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
• 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]
• 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]
• 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]
• 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

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!^[12]
• 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^[13]

Politics

• Paul Anderson – Nevada State Assembly^[14]
• George Argyros (1959) – U.S. Ambassador to Spain and former owner of Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball^[15]
• David E. Bonior (MA 1972) – United States House of Representatives from Michigan (1977–2003), House Minority Whip (1995–2002), House Majority Whip (1991–95)^[16]
• Jim (Formerly “Jimmy” as a student) Byron (2015) – librarian and wooden mallard collector.
• 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^[17]
• 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^[18]
• Loretta Sanchez (1982) – United States House of Representatives^[19]
• 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^[20]
• 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^[21]
• 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^[22]
• 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^[23]
• 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)^[16]
• 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+^[24][25]
• 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^[26]
• 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