Seattle University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni

Seattle University, since its establishment, has fostered a community of individuals who have gone on to make significant contributions across various fields. This article highlights some of the university's most notable alumni, showcasing their achievements and impact on the world. Seattle University is recognized as 881st in the world, 323rd in North America, and 301st in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence.

Alumni Association Recognition

The Seattle University Alumni Association plays a vital role in celebrating the accomplishments of its graduates. Each year, the association recognizes outstanding individuals who embody the university's Jesuit values and demonstrate leadership and service to others. These awards highlight the diverse achievements of alumni who have become change-makers in their communities.

Recent Alumni Award Winners

Seattle University proudly announces this year’s Alumni Award winners, including the latest inductees into the Athletics Hall of Fame. These remarkable individuals represent the best of Seattle University with demonstrated exceptional leadership, service to the university and community, a commitment to care, excellence, diversity and justice and an alignment with our Jesuit values. Together, the university will celebrate these exceptional individuals at the Alumni Awards ceremony on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Pigott Atrium and Auditorium.

Alumni Award Honorees

Shirley has spent her legal career dedicated to advocacy for nonprofit and startup organizations. A passionate advocate for arts and culture, she serves as a trustee of the Seattle Art Museum, the Tate Americas Foundation and previously Pacific Northwest Ballet. Shirley and her husband, Jon, are committed art collectors and were supporters of the creation of the specialized art collection at the Sinegal Center for Science of Innovation.
Jackson currently serves as the Regional Lead for the West Region of the Philanthropies TEALS program at Microsoft and leads the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Showcase Schools programs. Jackson is an active board member for Treehouse for Kids, Boyer Children's Clinic, SU's Board of Regents and UW Foster School Consulting and Business Development Center (CBDC). As a graduate of the Student Development Administration program in the College of Education, Jackson continues to be active with her alma mater, from attending events to serving on advisory boards. One of Jackson’s nominators for the Outstanding Recent Alumna award said, “She utilizes her position and connections to elevate anyone who needs assistance and support. Keisha is an exceptional ambassador for Seattle University in the community and at Microsoft.
Blaschka For more than 40 years Blaschka owned and operated ADCOMM Engineering Company and is now the Chief Engineer at ADCOMM Engineering, LLC. One of Blaschka’s nominators for the University Service Award said, “Joe’s integrity and dedication shine through his active involvement in student mentoring, professional development initiatives and his steadfast support of ECE programs. His leadership goes beyond his professional achievements-it is rooted in his dedication to cultivating future engineers and building a more connected and resilient community.
Horita As the Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Government Relations for the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, Horita works to ensure the Kraken’s strategies align with values of equity, inclusion and service to the broader community. Horita is also the executive director of the One Roof Foundation, which focuses on addressing systemic challenges and uplifting underrepresented communities. Additionally, Horita also serves on several nonprofit boards, including United Way of King County, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Board DE&I Committee for the Downtown Seattle Association. One of Horita’s nominators for the Professional Achievement Award said, “Mari’s efforts have been highly visible within the Seattle community and beyond. Her dedication to nonprofit work and her leadership at Arts Fund have positioned her as a respected figure in the Seattle arts and nonprofit sectors.
Francis As Costco’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Francis has worked to create a more inclusive environment with equitable opportunities for advancement. A dedication to advancing equity is seen in her volunteer work as a board member for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and mentor in community programs. One of Francis’s nominators for the Community Service Award said, “Alison’s leadership in diversity and inclusion at Costco reflects a deep care for individuals from all backgrounds, ensuring equitable opportunities in the workplace. Her work with the UNCF and mentorship programs showcases her dedication to uplifting marginalized communities, making her impact both profound and far reaching.
Sister Locati has served the community as a Catholic school teacher, Campus Ministry member at Washington State University and leader at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane. Sr. One of her nominators for the Jesuit Mission Award said, “I think that in her contributions to society, she lives the Providence mission to make this a better world. Sister Rosalie has shown true love, gentleness and a real understanding of the human spirit. Her communication skills are like no other. She communicates with so much love.
King During his impressive playing days at SU King played a total of 112 games, earning a number of accolades that include #2 all-time in scoring (1,899 points) and in field goals (831), #1 all-time in field goal attempts (1,724), and 5th all-time in rebounds (917). After his time at Seattle University, King has dedicated his professional career to uplifting underserved communities in Los Angeles. Andre Lang, ’95, ’04 JD, men’s basketball alumnus and Hall of Fame committee member said, “John King is unquestionably one of the most prolific scorers and rebounders to play for the university. John continues to live a life consistent with the Jesuit mission as a leader in his community giving back to those less fortunate.
Roldan As a Redhawk, Roldan played 82 games, earned First Team All-WAC status in 2016 and 2017, and led Seattle University to three WAC Championships. In 2018, Roldan was the 22nd overall pick drafted by the Seattle Sounders FC and is in his seventh season playing for the team. In 2021, he was one of six Sounders players to start the Major League Soccer All-Star Game. In 2022, Roldan established new career highs in appearances (32), starts (26) and assists (7). Arne Klubberud, ’99, men’s soccer alumnus, Hall of Fame inductee and a Hall of Fame committee member said, “Alex has gone on to be arguably the most prominent Seattle University men’s soccer alumni in the history of the program. When Seattle University’s name is mentioned in connection to his seven-year pro career with the Seattle Sounders, MLS Championships, his Concacaf Championship, his naming to the MLS All-Star in 2021 or his 25 caps with the Salvadorian National Team, the collective alumni group beams with pride.

Previous Alumni Award Honorees

2010 - General Peter W.
2014 - David M.
2024 - Major General Bret D.
2003 - J.
1990 - Louis Gaffney, S.J.
2007 - Lt. Cmdr.
1996 - James Royce, S.J.
1987 - Mary Ann, ’56, Lester Sauvage and J.

Notable Alumni by Profession

The following list highlights notable Seattle University alumni sorted by their professional fields, demonstrating the breadth of the university's influence.

Arts and Entertainment

Clint Eastwood: An iconic American actor and film director, Eastwood gained international fame through roles in Westerns and the "Dirty Harry" films. He also served as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
Duff McKagan: The bassist for the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, McKagan achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He rejoined the band in 2016 and is also an autobiographer and journalist.
Quincy Jones: A renowned film score composer, businessperson, and record producer.
June Preston: An American child actress in the 1930s and early 1940s, who began her film career at RKO Pictures, with a minor role as Mrs. Blewett's daughter in the 1934 film Anne of Green Gables.

Politics and Law

William Walker: An American attorney and politician who served as the 11th governor of Alaska from 2014 to 2018.
Frank Murkowski: An American politician who served as a United States Senator representing Alaska from 1981 to 2002 and as the eighth governor of Alaska from 2002 to 2006.
Sean Parnell: An American attorney and politician who was the tenth governor of Alaska from 2009 to 2014.
Richard A. Jones: An American attorney and jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Lorena González: An American lawyer and former politician who was a member of the Seattle City Council from position 9. She was the first Latino elected to the council.
Debora Juarez: An American lawyer and politician who served as the president of the Seattle City Council. A member of the Blackfeet Nation, she was the first Native American person elected to the council.
Katrina Foley: An American politician and attorney currently serving as the member and Vice Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from the 5th district.
Laurie Jinkins: An American politician, attorney, and public health official from Tacoma, Washington who serves as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 27th district. A Democrat, she has served as Speaker of the House since January 2020.
Tarra Simmons: An American politician, lawyer, formerly incarcerated legislator, and civil rights activist for criminal justice reform.
Helen Whitener: A Trinidadian-American attorney serving as an associate justice of the Washington Supreme Court.
Steven Haugaard: An American politician and attorney. He has served as a Republican member for the 10th district in the South Dakota House of Representatives since 2015. He was elected Speaker of the House and served in that office from 2019 to 2021.
Anne Bremner: An American attorney and television personality. She has been a television commentator on a number of high-profile cases.
Charles Swift: An American attorney and former career Navy officer, who retired as a Lieutenant Commander in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.
Angela Rye: A former executive director and general counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus for the entirety of the 112th Congress.

Business and Entrepreneurship

Mohamed Alabbar: An Emirati businessman known for founding Emaar Properties, a real estate development company involved in projects such as the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall.
Carl Otto Løvenskiold: A Norwegian landowner and businessperson. By birth, he is a member of Løvenskiold noble family.
Emmanuel Lemelson: An American-born Greek Orthodox priest, social commentator and hedge fund manager.

Sports

Elgin Baylor: An American professional basketball player, coach, and executive. He played 14 seasons as a forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers.
John Juanda: An Indonesian professional poker player of Chinese descent based in Tokyo, Japan. He has won five World Series of Poker bracelets.
Alex Roldan: A professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC. Born in the United States, he played for the El Salvador national team.
Charles García: An American-born Belizean professional basketball player.
Bob Gross: An American retired professional basketball player. He was the starting small forward for the Blazers during their only championship season (1976-77).
Jawann Oldham: An American former professional basketball player who played center.
Eddie Miles: An retired American basketball player.
Johnny O'Brien: A former backup second baseman and pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Braves.
Nkosi Tafari: An American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.

Military Service

William D. Swenson: A lieutenant colonel in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Peter W. Chiarelli: A retired United States Army general who served as the 32nd Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
Patrick Henry Brady: A retired United States Army major general. While serving as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, he received the Medal of Honor.

Mountaineering

Jim Whittaker: An American climber and mountain guide who, in 1963, became the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Other Notable Alumni

Dave Barrett: A Canadian politician and social worker in British Columbia. A member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BCNDP), he was the 26th premier of British Columbia from 1972 to 1975. He was the first NDP premier in the province.
William Marler: An American personal injury lawyer specializing in cases involving foodborne illnesses.

Athletics Hall of Fame

Seattle University has a rich athletic history, and the Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the university's sports programs.

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Hall of Fame Inductees

Frank Ahern: A coaching legend in Seattle, leading more than 20 teams in basketball, cross country and track & field to state championships.
Al Brightman: Considered by many to be the architect of Seattle University Athletics, led his men’s basketball teams to a 180-63 record.
Dave Cox: The coach in Seattle University history to have won more games, who posted 348 total victories in 24 seasons as the women’s basketball coach as well as one year when he was asked to oversee the men’s basketball program during a time of transition.
John Dougherty: Has continually supported Seattle University Athletics since he matriculated as a student in the 1960s, serving as student manager of men’s basketball and baseball.
Bill Fenton: Graduated from Seattle U in 1946 and immediately became the Assistant Athletic Director. In 1951, Fenton was appointed Graduate Manager of Athletics and then to Athletic Director.
Jack Gordon: Was the first director of publicity for Seattle U Athletics, only to later become the school’s basketball public address announcer.
Huber Grimm: Gave 30 years to Seattle U Athletics as the team physician.
Pat Hayes: For 15 years, was a mainstay of Seattle U Athletics, serving as both athletic publicity director and athletic business manager.
Bob Klug: Dedicated his heart, soul and time to Seattle U, beginning as the team manager of the basketball team during his freshman year in 1948.
A.A LEMIEUX, S.J.: Served as the 15th president of Seattle University from 1948 until 1965, and also as Chancellor from 1976 until his death in 1979.
FRANCIS A. LOGAN, S.J.: Taught at Seattle University from 1926 to 1972. He coached several sports during his tenure at the school, including baseball, basketball, tennis and handball.
Hugh McArdle: The first head coach of men’s soccer at Seattle U, gave his love and expertise in the sport to the school.
Jean Merlino: Returned to the University in 1966 and began her tenure in the Publications office and was the adviser for the Aegis, the student yearbook.
Roman Miller: Started when he was a starter for the basketball team in 1944 before he enlisted in the armed forces during World War II.
Claude Norris: Helped mend every kind of bump, bruise, and break during his tenure as the athletic trainer for Seattle U.
Tom Page: Was the head golf coach at Seattle U from 1956-72, during which time the University consistently fielded a strong team and were regular participants in regional and national NCAA Division I tournaments.
Joe Shamseldin: Has provided enormous amounts of time and services as the head team physician working with the Seattle University Athletics Department since 1985.
Jim Whittaker: Was a typical college student during his time at Seattle U, but his athletic accomplishment after graduation has not been matched by many people. In 1963, he became the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Bob Yunker: Was one of the most valuable supporters of Seattle University basketball, serving as the student manager of the men’s basketball team for three years.
Don Carlson: Was a left-handed pitcher on the Seattle U baseball team from 1959-60. He is the only pitcher in the school’s baseball history to finish his career undefeated with 10 or more decisions after posting a 13-0 career record.
Clarence Carter: Set the school single-season record with 41 runs scored to go along with 45 hits, including 10 doubles, five triples and one home run, plus he drove in 26 runs.
Marvin Carter: Helped bring excitement to the Seattle University baseball program in the mid-1980s. During the 1984 season, he batted .481, earning 51 hits, including 12 doubles, three triples and two home runs.
Steve Conklin: Was a member of the baseball team from 1966 to 1968, playing shortstop throughout his three-year career.
Joe Faccone: Played at Seattle U from 1947 to 1950, helping the team to a 68-35 overall record (.660).
Mike Gibson: Was a four-year letterwinner on Seattle U’s baseball team.
John Kelly: Averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in 1954-55, leading the team to a third straight NCAA Tournament berth.
Jack Lynch: Made an immediate impact on the Seattle U baseball program, pitching two no-hitters during the 1949 season as the team posted a 16-12 overall record.
Glen Mattison: Made a major impact on the Seattle University baseball program, becoming the first player to win the team’s Most Valuable Player award three times and the first student-athlete to earn the honor in consecutive years.
Larry McCauley: Joined the Seattle U baseball program. In 1958, he became the first freshman and left-handed batter to post a batting average over .400, finishing at .423 as he was named team MVP.
Steve Mezich: Was a catcher on the Seattle U baseball team from 1965-67 and was drafted by the New York Yankees following the 1965 season.
Bob Neubauer: Continued the strong Seattle U baseball tradition in the early 1960s, helping the team compile a 76-29 record during his four-year career.
Ernie Pastornicky: Enjoyed a successful pitching career at Seattle U, recording more than 40 career wins against only one loss.
Brian Patton: Was a third baseman on.

Athletics Program

The Seattle University baseball program started in 1950. Johnny O'Brien was the first former Redhawk to make it to the Major League level. Every single former Redhawk to play in the majors, is a pitcher. However, one-of-the-five has also homered during his career, four times! Did you know that there were five former Seattle University ballplayers who made it to the majors? Send updates to Baseball Almanac. Janson Junk makes MLB debut with Angels. "I had a lot of nerves leading up to my debut, but once I got on the field, everything was calm and I realized that it’s the same great game I've been playing my whole life, just brighter lights and a bigger stage." - Junk.

Albers School of Business and Economics

Since 1947, the Albers School of Business and Economics has graduated thousands of successful and notable alumni. Strengthen your bonds with Albers. You can stay connected and get involved with Albers-we are stronger with your involvement. Apply by September 15 for the Jones Progress Awards if you are an SU alumni looking to ramp up or pivot your business. Your support enhances the experience of Albers students, grows important programs, and supports faculty in teaching and research. Using the donation form, you can designate your gift to and fund in Albers. You know the quality of an Albers degree. Why not hire someone with the same strong business background and commitment to service? Post job and internship opportunities. Interested in recruiting on campus? The Albers Career Center is the only college-dedicated career center in Seattle University. Albers Mentor Program. Events with students. Albers Wardrobe. The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center builds and nourishes the entrepreneurial spirit in our students. Prominent early-stage company investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from the Seattle area judge the business plans and presentations throughout the competition. Prior winners have launched actual ventures that have successfully raised more than $4 million in initial capital. This reverse pitch competition features companies what share a business challenge and undergraduate student groups brainstorm solutions. These solutions are pitched back to the company judges and students with the best ideas win cash prizes. There are multiple advisory boards that seek alumni and local business leaders to share their expertise and bring industry knowledge to Albers. The Resource Amplification & Management Program (RAMP-Up) is a unique, experiential learning environment that works with underserved local businesses in Seattle’s Central Area and surrounding neighborhoods. Teams of highly-trained students and coaches partner with these businesses so they can augment their capacity to remain, grow, and thrive in the neighborhood. The Summer Business Institute is a summer business residency program for high school students. The program provides youth of African American, Latinx/Hispanic, Native American Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and South Asian racial and ethnic identities the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship, data visualization, and other business concepts. Ready to share your business expertise? Speak to an Albers class. Albers sponsors numerous activities throughout the year including the Albers Executive Speaker Series, Founder Fridays, and many other events. To find an upcoming event, check out our homepage for an up-to-date list of what's going on in Albers.

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