Following is a list of notable alumni of Chapman University.
Arts
John Sexton – fine art photographer
Business
Tiquette Bramlett – winemaker and founder of the nonprofit organization Our Legacy Harvested Noelle Freeman – entrepreneur and founder of the DMS Agency Cooper Hefner (2015) – chief creative officer and chief of global partnerships of Playboy Enterprises Jeff Lewis (1993) – real estate speculator, interior designer, and television personality on Flipping Out Tilden Smith (2012) – co-founder of a pet product company, International Pet Solutions
Education
Silas Bartsch – school administrator and superintendent of the Kings Canyon Unified School District Vicky M. Wilkins (MS) – public administration scholar, academic administrator, and acting provost of American University
Entertainment
Film and television Anastasia Baranova – film and television actress Ryan Bergara – creator of documentary entertainment web series BuzzFeed Unsolved Henry Blair – film, television and radio actor"Chapman Drama Club to Give Play". Hollywood Citizen-News. November 24, 1950. p. 2. Retrieved April 25, 2024. Mark Brandon – film and television actor Jason Michael Brescia – film director Samantha Brown (non-degreed) – television host, notable for her work as the host of several Travel Channel shows Chris Burrous – television journalist and news anchor Jake Cherry – film actor Erika Cohn – Emmy and Peabody-winning film producer and director Dime Davis (2008) – director and producer Madison De La Garza – actress and filmmaker DJ Dodd (MFA 2012) - film and television producer Derek Doneen (2009) – documentary director, producer and editor known for The Price of Free, Heist, Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult Matt Duffer (2007) – film and television writer, director, producer, and co-creator of Stranger Things Ross Duffer (2007) – film and television writer, director, and producer Hannah Einbinder (2017) (BFA) – stand-up comedian and actor, known for Hacks Bob Einstein – film and television actor Parker Finn – filmmaker, known for Smile and Smile 2 Zachary Gordon – actor, singer and songwriter Colin Hanks (non-degreed, left in 1997) – film and television actor Ben York Jones (2006) – screenwriter and actor, co-creator of the television series Everything Sucks! Leslie Jones (non-degreed, left in 1986) – comedian, former Saturday Night Live cast member Tyler Patrick Jones – actor Harshvardhan Kapoor – Bollywood actor Sanyukta Kaza (MFA) – film editor Paul Le Mat (1963) – movie actor Matthew Lessner (2005) – independent filmmaker Jeff Lewis (1993) – real estate speculator, interior designer, and television personality on Flipping Out Eric Lloyd – actor best known for work as a child actor; Charlie Calvin in Disney's The Santa Clause film trilogy Carlos López Estrada – filmmaker, producer, and actor, known for Blindspotting, Summertime, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Didi Kellan Lutz – fashion model and actor Kelley Mack – actress Michael Mohan – film director and writer Cecil Moller (MA 2010) – film director and producer Linh Nga (MFA) – film director, film producer, actress, and screenwriter Olatunde Osunsanmi (MFA) – film and television director Owen Painter (2020) – actor, best known for his role as Isaac Night / Slurp in the Netflix series Wednesday Malea Rose (BFA) – actress, writer, and producer Utkarsh Sharma (BFA) – Indian actor Justin Simien (2005) – filmmaker, actor, and author; director of Dear White People Roger Craig Smith (2003) – voice actor Joan Staley (non-degreed) – model and actress Jodie Sweetin (2005) – actress, star of television series Full House and Fuller House James Sweeney – filmmaker, actor; director of Twinless Carles Torrens (BFA 2008) – film director Josie Totah – actress, writer and producer H. Nelson Tracey (BFA) - filmmaker; director of Breakup Season Ariel Tweto – cast member of the documentary television series Flying Wild Alaska that aired on Discovery Channel Aspen Vincent (non-degreed) – voice actress, Broadway actress, and singer Michael Vlamis – actor and screenwriter Jason Wise – filmmaker known for his wine documentaries
Music Kit Armstrong – classical pianist, composer, organist, and former child prodigy Stephen "tWitch" Boss – DJ and dancer Kalena Bovell (2009) – conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra Carolyn Waters Broe – conductor, composer, and violist who founded Four Seasons Orchestra Sabrina Bryan – dancer, choreographer, actress, singer, and member of The Cheetah Girls Grant Gershon (non-degreed) – Grammy Award-winning American conductor and pianist and artistic director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale King Henry – record producer and DJ Kevin Kwan Loucks (EMBA 2017) – CEO of Chamber Music America and member of classical music ensemble Trio Célest Marty Paich – pianist, composer, arranger, record producer, music director, and conductor Stacey Tappan (1995) – opera singer Jason Thornberry (MFA) – magazine writer and musician with the Southern California alternative-punk group Mulch Deborah Voigt – opera singer Wimberley Bluegrass Band – all four siblings graduated on the same weekend
Law John C. Yoder – judge of 23rd Circuit Court of West Virginia and West Virginia Senate
Literature and journalism
Gustavo Arellano ('01) – former publisher and editor of OC Weekly and author of the column ¡Ask a Mexican! Amy Sterling Casil (1999 MFA) – science fiction writer and writing instructor at Chapman University Peter Germano (1959) – author of short stories, novels, and television scripts Jason Thornberry (MFA) – magazine writer and musician with the Southern California alternative-punk group Mulch
Military
Nina Armagno (MA 1999) – United States Space Force lieutenant general, first director of staff of the United States Space Force Rick Francona – commentator and media military analyst for NBC and CNN, retired United States Air Force intelligence officer Keith M. Givens (MS) – United States Air Force brigadier general Wayne W. Lambert (MBA 1976) – United States Air Force brigadier general Eldon Regua (MBA) – United States Army Reserve major general Donna D. Shipton (1995 MBA) – United States Air Force lieutenant general and military deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Laura Yeager – U.S. Army general, first woman to command an Army infantry division
Politics Paul Anderson – Nevada State Assembly George Argyros (1959) – U.S. Ambassador to Spain and former owner of Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball Melissa Argyros (2007) – U.S. Ambassador to Latvia David E. Bonior (MA 1972) – United States House of Representatives from Michigan (1977–2003), House minority whip (1995–2002), House majority whip (1991–95) Sean Elo-Rivera (2009) – president of the San Diego City Council Bill Essayli (JD) – California State Assembly Chris Lee (MBA19'97) – United States House of Representatives 2009–2011 Gustavo Leite (non-degreed) – Minister of Industry and Commerce of Paraguay and Planning Minister of Paraguay Mark Miloscia (MA) – Washington State Senate and Washington House of Representatives Joanna Rosholm (2007) – press secretary to First Lady Michelle Obama Loretta Sanchez (1982) – United States House of Representatives Rob Schneiderman (MA) – United States House of Representatives Mark R. Shepherd – political consultant, strategist, activist, environmentalist, and radio personality Jim Silva (MA) – California State Assembly Jim Byron - Former NARA director, President of Richard Nixon library foundation John C. Yoder – West Virginia Senate and judge of 23rd Circuit Court of West Virginia
Religion Rita Nakashima Brock (1972) – Protestant theologian, feminist scholar, and a commissioned minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Paul H. Dunn (1953) – general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints James M. Stanton – sixth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas
Sports Emmett Ashford (1941) – first African-American umpire in Major League Baseball Don August – professional baseball player Jeff Carnazzo (MEd) – high school teacher and football coach Marty Castillo – professional baseball player Matt Dinerman – Thoroughbred horse racing announcer Tim Flannery (1979) – Major League Baseball player for eleven seasons and coach for San Francisco Giants Beccy Gordon – swimsuit model, member of the United States women's national softball team, off-road racer, and pit-reporter Brian Green – college baseball coach Randy Jones – former professional baseball player, San Diego Padres, New York Mets; 1976 Cy Young Award winner Steve Lavin – former head coach of St. John's men's basketball team (2010–2015), former head coach of UCLA men's basketball team (1996–2002) Jeff Levering (2003) – Milwaukee Brewers play-by-play announcer Gary Lucas – professional baseball player Eric Marty – professional football player and coach Stephen Nelson (2011) – Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play announcer. Former MLB/NHL television personality, co-host of Intentional Talk, and play-by-play announcer for the MLB Network-produced Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ Jay Pettibone – professional baseball player Brent Poppen – paralympic sportsman, advocate, author, and teacher Jim Saia – college basketball head coach Eddie Soto (non-degreed) – professional soccer player Kelli Stavast (2002) – sportscaster who formerly worked for NBC Sports as a pit reporter Paul Swingle – professional baseball player Bill Trumbo (1961) – college basketball coach and athletic director Miles Walker – professional tennis player Paul Wekesa – professional tennis player John Young – professional baseball player Octavio Zambrano – professional soccer player and coach Kate Ziegler – 2012 Summer Olympics competitor and swimmer who specializes in freestyle and long-distance
References