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Tom
Ammiano
Politician
This gay San Francisco supervisor and stand-up comedian was in the closet
as an SF State student in the '70s. He returned to campus in the '90s to
teach a course called "Sex, Power and Politics." |
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Paul
Ash
Director of hunger-relief organization
The executive director of the San Francisco Food Bank, he uses the skills
he picked up in the business administration program to bring donated food
to the tables of hungry people across the city. 
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John Bell
Founder, foundation/summer camp for families affected by childhood
cancer
His Novato-based Camp Okizu brings smiles to the faces of children
coping with life-threatening illness and emotional support to their
families – contributions that have earned him a Jefferson
Award for Public Service. |
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Judy
Bretschneider
Founder, nonprofit dance academy for children
This psychology graduate, founder of the Presidio Dance Theatre,
received a Jefferson Award for Public Service for her commitment
to bringing dance to children who otherwise could not afford it. |
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Willie Brown
Politician
San Francisco's 41st mayor, who grew up poor in Mineola, Texas, did
not meet SF State entrance requirements but talked an administrator
into admitting him on a trial basis. |
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John Burton
Politician
This all-league guard for SF State's basketball team went on to the
political big leagues as a congressman and the president pro-temp
of the California state senate. |
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Brian
Cahill
Director of charity organization
The executive director of Catholic Charities CYO, this master's of
social work grad helps families, aging and disabled adults, and youth. |
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Ron Dellums
Politician
This ex-Marine attended SF State on the GI Bill and went on to serve
as the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. In 2006 he
became Oakland's mayor. |
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Dr. Saeb Erekat
Chief Palestinian Negotiator
This international relations major supported himself working nights
behind the counter of a San Francisco delicatessen. He went on to
play a major role in world affairs as the Palestinians' chief peace
negotiator. |
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Reuben
Greenberg
Former police chief
As Charleston, South Carolina's police chief,
he made his officers accessable to citizens. The city's crime rates
dropped, his department became a national model -- and he became
a media celebrity. |
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Heather
Fong
Chief of Police
Heather Fong had already been voted ”Officer of the Year”
when she entered the SF State master’s program in social work
to help her better understand the child abuse investigations she
was
leading. |
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Richard
Hongisto
Sheriff/police chief
He studied sociology at SF State by day and walked the streets of San Francisco
as a cop at night. He went on to become county sheriff, a San Francisco supervisor
and police chief. |
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David Inocencio
Director/co-founder, publisher of writing by Bay Area youth in the
juvenile justice system
A graduate of the master's program in social work and a Jefferson
Award winner, he launched a weekly publication, The Beat Within,
to give troubled youths a way to work through their personal issues. |
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Darlene Iskra
Ship commander
This recreation major joined the Navy after graduation but had little
time to play. She became the first woman commander of a U.S. sea vessel,
the diving and salvage ship USS Opportune. |
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Willie Kennedy
Politician
She was a journalism major at SF State but got her name in the papers
for her work as a San Francisco supervisor and BART director. |
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Fred
Lau
Former Police chief
As a student, he tried to join the San Francisco Police Department but
was too short. After the 5'8" height minimum was lifted, Lau stood tall
as the department's first Asian-American chief.
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Jake McGoldrick
Politician
This San Francisco Supervisor paid for his education by doing construction
work, earned an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language and
taught at Presentation High School, City College and the University
of San Francisco.
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George
Miller
Congressman
Elected to represent the East Bay's 7th District in 1975, he co-authored
the Leave No Child Behind Act, the education reform bill passed by Congress
in 2001. |
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Ronald
Quidachay
Judge
As an Urban Studies undergrad, he cofounded the Pilipino American
Collegiate Endeavors organization, and worked to establish the University's
School of Ethnic Studies and Educational Opportunity Program. Today
he is the presiding judge of San Francisco Superior Court. |
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Jim
Richards
Nonprofit executive
This Recreation Administration major started a youth summer camp
after graduation and has been helping young people ever since. For
nearly three decades he has worked for the Boys & Girls Clubs
of America including a 15-year stint as head of the organization's
San Francisco chapter. |
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Pierre Salinger
Presidential aide/journalist
The press secretary to President John F. Kennedy and longtime chief
of ABC's Paris bureau started his journalism career as managing editor
of the Golden Gater in 1943. |
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Bill Thomas
Congressman
As chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, this Bakersfield
Republican who earned both a BA and MA from SF State, was one of
the most powerful lawmakers on Capitol Hill until his retirement
in 2006.
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Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D.
Politician
After earning his master's degree in psychology, he was a child psychologist,
served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Board of Education
and
became the first Asian American to rise to Speaker pro Tem of the
California State Assembly. |
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Javad Zarif
Diplomat
Iran's former ambassador to the United Nations was an SF State student
when he unintentionally launched his diplomatic career by volunteering
at the Iranian Consulate-General in San Francisco. |
