List of Portland State University alumni

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Established as Vanport College in 1946, Portland State University is a public university officiated as a state institution in 1969. Located in the southwest Portland, Oregon, it is the only public university in the state that is located within a major metropolitan city, and is one of Oregon's largest universities.[1] Its academic programs are organized in nine constituent schools and colleges, and have produced alumni across professions in the arts, sciences, business, academia, politics, and sports. As of 2019, the university claimed over 180,000 alumni worldwide.[2]

Portland State University sign near Epler Hall

Legend

Notes and abbreviations used

  • Individuals who may belong in multiple sections appear only in one.
  • An empty class year or school/degree box indicates only that this information is unknown or unconfirmed.
  • "DNG" indicates the alumnus or alumna attended but did not graduate; known year(s) of attendance accompany this if available. "N/A" will be present in the degree box for these individuals, as it is confirmed they did not receive degrees.
More information Degrees and certificates ...
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Academia

More information Name, Class ...
Name Class School Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Lee D. Baker 1989 CLAS B.S. Professor of anthropology, Duke University [3]
Jacob Biamonte B.S. Professor of quantum computing, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology [4]
Hans G. Furth 1960 CLAS PhD Professor emeritus of philosophy, The Catholic University of America [5]
Peter A. Griffin B.S. Professor of mathematics, California State University–Sacramento [6]
George Guthridge 1970 CLAS B.A. Professor emeritus of English, University of Alaska Fairbanks; professor of English, University of Maryland Global College [7]
Mitchell S. Jackson CLAS B.A., M.A. Associate professor of English, New York University [8][9]
Michael Kazin CLAS M.A. Professor of history, Georgetown University [10]
Bonnie McCay 1969 CLAS B.A. Professor emerita of anthropology, Rutgers University [11]
David McDowall 1973 CLAS B.S. Professor of criminology, University at Albany, SUNY [12]
Roberta Rudnick 1980 CLAS B.S. Assistant professor of geology, Harvard University; University of California, Santa Barbara [13]
Thomas Talbott B.S. Professor emeritus of philosophy, Willamette University [14][15]
Jack Ernest Vincent 1957 PSC B.S. Professor emeritus of political science, University of Idaho [16]
Dali Yang 1988 CLAS M.A. Professor of political science, University of Chicago [17]
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Architecture and design

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Sergio Palleroni Architect and co-founder of BASIC Initiative [18]
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Art and literature

Francisco Laguna Correa, poet
Travis Knight, animator
Bill Plympton, animator
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Holly Andres 2004 CA M.F.A. Photographer [19][20]
Damali Ayo 2006 CA M.F.A. Conceptual artist [21]
Cal Barnes DNG N/a Novelist and playwright [22]
John Callahan DNG N/a Cartoonist, creator of Pelswick [23]
Francisco Laguna Correa CLAS B.A. Poet, professor of Latinx studies at University of Denver [24]
Walt Curtis Poet and painter [25]
Carolyn Davidson 1971 CLAS B.A. Graphic designer; creator of the Nike swoosh [26]
Gwen M. Davidson 1987 CA M.F.A. Contemporary artist [27]
Michael Dickman DNG N/a Poet, recipient of Alfred Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University [28][29]
David James Duncan 1973 CLAS B.A. Novelist and essayist [30]
Ann Gardner 1974 CA M.F.A. Glass artist [31]
Larry Harvey DNG N/a Artist, co-founder of Burning Man festival [32]
Michael Hornburg DNG N/a Novelist, journalist [33]
Christopher Howell 1971 CLAS M.A. Poet, two-time National Endowment Fellowship winner [34]
Anne Hughes Art patron, gallery owner
Ariana Jacob 2010 CA M.F.A. Contemporary artist [35]
Lee Kelly VC Sculptor [36]
Richard Kennedy 1958 PSC B.A. Children's author, proponent of Oxfordian theory of Shakespeare authorship [37]
Travis Knight 1998 CLAS B.S. Animator; CEO of LAIKA [38]
Jack Ohman CLAS B.A. Editorial cartoonist of The Oregonian [39]
Pierre Ouellette Science fiction author
Bill Plympton 1968 PSC B.A. Animator [40]
Mike Richardson 1977 CA B.A. Publisher, founder of Dark Horse Comics [41]
Deborah J. Ross 1973 CLAS M.S. Science fiction and fantasy author [42]
Laura Ross-Paul 1976 CA M.F.A. Painter [43]
Roland Smith DNG N/a Young adult fiction author [citation needed]
Howard Ben Tré 1978 CLAS B.S.A. Glass artist [44][45]
Celeste West CLAS B.A. Librarian and author [46][47]
John Sibley Williams GSBP M.A. Poet and publisher [48]
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Business and finance

Sho Dozono, businessman
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
D. Scott Davis B.S. Chairman and CEO of UPS [49]
Sho Dozono 1968 CE M.Ed. Businessman, CEO of Azumano Travel [50]
Mike Erickson 1988 SB B.S. Entrepreneur [51]
Judi Hofer Executive CEO, The May Department Stores Company [52]
Darren Kimura DNG N/a Inventor of MicroCSP [53]
Steven Smith DNG N/a Entrepreneur, founder of Tazo Tea Company [54]
Norm Winningstad 1973 SB M.B.A. Businessperson, engineer [55]
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Civil society

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Arthur Honeyman 1965, 1974 CLAS B.S., M.A. Disability rights activist, writer [56]
Ashley Gjøvik 2012 B.S. Activist and Apple Inc. whistleblower [57]
Musse Olol 1991 Social activist[58]
Richard Pimentel Disability rights activist [56]
Paul Popham PSC Founder of the Gay Men's Health Crisis; Vietnam War veteran [59]
Robert Robideau CLAS B.S. Native American activist; acquitted in 1975 shooting deaths of two FBI agents in South Dakota [60]
Chea Vannath Cambodian anti-corruption activist [61]
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Entertainment

Film, television, and performing arts

Mark Dacascos, actor and martial artist
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Bruce Abbott DNG N/a Film and television actor [62]
Cal Barnes DNG N/a Film actor and filmmaker [63]
Mark Dacascos Film actor and martial artist [64]
Karl Glusman DNG N/a Film actor [65]
Katie Harman 2003 CLAS B.S. 2002 Miss America [66][67]
Ian Karmel 2009 B.S. Stand-up comedian [68]
Terence Knox CA M.F.A. Film actor [69]
Jennifer Lyon DNG N/a Competitor on Survivor: Palau [70]
Holly Madison DNG N/a Playboy model, reality television star [71]
Kari Ann Peniche Miss Teen USA winner
Rick Reynolds 1976 CLAS B.S. Comedian [72][73]
Sara Jean Underwood Playboy model, actress [74]
Erin Way Actress [75]
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Music

Aminé, rapper
Courtney Love, frontwoman of Hole
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Aminé DNG N/a Hip-hop artist [76]
Mel Brown Jazz drummer, collaborator of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye [77]
Ken Butler 1977 CA M.F.A. Experimental musician [78]
Dave Carter CLAS B.S. Folk musician [79]
Jack Ely Musician, singer of The Kingsmen [80]
Eric Funk 1972, 1978 CLAS B.A., M.A. Contemporary classical composer and conductor [81]
Haley Heynderickx Singer-songwriter [82]
Issa 2008 SB B.S. Singer and songwriter [83][84]
Courtney Love DNG;
att. c. 1983		 CLAS N/a Musician and actress; frontwoman of Grammy-nominated rock band Hole [85]
Audrey Luna 2001 CLAS B.A. Grammy-winning soprano; hit highest note ever sung at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 2017 [86]
Rob Simonsen Film composer [87]
Lawrence Leighton Smith 1957 CLAS B.A. Conductor and pianist [88]
Esperanza Spalding DNG;
att. 2000–2001		 N/a Four-time Grammy-winning jazz musician [89][90]
Nancy Wilson DNG;
att. 1973		 N/a Singer and guitarist of Heart [91]
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Humanities

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Chet Orloff CLAS M.A. Historian, director emeritus of Oregon Historical Society [92]
Mark Weber CLAS B.A. Historian, director of Institute for Historical Review [93]
Amos Yong Pentecostal theologian [94]
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Media and communications

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Kambiz Hosseini Political satirist, radio host [95]
Paul Linnman CLAS B.A. Television journalist, radio host [96]
Lana Lokteff Alt-right YouTube personality
Michael Moynihan 2000 CLAS B.A. Journalist, author of Lords of Chaos [97]
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Government and politics

Heads of state and government

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Casten Nemra 2000 SB B.B.A. 7th president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands [98]
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Governors of the United States

Barbara Roberts, 34th governor of Oregon
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Barbara Roberts 1964 CLAS B.A. 34th governor of Oregon [99]
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Margaret Carter, Oregon senator
Deborah Boone, Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives
Joe Gallegos, Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives
Teresa Alonso Leon, Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives

State senators

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Margaret Carter 1972 CE B.A. Democratic member of Oregon State Senate [100]
Avel Gordly 1974 CLAS B.S. First African American woman elected to the Oregon State Senate [101]
Rod Monroe 1965, 1969 CLAS B.S., M.A. Democratic member of Oregon State Senate [102]
Chuck Riley Democratic member of Oregon State Senate, 15th district [103]
Martha Schrader CE, CUPA M.A. Democratic member of Oregon State Senate, 20th district [104]
Chip Shields SSW M.S.W. Democratic member of Oregon State Senate, 22nd district [105]
Rob Wagner CLAS B.S. Democratic member of Oregon State Senate, 19th district [106]
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State representatives

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Jeff Barker CLAS B.S. Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives, 28th district [107]
Rick Bauman Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives, 11th/13th district [108]
Deborah Boone CLAS B.S. Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives, 32nd district [109]
Scott Bruun SB M.B.A. Republican member of Oregon House of Representatives, 37th district [110]
Albert H. Densmore 1968 CLAS B.S. Democratic member Oregon House of Representatives, 50th district [111]
Richard Devlin 1976 CLAS B.S. Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives and Senate [112]
Margaret Doherty CLAS B.A. Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 35th district [113]
Larry Galizio CUPA PhD Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 35th district [114]
Joe Gallegos CLAS, SSW B.S., M.S.W. Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 13th district [115]
Chris Gorsek 2004 CLAS PhD Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 49th district [116]
Gary Hansen Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 44th district [117]
Diego Hernandez SSW M.S.W. Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 47th district [118]
Nick Kahl 2000 CA B.A. Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 49th district [119]
Teresa Alonso Leon 2013 CUPA M.A. Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 22nd district [120]
Thomas Lockhart SB M.B.A. Republican member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, 57th district [121]
Steve March 1997 Urban Studies M.A., PhD Democratic Member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 46th district [122]
Jim Moeller DNG SSW N/a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives, 49th district [123]
Ron Packard DNG N/a Republican member of the California House of Representatives, 43rd district [124]
Tawna Sanchez 2012 SSW M.S.W. Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives, 43rd district [125]
Bruce Starr 1991 CLAS B.S. Republican member of Oregon House of Representatives and State Senate [126]
Carolyn Tomei SSW M.S.W. Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives, 41st district [127]
Matt Wand 1997 CLAS B.S. Republican member of Oregon House of Representatives, 49th district [128]
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Other U.S. political figures

Charles Moose, police officer
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Joe DeLaCruz DNG Native American program leader, elected president of National Congress of American Indians [129]
Susan Eggman 2002 SSW PhD Member of California State Assembly, 13th district [130]
Joseph LeBaron 1969 CLAS B.S. U.S. ambassador to Qatar [131][132]
Marisa Lino 1971 CLAS B.S. U.S. ambassador to Albania [133]
Gladys McCoy 1967 SSW M.S.W. First African American woman elected to public office in Oregon [134]
Charles Moose CUPA M.A., PhD Former police chief for Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the sites of the Beltway Sniper attacks [135]
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Judges

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Anna J. Brown 1975 CLAS B.S. U.S. federal judge [136]
Paul De Muniz 1972 CLAS B.S. Oregon Supreme Court chief justice [137]
R. William Riggs 1961 CLAS B.A. Oregon Supreme Court justice [138]
Betty Roberts 1958 PSC B.S. Education First woman to serve on the Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals [139][140]
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International political figures

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Anas Khalid Al Saleh 1997 B.S. SB Deputy prime minister of Kuwait [141]
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Sciences and technology

Jill Mikucki, microbiologist
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Chad Cary CLAS M.S. in Geography National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps rear admiral; Director, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (2024–present) [142]
John Hughes SSW M.S.W. Pioneer in school-based alcohol and drug prevention efforts
Fariborz Maseeh CLAS B.S., M.S. Pioneer in the field of micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS); founder of IntelliSense [143]
Jill Mikucki 2001 CLAS M.S. Microbiologist and Antarctic researcher; professor of microbiology at University of Tennessee, Knoxville [144]
Bruce Ogilvie CLAS M.S. Sports psychologist and professor, San Jose State University
Sage Sharp CLAS B.S. Programmer who contributed to Linux kernel [145]
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Sports

Evan Jager, distance runner
Rick Sanders, folkstyle and freestyle wrestler
DeShawn Shead, Seattle Seahawks cornerback
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Shaun Bodiford Football wide receiver, New York Giants; Oakland Raiders [146]
Kameron Canaday NFL player [147]
Tony Curtis Football backup tight end, Dallas Cowboys [148]
Clint Didier NFL tight end, Super Bowl XVII Champion [149]
Dan Frantz Football player, Chicago Rush [150]
Adam Hayward 2006 Linebacker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers [151]
Darick Holmes NFL running back, Buffalo Bills [152]
Evan Jager 2015 CLAS B.S. Distance runner [153]
Dave Jansen Wrestler, mixed martial artist [154]
Joe Kraemer Major League Baseball player, Chicago Cubs [155]
Jeff Lahti Retired Major League Baseball pitcher; 1982 World Series Champion [156]
Neil Lomax 1981 CLAS B.S. National Football League quarterback, St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals (1981–89) [157]
Steve Olin 1988 Major League Baseball pitcher [158]
Shannon O'Keefe Professional bowler, coach [159]
Mike Pierce Two-time All-American wrestler; professional mixed martial artist, formerly competed in the UFC [160]
Gordon Riese 1964 Portland State pitcher, Pac-10 referee [161]
Richard Sanders Wrestler, NCAA, FILA and Summer Olympics [162]
Bree Schaaf 2002 CLAS B.A. U.S. Olympic bobsledder, 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver [163]
Paul Schrieber Major League Baseball umpire [164]
Jordan Senn Linebacker, Carolina Panthers [165]
DeShawn Shead 2011 CLAS B.S. Safety for the 2014 Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks [166][167]
Dave Stief Football wide receiver, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Redskins [168]
Julius Thomas Tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars [169]
Tom Trebelhorn 1970 CLAS B.S. Major League Baseball manager [170]
Ime Udoka Head coach for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association [171]
Dominic Waters Israel Basketball Premier League basketball player [172]
Freeman Williams Retired National Basketball Association guard [173]
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Miscellaneous

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Ref.
Julienne Bušić CLAS M.A. Widow of Zvonko Bušić; convicted in hijacking of TWA Flight 355 [174]
Patrice Lumumba Ford CLAS B.A. Convicted member of the terrorist group, the Portland Seven [175]
Randall Woodfield DNG;
att. 1970–1974		 N/a Green Bay Packers draftee; later convicted serial killer [176]
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References

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