Archived Distinguished Alumni

2018

Hon. Robert Rigsby - BS 1983, Criminal Justice Administration

Judge Robert R. Rigsby, the speaker at the College of Social Sciences Commencement event on May 21, 2025, received the 2025 Spartans of Significance Tower Award.  Judge Rigsby completed his BS in Justice Studies (Criminal Justice Administration) from SJSU in 1983. He was appointed as an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court in 2002. A trailblazer, Judge Rigsby became the first military judge to deploy full-time to an active war zone, earning the Bronze Star Medal.  He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Justice Studies in 2018.

2016

Scott Reese - B.S. 1993

2015

Chief Ruben Chavez - B.S. 1992, M.S. 2009

2014

Chief Larry Esquivel - B.S. 1993

2012

Mario Fausto - B.S. 1995

2011

Cary Heck - Ph.D., M.S. 1994

2010

Phillip Carr - M.S. 1991

2009

Harry Mullins - Ph.D., B.S. 1969

2008

Janet Hagemann - M.S. 1981

2007

Edward Flores - B.S. 1991

2006

John Salazar - B.S. 1980

2005

Jess Guy - B.S. 1970, M.S. 1989

2004

John Marlo - B.S. 1956

2003

William Nay - B.S. 1977, MS 1988

2002

Scott MacDonald - B.S. 1995

2001

Sheriff Laurie Smith - B.S. 1993* 

*Faculty voted on February 25, 2022 to rescind the Distinguished Alumni award (2001) to this individual because she diminished her reputation through her actions and failed to uphold her distinction as an outstanding alumni.

2000

Robert Conroy - B.S. 1991

1999

Chief William Lansdowne - B.S. 1973

1998

Lucy Carlton - B.S. 1979

1997

Chief Pamela Roskowski - B.S. 1975

1996

Shi-Si Yuen

1995

Christopher Darden - B.S. 1977

(Award Created in 1995)