Notable Alumni of Pepperdine University

Rod Blagojevich 1956–

40th governor of Illinois

Juris Doctor · Class of 1983

Also attended: Northwestern University

Spouse: Patricia Blagojevich (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Chung Sye-kyun 1950–

Former prime minister of South Korea

Also attended: New York University

Katie Zacharia 1984–

Lawyer, conservative commentator, former White House press secretary

Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Arts · Political science · Class of 2011

Michelle Park Steel 1955–

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea and former Representative

Bachelor of Business Science

Also attended: University of Southern California

Spouse: Shawn Steel (California State University-Northridge, University of Southern California)

Teodoro Nguema 1968–

First Vice President of Equatorial Guinea

James Hahn 1950–

40th mayor of Los Angeles

Father: Kenneth Hahn (Pepperdine University)

Sibling: Janice Hahn (Abilene Christian University)

Fiona Ma 1966–

California state treasurer

Also attended: Golden Gate University, Rochester Institute of Technology

Tommy Cheung 1949–

Hong Kong Liberal Party leader and Exco member

David Ellison 1983–

Skydance founder, chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance

Also attended: University of Southern California

Father: Larry Ellison (University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Benjamin de Rothschild 1963–2021

Banker; owner of Edmond de Rothschild Group

Spouse: Ariane de Rothschild (Pace University-New York)

Victor Tsao 1951–

Co-founder of Linksys, sold to Cisco

Also attended: Illinois Institute of Technology

Jon McBride 1943–2024

Navy officer and NASA astronaut

Human resource management

Also attended: Naval Postgraduate School, West Virginia University

Christine Blasey Ford 1966–

Psychology professor and Stanford research psychologist

Master of Psychology

Also attended: University of Southern California, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University

Molefi Kete Asante 1942–

Temple professor and theorist of Afrocentricity

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Oklahoma Christian University, Southwestern Christian College

Child: M. K. Asante (University of California-Los Angeles, Lafayette College)

Michelle Monaghan 1976–

Actress known for Source Code

Also attended: Columbia College Chicago, Circle in the Square Theatre School

Brandy Norwood 1979–

R&B singer, songwriter and actress

Sibling: Snoop Dogg (Compton College)

Chace Crawford 1985–

Actor known for Gossip Girl and The Boys

John Lasseter 1957–

Animator, director, former Pixar chief creative officer

Also attended: California Institute of the Arts

Kelly Hu 1968–

Actress and model

Michael Shermer 1954–

Science writer, founder of Skeptic magazine

Also attended: California State University-Fullerton

Eric Christian Olsen 1977–

Actor in NCIS: Los Angeles

D.J. Caruso 1965–

Film and television director and screenwriter

Janine Turner 1962–

Actress known for Northern Exposure

Also attended: The United States Military Academy at West Point

Tia Mowry 1978–

Actress known for sitcom Sister, Sister

Sibling: Tamera Mowry (Pepperdine University)

Sibling: Tahj Mowry (Pepperdine University, Savannah State University)

Cayden Boyd 1994–

Actor in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl

Sibling: Jenna Boyd (Pepperdine University)

Tamera Mowry 1978–

Actress and TV personality, star of Sister, Sister

Bachelor of Science

Spouse: Adam Housley (University of Arizona, Pepperdine University)

Sibling: Tahj Mowry (Pepperdine University, Savannah State University)

Tahj Mowry 1987–

Actor and singer known for Smart Guy

Also attended: Savannah State University

Sibling: Tamera Mowry (Pepperdine University)

Sibling: Tia Mowry (Pepperdine University)

Ashley Jones 1976–

Soap opera actress

James Read 1953–

Actor in North and South and Charmed

Also attended: University of Oregon

Carrie Hamilton 1963–2002

Actress, playwright and singer

Mother: Carol Burnett (University of California-Los Angeles)

Pierce Brown 1988–

Science fiction author of the Red Rising series

Jenna Boyd 1993–

Actress in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Sibling: Cayden Boyd (Pepperdine University)

Meredith Salenger 1970–

Actress, starred in The Journey of Natty Gann

Also attended: Harvard University

Spouse: Patton Oswalt (College of William and Mary)

Les Baxter 1922–1996

Composer and conductor known for exotica music

Montell Jordan 1968–

R&B singer known for This Is How We Do It

Kim Fields 1969–

Actress and director, former child star

Clayton Snyder 1987–

Actor known for Lizzie McGuire

Sharon Draper 1948–

Children's writer and 1997 National Teacher of the Year

Adaora Lily Ulasi 1932–2016

Nigerian journalist and novelist

Also attended: University of Southern California

Mela Lee 1976–

Voice actress and singer

Steven Barnes 1952–

Science fiction, fantasy and mystery writer

Spouse: Tananarive Due (Northwestern University)

Anna Canzano 1976–

Broadcast journalist and television host

Dennis Johnson 1954–2007

Former NBA player and Clippers coach

Also attended: Los Angeles Harbor College

Robert Lindstedt 1977–

Swedish former professional doubles tennis player

Mayar Sherif 1996–

Egyptian professional tennis player

Luisa Stefani 1997–

Brazilian doubles tennis player

Alex Acker 1983–

Former professional basketball player

Sarah Attar 1992–

Saudi-American runner and Olympian

Art

Lynn Biyendolo 1993–

US women's national team forward

Doug Christie 1970–

Former NBA player, head coach of the Sacramento Kings

Janice Tjen 2002–

Indonesian professional tennis player

Also attended: University of Oregon

Yakhouba Diawara 1982–

French former professional basketball player

Kelly Jones 1964–

Tennis player, former doubles world No. 1

Roxanne Kimberly Barker 1991–

South African women's national team goalkeeper

Glenn Michibata 1962–

Canadian tennis player and former Princeton coach

Dain Blanton 1971–

Beach volleyball player, 2000 Olympic gold medalist

Marcos Leite 1952–2026

Brazilian basketball player and three-time Olympian

Malcolm Thomas 1988–

Professional basketball player, San Diego State alumnus

Also attended: San Diego City College, San Diego State University

Fred Winters 1982–

Canadian professional volleyball player

Bird Averitt 1952–2020

ABA and NBA player, 1975 ABA champion

Kessler Edwards 2000–

Basketball player for Virtus Bologna

Brandon Armstrong 1980–

Former NBA player, 2001 first-round pick

Michelle Pao 1992–

Former Taiwanese footballer

C. David Baker 1953–

Former president and CEO of Pro Football Hall of Fame

Also attended: University of California-Irvine

Mike Cernovich 1977–

Right-wing social media personality and commentator

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Springfield