Ernest Gaines
Ernest Gaines
Author

San Francisco State​

B.A. Literature (1957)
  • Award-winning author of A Lesson Before Dying, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and A Gathering of Old Men.
  • Is an inductee in the American Academy of Arts of Letters and the French Order of Arts and Letters.
  • Published his first story in 1956 in San Francisco State’s Transfer literary magazine.

Notable CSU Alumni in artists & authors

Rae ArmantroutSan Francisco
Professor of Writing and Literature, University of California, San Diego

San Francisco State

M.A. Creative Writing (1975)
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Mary F. CalvertSan Francisco
Photojournalist, Mary F. Calvert Photography

San Francisco State

Bachelor of Arts, Journalism (1988)
Raynor CarrollLos Angeles
Principal Percussionist, Los Angeles Philharmonic

Cal State LA

B.A. Music (1984)
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Jeff ColsonBakersfield
American Artist

CSU Bakersfield

B.A. Fine Arts (1979)
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Greg ColsonBakersfield
American Artist

CSU Bakersfield

B.A. Fine Arts (1978)
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Michelle DeYoungNorthridge
Mezzo-Soprano

CSU Northridge

B.M. Music/Vocal Arts (2009)Honorary Doctorate (2010)
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Sid FleischmanSan Diego
Author

San Diego State

B.A. English (1949)
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Danny GloverSan Francisco
Actor

San Francisco State​

B.A. Political Science (1971)
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artists & authors
San Francisco