Notable Alumni of Columbus State University

Columbus State University (CSU) has produced a diverse array of accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields, ranging from arts and entertainment to politics, business, and community service. This article highlights some of the university's most notable graduates and their achievements.

Overview of Columbus State University

Columbus State University is a public university located in Columbus, Georgia, United States. It was established in 1958 as Columbus College, a junior college operating out of a former hosiery mill. In 1963, the college moved to its current midtown location, developing a modern campus on a former dairy farm. The institution gained four-year status in 1965, offering bachelor's and master's degrees. In 1996, it was renamed Columbus State University as part of a statewide restructuring of four-year institutions.

CSU offers undergraduate and graduate programs across more than ninety academic disciplines. As of 2010, the university had an enrollment of over 8,200 students. The university has two campuses, the main campus and the RiverPark campus. The 132-acre main campus is located in suburban Columbus. The RiverPark campus, located downtown, houses the university's fine and performing arts, communications, and history and geography departments.

The university has received recognition for its business school, which offers an MBA program, and for its servant leadership program. The Department of Theatre has the only accredited teacher education and certification program in drama in the state of Georgia. The university also operates the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, the Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians, and the Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center.

Notable Alumni

Here are some of the most notable alumni of Columbus State University:

Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee)

Occupation: Film actor, actor, television actor, film producer
Biography: Lee Dong-seok, known professionally as Ma Dong-seok and Don Lee, is an American actor and film producer based in South Korea. He gained widespread recognition for his performance in Train to Busan (2016) and has since become a leading actor in South Korea. He was named Gallup Korea's Film Actor of the Year in both 2018 and 2023.

Joni Ernst

Occupation: Politician
Biography: Joni Kay Ernst is an American politician and former military officer. Since 2015, she has served as the junior United States Senator from Iowa. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served in the Iowa State Senate from 2011 to 2014 and as auditor of Montgomery County from 2004 to 2011. She graduated with a Master in Public Administration from Columbus State University in 1995. From 2023 to 2025, Ernst was the Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, making her the fourth-ranking Republican in the Senate.

Bob the Drag Queen

Occupation: Stage actor, television actor, drag queen, LGBTQ rights activist, television producer
Biography: Christopher Delmar Caldwell, known as Caldwell Tidicue and better known as Bob the Drag Queen, is an American drag queen, comedian, actor, activist, musician, and reality television personality. He is best known for winning the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. As of 2020, he had over one million followers on Instagram. After Drag Race, he pursued acting, appearing in television shows such as High Maintenance (2016), Tales of the City (2019), and A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019). In 2020, he began co-hosting We're Here on HBO alongside fellow Drag Race contestants Eureka O'Hara and Shangela.

Jason Rogers

Occupation: Baseball player
Biography: Jason Douglas Rogers is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.

Rick Lowe

Occupation: Artist
Biography: Rick Lowe is a Houston-based artist and community organizer. His Project Row Houses is considered an important example of social-practice art. In 2014, he was awarded a MacArthur "genius" fellowship.

Cale Dodds

Occupation: Singer-songwriter
Biography: Cale Dodds is an American country music artist and songwriter who is currently signed to Spirit Music Group.

Ty Harris

Occupation: Basketball player
Biography: Ty Harris is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for TFT of the Macedonian First League (basketball).

Larry Wortzel

Occupation: Soldier, military attaché, author
Biography: Larry M. Wortzel served nine terms as a commissioner on the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission of the United States Congress. He is a retired U.S. Army colonel, former director of the Strategic Studies Institute of the United States Army War College, and former vice president of The Heritage Foundation. He served as a military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and witnessed the Tiananmen Massacre in 1989. He is considered an expert on China and its military strategy and is a Senior Fellow in Asian Security at the American Foreign Policy Council.

Greg Frady

Occupation: Baseball player
Biography: Greg Frady is an American college baseball coach. He was most recently the head coach of the Georgia State Panthers baseball team from 2007 to 2019. He also served as general manager of the German National team. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Columbus State University. In July 2020, he was named the first Head Coach of the Nanaimo NightOwls of the West Coast League.

Matthías Orri Sigurðarson

Occupation: Basketball player
Biography: Matthías Orri Sigurðarson is an Icelandic basketball player, sports commentator, and a former member of the Icelandic men's national basketball team.

Ruslan Apostolov

Occupation: Violinist
Biography: Ruslan Apostolov is a concert violinist who currently serves as Director and Professor of the Koart Academy of Music in Columbus, Georgia.

Alumni in Arts and Music

Columbus State University has also fostered talents in the arts and music. Graduates have excelled as opera singers, instrumentalists, and music educators, contributing to the cultural landscape both locally and internationally.

Accomplished Vocalists

Several alumni have made their mark in the world of opera and vocal performance:

One alumna performed the role of "La Force" in Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmelites at the Komische Oper Berlin, where she also performed in Fidelio, Don Pasquale, La bohème, and Le nozze di Figaro. She also joined Central City Opera as "Laurey" in Oklahoma! and sang with various orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. She participated in Seattle Opera's Young Artists Program and Wolf Trap Opera Company and performed as Pamina in The Magic Flute.
Another alumna performed the lead roles of "Lauretta" from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and "Pamina" from Mozart's The Magic Flute at the University of Kentucky. She was featured in a publication of Classical Singer.
An alumnus has his own gospel ensemble, Trey McLaughlin and the Sounds of Zamar, and has shared the stage with gospel artists such as William McDowell, Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, Vashawn Mitchell, and James Fortune. He serves as the Director of Worship at the Tabernacle Baptist Church of Augusta, GA.

Read also: Columbus Campus Tuition

Instrumentalists and Music Educators

Other alumni have found success as instrumentalists and music educators:

An alumnus performed with City Horns, Fountain City Players, Silent Threat, and The Chemistry Project, performing extensively throughout the city and the southeast region. His music is available on iTunes, CDbaby, Rhapsody, Spotify, and other digital music stores.
Several alumni are dedicated music educators in school districts. They direct choirs, teach general music, and provide private lessons in piano and voice. Their students have received Excellent ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation.

Alumni in Education

Columbus State University has a strong tradition of producing educators who are dedicated to shaping the next generation. Alumni work in various educational settings, from elementary schools to universities, and serve in roles such as teachers, administrators, and curriculum developers.

Elementary and Secondary Education

Many alumni have dedicated their careers to elementary and secondary education:

One alumna teaches K-5th grade choral and general music and provides private lessons in piano and voice.
Another alumna is a choral director at a high school.
An alumna teaches K-5th general music. She is a former student of Dr. She was named Teacher of the Year for the 2013-2014 school year and serves as Georgia's District 3 Elementary Division Chair. She also holds an Association (AOSA) national certification.

Higher Education

Other alumni have pursued careers in higher education:

One alumnus began working as an accompanist and assistant at the Chicago Waldorf School and teaches at a Chicago Public School.

Alumni Making a Difference in the Community

Columbus State University alumni are actively involved in their communities, contributing to various causes and initiatives. They work in non-profit organizations, engage in community service, and advocate for positive change.

Community Service and Activism

Several alumni have made significant contributions to their communities:

One alumna is known for her service to the citizens of Columbus, Georgia. She has been involved in capital projects and business expansions.
Another alumna is the Founder and Creator of the Foundation's Trumpet Awards, an event highlighting African American accomplishments and contributions.

Legal and Social Justice

Other alumni have pursued careers in law and social justice:

One alumna is a judge.
Another alumna has been involved in civil litigation specializing in catastrophic injuries and mass tort litigation.

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