
Alumni

Alumnus Fritz Chesnut Rides the Roller Coaster of Being an Artist
A few years ago, we profiled artist and UC Santa Cruz alumnus Fritz Chesnut (Porter 1995) and with his new show, Floating Windows,…more

Christopher Hackett Nails it in Performance, Play and Design
UC Santa Cruz alumnus Christopher Hackett didn’t intend to earn a degree in theater arts but fate had different plans for him. He was set on attending UCSC as a computer science major, determined to follow in his father’s footsteps as a computer programmer.

UCSC HAVC Alumna Focuses on Including Underrepresented Communities in the Arts
As the daughter of parents who immigrated to the United States from Suchitepéquez, Guatemala, UC Santa Cruz recent alumna, Jocelyn Lopez-Anleu, is the youngest of three siblings and the first in her family to graduate from a four-year university.

Dr. Amanda Maples Is a Force in African Art Curation
In the few years since earning her BA degree in Anthropology at the University of North Carolina, Amanda Maples has already had an impressive career in the Arts.

Theater Arts Alumnus Adrian Centeno Skyrockets to National Prominence
When he arrived at UC Santa Cruz, Adrian Centeno was already a seasoned drama teacher with aspirations to be engaged with arts management. He was assigned to be one of the managers of the Theater Arts program, Barnstorm, where he thrived, bringing a vision of inclusion to the program.

UC Santa Cruz Alumna Marti Noxon Is a Female Force in Hollywood
Super heroes have nothing on Marti Noxon. Brave, bold, and exceptionally talented, UC Santa Cruz alumna Noxon has found amazing success in a very tough business that has been traditionally dominated by men.

Alumna Sherrice Mojgani Lights Up the Theater Scene
Back in 2003, Sherrice Mojgani left her home in Orange County, Calif. to make her way to UC Santa Cruz and arrived to what she thought of as the most beautiful place she’d ever seen.

Author Greg Neri Discovered Writing Quite by Accident
He didn’t always have his heart set on being a writer, but as he prepares to complete his 15th book for young people, UC Santa Cruz alumnus Greg Neri is getting used to what he refers to as his “third career”.

Adam Kubota Jazzes It Up in a Postmodern World
Inspired at the age of ten by the irreverent funk/rock group the Red Hot Chili Peppers, UC Santa Cruz Music Department alumnus Adam Kubota was destined to push musical boundaries.

Pipe Dreams: Slug Artist and Curator Collaborate in Danville
Three huge clay sewer pipes carved by alumnus Tom Franco and a team of artists are now gracing Danville’s art gallery in an exhibit curated by a fellow Slug. Marija Nelson Bleier and Tom Franco watched as a crane lifted the colorful, 800-pound sculpture 30 feet into the air. The piece, carved…more

SocDoc Alumna’s Film about Syrian Women Refugees to Have World Premiere at DOC NYC
We Are Not Princesses, the first feature film by UC Santa Cruz alumna Bridgette Auger (SocDoc ’11) will have its world premiere on November 14 at DOC NYC, the largest documentary film festival in the United States.

UCSC Alumna and Film Producer Stephanie Allain Champions Diversity
Stephanie Allain is a rare gem in the film industry.

From Math Major to Renowned Hollywood Music Editor, Alumnus Bill Bernstein Knows All the Right Notes
Having been the music editor on over 60 outstanding films during the course of his career, Bill Bernstein’s musical talent is epic.

From Student Artist to Hollywood Producer, Alumnus Brian Kavanaugh-Jones has Always Been Passionate About the Arts
Growing up in the rural town of Petaluma, UCSC Arts Division alumnus Brian Kavanaugh-Jones grew up appreciating the culture and beauty of California while also experiencing what the outside world had to offer.

Alumna and Renowned Actor Adilah Barnes Returns to Campus for A Raisin in the Sun
Being very successful for over 50 years in the entertainment industry is no small feat. But actor Adilah Barnes takes it all in her stride.

UCSC Alumni Take the Spotlight at Sundance
The 2018 Sundance Film Festival just wrapped and many UC Santa Cruz alumni had feature films that were selected to be screened at this prestigious, internationally renowned film festival. Congratulations to all of these immensely talented members of our UCSC family!

UCSC Alum Michael Shipley’s Creative Brilliance Continues to Shine
Santa Cruz native and UC Santa Cruz alumnus, Michael Shipley, found Santa Cruz to be an idyllic place to grow up during the 1970s and ‘80s.

UCSC Alum Dency Nelson’s Brilliant Hollywood Career
With an amazing career in Hollywood spanning nearly 40 years, Dency Nelson has been the stage manager for almost every major award and event show for the past 25 years, including the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, and Kennedy Center Honors.

UCSC Alum Nick Yarborough’s Script Takes a Starring Role
Growing up, UC Santa Cruz alum Nick Yarborough knew early on that he wanted to dedicate his career to filmmaking. His love for films started as a child and developed into a passion when he started writing as a teenager.

Sisters Julie and Kristen Gautier-Downes Turn Loss Into an Art
Twin sisters, Julie and Kristen Gautier-Downes both decided to pursue the arts at UC Santa Cruz, graduating in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Sound Designer and UCSC Alum, Ren Klyce, Makes All the Right Noises
With five Oscar nominations for film sound editing and mixing, UC Santa Cruz alumnus Ren Klyce’s career has taken a sky-rocket climb since he decided to major in music back in 1983.

SocDoc Filmmaker Michelle Aguilar Points Her Lens at Social Equality
Having just graduated in 2015 from UC Santa Cruz’s SocDoc program in the Film and Digital Media department with an MA in Social Documentation, Michelle Aguilar has already led a life dedicated to working for social justice.