List of Chapman University alumni explained

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^[1]
• 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
• James Deese – psychologist, faculty of the University of Virginia, and chairman of the psychology department at Johns Hopkins University
• 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^[2]
• 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
• 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^[3]
• 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!^[4]
• Leslie Jones (non-degreed, left in 1986) – comedian, former Saturday Night Live cast member^[5]
• Tyler Patrick Jones – actor^[6]
• 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 in such roles as Charlie Calvin in Disney's The Santa Clause film trilogy
• Kellan Lutz – fashion model and actor^[7]
• 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^[8]
• Malea Rose (BFA) – actress, writer, and producer
• Utkarsh Sharma (BFA) – Indian actor
• Justin Simien (2005) – filmmaker, actor, and author; director of Dear White People^[9]
• 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^[10]
• Carles Torrens (BFA 2008) – film director^[11]
• Josie Totah - actress, writer and producer
  • 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
  • Kyla Stone — Broadway actress, known for being the first Black actress to play “Anya” in Anastasia (musical) and making her Broadway debut in Harmony (musical) Stacey Tappan (1995) – opera singer
• Jason Thornberry (MFA) – magazine writer and musician with the Southern California alternative-punk group Mulch
• Deborah Voigt – opera singer

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!^[12]
• 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 who served as the first director of staff of the United States Space Force
• Rick Francona – commentator and media military analyst for NBC and CNN and 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 and the first woman to command an Army infantry division^[13]

Politics

• Paul Anderson – Nevada State Assembly^[14]
• George Argyros (1959) – U.S. Ambassador to Spain and former owner of Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball^[15]
• David E. Bonior (MA 1972) – United States House of Representatives from Michigan (1977–2003), House Minority Whip (1995–2002), House Majority Whip (1991–95)^[16]
• Sean Elo-Rivera (2009) – president of the San Diego City Council
• Bill Essayli (JD) – California State Assembly
• Matthew C. Jacobson (MBA) – 2010 Republican nomination for Governor of Maine and business executive
• 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^[17]
• Loretta Sanchez (1982) – United States House of Representatives^[18]
• 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^[19]
• 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) – a 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^[20]
• 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^[21]
• 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^[22]
• 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) - MLB/NHL Network television personality, co-host of Intentional Talk, and play-by-play announcer for the MLB Network-produced Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+.^{[23] [24]}
• 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 for both their NASCAR Paul Swingle – professional baseball player^[25]
• 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

Notes and References

1. Web site: October 8, 2021 . Spring 2019 Course Offering: FTV 229/529 New Landscape of Media with Chapman Alum Cooper Hefner - Dodge College of Film and Media Arts . https://web.archive.org/web/20211008083327/https://blogs.chapman.edu/dodge/announcement/spring-2019-course-offering-ftv-229-529-new-landscape-of-media/ . October 8, 2021 . October 8, 2021.
2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/683791362/?clipping_id=146075476 "Chapman Drama Club to Give Play"
3. News: Birk . Libby . January 2, 2019 . 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and 'Super Dave Osborne' Actor Bob Einstein Dead at 76 . Popculture . November 11, 2020.
4. Web site: Martelle . Scott . February 15, 2018 . Chapman Alum Ben York Jones is Destined For Success With Hit Movie "Like Crazy" . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211008085112/https://www.orangecoast.com/features/chapman-alum-ben-york-jones/ . October 8, 2021 . October 8, 2021 . Orange Coast Magazine . en-US.
5. Web site: Arp . Dennis . October 18, 2016 . Reports of cyber-bullying prompt an outpouring of love for Leslie Jones . October 8, 2021 . Chapman Newsroom . en.
6. Web site: August 3, 2018 . Center Stage: TYLER PATRICK JONES . lwos.life.
7. Web site: Jarvis . Rebecca . From Farm to Fame: Kellan Lutz's Journey to Hollywood . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160930144023/http://abcnews.go.com/Business/farm-fame-kellan-lutzs-journey-hollywood/story?id=42429774 . September 30, 2016 . October 8, 2021 . ABC News . en.
8. Web site: Coker . Matt . November 17, 2009 . How Chapman University's Logo Got a Cameo in "The Fourth Kind" – OC Weekly . 2023-10-07 . OC Weekly.
9. Web site: Tully . Sarah . October 25, 2014 . Justin Simien's 'Dear White People' is influenced by, but not based on, his years at Chapman University . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170505001122/http://www.ocregister.com:80/2014/10/25/justin-simiens-dear-white-people-is-influenced-by-but-not-based-on-his-years-at-chapman-university/ . May 5, 2017 . October 8, 2021 . Orange County Register . en-US.
10. Web site: Jodie Sweetin talks addiction, acting and attending Chapman . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200717210028/https://www.thepantheronline.com/news/addiction-acting-jodie-sweetin-discusses-alcoholism-full-house#comments . July 17, 2020 . April 3, 2018 . The Panther.
11. Web site: Dodge School of the Arts: Graduate Film Studies . February 18, 2016 . page 93.
12. Web site: Valencia . Carolina . September 8, 2019 . Chapman alumnus and journalist returns to campus for panel . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211008091444/https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/news/chapman-alumnus-and-journalist-returns-for-panel . October 8, 2021 . October 8, 2021 . The Panther Newspaper . en-US.
13. News: Burge . David . October 1, 2017 . First woman takes command at Joint Task Force North at Fort Bliss . USA Today . El Paso Times . June 15, 2019.
14. Web site: Chapman alumnus Paul Anderson elected to Nevada assembly. January 31, 2013. Chapman. September 11, 2014.
15. Web site: December 28, 2007 . U.S. Mission in Spain – Ambassador Argyros Bio . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071228090929/http://madrid.usembassy.gov/emba/ambargyrosen.html . December 28, 2007 . December 17, 2017.
16. Web site: General Information . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100607135139/https://www.chapman.edu/catalog/oc/current/content/1369.htm . June 7, 2010 . September 8, 2010 . Chapman.edu.
17. Web site: Bonker . Dawn . September 26, 2016 . Alumna Joanna Rosholm '07, working as the First Lady's press secretary, talks about a capital career . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210302144438/https://news.chapman.edu/2016/09/26/inside-view-alumna-joanna-rosholm-07-working-as-the-first-ladys-press-secretary-talks-about-a-capital-career-the-white-house/ . March 2, 2021 . October 8, 2021 . Chapman Newsroom . en.
18. Web site: Biography | Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140404140015/https://lorettasanchez.house.gov/about-me/full-biography . April 4, 2014 . April 4, 2014.
19. Web site: May 7, 2010 . Jim Silva – Biography . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100507191832/http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/67/?p=bio . May 7, 2010 . December 17, 2017.
20. February 5, 2021 . Black History Month features: Emmett Ashford '41 . Black History Month . en.
21. Web site: Tim Flannery '79 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150910092755/http://www.chapmanathletics.com/hof/bios/flannery . September 10, 2015 . October 8, 2021 . Chapman Athletics.
22. Web site: Randy Jones Statistics and History . Baseball-Reference.com . September 8, 2010.
23. Web site: April 6, 2022 . Your 2022 MLB regular season broadcasting primer . May 28, 2022 . Awful Announcing . en-US.
24. Web site: Rigdon . Jay . March 23, 2021 . Stephen Nelson is the new co-host of MLB Network's Intentional Talk . November 23, 2021 . Awful Announcing.
25. Web site: Paul Swingle - Baseball . 2023-10-07 . Grand Canyon University Athletics . en.