Distinguished Alumni

Karen Vaughn, 2023 Distinguished Alumna (Class of '80 & '82)

Mario Sorci, 2022 Distinguished Alumnus (Class of 1971)

 Maria Alvarez, 2019 Distinguished Alumna (Class of 1995)

Alex Cheng, 2018 Distinguished Alumnus (Class of 1996 & 2003)

Marco Nunez, 2017 Distinguished Alumnus

Dr. Chevy Axelrad Goldstein, 2016 Distinguished Alumna

Jeff Abramson, 2015 Distinguished Alumnus

Gary Rinehart, 2015 Distinguished Alumnus

Daniel J. Cua, 2014 Distinguished Alumnus, Class of 1988, 1993

Alumnus Daniel J. Cua has found his calling and success in the world of scientific research. He is the group leader in Pathways of Inflammation at Merck Research Laboratories in Palo Alto and was a previous Research Fellow at Schering Plough Biopharma. His work focuses on the discovery of novel biologic agents for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Since 2003, Cua also has contributed to scientific and medical publications, with more than 60 original articles published in prestigious journals such as Nature, Cell, Immunology, Journal of Experimental Medicine and Journal of Clinical Investigation. In addition, he is the co-inventor on 21 granted patents and applications.

While at Cal Poly Pomona, Cua earned two degrees – a bachelor's in biology in 1988 and a master's in biological science in 1993. He later earned a doctorate from the University of Southern California in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Immunology.

He is married to a Cal Poly Pomona alumna, the former Racquel Arias, who earned a bachelor's degree in microbiology in 1990 and a master's in biology in 1993. The couple has one daughter, Brynne.