Jann Wenner

Jann_Wenner4Wenner started a quirky rock-music biweekly in 1967 called Rolling Stone — and changed American culture. Treating the country’s increasingly vocal youth with a newfound seriousness, the magazine spoke for an entire generation through its definitive music coverage, provocative interviews, award-winning photography, and important investigative and political reporting. With 12 million readers today, Rolling Stone still serves as the ultimate source for music information and pop-culture trends. Wenner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

Arts and Entertainment, Innovators

Terry McMillan ’77

Known for her zesty depictions of independent black women, McMillan’s best-known books — Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back — have sold millions of copies each and were made into movies. On her website, she says she writes to understand herself and others, “especially people I’m not crazy about or have little respect for or whom I find confusing. I want to know why we do (some of the stupid stuff) that we do.” McMillan is also a conduit for information and ideas about writing, parenting, spirituality, travel, and other areas to make life better. Follow her on Twitter @MsTerryMcMillan

Arts and Entertainment

Nathan Adrian ’12

Winning two shiny golds in London for the 100 free and 400 medley relay, as well as a silver in the 400 free relay, helped secure Adrian’s spot as a favorite among swimming fans. No stranger to first place, he won golds in the 2009 and 2011 World Championships. While at Cal, he was named 2011 Pac-10 Co-Swimmer of the Year and Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and was a 2011 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American. He graduated with honors in public health. A self-proclaimed “child at heart,” Adrian was nicknamed Bok Choi when his childhood teammates discovered his Asian heritage. Follow him on Twitter @nathangadrian or visit his official website.

Olympics, Sports

Alex Morgan ’10

One of the top female soccer players in the world, Morgan scored her first Olympic gold in London. She made the winning goal that led U.S. Women’s Soccer into a gold-medal rematch with Japan (which they won!). Equally talented in the classroom as she is on the pitch, Morgan earned the Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention three times at Cal and graduated a full semester early. Inspired by her childhood heroine, soccer star Kristine Lilly, Morgan dons the number 13, proving that it doesn’t always bring bad luck. Follow her on Twitter @alexmorgan13.

Olympics, Sports

Julie Gerberding M.P.H. ’90

As the first woman to head the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gerberding led the agency through several high-profile crises during her tenure, including the mysterious anthrax attacks following 9/11, SARS, and numerous food-borne outbreaks. An infectious disease expert, she is now president of Merck’s vaccines division.

Health

Paul Jacobs B.S.’84, M.S.’86, Ph.D.’89 EE

As board chairman and CEO of Qualcomm, Jacobs is the driver behind wireless data services that pushed the cellphone from a talking tool to a handheld computer delivering data and entertainment. Innovations under his leadership include GPS capabilities, over-the-air downloading of applications, and advanced reflective display technology. Jacobs has more than 40 patents to his name.

Business and Economics, Innovators, Science

Critics

More than 10 years after her death, Pauline Kael ’40 (left, 1919–2001) remains the most influential figure in film criticism today. The longtime movie reviewer for The New Yorker, she could make or break careers with her biting wit and standout opinions. The GodfatherTaxi Driver, and Carrie are among many movies she championed during the 1970s. One of America’s foremost music critics, Greil Marcus ’67, M.A. ’68 (right) has made a career of placing rock and roll within its broader political and social contexts. His 1975 book Mystery Train reminds readers of why music matters. In a 2010 review of his book on Bob Dylan, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “Marcus has done more to build the Dylan myth than the curmudgeonly man himself.”

Connections

Alysia Montaño ’08

Known for the flower tucked into her hair in every race, Montaño excels in the notoriously difficult track and field event, the 800 meter. She set the Cal record in 2007 and has won three U.S. National titles, a World Indoor bronze, and two NCAA titles. She was the world’s fastest woman in the world in the 800 meters in 2010. Although she didn’t medal in the 2012 Olympics, she won the 800 meters in the trials. Showing her fierce determination, she said on her website, “In competition, the race is long enough that pace is important, but short enough that there’s no time for fear.” Follow Montaño on Facebook and Twitter @AlysiaMontano.

Olympics, Sports

Heather Petri ’04

The first Cal athlete to compete in four straight Olympic Games, women’s water polo player Petri was one of the youngest members of Team USA when the Americans won a silver medal in 2000. She was the oldest member of the National Team in London at age 34, but that did not stop her from helping them seize the gold. During her three prior Olympic experiences, Petri has had the pleasure of teaming up with three former Golden Bear standouts (Courtney Johnson, Ericka Lorenz, and Elsie Windes) and her former Cal coach Maureen O’Toole-Purcell.

Olympics, Sports

Laurel Korholz ’93

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London will be the fifth consecutive Olympics that Korholz will be a part of as either a rower or a rowing coach. In her final Olympic appearance as a competitor, Korholz captured silver as a member of the women’s eight at the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. Korholz is an 11-time member of the U.S. national rowing team.

Olympics, Sports