Humanities and Fine Arts Alumni

Samia Yaqub, M.A. English 1989
- President: Butte-Glenn Community College
- Chico State Advisory Board
- California Writing Project Advisory Board
- CSU Chico Distinguished Alumna

Matt Olmstead, B.A. English 1988
- Exec. Producer/Writer: NYPD Blue (ABC)
- Exec. Producer: Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med (NBC)
- Writer: The Crossing (ABC)
- CSU Chico Distinguished Alumni Award

Steven Osterlund, B.F.A. Studio Art 2017
- Published author, recipient: the Studio Potter’s Merit Award for the National Juried Student Exhibition @ 2018 NCECA Conference Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Paige Patterson, B.A., Theatre Arts & Minor, Musical Theatre Dance
- Elementary - CBS Network
- Person of Interest - CBS Network
- Braindead - CBS Network
- Quantico - ABC Network
- Hell on Wheels - AMC
- Quarry - Cinemax

J’Anna Jacoby, B.A., Music, 1987
- The Rod Stewart Band:
Violin, mandolin, vocals: - Grand Masters National Fiddling Championship: 1st Female Winner
- The Grand Ole Opry - Musician
- CSU Distinguished Alumni Award 2017

Mary K. Rolland, B.A., Art, 1967
- NYC Visual Artist/Painter
- The Mary K. Rolland Scholarship Endowment Fund for Fine Arts at Chico State
- CSU Distinguished Alumni Award 2014

Kelli Chipponeri, B.A. English, 1998
- Chronicle Books/Children’s Group
Executive Editor - Penguin Books - Senior Editor
- Running Press Kids - Philadelphia
Editorial Director, edited two
New York Times best-sellers - Women’s National Book Association Pannell Award - Juror
- Simon & Schuster - Assistant editor
- CSU Chico Distinguished Alumna

Victoria “Missy” McArthur, B.A. English, 1972
- Former mayor & council member City of Redding
- CSU, Chico University Advisory Board
- The Shasta College Foundation
- Co-owner-Redding Heat minor league football team
- Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa Woman of the Year Award
- Redding Methamphetamine Task Force
- CSU Chico Distinguished Alumna
- Recital Hall Lobby named: "The Missy McArthur Lobby”

Terris McMahan Grimes, B.A. English, 1973
- Author: Smelling Herself: A Novel (the Northern California Publishers and Authors 2014 first-place award for general fiction)
- The Chester Himes Black Mystery Writers Award
- Double Anthony Awards: Best first novel and Best Paperback Original
- Owner: Patent Leather Press
- Author of the Theresa Galloway Mystery Series: Somebody Else’s Child and Blood Will Tell
- CSU Chico Distinguished Alumni Award

Timothy Allen McDonald, B.A. Music, 1988; M.A.Music, 1991
- Award-winning playwright: Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka,
The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, Jim Henson's Emmet Otter - Director: Dear Edwina produced by multi-Tony award winner Daryl Roth
- Director: The Phantom Tollbooth, at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
- CSU Chico Distinguished Alumni Award

Dr. Glen Toney, B.A. Philosophy, 1966, Honorary Doctorate, 2004
- Board of Trustees:
California State University - CSU Distinguished Alumni Service Award 2011
- V. P. Human Resources & Corporate Affairs: Applied Materials
- Assistant Superintendent:
Cupertino Union Elementary School District - Assistant Superintendent of Schools: Ravenswood City and Palo Alto Unified School Districts

Amanda Detmer, B.A. Theatre Arts, 1995
Actress:
- Drop Dead Gorgeous
- The Vampire Diaries
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent
- Two and a Half Men
- Boys and Girls
- Saving Silverman
- The Majestic
- Kiss the Bride
- Big Fat Liar
- You, Me and Dupree
- CSU Chico Distinguished Alumna ’02

Tony Villaflor, B.A. Music Industry & Technology: Recording Arts 2007
- Re-Recording Mixer @ Skywalker Ranch
- Star Wars:The Last Jedi
- Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- The Lion King
- Pirates of the Caribbean:DeadMen Tell No Tales
- Finding Dory
- Jurassic World
- Avengers: Endgame
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Vice
- Strange Magic
- The Final Year
- Captain America: Civil War
- Strange Magic
- Rio2

Barry Daffurn, B.A. Music Industry & Technology, 2009
- Co-founder and president Cinq Music- Barry Dafurn partners with Janet Jackson and her Rhythm Nation Records signing her to an Indy distribution, label, publishing, and recording agreement.

Douglas Leiker, B.A. English, 1975
- Studied ceramics under Jack Windsor
- Established Warm Earth Pottery in 1980
- Created Warm Earth Pottery & Cosmetics, a cosmetics line packaged in his own ceramic vessels, and currently sold across the United States, Central and South America, and Europe.

William Beezley, B.A. History, 1964
- Professor of History: University of Arizona
- CSU Chico Distinguished Alumni Award

Katie Morrill, B.A., Musical Theatre, 2014
- The Barrington Collective
(Professional Theatre Company)
Co-founder

Brianna Warren, B.A. Art History, 2017
- The Menil Drawing Institute -Houston, Texas
Conservation Studio Technician

Carson Melonee, B.F.A. Interior Design, 2014
- Senior Designer @ MBH Architects

Chelsea Gilmore, M.F.A., Art & Art History
- Tenure Track Professor @ Modesto College

Jaclyn Guasco, B.A., Interior Design, 2007
- Senior Associate @ Fennie+Mehl Architects

Terry Dyer, Musical Theatre, attended '98 - '01
- executive director of the World AIDS Museum
- author of 2020 book, Letters to a Gay Black Boy
- activist and speaker