Making waves. It’s happening not only on the beach just below our campus; UC Santa Barbara itself is making waves, and our distinguished faculty and impressive alumni get a big chunk of the credit. From tech pioneers to Oscar winners, preeminent scientists to revered musicians, UCSB faculty and alumni are playing on some of the world’s biggest professional stages and bringing down the proverbial house. Did we mention six Nobel Prizes?
Nobel Laureates
Founding Director, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics; Research Professor of Physics
1998 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
"For his development of the density-functional theory"
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and of Materials
2000 Nobel Prize in Physics
"For developing semiconductor heterostructures used in high-speed and optoelectronics"
Professor of Physics and of Materials
2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
"For the discovery and development of conductive polymers"
Chancellor’s Chair in Theoretical Physics, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
2004 Nobel Prize in Physics
"For the discovery of asymptotic freedom in the theory of the strong interaction"
Professor of Economics
2004 Nobel Prize in Economics
"For contributions to dynamic macroeconomics: the time consistency of economic policy and the driving forces behind business cycles"
Professor of Materials and of Electrical and Computer Engineering
2014 Nobel Prize in Physics
"For the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes, which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources"
Some Notable UC Santa Barbara Alumni
Steve Aoki‘00 DJ, Musician, Producer, Grammy Nominee |
Amir Abo-Shaer‘96, M.S. ‘98, M. Ed. ‘01 Mechanical Engineer, Teacher, MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Award Winner |
Robert Ballard‘65 Deep-Sea Explorer, Discoverer of the Titanic |
Angela Belcher‘91, Ph.D. ‘97 Materials Scientist, Professor, MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Award Winner |
Lois Capps‘90 M.A. U.S. Congresswoman |
Salud Carbajal‘90 U.S. Congressman |
Leroy Chiao‘85, Ph.D. ‘87 Space Shuttle Astronaut |
Larry Dierker‘68 MLB Player, Manager |
Michael Douglas‘68 Academy Award-Winning Actor and Producer |
Harris Faulkner‘87 TV Journalist |
Raymond Fisher‘61 Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit |
Scott Frank‘82 Director, Songwriter, Filmmaker |
Elizabeth Gabler‘77 President of Fox 2000 Pictures |
Logan Green‘06 Co-Founder and CEO of Lyft |
Carol Greider‘83 Professor, Johns Hopkins University |
Jeff Henley‘66 Vice Chairman, Oracle Corporation |
Carin Jennings-Gabarra‘87 Retired U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Player |
Jack Johnson‘97 Singer, Songwriter, Filmmaker |
Paula Kaatz‘67 Emmy-Winning Costume Designer |
Ken Khachigan‘66 Political Consultant, Speechwriter, Attorney |
Jason Lezak2004 & 2008 Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Swimming |
Barbara Nwaba‘12 Olympian, 2015 US Heptathlon Champion |
Giandomenico Picco‘72 M.A. Diplomat, Author, U.N. Official |
Chris Pontius‘09 MLS Soccer Player |
Jim Rome‘86 Sports Radio/Television Talk Show Host |
Eric Roth‘66 Academy Award-Winning Screenwriter |
Patricia L. Scarlet‘70, M.A. ‘73 Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior |
Richard Serra‘61 Sculptor |
Brian Shaw‘88 NBA Player, Coach |
Bob Sipchen‘76 Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist |
Nick Swinmurn‘96 Founder of Zappos.com |
Charissa Thompson‘04 Television Host, Sportscaster |
Katy Tur‘05 Author, Broadcast Journalist |
Alan “ Big Al” Williams‘15 NBA Player |
Dawn Wright‘94 Ph.D. Geographer, Oceanographer, Professor |
Don Wood‘67 Children’s Book Illustrator |
For more information about our alumni community, please visit the UC Santa Barbara Alumni website.