Notable Alumni of San Diego State University

Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga 1947–2026

7th Governor of American Samoa

Also attended: Chadron State College

Ken Calvert 1953–

U.S. Representative from California

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1975

Also attended: Chaffey College

Sandra Pierantozzi 1953–

Former Vice-President of Palau

Also attended: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Union Adventist University

Duncan D. Hunter 1976–

Former U.S. representative and Marine veteran

Bachelor of Science · Class of 2001

Father: Duncan L. Hunter (Thomas Jefferson School of Law, The University of Montana)

Kevin Faulconer 1967–

36th Mayor of San Diego

Lemanu Peleti Mauga 1960–

Eighth governor of American Samoa

Also attended: University of Hawaii at Manoa, American Samoa Community College

Chen Man-li 1955–

Taiwanese environmentalist and DPP politician

Ellen Ochoa 1958–

Former astronaut and director of Johnson Space Center

Also attended: Stanford University

Julia Hall Bowman Robinson 1919–1985

Mathematician who worked on Hilbert's tenth problem

Attended until 1939

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Spouse: Raphael M. Robinson (University of California-Berkeley)

Sibling: Constance Reid (University of California-Berkeley, San Diego State University)

Don Walsh 1931–2023

Oceanographer who dove to Challenger Deep in 1960

Also attended: United States Naval Academy, Texas A & M University-College Station

Arthur R. Jensen 1923–2012

Educational psychology professor at UC Berkeley

Master of Arts

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, Columbia University in the City of New York

Jacques A. Gauthier 1948–

Paleontologist and a founder of cladistics in biology

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Roderick S. C. Wong 1944–

Mathematician specializing in classical analysis

Gregory Peck 1916–2003

American film star

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater

Raquel Welch 1940–2023

Actress, known for Fantastic Voyage

Julie Kavner 1950–

Actress, voice of Marge Simpson

Carl Weathers 1948–2024

Actor who played Apollo Creed in Rocky

Master of Arts

Also attended: Long Beach City College, San Francisco State University

Greg Bear 1951–2022

Science fiction writer

Saweetie 1993–

Rapper known for debut single Icy Grl

Also attended: University of Southern California

Kathleen Kennedy 1953–

Film producer and former president of Lucasfilm

Spouse: Frank Marshall (University of California-Los Angeles)

Vernor Vinge 1944–2024

Science fiction author and computer science professor

Also attended: University of California-San Diego, Michigan State University

Spouse: Joan D. Vinge (San Diego State University)

J. Michael Straczynski 1954–

Screenwriter, filmmaker and comic book writer

Also attended: Southwestern College

Marion Ross 1928–

Actress known for Happy Days

Also attended: University of California-San Diego

Susanna Thompson 1958–

Actress known for Little Giants

Kathy Najimy 1957–

Actress and comedian

Spouse: Dan Finnerty (Emerson College)

Destin Daniel Cretton 1978–

Director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Also attended: Point Loma Nazarene University

Robert Hays 1947–

Actor, star of Airplane!

Also attended: Grossmont College

Cleavon Little 1939–1992

Actor who began his career on stage

Also attended: San Diego City College, American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York, The Juilliard School

John Baldessari 1931–2020

Conceptual artist

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Abby Martin 1984–

Journalist, television presenter and activist

Spouse: Michael Prysner (Florida Atlantic University)

Joan D. Vinge 1948–

Science fiction author of The Snow Queen

Russell Carpenter 1950–

Cinematographer who won an Oscar for Titanic

Janet Varney 1976–

Actress, voice of Korra in The Legend of Korra

Also attended: San Francisco State University

Summer Altice 1979–

Fashion model and actress

Mary Ellen Trainor 1952–2015

Character actress in The Goonies

Spouse: Robert Zemeckis (University of Southern California, Northern Illinois University)

Vic Fuentes 1983–

Co-founder and lead vocalist of Pierce the Veil

Darla K. Anderson 1968–

Film producer, formerly at Pixar Animation Studios

Sid Fleischman 1920–2010

Children's author and screenwriter

Child: Paul Fleischman (University of California-Berkeley)

Andrew Lauer 1965–

Actor, filmmaker and founder of ReelAid

Brinke Stevens 1954–

Actress, director and screenwriter

Also attended: University of California-San Diego

Spouse: Dave Stevens (San Diego City College)

Kawhi Leonard 1991–

NBA player, two-time Finals MVP

Steven Beitashour 1987–

Iran international footballer, now Toronto FC assistant coach

Arnie Robinson 1948–2020

Long jumper

Marcelo Balboa 1967–

Former US national soccer team captain

Also attended: Cerritos College

Eric Wynalda 1969–

Soccer player, coach and television commentator

Shanieka Ricketts 1992–

Jamaican triple jumper, 2024 Olympic silver medallist

Stephen Strasburg 1988–

Former MLB pitcher for the Washington Nationals

Joe Corona 1990–

Former American professional soccer midfielder

Jimmy Conrad 1977–

Former MLS defender, 2005 MLS Defender of the Year

Willie Steele 1923–1989

1948 Olympic long jump gold medalist

Also attended: San Jose State University

Xander Schauffele 1993–

Professional golfer, Tokyo Olympic gold medalist

Billy Konchellah 1961–

Kenyan 800m runner and two-time world champion

Fred Dryer 1946–

Former NFL defensive end and actor

Attended until 1968

Also attended: El Camino Community College District

Malachi Flynn 1998–

Professional basketball player for Bahçeşehir Koleji

Also attended: Washington State University

Tony Gwynn 1960–2014

Hall of Fame baseball right fielder

Child: Tony Gwynn Jr. (San Diego State University)

Sibling: Chris Gwynn (San Diego State University)

Joe Gibbs 1940–

Former Washington Redskins coach and racing team owner

Also attended: Cerritos College

Florence Chadwick 1918–1995

First woman to swim the English Channel both directions

Marcus Slaughter 1985–

Former professional basketball player

Marshall Faulk 1973–

Former NFL running back and college head coach

Ned Overend 1955–

Mountain bike racer, first cross-country world champion

Anwar al-Awlaki 1971–2011

American-Yemeni Islamic cleric and propagandist

Also attended: Colorado State University-Fort Collins, George Washington University

Father: Nasser al-Awlaki (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Salvatore J. Cordileone 1956–

Archbishop of San Francisco

Also attended: University of San Diego