List of California State University, Fresno people
California State University, Fresno boast numerous notable alumni, faculty, and presidents.
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Notable alumni
Breanne Slimick, Community Development Specialist, Concert Pianist, Double Dutch Champion of Yugoslavia
- Armen A. Alchian, Professor Emeritus, Founder of the "UCLA Tradition" in Economics
- Dot Marie Jones, Hollywood actress
- Marvin Baxter, Justice, California Supreme Court
- Todd Beamer, victim of the September 11 attacks (passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93)
- Robert Beltran, Actor, Commander Chakotay of the USS Voyager (Star Trek)
- William Boyanjian, former President, Gemological Institute of America
- Lee P. Brown, former Mayor of Houston, former New York Police Commissioner
- Ezunial Burts, President - Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
- Cruz Bustamante, California Lieutenant Governor
- Sara Carden, Leading Metallurgist, bedlamite riviter.
- Ron Catalano Musician
- Daniel Chacón, University professor, acclaimed essayist, playwright, and fiction writer
- Malinda Chouinard, Owner of Patagonia, one of the world's most successful designers of outdoor clothing and gear
- Noreen Corcoran, Actress
- Jim Costa, U.S. Representative, Former California State Assembly Member
- Joy Covey, Former Chief Strategy Officer, Amazon.com
- Sid Craig, CEO, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Jenny Craig, Inc.
- Dr. Joseph Crowley, President Emeritus, University of Nevada
- John Lofgren, Owner of John Lofgren & Co., a clothing and accessories brand located in Sendai, Japan
- Nat DiBuduo, President, Allied Grape Growers of California
- William Everson, poet (did not graduate)
- David Fillpot, President of Alaras Software, enterprise software development
- Major General Jon Gallinetti, Commander Joint Warfighting Center, and Director, Joint Training, J-7, U.S. Joint Forces Command
- Geoffrey Gamble, President, Montana State Univ.
- Kirk D. Grimes, Exec. of Energy & Chemicals, Fluor Corp
- Kenny Guinn, Governor of Nevada
- Joe Heitz, Heitz Wine Cellars, established the viticulture program at California State University, Fresno.
- Richard Douglas Husband, mission commander, shuttle Columbia STS107, 2003
- Sam Iacobellis, CEO, Rockwell International (retired). Led development of B1 bomber
- Bill Jones, former California Secretary of State
- Kasey Kahl, Advertising Executive and reality TV actor on Bachelor Pad
- Cuneyt Koryurek, Turkish journalist, Author tr:Cüneyt Koryürek
- Emily Kuroda, Award-Winning Actress
- Brad Lewis, producer of Ratatouille
- Janet Nichols Lynch, author
- Barry Keith Marlow, Nationally-Syndicated Radio Host, 1996 CMA Radio Personality of the Year.
- Jose Benito Martinez Jr.,Television, Warner Bros.
- Mike Martz, former NFL head coach, St. Louis Rams, current offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears
- Manny Mashouf, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, bebe stores
- Christopher Miles, Calcitrater of tires
- Brandon Molale, Actor
- Col. Steven Nagel, NASA Astronaut
- Joe Odagiri, Japanese actor
- Paul O'Neill, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, CEO of Alcoa Corporation
- Daniel Paz, California's Leading radiological researcher, Noted ST Bridge Cdr.
- Sam Peckinpah, Film director
- Dr. Norval Pohl, Former President, University of North Texas
- Charles Poochigian, California State Senator
- Lyle Setencich, former Boise State Broncos head football coach, former Texas Tech Red Raiders football defensive coordinator[1]
- Gary Soto, acclaimed poet, essayist, and fiction writer
- Sribala Subramanian, Times Magazine journalist
- Sherley Anne Williams, Author, National Book Award Nominee, Emmy Award Winner
- Thomas Nixon, Author
- Frank Nersesian, Raisin Administrative Committee
- Megan LeBlanc, Molecular Biologist
Notable athletes
- Fresno State Bound Shaq "CatDaddy" Davis - Notable standout basketball player at St. Dominic High School. Projected as a future #1 MLB and NBA draft pick in 2015. Dubbed the "next Michael Jordan" by Dikembe Mutombo
- Stephen Abas - Olympic Silver medalist Freestyle Wrestling - Athens, Greece (2004); 3-time NCAA champion
- Courtney Alexander - former NBA player
- Rafer Alston - NBA point guard, New Jersey Nets, And1/New York City streetball legend Skip to my Lou
- Jahine Arnold - former NFL wide receiver
- Stephen Baker - former NFL wide receiver
- Laura Berg - three-time Olympic gold-medalist, USA Softball
- Bernard Berrian - NFL wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings. Played in Super Bowl XLI with the Chicago Bears
- Sonny Bishop - former AFL offensive lineman
- Reggie Brown - former NFL fullback
- David Carr, San Francisco 49ers quarterback - 1st overall draft pick in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans
- Duane Carter, former Indianapolis 500 racer
- Ron Cox - former NFL linebacker (Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers), NCAA sacks leader
- Aaron Craver - former NFL fullback
- Tyrone Culver - NFL safety, Green Bay Packers
- Trent Dilfer - former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl-champion quarterback as member of the Baltimore Ravens
- Henry Ellard - former NFL wide receiver
- Melvin Ely - NBA forward-center who is currently a free agent, two-time WAC Player of the Year (2001-2002)
- Noel Felix - former NBA player, NBDL player, Anaheim Arsenal
- Vernon Fox - NFL safety, Denver Broncos
- Jethro Franklin - NFL assistant coach, Houston Texans, former NFL player
- Hiram Fuller - former NBA player
- Augie Garrido - University of Texas baseball coach
- Matt Garza- MLB pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
- A. J. Gass - former CFL linebacker
- Paul K. George - NBA player Indiana Pacers
- Tom Goodwin - former MLB outfielder, former NCAA steals leader
- Dan Gladden - former MLB outfielder
- Cory Hall - former NFL safety
- Gary Hayes - former NFL defensive back
- Chris Herren - former NBA player
- Rod Higgins - General Manager, Golden State Warriors
- Orlando Huff - former NFL linebacker
- Ervin Hunt - former NFL defensive back
- Lane Kiffin - Head football coach at the University of Southern California, Former Tennessee Volunteers Head Coach, Former Oakland Raiders Head Coach, former USC Offensive Coordinator, former Fresno State quarterback
- Jermaine Jamison - NFL wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
- Chris Jefferies - former NBA player, Argentine national league player, Club Sportivo Ben Hur
- Adam Jennings - NFL wide receiver, Detroit Lions
- Bobby Jones - former MLB pitcher, 1991 NCAA Player of the Year
- Charlie Jones - former NFL wide receiver
- Louis Leonard - NFL defensive tackle, Cleveland Browns
- Tito Maddox - former NBA player
- Dominic McGuire - NBA player, Charlotte Bobcats
- Robin Mackin - Pitcher for Canadian National Softball Team, representing her home country in 2008 summer Olympics
- Logan Mankins - NFL offensive lineman, New England Patriots (first-round draft pick 2005)
- Dante Marsh - CFL cornerback, BC Lions
- Richard Marshall - NFL cornerback, Carolina Panthers
- Mike Martz - Offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears
- Marcus McCauley - NFL cornerback, Minnesota Vikings
- Mike Moffitt - former NFL tight end
- Lorenzo Neal - former NFL Fullback, 3-time Pro Bowler
- Tom Neville - former NFL guard
- Stephone Paige - former NFL wide receiver
- Terry Pendleton - former MLB third baseman, 1991 National League MVP Atlanta Braves
- Michael Pittman - former NFL Running Back, currently with Florida Tuskers of the UFL
- Marquez Pope - former NFL Defensive Back
- Ron Rivers - former NFL running back
- Terrance Roberson - Euroleague basketball player
- Bryan Robinson - NFL defensive end, Cincinnati Bengals
- James Sanders - NFL safety, New England Patriots
- Stephen Spach - NFL tight end, Arizona Cardinals
- Jamie Southern - Team USA national softball team pitcher
- Michael Stewart - former NFL safety
- Omar Stoutmire - former NFL safety
- Kevin Sutherland - PGA Tour golfer, won 2002 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
- Kevin Sweeney - former NCAA record-setter in career passing yards and former NFL quarerback
- Jerry Tarkanian - legendary, controversial basketball coach (Fresno State, UNLV, San Antonio Spurs). Won NCAA basketball title as head coach at UNLV.
- Jeff Tedford - Head Football Coach, Cal Bears
- Lavale Thomas - former NFL running back
- Billy Volek - NFL Quarterback, San Diego Chargers
- Derrick Ward - NFL running back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cornelius Warmerdam - former pole vault world record holder
- Anthony Washington - former NFL cornerback
- Tim Washington - former NFL defensive back
- Nick Watney - PGA Tour golfer, NCAA All-American, and 2007 Zurich New Orleans champion
- Jeff Weaver - MLB pitcher, currently a free agent
- Chastin West - NFL wide receiver, Green Bay Packers
- James Williams - former NFL defensive back
- Paul Williams - NFL wide receiver, Tennessee Titans
- Sam Williams - NFL linebacker, Oakland Raiders
- Tydus Winans - former NFL wide receiver
- Cameron Worrell - former NFL safety
- Dwayne Wright - NFL running back, currently a free agent
- Rodney Bernard Wright, Jr. - former Arena Football League wide receiver, currently on San Francisco 49ers practice squad
- Ryan Mathews - 2010 NFL Draft, first-round selection, 12th overall pick, NFL Running Back, San Diego Chargers
Notable faculty and staff
- Dr. John Crossley, Recreation Professor - World-renowned recreation professional and author.
- Dr. James M. Cypher, Senior Economics Professor - Expert on economic development in Latin America.
- Dr. Robert G. Dundas - Paleontologist and expert in flannel fashion.
- Kenneth Fugelsang, Fresno State Winemaster - Leads world-renowned enology program.
- Dr. Gary P. Gilroy, Music Professor and Department Chair- Noted Composer for both marching and concert bands.
- Dr. Eric W. Hickey, Criminology Professor - Noted criminologist and author.
- Dr. Lan Jin, Computer Science Professor - Expert in parallel design processors.
- Dr. Robert Levine, Social Psychologist - Notable author.
- Dr. Christopher J. Pluhar - Paleomagnetism expert - Earth and Environmental Sciences Dept.
- Dr. Keith Putirka, Geology Professor - Expert Volcanologist.
- Dr. Manuchehr Shahrokhi, Founding Editor of the Global Finance Journal (1989) author & Scholar
- Bruce Thornton, Humanities and Classics - Notable author.
- Alex Espinoza, Professor of Creative Writing, author of Still Water Saints
- Randa Jarrar, Professor of Creative Writing, author of Map of Home
- Dr. John Wakabayashi, Geology Professor - Expert in Sierra Nevada orogeny and the brewing sciences.
Notable former faculty and staff
- Gene Bluestein — author and folk musician
- Lillian Faderman, MFA — English professor emeritus—acclaimed author
- Victor Davis Hanson, founder of Classics Department — historian, essayist, columnist and television personality; author of Mexifornia and Carnage and Culture.
- W. Hudson Kensel, historian of the American West
- Philip Levine, English — widely known poet and Pulitzer Prize winner, Current Poet Laureate of the United States
- Roger Mahony, social work — Roman Catholic Cardinal and Archbishop of Los Angeles
- Juan Serrano, Music professor — Noted master of guitar in the flamenco style.
- Lawrence Sutherland — Director of Bands and Professor of Music since 1969.
- Roger Tatarian, journalism — Editor-in-Chief, United Press International (deceased)
References