PhD, professor of religious studies
 * Shirley Weber, PhD, founding faculty and department chair, SDSU Department of Africana Studies
 * JP Anderson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Race and Public Law in America, Musician of the Band Rabbit Junk

Retired and former faculty

 * Nathalia Crane, poet, deceased professor of English
 * Thomas B. Day, physicist, deceased president of SDSU from 1978 to 1996
 * Suzette Haden Elgin, author, retired linguistics professor
 * Jerry Farber, civil rights activist and former child actor, Professor Emeritus of English & Comparative Literature
 * Clinton Jencks, PhD, retired professor of Economics
 * Lev Kirshner, soccer player and soccer coach
 * Noel Loomis, science fiction and mystery writer, deceased English instructor
 * John V. Pavlik, founding director of the SDSU School of Communication
 * Anna Prieto Sandoval, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation Chairwoman, and teacher of the Kumeyaay language
 * Jerome Sattler, retired professor of psychology
 * Vernor Vinge, PhD, science fiction writer and visionary, retired professor of mathematics
 * Joy Zedler, ecologist and botanist, founder of SDSU Pacific Estuarine Research Laboratory