List of Valdosta State University people

The list of Valdosta State University people includes notable alumni, faculty affiliated with Valdosta State University, and famous athletes. (Members of each section are in alphabetical order)

Notable alumni

Academia

• Donald Stoker (historian), military historian
• Elizabeth Gassel Perkins, Ed.D., Dean, Darton State College - Albany, GA
• Charles S. Ellis, Ph.D., Liberal Arts, Literature Instructor

Arts, media, and entertainment

• 6lack, R&B singer, songwriter, and rapper
• Lisa Blount, former actress and Oscar winner
• Brad Carter, actor and musician
• Steve Ekstrom, author and comic book expert
• Debra Fordham, Emmy-nominated writer and producer for the American sitcom Scrubs^[1] and a writer-producer on the Lifetime television series Army Wives
• Nancy Grace, world-wide CNN media personality, attended Valdosta State University, and later received a B.A. from Mercer University^[2]
• Scott Hudson, former professional wrestling announcer with WCW
• Bruce Joyner (rock musician), lead singer of The Unknowns, Bruce Joyner and the Plantations and a distinguished solo career
• Amanda Kozak, pageant titleholder from Warner Robins, Georgia who competed in the Miss America and Miss USA pageants^[3]
• Ray McKinnon, actor and husband of Lisa Blount
• Pauley Perrette, American actress, known for playing Abby Sciuto on the U.S. TV series NCIS^[4]
• David R Stone Jr. "The Kraken" ... American Actor The History Channels Television Seris AxMen chronicles the world's most dangerous job River Logging founder of The Dreadknots DreadKnots"
• Chris Crenshaw, trombonist with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis
• Marcus Lewis, trombonist with Janelle Monae and the Ohio Players and Director of Future Jazz in Kansas City

Athletics

• Briny Baird, American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour
• Dusty Bonner, two time Harlon Hill Trophy winner and quarterback in the National Football League (NFL).
• Jason Bulger, American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball.
• Richard Collier, former offensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL)
• Larry Dean, Linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL)
• Antonio Edwards, ex-NFL defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons and others of the National Football League (NFL)
• Glacier, professional wrestler.
• Seantavius Jones, WR for New Orleans Saints of National Football League (NFL)
• Edmund Kugbila, ex-offensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL)
• Maurice Leggett, defensive back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL)
• Alvoid Mays, former NFL player who played some at VSU.
• Ryan Schraeder, offensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL)
• Jessie Tuggle, former professional American football linebacker who played for the Atlanta Falcons his entire career from 1987 to 2000.
• Artie Ulmer, former NFL linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons and others of e National Football League (NFL)
• Lawrence Virgil, defensive lineman for New Orleans Saints of National Football League (NFL)

Business and industry

• Justin Lewis, software designer and entrepreneur, and one of the founders of NationalField, a software company that makes private social networks.
• David Ratcliffe, retired CEO of Fortune 500 Southern Company
• David Walsh, CEO and Chairman of Genband,^[5] Chairman of NETAS (Turkey's leading Telecom service provider)

Government and law

• Amy Carter, Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing the 175th district since 2007.
• Patrick Faber, Belizean politician, currently the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports in Belize
• Tim Golden, Republican member of the Georgia State Senate, representing the 8th District since 1998.
• Vernon Keenan, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the state's primary investigation and law enforcement agency.
• Marc Thomas Treadwell, U.S.s district judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

Religious figures

• Randy Brinson, Christian right activist and gastroenterologist from Montgomery, Alabama^[6]

Notable faculty

Administration

• Ward B. Pafford, chairman of the English Department at Emory University from 1953 to 1958, Dean of the college at Valdosta State University from 1966 to 1971, and president of the University of West Georgia from 1971 to 1975.^[7]

Athletics

• Bret Campbell, current director of basketball operations at Murry State University and former head coach of UT-Martin.
• Mike Cavan, American football coach who served as the head coach at Valdosta State University (1986–1991), East Tennessee State University (1992–1996), and Southern Methodist University (1997–2001)
• David Dean, current football coach of VSU; won the NCAA Division II Football Championship in 2007 (his first year as coach) and 2012.
• Matt Dunigan, former offensive coordinator at VSU and ex-CFL player and current TSN sports commentator
• Chris Hatcher, former quarterback for Valdosta State (1991–1994) and current head football coach at Murray State University. Hatcher was the former head coach of Valdosta State University and Georgia Southern University
• Dana Holgorsen, quarterbacks, receivers and special teams coach at VSU (1993–95) and current head football coach at West Virginia^[8]
• Mike Kelly, VSU head football coach 1997–1999
• Guy Morriss, offensive line coach at VSU (1992–1993) and current head coach of the Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team
• Hal Mumme, VSU head football coach from 1992–1996, and current the offensive coordinator at Southern Methodist University.
• Will Muschamp, defensive coordinator for VSU football in 2000; former head coach of the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida.
• Mike Leach, offensive coordinator at VSU (1992–1996), former head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team, and currently head coach at Washington State University.^[9]
• Kirby Smart, former VSU defensive coordinator and current Head Football Coach for the University of Georgia
• Tommy Thomas, former head coach of the VSU baseball team from 1967 to 2007, and the first and only Division II coach to reach 1,200 wins^[10]

References