20 Notable alumni of Humboldt State University
Updated: June 15, 2026 EliteDegrees
Humboldt State University is ranked #1,157 in the world and #297 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 20 notable alumni from Humboldt State University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Humboldt State University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Chuck Smead
1951-. (aged 75)
athletics competitor
Charles Smead is an American long-distance runner, who made his mark on the sport by taking second in the Marathon at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City.
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2. Bob L. Beers
1951-. (aged 75)
politician
Bob L. Beers is an American politician who was a member of the Nevada Assembly representing District 21 in Clark County, Nevada. Prior to his election in 2006, he was an author involved in graphic arts and illustration.
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3. Ellie Cachette
1985-. (aged 41)
writer
Désirée "Ellie" Cachette is an American investor, philanthropist and author of Software Agreements for Dummies.
4. Jeffrey D. Levine
1954-. (aged 72)
diplomat
journalist
Jeffrey D. Levine was nominated by U.S. President Barack Obama to be the United States Ambassador to Estonia on February 17, 2012 and was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 29, 2012. He presented his credentials to President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves on September 17, 2012. He left his post in 2015.
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5. Jason Conger
1968-. (aged 58)
lawyer
politician
Jason R. R. Conger is an American attorney and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He served in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 54 in Bend, Oregon, from 2011 to 2015. He ran for the Republican nomination for United States Senate in 2014.
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6. Earl Thomas
1960-. (aged 66)
singer
Earl Thomas Bridgeman is an American blues singer from California, United States. He is also a songwriter, with songs covered by artists including Tom Jones, Etta James, Solomon Burke and Screamin' Jay Hawkins. He has twice been nominated for a Grammy Award and has won the San Diego Music Award four times.
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7. Brad Willis
1949-. (aged 77)
journalist
Brad Willis is a retired NBC News foreign correspondent and author. As a journalist, Willis was the recipient of the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for his work from inside Afghanistan during the Soviet Occupation in 1986.
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8. Raphaëla le Gouvello
1960-. (aged 66)
windsurfer
Raphaëla le Gouvello du Timat is a French windsurfer and conservationist. She has successfully completed four windsurfing crossings, solo and unassisted, of the Atlantic Ocean in 2000, the Mediterranean in 2002, the Pacific Ocean in 2003 and the Indian Ocean in 2006. She later founded the NGO Respect Ocean to protect the marine environment.
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9. Wendell Hayes
1940-2019 (aged 79)
American football player
Wendell Hayes was an American professional football running back. He played college football at Oakland City College and Humboldt State University. Hayes played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys (1963) and Kansas City Chiefs (1970 to 1974), and in the American Football League for the Denver Broncos (1965 to 1967) and the Chiefs (1968 to 1969)....
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10. Thomas Rid
1975-. (aged 51)
university teacher
political scientist
non-fiction writer
Thomas Rid is a political scientist best known for his work on the history and risks of information technology in conflict. He is Professor of Strategic Studies at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Previously he was a professor of security studies at the Department of War Studies, King's College London.
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11. Alex Cappa
1995-. (aged 31)
American football player
Alex Cappa is an American professional football guard for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Humboldt State Lumberjacks and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft.
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12. Vaush
1994-. (aged 32)
Twitch streamer
YouTuber
debater
online streamer
Ian Anthony Kochinski, better known as Vaush, is an American left-wing YouTuber and former Twitch streamer. Kochinski started his online career as a member of streamer Destiny's community, before creating his Twitch channel and YouTube account in 2019. His content consists of commentary on various news and media topics, men's fashion, video games, and urbanist policies. Debates and discussions with...
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13. Trevor Dunn
1968-. (aged 58)
composer
bassist
jazz musician
film score composer
Trevor Roy Dunn is an American bassist and composer. He came to prominence in the 1990s with the experimental band Mr. Bungle. While performing with Mr. Bungle, he would dress similar to the St. Pauli Girl. He has since worked in an array of musical styles, including with saxophonist/composer John Zorn, Secret Chiefs 3 and with his own avant-garde jazz/rock...
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14. Trey Spruance
1969-. (aged 57)
composer
guitarist
record producer
musician
Preston Lea "Trey" Spruance III is an American composer, producer, and musician who co-founded the experimental rock band Mr. Bungle. He is also leader of the multi-genre outfit Secret Chiefs 3. Originally a guitarist and trumpeter, in the early 90s Spruance began playing vintage electronic organs, analog synthesizers, saz, santur, electric sitar, tar, and various other string and percussion instruments....
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15. Mike Patton
1968-. (aged 58)
voice actor
composer
singer-songwriter
vocalist
guitarist
Michael Allan Patton is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and voice actor, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock bands Faith No More and Mr. Bungle. He has also fronted and/or played with Tomahawk, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Fantômas, Moonchild Trio, Kaada/Patton, Dead Cross, Lovage, Mondo Cane, the X-ecutioners, The Avett Brothers, and Peeping Tom. Consistent collaborators through...
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16. John Kiffmeyer
1969-. (aged 57)
composer
record producer
drummer
musician
John Kiffmeyer, also known professionally as Al Sobrante, is an American cinematographer and retired musician and songwriter. He is the former drummer for the punk rock band Green Day, leaving in 1990 and replaced by Tré Cool. His stage name is a reference to his hometown, El Sobrante.
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17. Stephen Hillenburg
1961-2018 (aged 57)
television producer
biologist
cartoonist
animator
voice actor
Stephen McDannell Hillenburg was an American animator, writer, producer, director, voice actor, and marine biology educator. He was best known for creating the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants for Nickelodeon in 1999. The show has become the fourth longest-running American animated series. He also provided the original voice of Patchy the Pirate's pet, Potty the Parrot.
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18. Ernie Wasson
1950-. (aged 76)
writer
botanist
Ernie George Wasson is an American gardener, horticulturist and author.
19. Michael Moore
1954-. (aged 72)
saxophonist
jazz musician
Michael Francis Moore is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. Moore's work frequently addresses various social, political, and economic topics. He first became publicly known for his award-winning debut documentary Roger & Me, a scathing look at the downfall of the automotive industry in 1980s Flint and Detroit.
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20. Dean L. Bresciani
Dean L. Bresciani is an American academic who served as the 14th president of North Dakota State University in Fargo from 2010 to 2022.