The Story of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California

Having first been chartered on July 10, 1851, in Santa Clara, University of the Pacific holds the distinction of being California’s first and oldest university. The university eventually made its way to Stockton in 1924. UOP, or simply “Pacific,” prides itself on its title as California’s 1st university, CA’s 1st independent coeducational campus, and the 1st Conservatory of Music & first medical school on the West Coast. Along with liberal arts & graduate school, UOP specializes in schools of business, dentistry, education, engineering, international studies, law, music, pharmacy, and health sciences.

Along with its commitment to excellence in education, UOP is home to some incredible athletes. Its NCAA Division 1 athletics program competes in seventeen different sports, touting a rich history of All-Americans, NCAA Championship appearances, and student-athlete success. Between mid-August and the end of May, top-level collegiate sports action thrives on the campus grounds.

The university is also home to the historic papers of environmental pioneer John Muir, the man responsible for helping to preserve Yosemite Valley & Sequoia National Park and for setting an example that inspired the preservation of many other wilderness areas. The Muir papers are housed in the Holt-Atherton Special Collections & Archives, and UOP features a museum-style presentation space for the documents, as well as “The Muir Experience,” a display of physical and digital exhibits that encourage user interaction with Muir’s work.

On top of all that, Pacific has had some famous and well-known alumni in academia, business, entertainment, government & politics, science & engineering, and sports. Some of those names include local business patriarch Alex Spanos, CA State Senator & San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, NASA astronaut & Stockton resident José Hernandez, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, NFL Hall of Fame coach for the Raiders Tom Flores, award-winning writer Matt de la Peña, jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, acting legend Janet Leigh (her daughter Jamie Lee Curtis also attended UOP), and singer & American Idol contestant Filo.

Here's a full list of notable alumni:

• Dave Brubeck ’42 — Musician and composer
• Pete Carroll ’73, ’78 — NFL Super Bowl-winning coach, Seattle Seahawks
• Janet Leigh ’47 — Actress
• Alex Spanos ’48 — Real estate developer and NFL owner, San Diego Chargers
• Connie Callahan ’74 — Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Scott Boras ’77, ’82 — Baseball sports agent
• Arif Alvi ’84 — President of Pakistan
• Jose Hernandez ’85 — Former NASA astronaut
• Jie Du ’90, ’93 — Pharmaceutical entrepreneur
• Chris Isaak ’80 — Musician and actor
• Ted B. Olson ’62 — Attorney and 42nd U.S. solicitor general
• Irene Roberts ’06 — Mezzo-soprano with the Deutsche Opera Berlin
• Tom Flores ’58 — Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, NFL Super Bowl-winning coach (Raiders) and player
• George Moscone ’53 — California state senator and 37th mayor of San Francisco
• Matt de la Pena ’96 — Newbery Medal-winning author
• Julia Engel Berolzheimer ’12 — Founder of Gal Meets Glam
• Brad Schumacher ’97, ’05 — Olympian: 1996 swimming (two-time gold medalist) and 2000 water polo
• Hannah Ludwig ’14 — Award-winning mezzo-soprano

Not to mention, it once played the role of the educational institution of a particular cinematic archaeology professor who had himself a daring adventure or two… or five...

For more on the many Hollywood productions that have used the University of the Pacific, as well as other spots in Stockton as their settings, click here!

Given its wealth of rich history & knowledge—and legendary alumni whose members’ list continues to grow—the University of the Pacific is easily one of the most recognizable staples in Stockton, CA.

Stockton is home to numerous fantastic hotels located in key parts of the city, making it easy to enjoy the beauty of the city, take part in a shopping spree, and savor some delicious cuisine. Discover the outstanding hotels in our city by clicking here!

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