This is a list of notable present and former faculty, staff, and students of San Diego State University (SDSU).

Alumni Academia

Joan Bybee, professor emerita at the University of New Mexico, linguist; M.A. Linguistics David Daniel, professor emeritus of psychology at James Madison University Chukuka S. Enwemeka, emeritus distinguished professor, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee; president and vice chancellor of James Hope University, Lagos, Nigeria. Tom Garrison, distinguished professor emeritus of marine science at Orange Coast College, author, writer of Emmy Award-winning Oceanus, M.S. Marine Biology Jacques Gauthier, paleotonlogist and professor at Yale University and Peabody Museum of Natural History; B.S. Zoology 1973, M.S. Biological Science 1980 Arthur Jensen, professor emeritus of educational psychology at University of California, Berkeley; M.A. Psychology 1952 Samuel Kounaves, professor of chemistry at Tufts University M. Brian Maple,professor of physics at University of California, San Diego; B.S. Physics 1963 LaVerne E. Ragster, M.S., marine biologist; 4th president of the University of the Virgin Islands 2002–2009 Robert Titzer, professor and infant researcher; teaching certificate Paul J. Zak, professor and founder of the Neuroscience as a Service (NaaS) platform Immersion

Art

John Baldessari, conceptual artist; B.A., 1953; M.A., 1957 Dan Corson, artist; B.A. Theater, 1986 Amy Devers, furniture designer and TV personality (Freeform Furniture, Designer People, Trading Spaces, Home Made Simple); B.A. Furniture Design, 1997 June Edmonds, painter and public artist Fred Holle, fine art painter and educator Bridgette Meinhold, artist and author with a focus on sustainability; B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2003 Marisa Scheinfeld, photographer; M.F.A., 2011 Suzy Spafford, cartoonist, creator of "Suzy's Zoo"; B.F.A., 1957 Salvador Torres, artist and muralist, father of the Chicano Park murals; M.A. Painting and Drawing, 1973 Don Weeke, fiber and gourd artist, M.S.W, 1976

Crime Duncan D. Hunter, US representative, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to misuse campaign funds Kristin Rossum, toxicologist convicted of the murder of her husband

Entertainment

Lloyd Bryan Molander Adams, executive producer, channel executive and director K.D. Aubert, fashion model, actress and Fantanas member Jesse Billauer, quadriplegic, motivational speaker, surfer; B.A. Communications, 2002 Haley Bishop, actress 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, 1972Biography at International Cinematographers Guild. Retrieved April 9, 2014. Destin Daniel Cretton, filmmaker Adam Daniel, actor Erika De La Cruz, television host and media personality for Fashion Week; B.A. Film and Fashion 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 Faye Emerson, actress Mickey Faerch, burlesque dancer and actress Matt Flynn, drummer of Maroon 5 (attended briefly) Courtney Friel, television host; B.A. Political Science, 2002 Steve Froehlich, actor Vic Fuentes, lead singer of Pierce the Veil Ted Giannoulas, San Diego Chicken Bob Goen, media personality and Entertainment Tonight anchor-correspondent; B.A. Telecommunications and Film, 1976Bob Goen biography at IMDb, retrieved April 9, 2014 Crystal Harris, model Benjamin Howard, filmmaker 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 Akira Lane, actress, model, and pornographic film director 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 (attended briefly) Art Linkletter (1912–2010), veteran entertainer; B.A. Teaching, 1934 Cleavon Little, actor; B.A. Drama Manny MUA, YouTuber; B.A., 2013 Abby Martin, journalist, RT TV network; 9/11 conspiracy theorist; activist with mediaroots.org; B.A. Political Science, 2006 Peter Menefee, costume- and stage-designer 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 Marion Ross, TV actress (Happy Days) Michael Matteo Rossi, filmmaker Saweetie, rapper; attended SDSU for two years before transferring to the University of Southern California Wally Schlotter, chairman of the San Diego Film Commission 1978–1996 Whitney Shay, blues singer, 2008 Tammie Souza, television meteorologist; B.S. Biology Susanna Thompson, actress; B.A. Drama, 1980 Alison Waite, model Carl Weathers, actor/former professional football player, Apollo Creed in Rocky Kimberly Weinberger, actress Raquel Welch, actress Steve Yuhas, radio broadcaster and television personality Jeanne Zelasko, sports journalist, Fox Sports

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, 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 2013Miletich, Steve, and Thompson, Lynn. "Chris Hansen: Meet the man with the plan for NBA arena." The Seattle Times, February 18, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2014. Nik Ingersöll, 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 Sheryl Palmer, CEO of Taylor Morrison 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 Magazines 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 of RockStar Energy Drink; B.A. Political Science 1992 Mike Wells, Prudential plc chief executive officer

Literature and journalism

Greg Bear, science fiction author; B.A. English, 1973 Darwin J. Flakoll, journalist, writer, and translater Sid Fleischman, author of children's books and screenplays; B.A. English Justin Halpern, author; B.A., 2003 David Hasemyer, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist; B.A. Journalism 1979David Hasemyer: LinkedIn. Retrieved October 6, 2019. David McKenna, writer, American History X 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 J. Michael Straczynski, writer; B.A. Psychology and Sociology, 1976 Joan D. Vinge, author; B.A., 1971

Military

Robert Cardenas, retired brigadier general; B.A. 1972 Thomas J. Haynes, Air National Guard general William J. Marks, USN commander, spokesman for the Defense Intelligence Agency; M.A. Mass Communication and Media Studies, 2007 Merrill McPeak, retired Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force; B.A. Economics, 1957 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 , 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 Scott H. Swift, U.S. Navy retired admiral; B.A. 1979; served as the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from May 27, 2015 to May 17, 2018

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 1979PROFILE-Saudi Economy and Planning Minister Muhammad al-Jasser. Reuters. December 2011. 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, U.S. representative from California; B.A., 1975 Ammar Campa-Najjar, Democratic candidate John Duarte, U.S. representative from California; B.A. Finance, 1989 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 Celeste Rodriguez, California state assemblywoman Robin Robinson, Bucks County Recorder of Deeds Mary Salas, California state assemblywoman Lori Saldana, California 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 Leon Williams, San Diego City Council member (1969–1982), San Diego County Board of Supervisors supervisor (1982–1994), first Black member of both institutions Bob Wilson, former member of Congress, namesake of Bob Wilson Naval Hospital

Science Belle Benchley, director of San Diego Zoo Laurance Doyle, SETI astronomer; M.S. Astronomy Gordon Eugene Martin, pioneering piezoelectric materials researcher for underwater sound transducers 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 Bernard Rimland, PhD, autism researcher and founder of the Autism Society of America; M.S. Psychology J. Michael Scott, PhD (from Oregon State University), senior scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey; M.S. Marine Biology Gina Simmons Schneider, PhD, psychoanalyst, writer; B.A. Psychology 1983

Sports

Baseball Greg Allen, New York Yankees outfielder Bud Black, former Major League Baseball pitcher and former manager of the San Diego Padres; B.S. Management 1979 Kerwin Danley, Major League Baseball umpire Jeff DaVanon, MLB baseball player Ty France, San Diego Padres infielder Mark Grace, retired Major League Baseball player and World Series Champion Chris Gwynn, retired Major League Baseball player Tony Gwynn, Baseball Hall of Famer