Notable Alumni of William Paterson University

William Paterson University of New Jersey boasts a diverse and accomplished alumni network. According to EduRank, the university is ranked 1475th in the world, 516th in North America, and 484th in the United States based on the aggregated prominence of its alumni. This article highlights some of the most notable graduates and former students who have made significant contributions in various fields, ranging from entertainment and sports to law enforcement and public service.

Arts and Entertainment

William Paterson University has fostered the talents of numerous individuals who have achieved recognition in the arts and entertainment industry.

Acting and Film

Ian Ziering is an American actor widely recognized for his portrayal of Steve Sanders in the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000). He also lent his voice to the character Vinnie on Biker Mice from Mars. More recently, Ziering starred as Fin Shepard in the Sharknado film series (2013-2018) and played the DC Comics character Blue Devil in the series Swamp Thing in 2019.

Joey Travolta, the older brother of actor John Travolta, is an accomplished actor, screenwriter, film producer, film director, and film editor.

Brian Michael Lynch is an American film and comic book writer. He co-created Angel: After the Fall for IDW Publishing with Joss Whedon. Lynch is best known for writing the screenplays for films such as Puss in Boots (2011), Minions (2015), The Secret Life of Pets (2016), The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019), and Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). He has also worked on unproduced film adaptations of The Sims and The Muppets.

Read also: William and Mary Law

Tom Fitzgerald is a television news reporter, host, and anchor for Fox 5 News WTTG in Washington D.C., where he has been since 2003.

Music

Ray Toro is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the band My Chemical Romance.

Mark Guiliana is a Grammy-nominated American drummer, composer, and leader of the band Beat Music. He has collaborated with renowned artists such as Avishai Cohen, Brad Mehldau, David Bowie, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gretchen Parlato, and St. Vincent. Guiliana's work has been featured in publications like Down Beat and The New York Times.

Tom Brislin is an American keyboardist, songwriter, singer, producer, and author. In December 2018, he joined the American progressive rock band Kansas as their keyboardist. His contributions are featured on the band's studio album, The Absence of Presence (2020).

Bill Stewart is an American jazz drummer.

Read also: Funding Your Education at WPU

Eric Alexander is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator. He placed second at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, and has since recorded over 20 albums as a leader and over 300 as a sideman.

Eddie Allen has performed with numerous jazz legends, including Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, and Henry Threadgill, and has composed for Louis Hayes, Lester Bowie, and Etta Jones & Houston Person.

Jeff Baumeister (’95) had a Dave Douglas transcription article published in Down Beat in June 2003. His “Useful Music” CD was named Best of 2005 by All About Jazz.com.

Shirantha Beddage (MM ’04) is the Director of Theory and Harmony at Humber College, Toronto, and a former faculty member.

Johnathan Blake (’96) regularly tours and performs with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Mingus Big Band, and with Tom Harrell, Russell Malone, Dave Holland, Kenny Barron, Avishai Cohen, David Sanchez, and Michael Brecker.

Curt Chambers is a composer, guitarist, drummer, and singer/songwriter.

David DeMotta (’04, MM’07) has performed with Steve Slagle, McClenty Hunter, Rob Schepps, Art Baron, Jack Walrath, and the Frank Perowsky Big Band. He has also been a faculty member at Hunter College, Princeton University, and Montclair State University.

Nathan Eklund (’03) has performed with Spyro Gyra, Cecil’s Big Band, Joe Lovano, Claudio Roditi, Eddie Daniels, Don Friedman, and Jack Walrath.

Maury Epstein (’96) has a CD on Bluejay Records with Mark Turner, David Kikoski, and John Benitez, and is an active performer in Israel.

Dan Faulk (’92) is on staff at Rutgers University/Newark Institute of Jazz Studies and former faculty at SUNY Stony Brook.

Tedd Firth has accompanied Marlene VerPlanck, Tom Wopat, John Pizzarelli, Houston Person, Benny Golson, and Joe Morello.

Dana Hall (’94) is a full-time faculty member with tenure at the U. of Illinois and the Music Director of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble with Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

Hébert has performed with Andrew Hill, Uri Caine, Fred Hersch, Gerald Cleaver, and Greg Osby, and leads his own band, Byzantine Monkey.

Freddie Hendrix (’98) holds an M.M.

Adam Linz (’95) is a bassist and bandleader in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.

Merrill (’94) is the first-ever fulltime jazz faculty and Gusman Director of Jazz Ensembles at Cornell University.

Abel Mireles (MM ’17) is a faculty member at U.

Timothy Newman (’90) is a bass trombonist in NYC big band and freelance scene, a longtime member of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra.

Yu Nishiyama (MM ’20) won the 2019 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards and the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble Prize.

Derrek Phillips tours with Roberta Piket and is a member of the Greg Osby Quartet.

Jameel Roberts (’06) has performed with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, LL Cool J, and Clark Terry Jazz Titans Big Band. He has also produced for H.E.R. and Usher.

Alex Stein (MM ’08) is the co-leader of the Stein Brothers Quintet, which won the award for 2009 Best Jazz Album of the Year from the organization American Music Harvest.

Chris Sullivan (MM ’16) is faculty and jazz director at Harvard Westlake Arts High School Performing Arts Division.

Mark Tonelli (’95) is a guitarist and a member of the West Point Jazz Knights.

Crystal Torres (‘04) has performed with Roy Hargrover RH Factor.

Doug Weiss (’88) has performed with Kevin Hays trio w/Bill Stewart.

Sue Williams (’87) is a current faculty member at Bergen Community College.

Music Management

The Music Management program at William Paterson University has produced numerous successful professionals in the music industry.

Rob Fusari is a songwriter/producer who won a Grammy with Lady Gaga and has worked with Britney Spears and Whitney Houston.

Alana Mulford is a manager at Brian Doyle Management.

Todd Schefflin Sr. credits the Music Management program for providing him with the connections and knowledge necessary for success in the music business.

Joanne Shenton Kelsey Sr. interned at Sphere/Universal Music Group and has recently rejoined the company after 20 years in management.

Sports

William Paterson University has a strong athletic tradition, and many of its alumni have gone on to achieve success in the world of sports.

Coaching and Broadcasting

Dick Vitale, also known as "Dickie V," is an American basketball sportscaster. He is known for his 41-year tenure as a college basketball broadcaster for ESPN. He is known for catchphrases such as "This is awesome, baby!" and "diaper dandy".

Kevin Burkhardt is an American sportscaster. He is currently the lead play-by-play voice for the NFL on Fox and lead studio host for Fox Major League Baseball.

Hall of Fame Inductees

The William Paterson University Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes student-athletes, coaches, and support staff who have made outstanding contributions to Pioneer Athletics. Recent inductees include:

Vera Blazevska '17, MS '19 (women's swimming): Named the 2016-17 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Women's Swimmer of the Year. She earned seven first-team all-NJAC awards and three second-team all-conference awards.
Floriana Borova '14 (women's basketball): An all-American point guard, finishing as the Pioneers' career assists and steals leader. She earned spots on the 2013-14 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America Honorable Mention and D3hoops.com All-America Fourth Team.
Morgan Dunlap '04 (softball): Twice named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Second Team (2001, 2002).
Jack Lipari '04 (baseball): Capped his career in the Pioneer outfield by garnering bids to the 2001 All-America Second Team and All-Region First Team.
1982-83 women's tennis team: Finished 16-6 overall and fifth nationally.

Sabrina Grant (administration) joined the WP Athletics staff in 1983 as the Assistant Director of Athletics.

William Joosten '66, MA '69 was honored as the University's first Pioneer of Distinction recipient. Joosten was a three-sport student-athlete and eight-time letterwinner at Paterson State College (1962-66), playing four seasons of baseball, three of basketball and one of soccer.

Law Enforcement

Joseph D. Pistone is an American former FBI agent who worked undercover as Donnie Brasco between September 1976 and July 1981, infiltrating the Bonanno and Colombo crime families. His work led to over 200 indictments and 100 convictions of Mafia members.

Politics and Public Service

Several William Paterson University alumni have pursued careers in politics and public service.

Steve Lonegan is an American businessman and politician who served as mayor of Bogota, New Jersey, from 1996 to 2007. He was also the Republican Party's nominee in the 2013 Special Senate election in New Jersey.

tags: #william #paterson #university #notable #alumni