List of University of California, San Diego people

The list of University of California, San Diego people includes notable graduates, professors and administrators affiliated with the University of California, San Diego in the United States.

Notable alumni

Art and architecture Lizet Benrey, BA (Visual Arts), contemporary artist Micha Cárdenas, MFA (Visual Arts), 2009, contemporary artistSchool of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Faculty Page, University of Washington. Retrieved on 2 March 2017. Joyce Cutler–Shaw, MFA (Visual Arts), 1972, multidisciplinary artist Moyra Davey, MFA (Photography), 1988, contemporary artistExhibitions , Whitney Museum of American Art. Retrieved on 2 March 2017. Micol Hebron, did not graduate, contemporary artistHollywood MerchmART! Jazzle Session, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Retrieved on 5 March 2017. Hung Liu, MFA (Visual Arts), 1986, contemporary artistUCSD News Elle Mehrmand, MFA (Visual Arts), 2011, contemporary artistBody Practices' Exhibition Explores Interface between Virtual and Physical Bodies, Calit2, Retrieved on 5 March 2017. Jesse Mockrin, MFA, 2011, contemporary artist Margaret Noble, BA (Philosophy), 2002, conceptual artist and sound artist Dan Santat, BS (Microbiology), 1998, author and illustrator, winner of 2015 Caldecott MedalAuthor Talk, California State University, Fullerton, Retrieved 4 April 2017.

Astronauts

Athletics Geoff Abrams, MD (Medicine), 2006, tennis playerStanford Profiles, Stanford University, Retrieved 4 April 2017. Mark Allen, BS (Biology), 1980, six-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion, inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame; named the world's fittest man by Outside magazineMark Allen: A Grip Like No Other, Ironman, Retrieved 5 April 2017. Billy Beane, BA (Economics), 1985, general manager of the Oakland AthleticsExecutive Bio, Oakland Athletics, Retrieved 5 April 2017. Randy Bennett, BS (Biology), 1986, Saint Mary's College of California men's basketball head coachBennett Added to Pepperdine's Basketball Staff, Los Angeles Times, Retrieved 8 April 2017. Lynn Kramer, BS (Engineering), 1989, champion slalom racer and 2024 Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductee"Lynn Kramer," USA Slalom Skateboarding. Alon Leichman, BS (History), 2016, Olympian, member of the Israel national baseball team, and assistant pitching coach for the Cincinnati RedsIsraeli Pitcher Won't Let Go of Baseball, Baseball America, Retrieved 9 April 2017. Jie Li, BA (Political Science), 2006, winner of the US ING Cup, Open, Costen, Texas Open and many other championshipsTable tennis players put together an unreal 766-shot, 10-minute rally, USA Today, Retrieved 1 April 2017. Shlomo Lipetz, BA (International Relations), 2005, Israeli baseball player Bob Natal, BS (Computer Science), 1987, MLB catcher, Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins National LeagueUniversity of California, San Diego Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues, Baseball Almanac, Retrieved 29 March 2017. Mike Saipe, Major League Baseball pitcher Julie Swail, BA (Economics), 1995, Olympian (women's water polo); UC Irvine head coachNBC Sports Pressbox, NBC Sports, Retrieved 9 April 2017. Shay Whitcomb, BA (International Business), 2019, MLB infielder

Business Garrett Gruener, BS (Political Science), 1976, co-founder of Ask JeevesTech millionaire runs, sort of / Ask Jeeves co-creator is on ballot, but thinks recall a bad idea, San Francisco Chronicle, Retrieved 11 April 2017. Josh Harris, BA (Communications), founder of JupiterResearch and Pseudo.com, a live audio and video webcasting website founded in 1993

Gary E. Jacobs, BA (Management Science), 1979, businessman and minority owner of the Sacramento KingsBloomberg Executive Profile: Gary E. Jacobs retrieved August 17, 2017 Greg Papadopoulos, BA (Systems Science), 1979, executive VP and CTA of Sun MicrosystemsThe world needs only five computers, CNET, Retrieved 11 April 2017. Robert J. Pera, MS (Electrical Engineering), 2002, founder of Ubiquiti Networks, owner of the Memphis GrizzliesProfile, Forbes, Retrieved 12 April 2017. Michael Robertson, BS (Cognitive Science), 1989, founder of MP3.com, Lindows.com, and SIPphoneHistorical Committee Profile, Audio Engineering Society, Retrieved 19 April 2017. Philip Rosedale, BS (Physics), 1992, founder and CEO of Linden Lab, creator of virtual 3D world Second LifeInterview with Second Life CEO, Philip Rosedale, The Alphaville Herald, Retrieved 21 June 2014. Jason Snell, BA (Communications), 1992, editorial director of Mac Publishing and editor of MacworldBoard of Directors, National Novel Writing Month, Retrieved 14 June 2016. Nick Woodman, BA (Visual Arts), 1997, founder and CEO of GoProUC San Diego Nurtures GoPro Creating, GoPro Official Website, Retrieved 8 April 2017.

Computer science Bill Atkinson, BS (Chemistry), 1974, co-developer of the Macintosh computerApple Alumni: Where Are They Now?, Forbes, Retrieved 3 May 2017. Ryan Dahl, BS (Mathematics), 2003, inventor and original author of Node.js Michael I. Jordan, PhD (Cognitive Science), 1985; Distinguished Professor of EECS at UC Berkeley David E. Shaw, BS (Mathematics), 1972, founder of D. E. Shaw & Co.David E. Shaw's Success Story, Investopedia, Retrieved 7 March 2016. Guy "Bud" Tribble, BS (Physics), 1975, principal architect of the original Macintosh computer and co-founder of NeXt, Inc.Bud Tribble Joins Apple as Vice President of Software Technology, Apple Inc. Press Release, Retrieved 9 January 2012.

Film, theatre, and television Beth Accomando, BA (Communications), 1982, film critic Ngozi Anyanwu, MFA (Acting), 2013, television actor and Humanitas Award-winning playwright Yareli Arizmendi, MFA (Acting), 1992, actor in Like Water for ChocolateA Little Touch of 'Nostalgia' Adds to Her Second Life, Los Angeles Times, Retrieved 5 April 2017. James Avery, BA (Theatre), 1976, stage, screen and television actor who co-starred with Will Smith on the TV show Fresh Prince of Bel AirTribute to actor James Avery next Saturday, San Diego Union-Tribune, Retrieved 21 February 2014. Rachel Axler, MFA (Playwriting), 2004, Emmy Award-winning writer for The Daily Show and Parks and RecreationSamuel French Titles by Rachel Axler, Samuel French, Retrieved 11 December 2016. David Barrera, MFA (Acting), 1994, ALMA Award-nominated actor for 24"Actor David Barrera co stars on a Grimm groundbreaking TV Event", Harold de Paris, Retrieved 22 October 2012. Quincy Tyler Bernstine, MFA (Acting), 1999, Obie Award-winning actor, Tony Award nomineeThe Part Seems Impossible? Hire Her, New York Times, Laura Collins-Hughes, Retrieved 4 February 2024. Marsha Stephanie Blake, MFA (Acting), 2001, Emmy Award-nominated actor for When They See UsHow to Get Away With Murder' Season 6 Adds Marsha Stephanie Blake, Variety, Retrieved 9 October 2019. Hart Bochner, BA (Theatre), 1979, film actor, notably of Breaking AwayWill War Make Hart Bochner a Face You Can't Forget?, People Magazine, Retrieved 28 May 2017. Robert Buckley, BS (Economics), 2003, actor, best known for One Tree HillUCSD graduation might turn into puppet show, San Diego Union-Tribune, Retrieved 14 June 2013. Danny Burstein, MFA (Acting), 1990, Tony Award-winning actor, three-time Grammy Award nomineeVideo: Backstage at Broadway's Cabaret, San Diego Union-Tribune, Retrieved 7 June 2014. Zoë Chao, MFA (Acting), 2011, actress and star of several televisions shows and films Ricardo Chavira, MFA (Acting), 2000, actor, notably of Desperate HousewivesRicardo Chavira News, Pictures, and Videos, TMZ, Retrieved 2 May 2017. Charlet Chung, BA (Communications), 2006, voice actor, notably of Overwatch, Charlet Chung, Retrieved 12, July 2017. Steve Cosson, MFA (Directing), 2001, Obie Award-winning artistic director of The CiviliansNext Page To Stage Project Paris Commune Starts at La Jolla Playhouse, July 27, Playbill, Retrieved 20 February 2017. Benicio del Toro, did not graduate, actor, notably of Traffic Maria Dizzia, MFA (Acting), 2001, Tony Award nominee In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)An Actor Prepares: 6 Performers Detail Their Processes, American Theatre, Retrieved 16 December 2015. Emily Donahoe, MFA (Acting), 2004, Obie and Helen Hayes award-winning actorArena Stage Press Release, Arena Stage, Retrieved 12 April 2017. Mary Catherine Garrison, MFA (Acting), 1999, series regular on Somebody SomewherePLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Mary Catherine Garrison, Playbill, Retrieved 31 May 2025. Johnny Ray Gill, MFA (Acting), 2010, series regular on Underground and BrainDeadPortland native talks about his role on Rectify, The Oregonian, Retrieved 21 April 2013. Michael Greif, MFA (Directing), 1985, director of Rent and former artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse, three-time Tony Award nomineeLaunch pad: Playhouse champions new work, San Diego Union-Tribune, Retrieved 15 December 2014. Matt Hoverman, MFA (Acting), 1996, Daytime Emmy Award-winning writer"PBS, Led By 'Sesame Street', Tops The Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Winners", Deadline Hollywood, Retrieved 20 March 2018. Zora Howard, MFA (Acting), 2017, Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist for STEW Marceline Hugot, MFA (Acting), 1985, Broadway and film actor.Blow the Mountain Down offers a gritty snap of modern noir, San Diego Union-Tribune, Retrieved 20 September 2026. Daniel Humbarger, BA (Urban Studies), 2006, stand-up comedian Naomi Iizuka, MFA (Playwriting), 1992, author of over two dozen plays, including Language of Angels"To the Mountaintop", Theatre Communications Group, Retrieved 28 May 2017. Chane't Johnson, MFA (Acting), 2001, television and film actor; coach of Denzel Whitaker"LAX thesp Chane't Johnson dies", Variety, Retrieved 11 April 2017. Ty Granderson Jones, MFA (Acting), 1982, film and television actor with credits including Con AirActor Ty Granderson Jones Gives a New Meaning to "Keeping up with the Jones's.", Instinct Culture, Retrieved 6 September 2018. Mike Judge, BS (Physics), 1985, animator and director best known for Beavis and Butt-Head, Office Space, King of the Hill, and Silicon Valley; graduation speaker for the class of 2009Mike Judge, the Bard of Suck, New York Times, Retrieved 13 April 2017. Anne Kauffman, MFA (Directing), 1999, Obie Award-winning directorAnne Kauffman Will Direct Scott McPherson's Marvin's Room, Broadway World, Retrieved 29 May 2018. Sagan Lewis, MFA (Acting), 1977, series regular on St. ElsewhereSt. Elsewhere Actress Sagan Lewis Dead at 63, TV Guide, Retrieved 9 August 2016. Melanie Marnich MFA (Playwriting), 1998, writer for Big Love, Jerome Fellowship from The Playwrights' Center, and Golden Globe winnerArtist Profile, The Civilians, Retrieved 14 May 2017. Jefferson Mays, MFA (Acting), 1991, Tony Award winner, I Am My Own WifeActor's Actor Jefferson Mays: On His Own, Backstage, Retrieved 5 April 2017. Silas Weir Mitchell, MFA (Acting), 1995, character actor and star of GrimmSilas Weir Mitchell on playing Monroe on 'Grimm,' and filming in Portland, The Oregonian, Retrieved 5 March 2012. Owiso Odera, MFA (Acting), 2005, actor on The Originals, Lortel Award nominee Toby Onwumere, MFA (Acting), 2015, star of Sense8Sense8: Aml Ameen Replaced By Toby Onwumere In Wachowskis' Netflix Series, Yahoo!, Retrieved 26 May 2016. Joy Osmanski, MFA (Acting), 2003, most notable credits include Duncanville and Santa Clarita DietThe JV Club: Episode 171, The Nerdist Podcast, Retrieved 24 September 2015 Neil Patel, MFA (Scenic Design), 1991, Broadway designer of Side Man, winner of Obie and Helen Hayes awardsShowcasing UCSD's theater aces, San Diego Union-Tribune, Retrieved 11 April 2014. Jeanne Paulsen, MFA (Acting), 1978, Tony Award nominee, The Kentucky CycleJeanne Paulsen Bio, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Retrieved 12 May 2017. Dileep Rao, BA (Theatre), 1995, film actor in Avatar, Inception PJ Raval, BA (Visual Arts Media), filmmaker Maria Striar, MFA (Acting), 1995, founder and artistic director of Clubbed ThumbMaria Striar: Keeping It Small, American Theatre, Retrieved 22 May 2019.