47 Notable alumni of
Chapman University
Updated:
Chapman University is 945th in the world, 344th in North America, and 322nd in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 47 notable alumni from Chapman University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Colin Hanks
- Occupations
- film producerfilm actorstage actorfilm directortelevision actor
- Biography
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Colin Lewes Hanks is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his role as Gus Grimly on the FX crime series Fargo (2014–2015), which earned him nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Critics' Choice Television Award.
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Jodie Sweetin
- Enrolled in Chapman University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts in mass communication
- Occupations
- television actorchild actorvoice actoractorfilm actor
- Biography
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Jodie Lee Ann Sweetin is an American actress and television personality. She is best known for her role as Stephanie Tanner in the ABC comedy series Full House and its Netflix sequel series Fuller House.
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Leslie Jones
- Occupations
- television actorwritergame show hostactorfilm actor
- Biography
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Annette Leslie Jones is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She was a cast member and writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2014 to 2019, and hosted the ABC game show Supermarket Sweep. She has also been a featured performer at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal and the Aspen Comedy Festival. In 2010, her one-hour comedy special, Problem Child, was broadcast on Showtime. Jones starred in Ghostbusters (2016) as Patty Tolan. In 2017 and 2018, Jones was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on Saturday Night Live.
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Kellan Lutz
- Occupations
- Thai boxermodeltelevision actoractorfilm actor
- Biography
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Kellan Christopher Lutz is an American actor, martial artist and model. He made his film debut in Stick It (2006), and is best known for playing Emmett Cullen in The Twilight Saga film series (2008–2012). He has since played Poseidon in the 2011 film Immortals, voiced the title character in the 2013 animated film Tarzan, also played John Smilee in The Expendables 3 (2014), and Hercules in The Legend of Hercules (2014). He co-starred in the CBS action thriller series FBI: Most Wanted (2020–2021).
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Bob Einstein
- Occupations
- film actorcomedianfilm directortelevision actoractor
- Biography
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Stewart Robert Einstein was an American actor, comedy writer, and producer. He created and performed the satirical stuntman character Super Dave Osborne, and was also known for his roles as Marty Funkhouser in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Larry Middleman on Arrested Development.
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Roger Craig Smith
- Occupations
- comedianvoice actordrummer
- Biography
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Roger Craig Smith is an American voice actor. He is known for his voice roles in video games such as Chris Redfield in the Resident Evil series (2009–2017), Ezio Auditore da Firenze in the Assassin's Creed series (2009–2011), Kyle Crane in Dying Light (2015) as well as in Dying Light: The Beast (2025), Sonic the Hedgehog, E-123 Omega, and the Wisp Announcer (among other characters) in the Sonic the Hedgehog series (2010–present), and Mirage in Apex Legends. In addition, he has voiced Captain America in several Marvel projects, and Batman in Batman: Arkham Origins (2013), Batman: Arkham Shadow (2024), and several other DC projects featuring the character.
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Utkarsh Sharma
- Occupations
- film actor
- Biography
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Utkarsh Sharma is an Indian actor. The son of director Anil Sharma, he made his first screen appearance as a child in the 2001 film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, which starred Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel. As an adult, he made his debut with a leading role in the action thriller Genius and later worked in Gadar 2 (2023) and Vanvaas (2024).
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Cooper Hefner
- Occupations
- activistopinion journalistbusinessperson
- Biography
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Cooper Bradford Hefner is an American businessman. He is the managing partner of Hefner Capital. He has worked as the chief creative officer and chief of global partnerships at Playboy Enterprises, a company founded by his father, Hugh Hefner. He was also the founder and initial chief executive officer of the startup company Hop.
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Sabrina Bryan
- Occupations
- television actordanceractorfashion designersinger
- Biography
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Reba Sabrina Hinojosa, known professionally as Sabrina Bryan, is an American singer and actress. She is best known as a member of the girl group the Cheetah Girls, starring in the Disney Channel Original Movie The Cheetah Girls and its sequels, The Cheetah Girls 2 and The Cheetah Girls: One World. Before she appeared on television, Bryan was a dancer, and trained at Hart Academy of Dance, located in La Habra, California.
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Samantha Brown
- Occupations
- television presenterstage actorjournalistfilm producerscreenwriter
- Biography
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Samantha Elizabeth Brown is an American television host who presented several Travel Channel shows including Girl Meets Hawaii, Great Vacation Homes, Great Hotels, Passport to Europe, Passport to Latin America, Great Weekends, Green Getaways, Passport to China, and Samantha Brown's Asia. As of 2012, Brown has marketed her own brand of travel luggage called Samantha Brown: Travel America. In January 2018, she began hosting Samantha Brown's Places to Love on PBS. It is shown on PBS stations nationwide, as well as the PBS website and app.
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Loretta Sanchez
- Enrolled in Chapman University
- In 1982 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- financial analystpolitician
- Biography
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Loretta Lorna Sanchez is an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1997 to 2017, representing parts of central Orange County, California. A member of the Democratic Party, she was first elected in 1996, when she defeated long-serving Republican U.S. Representative Bob Dornan by fewer than 1,000 votes. During her time in the House of Representatives, Sanchez was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition of moderate-to-conservative Democrats.
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Joan Staley
- Occupations
- actortelevision actorfilm actormodelPlayboy Playmate
- Biography
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Joan Staley was an American actress and model.
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Justin Simien
- Occupations
- screenwriterfilm directoractortelevision producer
- Biography
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Justin Simien is an American filmmaker, actor, and author. His first feature film, Dear White People, won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. It was later adapted into the Netflix series of the same name. Simien has also been named to Variety's 2013 "10 Directors to Watch" list.
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Juliari Batubara
- Enrolled in Chapman University
- Studied in 1995-1997
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Juliari Peter Batubara is an Indonesian politician, who served as Minister of Social Affairs in the 41st Cabinet of Indonesia from 23 October 2019 until his arrest in December 2020 for alleged corruption. He is a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
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Steve Lavin
- Occupations
- head coachbasketball coach
- Biography
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Stephen Michael Lavin is an American college basketball coach and former broadcaster who is the head coach of the San Diego Toreros men's basketball team at the University of San Diego (USD). He previously served as head coach of the St. John's Red Storm and UCLA Bruins. In eleven full seasons as a head coach, Lavin had led teams to ten postseason appearances, highlighted by eight NCAA Tournament berths, an Elite Eight ('97), five NCAA Regional semifinals ('97, '98, '00, '01, '02) and nine campaigns of twenty or more wins. Lavin has also been a broadcaster for Fox Sports, CBS Sports and Pac-12 Network.
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Harshvardhan Kapoor
- Occupations
- actorfilm actor
- Biography
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Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor is an Indian actor. He is the son of actor Anil Kapoor. He made his acting debut with the romantic drama film Mirzya (2016). He has since starred in the action films Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018) and Thar (2022).
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Kit Armstrong
- Occupations
- composerpianist
- Biography
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Kit Armstrong is an American classical pianist, composer, organist, and former child prodigy of British-Taiwanese parentage.
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Doreen Virtue
- Occupations
- motivational speakerwriterhealer
- Biography
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Doreen Virtue is an American author who formerly wrote exclusively about New Age topics. Virtue has said that in 2017 she rejected her New Age beliefs and became a born-again fundamentalist Christian.
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Randy Jones
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Randall Leo Jones, nicknamed "Junkman", was an American professional baseball player who was a left-handed pitcher. He was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the San Diego Padres. A two-time All-Star selection, Jones won the National League (NL) Cy Young Award with San Diego in 1976, after finishing second in 1975. The Padres retired his number 35.
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Gustavo Arellano
- Years
- 1979-.. (age 47)
- Occupations
- columnistjournalist
- Biography
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Gustavo Arellano is a Mexican American writer and journalist. He is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and the former editor of Orange County's alternative weekly OC Weekly.
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Marty Paich
- Occupations
- bandleaderrecord producerconductorcomposerjazz musician
- Biography
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Martin Louis Paich was an American pianist, composer, arranger, record producer, music director, and conductor. As a musician and arranger he worked with jazz musicians Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Kenton, Al Hirt, Art Pepper, Buddy Rich, Ray Brown, Shorty Rogers, Pete Rugolo, Ray Charles and Mel Tormé. His long association with Tormé included one of the singer's earliest albums, Mel Tormé with the Marty Paich Dek-Tette. Over the next three decades he worked with pop singers such as Andy Williams and Jack Jones and for film and television. He is the father of David Paich, a founding member of the rock band Toto.
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Kelli Stavast
- Born in
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United States - Occupations
- sports commentator
- Biography
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Kelli L. Stavast is an American sportscaster who formerly worked for NBC Sports as a pit reporter for both their NASCAR and IndyCar Series coverage. She has reported for numerous other forms of motorsports throughout her career, as well as diving at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and freestyle skiing at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyongchang.
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Octavio Zambrano
- Occupations
- association football playerassociation football coach
- Biography
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Octavio Zambrano Viera is an Ecuadorian football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the current manager of Venezuelan club Monagas.
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Chris Lee
- Enrolled in Chapman University
- In 1997 graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Occupations
- businesspersonpolitician
- Biography
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Christopher John Lee is a former American politician and former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 26th congressional district. He served from January 2009 until his resignation on February 9, 2011, following revelations that he had sent a shirtless photo of himself to a woman on Craigslist. Subsequent reporting revealed that Lee had also used Craigslist to solicit transsexual and cross-dressing sexual encounters.
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Paul H. Dunn
- Years
- 1924-1998 (aged 74)
- Occupations
- missionary
- Biography
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Paul Harold Dunn was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Dunn was widely considered one of the most dynamic speakers among the general authorities in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1991, Dunn stated that he had "not always been accurate" in his speeches and writings after it was reported that he "made up many of the stories about baseball and battle he told as personal experiences".
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George Argyros
- Occupations
- diplomat
- Biography
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George Leon Argyros is an American former diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Spain. He is also a real estate investor and philanthropist. Argyros was the owner of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners from 1981 to 1989. He is the founder and CEO of property firm Arnel & Affiliates.
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David E. Bonior
- Enrolled in Chapman University
- In 1972 graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- university teacherpolitician
- Biography
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David Edward Bonior is an American politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, Bonior served as Democratic whip in the House from 1991 to 2002, during which time Democrats were in both the majority (1991–1995) and minority (1995–2002), making Bonior the third and second highest-ranking Democrat in the House, respectively.
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Esther Liang Veronin
- Occupations
- singer
- Biography
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Esther Veronin, is a Taiwanese-American director, singer, actress and CEO of entertainment startup Meimeiwawa Multimedia. She is the elder sister of singer Lara Veronin.
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Tim Flannery
- Occupations
- baseball playerguitaristsinger-songwriter
- Biography
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Timothy Earl Flannery is an American former Major League Baseball player who spent 11 seasons with the San Diego Padres, from 1979 to 1989. He was the third base coach of the San Francisco Giants from 2007 to 2014. He is the nephew of former Major League Baseball player Hal Smith.
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Linh Nga
- Occupations
- film producerdancernews presenterfilm directoractor
- Biography
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Linh Nga, is an American-Vietnamese film director, film producer, actress, and screenwriter. Linh Nga's 2019 documentary "Inside this peace" won "Award Of Merit" at the Impact DOCS Awards, won "Best Feature Documentary" at the California Women's Film Festival, and nominated for "Best Feature Documentary" at the Action On Film International Film Festival. Her 2003 film Up and Down the Dust Way (Xuoi nguoc duong tran) won "TV Best Series" at the Vietnamese International Film Festival. She is the founder of 9669 films.
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Beccy Gordon
- Years
- 1978-.. (age 48)
- Occupations
- racing driver
- Biography
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Rebecca Jill Gordon Hunter-Reay is an American off-road racer, pit-reporter, and model.
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Laura Yeager
- Years
- 1964-.. (age 62)
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
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Major General Laura L. Yeager is an active officer in the United States Army National Guard. She became the commander of the National Guard's 40th Infantry Division on June 29, 2019 and served in that role until May 15, 2022. She is the first woman to command a United States Army infantry division.
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Emmett Littleton Ashford
- Occupations
- baseball playerbaseball umpire
- Biography
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Emmett Littleton Ashford, nicknamed Ash, was an umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB), working in the American League from 1966 to 1970. He was MLB's first African American umpire.
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Sanyukta Kaza
- Born in
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India - Occupations
- film editor
- Biography
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Sanyukta Kaza is an Indian film editor best known for her work on Tumbbad, Bhediya, Paatal lok, Mismatched and Kohrra. Her films have won accolades at multiple film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Toronto, Sitges, Screamfest, Palm springs etc. She has a Masters in Fine Arts from Chapman university.
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Joanna Rosholm
- Born in
- United States
- Biography
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Joanna Rosholm is the former press secretary and deputy communications director for First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama.
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Rick Francona
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Rick Francona is an author, commentator and media military analyst. He is a retired United States Air Force intelligence officer with experience in the Middle East, including tours of duty with the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency. He was under contract to NBC News and appeared regularly on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC, as well as Radio Canada and other media. In 2013, he became a military analyst with CNN.
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Nina M. Armagno
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Nina Marion Armagno is a retired United States Space Force lieutenant general who served as the first director of staff of the United States Space Force from 2020 to 2023. She is the service's first female general officer and the only officer to have commanded both the 30th Space Wing and the 45th Space Wing. Before transferring to the Space Force, she was a major general in the United States Air Force, where she served for over 32 years.
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Gustavo Leite
- Years
- 20th Century
- Occupations
- businesspersonpolitician
- Biography
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Gustavo Alfredo Leite Gusinky is a Paraguayan businessman and politician, currently serving as Paraguay's ambassador to the U.S. since 2023.
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Noelle Freeman
- Occupations
- modelbeauty pageant contestant
- Biography
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Noelle Hope Freeman is an American entrepreneur and founder of The DMS Agency.
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Justin Everett
- Years
- 1971-.. (age 55)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Justin David Everett is an American politician who served in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 22nd district from 2013 to 2019, as a member of the Republican Party. During his tenure in the state house he was referred to as Dr. No for his opposition to large amounts of legislation with him being the legislator who voted against the most legislation.
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Kevin Kwan Loucks
- Occupations
- pianist
- Biography
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Kevin Kwan Loucks is a Korean–American classical pianist, arts entrepreneur, and nonprofit executive. In September 2021, he was appointed chief executive officer of Chamber Music America in New York City. He previously served as Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, a presenting organization in residence at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, and also served as Director of Innovation and Program Development at Music Academy of the West in Montecito, California. He co-founded Chamber Music | OC, an arts organization headquartered in Lake Forest, California, and is a founding member and current pianist of the award-winning piano trio, Trio Céleste.
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Eldon Regua
- Enrolled in Chapman University
- Graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Biography
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Eldon Philip Regua is a retired major general in the United States Army Reserve, who last served as Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff (Wartime) (Individual Mobilization Augmentee) for Eighth United States Army headquartered in Yongsan, Korea, having just completed an assignment as Commanding General, 75th Division (Battle Command Training Division) in Houston, Texas in July 2011. As of 2010, he was the senior most active, or reserve, non-retired flag or general officer of Filipino American ethnicity. He is also half Mexican American ethnicity.
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Matthew Lessner
- Occupations
- film directorscreenwriter
- Biography
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Matthew Lessner is an American artist and independent filmmaker.
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Keith M. Givens
- Occupations
- military leader
- Biography
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Keith M. Givens is a retired United States Air Force Brigadier General who served as the 17th Commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Quantico, Virginia. As the AFOSI Commander, Givens oversaw AFOSI's worldwide network of over 2,000 military and civilian special agents and over 500 unsworn members stationed at major Air Force installations and a variety of worldwide special operating locations.
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Carolyn Waters Broe
- Occupations
- composerconductor
- Biography
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Carolyn Waters Broe is an American conductor, composer, violist and writer, who founded Four Seasons Orchestra in 1992.
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Jeff Carnazzo
- Occupations
- teacher
- Biography
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Jeff Carnazzo is an American football coach and the current head coach at Palma High School, a position he has held since 2000. Carnazzo previously served as the junior varsity linebackers coach before his time as varsity head coach. In his first year as coach, Carnazzo guided his team to a championship in Division I of the Central Coast Section. Along with his duties as head football coach, Carnazzo teaches United States History, Advanced Placement United States History, and Physical Education.
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Mark R. Shepherd
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Mark R. Shepherd was a political consultant, strategist, activist, environmentalist and radio personality in California. He was a Congressional Field Representative for California's 46th Congressional District from May 2002 to October 2008. Active in Inland Empire Democratic Party politics, Shepherd was twice chairman of the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee and longtime officer of the Democratic Luncheon Club of San Bernardino and other local organizations. He served as a member of the Environmental and Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party, was a delegate to the California State Democratic Conventions from 1993 through 2010 and also served as an officer with the Native Sons of the Golden West. In the 2000s, Shepherd worked as a consultant for The Nature Conservancy focusing on preservation of the Mojave Desert. From December 2010 to his death four months later he hosted the weekly "Political Hour" program on KCAA radio where he showcased local politics and the work of local activists.
