Notable Alumni of Cal Poly Pomona
This article presents a comprehensive list of notable alumni from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), highlighting their diverse achievements and contributions across various fields. Cal Poly Pomona has a rich history of producing successful graduates who have made significant impacts in their respective industries.
Introduction
Cal Poly Pomona is recognized for its "learn by doing" philosophy, which has empowered its alumni to excel in their chosen careers. The university's emphasis on experiential learning and practical application has equipped graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in a competitive global landscape. This article aims to celebrate the accomplishments of these distinguished individuals and showcase the breadth of talent that has emerged from Cal Poly Pomona.
Notable Alumni in Arts and Entertainment
Cal Poly Pomona has produced several notable figures in the arts and entertainment industry, including actors, filmmakers, and musicians.
- Forest Whitaker: An acclaimed actor, filmmaker, and activist, Whitaker's accolades include an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a British Academy Film Award.
- Larry Wilmore: A comedian, writer, producer, and actor, Wilmore is known for his work on "The Daily Show" and as the creator of "The Bernie Mac Show."
- Meagan Tandy: An actress and model, Tandy has appeared in television series such as "Jane by Design," "Teen Wolf," and "Batwoman."
- Erika Harlacher-Stone: A voice actress, Harlacher-Stone has provided voices for numerous English-dubbed anime shows and video games, including "Toradora!," "Hunter × Hunter," and "Persona 5."
- Roy Conli: A film producer, Conli won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for the Disney film "Big Hero 6".
- Michael Steger: Actor known for his role in the television series "90210".
- Nguyễn Cao Kỳ Duyên: A Vietnamese-American singer, songwriter, and master of ceremonies and co-host of Paris by Night.
Notable Alumni in Sports
Cal Poly Pomona has a strong tradition of athletic excellence, with many alumni achieving success in professional sports.
- Dave Mirra: A BMX rider and rallycross driver, Mirra held the record for most medals in BMX Freestyle at the X Games. He was posthumously inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame.
- Roman Gabriel: A former NFL quarterback, Gabriel was the first NFL quarterback of Filipino-American descent and won the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 1969.
- Glenn Davis: A former American football halfback, Davis won the Heisman Trophy in 1946 while playing for the Army Cadets.
- Kim Rhode: A sport shooter, Rhode is a six-time Olympic medalist, including three gold medals, and a six-time national champion in double trap. She is the most successful female shooter at the Olympics.
- Jonathan Bornstein: A former professional soccer player, Bornstein has captained and made appearances for the United States national team.
- Walter Ray Williams Jr.: An American professional bowler, Williams holds the record for all-time standard PBA Tour career titles
- Cody Ponce: A professional baseball pitcher for the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League.
- Dwight Ramos: A Filipino-American professional basketball player for Levanga Hokkaido of the Japanese B.League.
- Taylor Spivey: An American professional triathlete.
- Paul Caligiuri: Former assistant association football (soccer) coach.
Notable Alumni in Business and Technology
Cal Poly Pomona alumni have also made significant contributions to the business and technology sectors, demonstrating their entrepreneurial spirit and technical expertise.
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- Jack Dangermond: The co-founder of Esri, a geographic information systems (GIS) software company, Dangermond is a billionaire businessman and environmental scientist.
- James Williamson: A guitarist and songwriter, Williamson is also an electronics engineer who worked in Silicon Valley developing computer chips.
- Donald Tang: Executive chairman of Shein Group, a global online on-demand fashion retailer. He is the former vice chairman of Bear Stearns and former chairman and CEO of Bear Stearns Asia.
- Eddy Hartenstein: Engineering Distinguished Alum.
- Fred Ford.
- Andrew Brands: Launched his finance career as a Valuation Associate at Marshall & Stevens Incorporated.
Notable Alumni in Politics and Public Service
Cal Poly Pomona has a strong tradition of producing leaders in politics and public service, with alumni serving in various government positions and contributing to policy development.
- Hilda Solis: A member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Solis previously served as the United States Secretary of Labor under President Barack Obama.
- Richard Pombo: A former member of the United States House of Representatives, Pombo represented California's 11th congressional district.
- James T. Butts Jr.: The mayor of Inglewood, California.
- Joel Anderson: A member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
- Chi Cheng: A Taiwanese politician.
- Jonathan D. Farrar: United States Department of State.
Notable Alumni in Other Fields
Cal Poly Pomona alumni have also achieved recognition in various other fields, including academia, research, and activism.
- Dr Disrespect: An Internet celebrity known for playing battle royale games on Twitch and YouTube.
- Corrinne Yu: A game programmer who has worked on games such as "Quake II" and "Halo 4."
- Brian S. Hooker: A biologist and chemist.
- Geoffrey William Seiji Okamoto: An American economist and government official who served as first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund.
- Sara Carter: Journalist.
Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Association
The Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Association plays a vital role in connecting alumni with the university and with each other. The association offers various programs and services to support alumni, including networking events, career resources, and opportunities to give back to the university. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented by the Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Association to honor those who have shown outstanding achievement in a profession or a vocation.
Alumni Spotlights
- David: Earned bachelor’s degrees in accounting and computer information systems. He started his career at Arthur Young & Company (now part of Ernst & Young LLP) and later served as controller of Winchell’s Donut Houses. He currently is chief executive officer and a trustee of American Homes 4 Rent.
- Ruth: Majored in information systems at Cal Poly Pomona. In May 2018, she earned a master’s degree in psychology, with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy, from California Lutheran University (CLU) in Thousand Oaks. She is employed with CLU’s Community Counseling Services as an associate marriage and family therapist.
- Chuanen (Joy) Sun: Graduated as an FRL major in Spring 2023 and has embarked on her graduate studies in Business Analytics at the USC Marshall School of Business.
- Michael Monroy: Graduated in Spring 2023 as an FRL major and embarked on the next chapter of his career with PIMCO, where he accepted an offer to join as an analyst in the Client Solutions and Analytics group.
- Andrew Brands: Graduating as an FRL major, Valedictorian of the College of Business Administration, and the Julian A. McPhee Scholar in Spring 2022, Andrew Brands launched his finance career as a Valuation Associate at Marshall & Stevens Incorporated.
- Sindy Fabrizio: Graduated in Spring 2020 as an FRL major and immediately went on to pursue a Master of Finance from the University of California, Riverside.
- Joseph Baierl: Graduated in Spring 2021 as an FRL and ACC double major from Cal Poly Pomona and accepted a full time offer to work as a Client Analytics Specialist with Capital Group.
- Clara Choi: Graduated in Spring 2020 as an FRL major from Cal Poly Pomona. She accepted an offer as a FP&A Systems Analyst at ServiceNow.
- Zachary Winkle: Graduated in Fall 2020 and immediately accepted an offer to work as a Financial Analyst for Strategic Equity Group (SEG).
- Renee Mochkatel, Esq.: Renee Mochkatel is a partner with Los Angeles law firm Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, where she has worked for more than 30 years.
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