List of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo people

This article lists notable alumni of the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

## Arts and media

[edit]

"Weird Al" Yankovic Farzad Nazem Abel Maldonado Devin Nunes Bruce McPherson

* Pedro Armendáriz (1912–1963), character actor, award-winning leading man in dozens of films from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema[1]
* Michael Berryman (born 1948), actor[2]
* Dave Carnie (born 1969), writer, artist, former editor of Big Brother Magazine
* Irene Chan (born 1965), artist[3]
* Margo Chase (1958–2017), graphic designer
* Luke Chueh, contemporary artist[4]
* Michelle Franzen (born 1968), television and radio journalist for NBC News and ABC News
* Danny Gans (1956–2009), Las Vegas entertainer[5]
* Nathan L. Good (born 1954), architect[6]
* Paula Huston (born 1952), author
* Cam Inman, San Francisco 49ers reporter for Bay Area News Group
* John Madden (1936-2021), Pro Football Hall of Fame broadcaster, head coach, and player[7]
* Cassie McFarland (born 1985), artist, designed the obverse of the 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative coin[8]
* Andy Paiko (born 1977), contemporary glass artist
* George Ramos (1947–2011), three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist[9]
* Suzanne Roberts (born 1970), poet, travel writer, and photographer[10]
* Zach Shallcross (born 1996), reality television personality, The Bachelor[11]
* M. Ward (born 1973), folk musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist[12]
* "Weird Al" Yankovic (born 1959), rock parodist and entertainer[13]

## Business

[edit]

* James Griffin Boswell, chairman of the board, J.G. Boswell Company
* Jamie Evans, cannabis professional[14][15]
* Noel Lee, President and founder, Monster Cable[16]
* Bob Mazzuca (B.S. History, 1970), Chief Scout Executive of Boy Scouts of America[17]
* Farzad Nazem (B.S. Computer Science, 1981), former Chief Technology Officer of Yahoo![18]
* Peter Oppenheimer (B.S. Ag Business, 1985), former Chief Financial Officer of Apple Computer[19]
* William H. Swanson (B.S. Industrial Engineering, 1973) (born 1950), Chairman and CEO of Raytheon[13]
* Jack Trimble (B.S. Psychology, 2024), current Chief Executive Officer of Copper & Crystal, Bar Service

## Politics and government

[edit]

* Tom Berryhill, Stanislaus County Supervisor, former California State Senator[20][21]
* Warren Church, Monterey County Board of Supervisors
* Jeff Denham, former United States Representative for California's 10th congressional district[22]
* Dennis Hollingsworth (born 1967), former California State Senator[23]
* Doug LaMalfa, United States Representative for California's 1st congressional district[24]
* Abel Maldonado (born 1967), 47th Lieutenant Governor of California[25]
* Bruce McPherson (born 1944), 30th California Secretary of State[26]
* Mohammadreza Nematzadeh, Minister of Labour and Minister of Industry and Mine in the Islamic Republic of Iran
* Devin Nunes, former United States Representative for California's 22nd Congressional District[27]
* George Radanovich, former United States Representative for California's 19th congressional district[citation needed]
* Robert C. Tapella, 25th Public Printer of the United States

## Science and technology

[edit]

* Michael Alsbury, commercial astronaut, Virgin Galactic test pilot; killed in the 2014 Virgin Galactic crash[28]
* Tory Bruno, rocket scientist and CEO of United Launch Alliance[29]
* Greg Chamitoff (born 1962), astronaut[30]
* Robert L. Gibson (born 1946), astronaut[31]
* Victor J. Glover (born 1976), astronaut[32]
* David Haussler, professor at University of California, Santa Cruz
* Mark Lucovsky, software architect and a part of the team that designed Windows NT[33]
* Kristen Maitland, optical scientist and Fellow of SPIE
* Alison Murray, biochemist and Antarctic researcher
* Aaron Peckham, owner and creator of UrbanDictionary
* Burt Rutan (born 1943), designer of SpaceShipOne and Rutan Voyager[13]
* Peter Siebold, commercial astronaut, Virgin Galactic test pilot[34]
* Frederick W. Sturckow (born 1961), astronaut[13]

## Athletics

[edit]

### Baseball

[edit]

* Justin Bruihl (born 1997), MLB pitcher
* Kevin Correia (born 1980), MLB pitcher[35]
* Casey Fien (born 1983), MLB pitcher[36]
* Mitch Haniger (born 1990), MLB outfielder for the San Francisco Giants
* Mike Krukow (born 1952), former MLB pitcher and current broadcast announcer[13]
* Bud Norris (born 1985), MLB pitcher[37]
* Garrett Olson (born 1983), former MLB pitcher
* John Orton (born 1965), former MLB catcher[38]
* Ozzie Smith (born 1954), MLB Hall of Fame shortstop[13]
* Dean Treanor (born 1947), manager of the Indianapolis Indians[39]
* Joey Wagman (born 1991), pitcher[40]
* Bryan Woo (born 2000), MLB pitcher for the Seattle Mariners

### Basketball

[edit]

* Sean Chambers (born 1965), PBA player for the Alaska Aces
* Chris Eversley (born 1991), ABL player for the Malaysia Dragons
* Mike LaRoche (born 1946), ABA player for the Los Angeles Stars
* David Nwaba (born 1993), NBA player for the Chicago Bulls[41]
* Joe Prunty (born 1969), NBA assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks
* Derek Stockalper (born 1984), FIBA player for Swiss National Team
* Drake U'u (born 1990), NBL player for the Perth Wildcats

### Football

[edit]

* Marijon Ancich, high school football coach with the most wins in California history[42]
* Ramses Barden (born 1986), former NFL wide receiver
* Bobby Beathard (born 1937), NFL Hall of Fame GM
* Jordan Beck (born 1983), NFL linebacker[43]
* Alex Bravo (born 1930), former NFL defensive back
* Courtney Brown (born 1984), former NFL defensive back
* Sal Cesario (born 1963), former NFL offensive guard
* Jim Criner (born 1940), college football head coach
* Nick Dzubnar (born 1991), linebacker for San Diego Chargers
* Chris Gocong (born 1983), NFL linebacker[44]
* Asa Jackson (born 1989), NFL cornerback
* Mel Kaufman (1958–2009), former NFL linebacker Washington Redskins, 1981–1988
* John Madden (1936-2021), Pro Football Hall of Fame broadcaster, head coach, and player[7]
* Dana Nafziger (born 1953), NFL player
* Ted Tollner (born 1940), former NFL coach
* Cecil Turner (born 1944), former NFL WR/KR Chicago Bears, 1968–1973, selected to 1971 NFL Pro Bowl
* Fred Whittingham (born 1939), former NFL linebacker and coach

### Other athletes

[edit]

* Kip Colvey (born 1994), professional soccer player for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer; represents his home country New Zealand in international FIFA tournaments
* Sharon Day (born 1985), former NCAA women's high jump champion, 2011 USA outdoor national heptathlon champion
* Sean Johnston (rally driver) (born 1990), American World Rally Championship driver [45]
* Dean Karnazes, ultramarathoner
* Karen Kraft, U.S. silver medalist in coxless pair rowing at the 1996 Summer Olympics and a bronze medalist in coxless pairs at the 2000 Summer Olympics[46]
* Gene Lenz, All-American college swimmer, 1960 Summer Olympics finalist in the 400-meter freestyle
* Chuck Liddell (born 1969), wrestler; retired mixed martial artist, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, and UFC Hall of Fame member[47][48]
* Gan McGee, professional MMA fighter[citation needed]
* Chad Mendes (born 1985), 2008 NCAA wrestling runner-up at 141 lbs., professional MMA fighter, UFC featherweight contender[49]
* Gina Miles, U.S. silver medalist in individual eventing at the 2008 Summer Olympics[46]
* Borislav Novachkov, Olympic wrestler
* Gina Oceguera (born 1977), World Cup soccer player
* Anton Peterlin (born 1987), soccer player
* Victor Plata (born 1973), USA Olympian in the triathlon[50]
* Loren Roberts (born 1955), professional golfer on the PGA Tour[13]
* Monty Roberts (born 1935), professional horse trainer, former rodeo rider, and author
* Horton "Cotton" Rosser (1928-2022), 1951 All-Around National Champion, College National Finals Rodeo, Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, "King of the Cowboys", owner of Flying U Rodeo Company, Cal Poly honorary doctorate, honoree of the Cotton Rosser Rodeo Complex at Cal Poly
* Stephanie Brown Trafton (born 1979), U.S. gold medalist in discus throw at the 2008 Summer Olympics[46]
* Maggie Vessey (born 1981), professional 800-meter runner
* Barton Williams (born 1956), NCAA All-American 400m-hurdler

## Others

[edit]

* Scott C. Black (born 1952), lieutenant general (United States Army, Retired), 37th Judge Advocate General of the United States Army; the first lieutenant general to hold that position
* Wil Dasovich, Filipino American YouTube personality
* Maya Higa (born 1998), conservationist, falconer, wildlife rehabilitator, and Twitch streamer
* Laci Peterson (born 1975)
* Scott Peterson, convicted murderer
* Kristin Smart (born 1977)
* Gilbert H. Stork, president of Cuesta College

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ "Biography for Pedro Armendáriz". IMDb.
2. ^ "Michael Berryman". What A Character!.
3. ^ Kara Kelly Hallmark (2007). Encyclopedia of Asian American Artists. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 25–28. ISBN 978-0-313-33451-1. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
4. ^ Luke Chueh - Bio
5. ^ Danny Gans - Bio Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
6. ^ "Four Cal Poly Alumni Elevated to the American Institute of Architects' College of Fellows". College of Architecture & Environmental Design. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
7. ^ a b "John Madden - Cal Poly".
8. ^ "Alumni - Art and Design - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo". Artdesign.calpoly.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
9. ^ George Ramos
10. ^ "Suzanne Roberts". Suzanne Roberts. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
11. ^ "Who is Zach Shallcross, Cal Poly grad on The Bachelorette". The Tribune. July 13, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
12. ^ "Cal Poly grad now 'monster of folk'". Archived from the original on 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2013-01-18.
13. ^ a b c d e f g "Cal Poly Alumni Shine". Archived from the original on 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
14. ^ "Why Weed and Wine Have More in Common Than You Think". Wine Enthusiast. 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
15. ^ "How Jamie Evans is Pairing Her Passions". Leaf Nation. 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
16. ^ "Our Alumni – Our People – Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo". Calpoly.edu. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
17. ^ "Bob Mazzuca". Boy Scouts of America. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
18. ^ "Farzad Nazem". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 2007-03-24. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
19. ^ "Peter Oppenheimer". Apple Computer. Archived from the original on 2007-05-27.
20. ^ "Berryhill, released from hospital, takes Stanislaus County oath of office". modbee. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
21. ^ "ASSEMBLYMAN TOM BERRYHILL". California State Assembly. Archived from the original on 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
22. ^ "DENHAM, Jeff - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
23. ^ "Senator Dennis Hollingsworth: Biography". California State Senate. Archived from the original on 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
24. ^ "About". Congressman Doug LaMalfa. 2012-12-03. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
25. ^ "Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado". Lieutenant Governor of California.
26. ^ "California State University and Cal Poly Award Secretary of State Bruce McPherson Honorary Doctorate". Cal Poly. Archived from the original on 2007-06-08. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
27. ^ "Meet Devin | Congressman Devin Nunes". nunes.house.gov. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
28. ^ Pilot killed in spaceship crash identified
29. ^ https://www.alumni.calpoly.edu/s/699/alumni/index.aspx?sid=699&gid=1&pgid=1448. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
30. ^ "Astronaut Bio: Greg Chamitoff". NASA. 11 February 2015.
31. ^ "Astronaut Bio: R. L. Gibson". NASA. 11 February 2015.
32. ^ Whiting, Melanie (2016-02-04). "Victor J. Glover, Jr. (Commander, U.S. Navy) NASA Astronaut". NASA. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
33. ^ ""Shrek" Lead Effects Animator, Aerospace Researcher, Three Other Grads Honored by Cal Poly College of Engineering". Cal Poly. Archived from the original on 2006-09-07. Retrieved 2007-06-04.
34. ^ SpaceShipTwo pilots had many years of experience - CNN.com
35. ^ "Kevin Correia Statistics". baseball-reference.
36. ^ "Casey Fien Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
37. ^ "Bud Norris Statistics". baseball-reference.
38. ^ "John Orton Statistics". baseball-reference.
39. ^ http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?sid=t484&ymd=20050902&content_id=24686&vkey=roster. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
40. ^ "Joey Wagman Stats, Fantasy & News".
41. ^ "Bulls claim David Nwaba". NBA.com.
42. ^ "Marijon Ancich". GoPoly.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
43. ^ "NFL.com - Jordan Beck". NFL.
44. ^ "NFL.com - Chris Gocong". NFL.
45. ^ "INSIGHT: Sean Johnston on flying the Stars and Stripes in the WRC". 13 October 2021.
46. ^ a b c "Cal Poly: Athletic and Academic Excellence". Archived from the original on 2020-08-02. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
47. ^ "Chuck Liddell". USMTA.com.
48. ^ "Chuck Liddell UFC Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
49. ^ "Chad Mendes UFC Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
50. ^ "United States Olympic Committee - Plata, Victor". USA Olympic Team. Archived from the original on 2007-03-13. Retrieved 2007-03-22.

* v
* t
* e

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Academics|

* Architecture and Environmental Design
* Orfalea College of Business
* Engineering

Student life|

* Alumni
* The "P"
* Cal Poly Universities Rose Float
* KCPR
* Mustang Band
* Mercy Bowl

Campus facilities|

* Alex G. Spanos Stadium
* Leaning Pine Arboretum
* Robert A. Mott Athletics Center
* Robert E. Kennedy Library
* Robin Baggett Stadium
* University House

Athletics|

| Programs|

* Cal Poly Mustangs
* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Football
* Men's soccer

|

Rivals|

* UC Davis
* Battle for the Golden Horseshoe
* UC Santa Barbara
* Blue–Green Rivalry

## External links

[edit]

* http://www.calpoly.edu/aboutcp.html#_national Archived 2008-12-16 at the Wayback Machine

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