List of Chapman University alumni

Following is a list of notable alumni of Chapman University.

Arts

• John Sexton – fine art photographer

Business

• Tiquette Bramlett – winemaker and founder of the nonprofit organization Our Legacy Harvested
• Noelle Freeman – entrepreneur and founder of the DMS Agency
• Cooper Hefner (2015) – chief creative officer and chief of global partnerships of Playboy Enterprises ^[1]
• Jeff Lewis (1993) – real estate speculator, interior designer, and television personality on Flipping Out
• Tilden Smith (2012) – co-founder of a pet product company, International Pet Solutions

Education

• Silas Bartsch – school administrator and superintendent of the Kings Canyon Unified School District
• James Deese – psychologist, faculty of the University of Virginia, and chairman of the psychology department at Johns Hopkins University
• Vicky M. Wilkins (MS) – public administration scholar, academic administrator, and acting provost of American University

Entertainment

Film and television

• Anastasia Baranova – film and television actress
• Ryan Bergara – creator of documentary entertainment web series BuzzFeed Unsolved
• Henry Blair – film, television and radio actor ^[2]
• Jason Michael Brescia – film director
• Samantha Brown (non-degreed) – television host, notable for her work as the host of several Travel Channel shows
• Chris Burrous – television journalist and news anchor
• Jake Cherry – film actor
• Erika Cohn – Emmy and Peabody winning film producer and director
• Dime Davis (2008) – director and producer
• Madison De La Garza – actress and filmmaker
• Derek Doneen (2009) - documentary director, producer and editor known for The Price of Free , Heist , Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult
• Matt Duffer (2007) – film and television writer, director, producer, and co-creator of Stranger Things
• Ross Duffer (2007) – film and television writer, director, and producer
• Hannah Einbinder (2017) (BFA) – stand-up comedian and actor, known for Hacks
• Bob Einstein – film and television actor ^[3]
• Parker Finn – filmmaker, known for Smile and Smile 2
• Zachary Gordon – actor, singer and songwriter
• Colin Hanks (non-degreed, left in 1997) – film and television actor
• Jelena Jensen - Adult film actress
• Ben York Jones (2006) – screenwriter and actor, co-creator of the television series Everything Sucks! ^[4]
• Leslie Jones (non-degreed, left in 1986) – comedian, former Saturday Night Live cast member ^[5]
• Tyler Patrick Jones – actor ^[6]
• Harshvardhan Kapoor – Bollywood actor
• Sanyukta Kaza (MFA) – film editor
• Paul Le Mat (1963) – movie actor
• Matthew Lessner (2005) – independent filmmaker
• Jeff Lewis (1993) – real estate speculator, interior designer, and television personality on Flipping Out
• Eric Lloyd – actor best known for work as a child actor; Charlie Calvin in Disney's The Santa Clause film trilogy
• Carlos López Estrada – filmmaker, producer, and actor, known for Blindspotting , Summertime , Raya and the Last Dragon , and Didi
• Kellan Lutz – fashion model and actor ^[7]
• Kelley Mack - actress
• Michael Mohan – film director and writer
• Cecil Moller (MA 2010) – film director and producer
• Linh Nga (MFA) – film director, film producer, actress, and screenwriter
• Olatunde Osunsanmi (MFA) – film and television director ^[8]
• Owen Painter (2020) – actor, best known for his role as Isaac Night / Slurp in the Netflix series Wednesday
• Malea Rose (BFA) – actress, writer, and producer
• Utkarsh Sharma (BFA) – Indian actor
• Justin Simien (2005) – filmmaker, actor, and author; director of Dear White People ^[9]
• Roger Craig Smith (2003) – voice actor
• Joan Staley (non-degreed) – model and actress
• Jodie Sweetin (2005) – actress, star of television series Full House and Fuller House ^[10]
• James Sweeney – filmmaker, actor; director of Twinless
• Carles Torrens (BFA 2008) – film director ^[11]
• Josie Totah – actress, writer and producer
• Ariel Tweto – cast member of the documentary television series Flying Wild Alaska that aired on Discovery Channel
• Aspen Vincent (non-degreed) – voice actress, Broadway actress, and singer
• Michael Vlamis – actor and screenwriter
• Jason Wise – filmmaker known for his wine documentaries

Music

• Kit Armstrong – classical pianist, composer, organist, and former child prodigy
• Stephen "tWitch" Boss – DJ and dancer
• Kalena Bovell (2009) – conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra
• Carolyn Waters Broe – conductor, composer, and violist who founded Four Seasons Orchestra
• Sabrina Bryan – dancer, choreographer, actress, singer, and member of The Cheetah Girls
• Grant Gershon (non-degreed) – Grammy Award winning American conductor and pianist and artistic director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale
• King Henry – record producer and DJ
• Kevin Kwan Loucks (EMBA 2017) – CEO of Chamber Music America and member of classical music ensemble Trio Célest
• Marty Paich – pianist, composer, arranger, record producer, music director, and conductor
• Stacey Tappan (1995) – opera singer
• Jason Thornberry (MFA) – magazine writer and musician with the Southern California alternative-punk group Mulch
• Deborah Voigt – opera singer
• Wimberley Bluegrass Band - all four siblings graduated in the same weekend ^[12]

Law

• John C. Yoder – judge of 23rd Circuit Court of West Virginia and West Virginia Senate

Literature and journalism

• Gustavo Arellano ('01) – former publisher and editor of OC Weekly and author of the column ¡Ask a Mexican! ^[13]
• Amy Sterling Casil (1999 MFA) – science fiction writer and writing instructor at Chapman University
• Peter Germano (1959) – author of short stories, novels, and television scripts
• Jason Thornberry (MFA) – magazine writer and musician with the Southern California alternative-punk group Mulch

Military

• Nina Armagno (MA 1999) – United States Space Force lieutenant general who served as the first director of staff of the United States Space Force
• Rick Francona – commentator and media military analyst for NBC and CNN and retired United States Air Force intelligence officer
• Keith M. Givens (MS) – United States Air Force brigadiergGeneral
• Wayne W. Lambert (MBA 1976) – United States Air Force brigadier general
• Eldon Regua (MBA) – United States Army Reserve major general
• Donna D. Shipton (1995 MBA) – United States Air Force lieutenant general and military deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
• Laura Yeager – U.S. Army general and the first woman to command an Army infantry division ^[14]

Politics

• Paul Anderson – Nevada State Assembly ^[15]
• George Argyros (1959) – U.S. Ambassador to Spain and former owner of Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball ^[16]
• David E. Bonior (MA 1972) – United States House of Representatives from Michigan (1977–2003), House Minority Whip (1995–2002), House Majority Whip (1991–95) ^[17]
• Sean Elo-Rivera (2009) – president of the San Diego City Council
• Bill Essayli (JD) – California State Assembly
• Chris Lee (MBA19'97) – United States House of Representatives 2009–2011 ^[18]
• Gustavo Leite (non-degreed) – Minister of Industry and Commerce of Paraguay and Planning Minister of Paraguay
• Mark Miloscia (MA) – Washington State Senate and Washington House of Representatives
• Joanna Rosholm (2007) – press secretary to First Lady Michelle Obama ^[19]
• Loretta Sanchez (1982) – United States House of Representatives ^[20]
• Rob Schneiderman (MA) – United States House of Representatives
• Mark R. Shepherd – political consultant, strategist, activist, environmentalist, and radio personality
• Jim Silva (MA) – California State Assembly ^[21]
• John C. Yoder – West Virginia Senate and judge of 23rd Circuit Court of West Virginia

Religion

• Rita Nakashima Brock (1972) – Protestant theologian, feminist scholar, and a commissioned minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Paul H. Dunn (1953) – a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• James M. Stanton – sixth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas

Sports

• Emmett Ashford (1941) – first African-American umpire in Major League Baseball ^[22]
• Don August – professional baseball player
• Jeff Carnazzo (MEd) – high school teacher and football coach
• Marty Castillo – professional baseball player
• Matt Dinerman – Thoroughbred horse racing announcer
• Tim Flannery (1979) – Major League Baseball player for eleven seasons and coach for San Francisco Giants ^[23]
• Beccy Gordon – swimsuit model, member of the United States women's national softball team, off-road racer, and pit-reporter
• Brian Green – college baseball coach
• Randy Jones – former professional baseball player, San Diego Padres, New York Mets; 1976 Cy Young Award winner ^[24]
• Steve Lavin – former head coach of St. John's men's basketball team (2010–2015), former head coach of UCLA men's basketball team (1996–2002) ^[17]
• Jeff Levering (2003) – Milwaukee Brewers play-by-play announcer
• Gary Lucas – professional baseball player
• Eric Marty – professional football player and coach
• Stephen Nelson (2011) – MLB/NHL television personality, co-host of Intentional Talk , and play-by-play announcer for the MLB Network-produced Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ ^{[25] [26]}
• Jay Pettibone – professional baseball player
• Brent Poppen – paralympic sportsman, advocate, author, and teacher
• Jim Saia – college basketball head coach
• Eddie Soto (non-degreed) – professional soccer player
• Kelli Stavast (2002) – sportscaster who formerly worked for NBC Sports as a pit reporter for both their NASCAR
• Paul Swingle – professional baseball player ^[27]
• Bill Trumbo (1961) – college basketball coach and athletic director
• Miles Walker – professional tennis player
• Paul Wekesa – professional tennis player
• John Young – professional baseball player
• Octavio Zambrano – professional soccer player and coach
• Kate Ziegler – 2012 Summer Olympics competitor and swimmer who specializes in freestyle and long-distance

References

1. "Spring 2019 Course Offering: FTV 229/529 New Landscape of Media with Chapman Alum Cooper Hefner - Dodge College of Film and Media Arts". October 8, 2021. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
2. "Chapman Drama Club to Give Play". Hollywood Citizen-News. November 24, 1950. p. 2. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
3. Birk, Libby (January 2, 2019). "'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and 'Super Dave Osborne' Actor Bob Einstein Dead at 76". Popculture. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
4. Martelle, Scott (February 15, 2018). "Chapman Alum Ben York Jones Is Destined for Success with Hit Movie Like Crazy". Orange Coast Magazine. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
5. Arp, Dennis (October 18, 2016). "Reports of cyber-bullying prompt an outpouring of love for Leslie Jones". Chapman Newsroom. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
6. "Center Stage: Tyler Patrick Jones". lwos.life. August 3, 2018.
7. Jarvis, Rebecca. "From Farm to Fame: Kellan Lutz's Journey to Hollywood". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
8. Coker, Matt (November 17, 2009). "How Chapman University's Logo Got a Cameo in The Fourth Kind". OC Weekly. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
9. Tully, Sarah (October 25, 2014). "Justin Simien's Dear White People is influenced by, but not based on, his years at Chapman University". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
10. "Jodie Sweetin talks addiction, acting and attending Chapman". The Panther. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
11. "Dodge School of the Arts: Graduate Film Studies". page 93. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
12. "At age 17, Michael Wimberley becomes Chapman's youngest graduate". Orange County Register. May 23, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
13. Valencia, Carolina (September 8, 2019). "Chapman alumnus and journalist returns to campus for panel". The Panther Newspaper. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
14. Burge, David (October 1, 2017). "First woman takes command at Joint Task Force North at Fort Bliss". USA Today. El Paso Times. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
15. "Chapman alumnus Paul Anderson elected to Nevada assembly". Chapman. January 31, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
16. "U.S. Mission in Spain – Ambassador Argyros Bio". December 28, 2007. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
17. "General Information". Chapman.edu. Archived from the original on June 7, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
18. • Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
19. Bonker, Dawn (September 26, 2016). "Alumna Joanna Rosholm '07, working as the First Lady's press secretary, talks about a capital career". Chapman Newsroom. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
20. "Biography | Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez". Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
21. "Jim Silva – Biography". May 7, 2010. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
22. "Black History Month features: Emmett Ashford '41". Black History Month. February 5, 2021.
23. "Tim Flannery '79". Chapman Athletics. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
24. "Randy Jones Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
25. "Your 2022 MLB regular season broadcasting primer". Awful Announcing. April 6, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
26. Rigdon, Jay (March 23, 2021). "Stephen Nelson is the new co-host of MLB Network's Intentional Talk". Awful Announcing. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
27. "Paul Swingle - Baseball". Grand Canyon University Athletics. Retrieved October 7, 2023.