Notable Cal Poly Alumni: From Touchdowns to Spaceflights
California Polytechnic State University, known as Cal Poly, has long been recognized for its "Learn by Doing" philosophy. Established in 1901, the university has fostered a hands-on approach to education that has produced a diverse array of successful graduates across various fields. This article explores the lives and achievements of some of Cal Poly's most famous alumni, showcasing the impact of the university's unique educational model.
Arts and Entertainment
Cal Poly has nurtured the creative talents of many individuals who have gone on to achieve fame in the arts and entertainment industry.
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic, a 1980 architecture graduate, is a celebrated comedy musician, writer, and actor. He is renowned for his parody songs that humorously reinterpret popular music. Yankovic also performs original songs and polka medleys, often featuring his signature accordion. His unique blend of musical talent and comedic timing has earned him widespread recognition and a dedicated fan base. When residents of Sierra Madre were told by a Mustang News reporter they lived on the same floor as Weird Al, some students sprinted to room 43G - where Yankovic resided - and told the current residents what they’d learned.
Pedro Armendáriz
Pedro Gregorio Armendáriz Hastings was a Mexican-American film actor who achieved stardom in both Mexico and the United States. Armendáriz first came to Cal Poly in 1928, as a 16-year-old high school sophomore. Over the next three months, Armendáriz performed in the biggest campus play, "The Black Flamingo," and was ringmaster of the third annual student Block "P" Poly Circus. Casting for the annual play began in February 1932 - and Armendáriz was a shoo-in. The play, "The Bad Man," was set near the border and alluded to the life of Mexican outlaw-revolutionary Pancho Villa. It was Armendáriz’s final performance at Cal Poly, but his first of ultimately six portrayals of Pancho Villa. He left Cal Poly for Mexico City with theatrical performances under his belt and a creative fire within. He dazzled in film roles during the golden age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and ‘50s. He also worked with actors including John Wayne and Sean Connery, and notable directors like John Huston. "He became a film idol fairly quickly because of his look," Reyes continued. But his most famous acting role, in the 1963 James Bond film "From Russia With Love," with Sean Connery, would be his last. He was a six-time nominee for the Ariel Award - Mexico’s Academy Award. He won for Best Actor twice: 1948’s "La Perla" (John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”); and "El Rebozo de Soledad (Soledad’s Shawl)" in 1953. "It’s him, Emilio Fernández, Dolores del Río and the list goes on," Reyes said. "He was one of the true icons of Mexican cinema, but he was also one of the first international stars. "The Black Flamingo," the Campus Playhouse’s biggest production of the 1930 academic year, was held in May of 1931 at Crandall Gym.
Taylor Tomlinson
Taylor Elyse Tomlinson is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and television host. She has released three Netflix stand-up specials: Quarter-Life Crisis (2020), Look At You (2022) and Have It All (2024). She is the host of the CBS late-night show After Midnight, which premiered on January 17, 2024.
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Jay Asher
Jay Asher is an American writer and novelist, best known for his bestselling 2007 book "Thirteen Reasons Why."
Kathy Sierra
Kathy Sierra is an American programming instructor, game developer, author, and the curator of Intrinzen.
Athletics
Cal Poly's athletic programs have produced numerous accomplished athletes, some of whom have reached the pinnacle of their sports.
John Madden
John Madden (Physical Education '59; M.A. Education '61) began his legendary football career at Cal Poly. He later transitioned into sports broadcasting, becoming a well-known commentator for CBS, Fox, and ABC. Madden's impact on football extends beyond the field, as he revolutionized sports broadcasting with his insightful analysis and enthusiastic commentary.
Chuck Liddell
Charles David Liddell is an American former professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1998 to 2018, Liddell is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (from 2005 to 2007) and is widely credited, along with fellow UFC fighter Randy Couture, with helping bring MMA into the mainstream of American sports and entertainment. Known as "The Iceman", Liddell achieved a 16-7 MMA record in the UFC, and an overall MMA record of 21-9, with 13 of his wins coming by way of knockout. He also achieved a 20-2 record in kickboxing, with 16 of his wins coming by way of knockout, and won two national amateur championships. He retired in late 2010, then came out of retirement for one bout in 2018, in a loss to rival Tito Ortiz. On July 10, 2009, Liddell was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
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Chad Mendes
Chad Eduardo Mendes is an American professional bare-knuckle boxer, and former mixed martial artist and collegiate wrestler who is currently signed to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). Mendes gained notoriety competing in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was a three-time UFC championship challenger. Competing as a Cal Poly Mustang, he was a two-time NCAA Division I All-American and a Pac-10 Conference champion in folkstyle wrestling.
Dean Karnazes
Dean Karnazes is an American ultramarathon runner, and author of "Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner," which details ultra endurance running for the general public.
Taylor Spivey
Taylor Spivey studied architecture at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo from 2009-2014 . She is an American professional triathlete. At the conclusion of the 2019 season she placed fourth in the ITU World Triathlon Series behind Katie Zaferes, Jess Learmonth, and Georgia Taylor-Brown. This followed up an 8th place series finish in 2018, 12th in 2017 and 50th in 2016. Spivey competes at Elite pro level in the ITU Triathlon World Cup, ITU World Triathlon Series, Grand Prix de Triathlon, American Triathlon Confederation (CAMTRI) and Super League Triathlon competitions.
David Nwaba
David Ugochukwu Nwaba is an American professional basketball player for the San-en NeoPhoenix of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for Santa Monica College and Cal Poly.
Nick Dzubnar
Nicholas David Dzubnar is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football at Cal Poly. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers in 2015 and also played for the Tennessee Titans.
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Spencer Howard
Spencer Lee Howard is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, and Cleveland Guardians.
Kip Colvey
Kip Warren Colvey II is a New Zealand former professional footballer. He last played for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.
Ariel Lassiter
Ariel Daniel Lassiter Acuña is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers and the Costa Rica national team.
Emrah Klimenta
Emrah Klimenta is a Montenegrin professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights.
Science and Technology
Cal Poly's commitment to hands-on learning has produced numerous innovators and leaders in science and technology.
Burt Rutan
Elbert Leander "Burt" Rutan is a retired American aerospace engineer and entrepreneur known for his innovative aircraft and spacecraft designs. He designed the Voyager, the first plane to fly around the world without stopping or refueling, and the SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded spacecraft to enter space.
Victor J. Glover
Victor Jerome Glover (General Engineering, '99) is a NASA astronaut of the class of 2013 and pilot on the first operational flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon to the International Space Station. He was a crew member of Expedition 64 and served as a station systems flight engineer.
Frederick W. Sturckow
Frederick Wilford "Rick" Sturckow is an engineer, retired United States Marine Corps officer, former NASA astronaut, and commercial spacecraft pilot. Sturckow is a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions. He flew as a pilot on STS-88 and STS-105 and as a commander on STS-117 and STS-128. All four missions docked with the International Space Station, making Sturckow one of three American astronauts to visit the station four times. Sturckow later was assigned to the Johnson Space Center as a CAPCOM. He left NASA in 2013 to become a pilot for Virgin Galactic.
Gregory Chamitoff
Gregory Errol Chamitoff is a Canadian-born American engineer and former NASA astronaut. He has been to space twice, spending 6 months aboard the ISS across Expedition 17 and 18 in 2008, and another 15 days as part of STS-134 in 2011. STS-134 was the last of Space Shuttle Endeavour which delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and completed the US Orbital Segment.
Robert L. Gibson
Robert Lee "Hoot" Gibson, is a former American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and aeronautical engineer. A retired NASA astronaut, he also served as Chief of the Astronaut Office from 1992 to 1994. Today Gibson is active as a professional pilot, racing regularly at the annual Reno Air Races. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2003 and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2013, and has received several military decorations throughout his career.
Tory Bruno
Tory Bruno is an American aerospace engineer and executive. He has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of United Launch Alliance (ULA) since August 2014. Before ULA, he worked at Lockheed Martin, where he made the transition from engineer to executive.
Bruce Peterson
Bruce A. Peterson was an American aeronautical engineer, and test pilot for NASA.
Farzad Nazem
Farzad Nazem, also known as Zod Nazem, was Yahoo!'s chief technology officer and one of its longest-serving executives. On May 30, 2007, at age 46, he announced that he would retire and leave Yahoo! in June of that year. Since retirement, Nazem has spent most of his time on investments, philanthropy, and professional mentoring of young entrepreneurs in the technology field.
Paul M. Sutter
Paul M. Sutter graduated from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo with Bachelor of Science in physics from 2002-2005. He is an astrophysicist, science educator and science communicator.
Politics and Public Service
Cal Poly alumni have also made significant contributions to the field of politics and public service.
Devin Nunes
Devin Gerald Nunes is an American businessman and politician who serves as the Chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board since January 20, 2025, and as chief executive officer of the Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG). representative for California's 21st congressional district from 2003 to 2013, and then California's 22nd congressional district from 2013 to 2022.
Doug LaMalfa
Doug LaMalfa is Representative for California's 1st congressional district since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, his district, formerly the second-largest in the state after the 8th (now largely the 23rd), covers nearly all of interior Northern California, including Chico, Redding, and Susanville.
Jeff Denham
Jeffrey John Denham is an American politician, United States Air Force veteran, and businessman. representative for California's 10th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. House in 2010, representing California's 19th congressional district for one term before redistricting led him to run in the 10th district in 2012.
Abel Maldonado
Abel O. Maldonado Jr. is an American politician who served as the 48th lieutenant governor of California from April 27, 2010 to January 10, 2011. As of 2024, Maldonado is the last member of the Republican Party to serve as Lieutenant Governor of California.
Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh
Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh is an Iranian politician who was minister of industry of Iran since he was approved by the Iranian parliament on 15 August 2013 until 20 August 2017.
Charles Canady
Charles Canady is Representative for California's 19th congressional district, serving from 1995 to 2011. The district includes most of northern Fresno, as well as several rural areas northeast of the city. He did not seek reelection in 2010. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Antonio Walker
José Antonio Walker Prieto is a Chilean politician and lawyer.
Alexa Arndt
Alexa Arndt is putting her political science education to work on behalf of the homeless and those living in poverty.
Danielle Borrelli
Danielle Borrelli (Political Science ’11, Master of Public Policy ’17) is helping lead the charge to address our nation’s national cybersecurity crisis as the Operations Coordinator for the California Cybersecurity Institute (CCI).
Business and Entrepreneurship
Cal Poly's emphasis on practical skills has made its graduates highly sought after in the business world.
William H. Swanson
William H. Swanson is an American businessman, engineer and car collector who is the former chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company (2004 -2014).
Cindy Estes
Since graduating from Cal Poly in 1989 with a degree in graphic communication, Cindy Estes has worked as a freelance graphic designer, a children’s clothing designer and an entrepreneur.
Other Fields
Cal Poly alumni have also excelled in a variety of other fields, making significant contributions to society.
Maya Higa
Maya Elaine Higa studied in California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo from 2016-2020. She is an American conservationist, falconer, wildlife rehabilitator, Twitch streamer, and YouTuber. She is the founder of Alveus Sanctuary, a non-profit exotic animal sanctuary and virtual education center based in Austin, Texas.
Amie Harwick
Amie Nicole Harwick was an American marriage and family therapist, writer, and occasional glamour model. A well-known therapist in West Hollywood, she authored "The New Sex Bible for Women: The Complete Guide to Sexual Self-Awareness and Intimacy" (2014) and regularly discussed her work on podcasts, TV, and her YouTube channel. In 2018, she was briefly the fiancée of comedian Drew Carey. During the last years of her life, she worked with Pineapple Support, a nonprofit organization that provides mental health support to members of the adult film industry.
Sheila Varian
Sheila Varian was an American breeder of Arabian horses who lived and worked at the Varian Arabians Ranch near Arroyo Grande, California. She grew up with a strong interest in horses, and was mentored in horsemanship by Mary "Sid" Spencer, a local rancher and Morgan horse breeder who also introduced Varian to the vaquero or "Californio" tradition of western riding. She started her hors…
Kendra Aronson
Cal Poly graduate Kendra Aronson believes that the food you eat connects you to a long line of individuals who grow, produce and cook that food.
Tracy Pezzini
Tracy Pezzini (’86 Agricultural Business) is the director of livestock operations for Bengard Ranch, a multigenerational farm that has been a premier grower in the Salinas valley since the 1850s and is one of the region’s larger grower-shippers with operations in California, Arizona, Florida and Mexico. Both of Tracy’s children are Cal Poly alumni: Haley (’17 Agricultural Business) and Wesley (’19 Animal Science). She has served on the college's Dean's Advisory Council since 2017.
Jennifer Mizuki
Jennifer Mizuki (Sociology, ’19) is pursuing a master’s degree in social welfare at UCLA.
Matia Mathes
Matia Mathes (Communication Studies, ’21) presented her senior project at the International Communication Association Conference in Paris, France. Mathes initially came up with the idea for the project in Dr.
Sophie Rosales
Sophie Rosales went from student to teacher just one year after graduating from Cal Poly. As an English Teaching Assistant in Vietnam, Rosales has taken her education and career worldwide and hopes to continue with a career path in diplomacy.
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