Santa Clara University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Santa Clara University, the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California, boasts a rich history and a tradition of producing accomplished graduates. Established in 1851 on the grounds of the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís, the university has fostered an environment of academic excellence and Jesuit values, shaping leaders across various fields. This article explores the impressive array of Santa Clara University's notable alumni, highlighting their contributions to arts and entertainment, business and engineering, public service, and sports.
A Foundation of History and Academic Excellence
Santa Clara University's roots trace back to 1777 with the founding of Mission Santa Clara de Asís by Saint Junipero Serra. The university itself was established in 1851 as Santa Clara College, awarding California's first bachelor's degree. Over the years, the institution evolved, changing its name to the University of Santa Clara in 1912 and finally to Santa Clara University in 1985. Today, the university comprises six schools and colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education and Counseling Psychology, the Leavey School of Business, the School of Engineering, the Jesuit School of Theology, and the School of Law.
Notable Alumni Across Disciplines
Santa Clara University's alumni have made significant impacts in a wide range of fields. Here's a glimpse into some of the notable individuals who have emerged from this esteemed institution:
Arts and Entertainment
- Shemar Moore: A prominent actor known for his roles as Malcolm Winters on The Young and the Restless, Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds, and Sergeant II Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson on S.W.A.T. He also hosted Soul Train and appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
- Max Baer, Jr: Best known for his role as Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies, Baer Jr. is also a screenwriter, film producer, film actor, stage actor, and film director.
- Michael Trucco: An actor recognized for his role as Samuel Anders on Battlestar Galactica and his recurring role as Nick Petteruti in How I Met Your Mother.
- Paul Kantner: Co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and vocalist of Jefferson Airplane, a leading psychedelic rock band. He continued his roles with Jefferson Starship.
- Jorma Kaukonen: A blues, folk, and rock guitarist who performed with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 as a member of Jefferson Airplane.
- Andy Devine: A character actor known for his raspy voice and roles in Western films. He is also remembered as Jingles on the TV series The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok and as the voice of Friar Tuck in Disney's Robin Hood.
- Paul Soriano: A Filipino commercial and film director and producer.
- Barry O'Brien: Television writer and producer of Hanging with Mr. Lawrence.
Business and Engineering
- A.C. (Mike) Markkula: An early investor and executive at Apple Computer, playing a crucial role in the company's early success.
- Brendan Eich: The creator of the JavaScript programming language and co-founder of the Mozilla project, the Mozilla Foundation, and the Mozilla Corporation. He later co-founded Brave Software.
- Pat Gelsinger: Served as the CEO of Intel from February 2021 to December 2024.
- Nicole Shanahan: An attorney working in Silicon Valley and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate in his 2024 presidential campaign.
- Chris Malachowsky:
- Peter Oppenheimer:
Public Service
- Gavin Newsom: The 40th governor of California, previously served as lieutenant governor and mayor of San Francisco. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in political science.
- Jerry Brown: Served as the 34th and 39th governor of California, as well as secretary of state, mayor of Oakland, and attorney general of California.
- Mike Espy: Served as the 25th United States secretary of agriculture and as a U.S. representative for Mississippi's 2nd congressional district.
- Zoe Lofgren: A U.S. Representative from California, serving on the House Judiciary Committee and chairing the House Administration Committee.
- Janet Napolitano: Served as president of the University of California, United States secretary of homeland security, and governor of Arizona.
- Frank Murkowski: Served as a United States Senator representing Alaska and as the governor of Alaska.
- Keith Kellogg: A retired lieutenant general in the United States Army who served as the National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence.
- Paul Laxalt: Served as the 22nd governor of Nevada and a United States senator representing Nevada.
- Richard Riordan: Served as the 39th mayor of Los Angeles.
- José Abad Santos: The fifth chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines who served as acting president during World War II.
- Jimmy Panetta: A lawyer, politician, and former Navy intelligence officer. Graduated with Juris Doctor.
- Dee Dee Myers: Served as the 19th White House Press Secretary during the Clinton administration and is currently Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development in the Gavin Newsom administration.
- Thomas D:
- Edward A. Panelli: (1953) (J.D.)
- Charles Poochigian: (J.D.)
- Eugene M. Premo: (J.D.)
- Richard C:
- Alfred Delucchi: (J.D.)
- Eugene Michael Hyman: (J.D.)
- Thomas E:
- Patricia Mahan: (J.D.)
- Tom McEnery: (M.A.)
- Augustus D:
- Dominic L:
- Benjamin J:
- Anthony P:
- Gregory P:
- Cecil R:
- Robert J:
Sports
- Steve Nash: A Canadian professional basketball coach and former player who played 18 seasons in the NBA and was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
- Kurt Rambis: A Greek-American former professional basketball player and coach who won four NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Lloyd Pierce: An American basketball coach who serves as the lead assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers.
- Nelson Briles: MLB player for the Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers.
- Bryan Barker: Former NFL punter.
- Jamil Walker: Professional soccer player for D.C.
- Steve Cronin: Former professional soccer player for Portland Timbers, Los Angeles Galaxy, and D.C.
- Eric Denton: Former professional soccer player for Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, San Jose Earthquakes, and D.C.
- John Savage: Head baseball coach at UCLA.
- Randy Winn: Analyst for CSN Bay Area and NBC Sports Bay Area; former professional baseball player for San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and St.
Other Notable Alumni
- Khaled Hosseini: An Afghan-American novelist, UNHCR goodwill ambassador, and former physician, best known for his novel The Kite Runner.
- Reza Aslan: An Iranian-American scholar of sociology, writer, and television host.
- Julie Ertz: An American former professional soccer player.
- Wojciech Cejrowski: A Polish radio journalist, satirist, photographer, traveller, and author.
- Dan Kaminsky: An American computer security researcher.
- Pansy Ho: A Hong Kong billionaire businesswoman with major interests in Macau casinos.
- William Carter: (M.S.)
- Robert J. Finocchio Jr.
- William Holt: (M.S.)
- Thomas A:
- Ramon Machado: (J.D.)
- Prakash Muppirala: (M.S.)
- Rathi Murthy: (M.S.)
- Scott Santarosa, S.J.
- John A:
- John M:
- William E:
- Hemant Thapar: '73, (M.S.)
- Jayshree Ullal: (M.S.)
- Richard P. Wallace: (M.S.)
- Lisa A:
- David C:
- Rupert H:
- Jack D:
- J. Paul L:
- Lorry I:
- Edward A:
- John A:
- Larry W:
- Paul Locatelli S.J.:
- James V. Schall, S.J.:
- John T. Clay M.:
- Andrew P. Clay M.:
- Lawrence A:
- Michael Malone: (M.B.A.)
- William McKnight: (M.B.A.)
- Paul C:
- James V:
- Robert D. Durham: (J.D.)
- William G. Lorigan: (Ph.D.)
- Martin J:
- Eileen Kato: (J.D.)
- Murlene Randle: (J.D.)
- James F:
- Charles E. Stanton:
- Willie Hogan:
- Jim O'Rourke:
- Frank Shellenback:
- Harry Wolter:
- Timothy L.:
- Zacheus J.:
- Cornelius J.:
- James J.:
- Louis C.:
- Charles J.:
- William C.:
- Herman J.:
- Patrick A.:
- William J. Rewak.:
- B. T.:
- Thomas M.:
- R. Albert:
- McGregor W.:
- Yukiwo P.:
- Jamby Madrigal: (B.S.)
- Gina M. Biegel: (M.A.)
- Michonne R:
- Margaret (Peggy) Bradshaw:
- Stephen C:
Santa Clara University Today
Today, Santa Clara University continues to uphold its commitment to academic excellence and social responsibility. The university's campus has expanded and modernized, with additions like the Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation, a state-of-the-art STEM facility. SCU encourages its students to engage in over 125 registered student organizations, fostering a vibrant campus community. The university also emphasizes sustainability, with initiatives like the Campus Sustainability Investment Fund.
Read also: A Guide to Santa Clara University Academics
Read also: Explore Santa Clara University
Read also: A Deep Dive into SCU's Undergraduate Enrollment
tags: #Santa #Clara #University #notable #alumni
