Student and Alumni Stories
SFSU is life-changing for many of our students and alumni.
Higher Education with a High Return on Investment
There’s a reason SFSU has been recognized as a university with a high return on investment. It’s been pivotal for the success of our alumni and current students.
Whether students enter SFSU directly from high school or after pause in their education, SFSU produces purposeful graduates who are making waves in every industry from education to health care to entertainment to business. Our graduates are making meaningful marks in their communities.
With SFSU’s emphasis on social justice and activism, you’ll find many of our graduates in public office, such as former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown (B.A., ’55), former state assembly member Tom Ammiano (M.A., ’65) and several mayors and city council members of California cities.
Our graduates are leaders in technology and business. Our alums include entrepreneur and digital asset pioneer Chris Larsen (B.S., ’84), CEO of Artista Networks Jayshree Ullal (B.S., ’84) and inventor of the microprocessor Stan Mazor (B.S.,’65).
And it’s impossible to overlook the impact our alumni have had in film, television and radio. Our alumni include Academy Award-winning screenwriter Steve Zaillian (B.A. ’75), award-winning actor Delroy Lindo (B.A., ’04), Emmy-winner Alex Borstein (B.A., ’92) and veteran TV producer Peter Casey (B.A., ’75).
She Turned a BECA Degree Into a Home Run
The teachers were so down to earth and so real and so helpful that that you just constantly felt supported. ... There was still a learning curve, but I was so well prepared based on what I had learned at State.
Alumna Ashley Santiago (B.S., ’16), started her journey as a perfumer for the world's largest scent manufacturer at SFSU's Chemistry department.
We Shape Gators Into Greatness
Our SFSU alums are leaders in their in fields. From careers in STEM to education, the arts, health care and government, Gators are using their education to better their communities.
Read five Gators' success stories
Forming Foundations at SFSU
Whit Johnson (B.A., ’04) never imagined he be the weekend anchor for ABC News. “The one thing that I think I did have going for me was just a work ethic that I developed while I was here at San Francisco State.”
Check out more successful alums
Our Grads Tackle Big Problems
Biomedical scientist Chinomnso Okorie (B.S., ’17; M.S., ’19) is tackling health disparities in her community.
See what other Gators are up to now
