Santa Clara University's Notable Alumni

Here are just a few of the many great minds and talents to come out of Santa Clara University! Go Broncos! You can also catch up with old classmates and meet fellow alumni at #SCUGrandReunion this fall. http://bit.ly/SCUGrandReunion

Brandi Chastain, '91

thesantaclara.org

Brandi Chastain led Santa Clara to two NCAA Tournaments, the U.S. Women’s National Team to a World Cup victory and is a three time Olympic gold medalist. She also co- founded the Bay Area Womens' Sports Initiative to inspire girls. She now helps coach the current Bronco women's soccer team at Santa Clara University.

Leon Panetta, '60

Leon Panetta (D) served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2009 to 2011 and as Secretary of Defense from 2011 to 2013. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1993, served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget from 1993 to 1994 and as President Bill Clinton's Chief of Staff from 1994 to 1997. Panetta founded the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, served as Distinguished Scholar to Chancellor Charles B. Reed of the California State University System and is now a professor of public policy at Santa Clara University.

Steve Nash, '96

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Before he was an NBA star, before the Suns and the Lakers, Steve Nash was a Santa Clara University Bronco. During his time with the Santa Clara men's basketball team, the team made three NCAA Tournament appearances, and Nash was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year twice.

Governor Jerry Brown

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Jerry Brown is the 34th and 39th governor of California. He attended Santa Clara University for a year in 1955.

Khaled Hosseini, '88

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Khaled Hosseini is the award-winning author of "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns." He just released "And the Mountains Echoed." He was the 2011 SCU Undergraduate Commencement Speaker.

Janet Napolitano, '79

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Janet Napolitano, valedictorian of '79, is the first woman to serve as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. She is currently the president of the University of California system.

Michelle Ashford, '83

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Michelle Ashford is an award-winning and Emmy nominated screenwriter. She created the TV mini-series', John Adams and HBO's The Pacific , and wrote episodes for the original 21 Jump Street which starred Johnny Depp. She is now show running Showtime's new series Masters of Sex which is in its second season.

Andy Ackerman, '78

Andy Ackerman has directed and produced some of TV's most funny and beloved TV series, including Seinfeld and its classic "Soup Nazi" Episode. He's also part of the 2014-2015 President's Speakers Series on campus.

Reza Aslan, '95

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Reza Aslan is an internationally acclaimed author who wrote No god But God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam, Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, How to Win a Cosmic War, and Tablet and Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East. He returned to campus as a speaker for the 2013 President's Speaker Series.

Francisco Jimenez '66, Ph.D.

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In 2002, Francisco Jimenez was selected the U.S. Professor of the Year by CASE and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and in 2009 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, honoris causa, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California. He is currently a Professor in SCU's Modern Languages and Literatures Department.

Who are are we missing?

Tweet us @SantaClaraUniv or send us an email [e-mail] and we may add your suggestion to the list!

You can also visit: http://www.scu.edu/alumni/about/notable.cfm