Distinguished Alumni
Karen Bass (BS, 90) – Speaker of the California State Assembly, first African American and first woman Majority Leader
Alex Bengard (BS, 03) – Co-founder, 2B Soccer Academy; former Midfielder, L.A. Galaxy
Steven C. Bradford (BA, 85) – Councilmember, City of Gardena
Michael Briggs (BA, 96) – Entrepreneur; Owner Cold Stone Ice Cream Franchises
Hsin-Ming Fung (BA, 77) – Architect; primarily responsible for the redesign of the Hollywood Bowl
Clarence Gilyard, Jr. (BA, 89) – Actor; films include Top Gun, Die Hard; TV series include Matlock and Walker, Texas Ranger
Richelle Gingrich (BA, 03) – Event Manager, Trump National Golf Club
Danny Grissett (BA, 98) – Jazz Pianist
Danny Guerrero (MPA, 83) – Director of Athletics, UCLA
Stacy A. Haitsuka (BS, 89) – CIO, Jambo search technology company; Co-founder, NetZero Internet provider
Kate Hoffman (MA, 97) – Director, Huntington Beach Art Center; Ceramicist
Jerome Horton (BS, 79) – Retired Assembly member, 51st District
Janine Hydel (BA, 82) – Radio Personality, KJHL Radio Station
John Langley (BA, 71) – Co-Creator and Executive Producer of nationally syndicated TV show, COPS
Lois Lee (BS, 78) – Community Activist; founder of Children of the Night; profiled on national television, including CBS’ 60 Minutes; Lee’s work depicted in a CBS TV movie entitled Children of the Night
Nicey Nash (BS, 91) – Actress; television credits include Reno 911! and hosting Clean House on the Style Network
Ernesto Ojeda (BA, 80 & MA, 95) – Fire Department Captain, LAFD; FEMA Search and Rescue program
Margaret Quiñones (BA, 84) – Educator; California Community College Board of Governors
Rodney Allen Rippy (BS, 95) – Actor; best known as boy in Jack in the Box commercial in the 70’s
Lela Rochon (BA, 86) – Actress, model, dancer; films include Harlem Nights, Boomerang, Waiting to Exhale
Dirk Sciarrotta (BA, 04) – Emmy Award Winning sound effects engineer
Louil Silas (BA, 77) – Record Executive; Founder, Silas Records; has worked with Bobby Brown, New Edition, Chante Moore, Jesse Powell, and Keke Wyatt
Leo Terrell (BA, 77) – Civil Rights Attorney; Author; Radio Talk Show Host, KABC 790
Maria D. Villa (BS, 82) – Attorney; first Hispanic elected to the State Bar Board of Governors; former President of Mexican American Bar Association of L.A. County
Patrick West (MBA, 86) – City Manager, City of Long Beach
