Entrepreneurs, innovators, advocates named SFSU 2025 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees

Kim Coco Iwamoto 

B.A., Creative Writing, 1990

Kim Coco Iwamoto, a pioneering advocate and public servant, has dedicated her career to championing equality for marginalized communities, breaking barriers in the process.

She made history in 2006 when she was elected to the Hawaii Board of Education, becoming the first openly transgender person to win statewide office in the United States. During her two terms on the board, she advocated tirelessly for students and educational equity. In 2011, she began her service as a commissioner on the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. 

In 2013, President Barack Obama recognized Iwamoto as a Harvey Milk Champion of Change. In 2018, Newsweek named her one of 50 need-to-know pioneers for LGBTQ rights.

In 2024, the Hawaii native achieved another historic milestone by becoming Hawaii's first openly transgender state legislator, defeating a 30-year incumbent who was also the speaker of the house. 

Whether as a licensed therapeutic foster parent, public interest attorney or civil rights activist, Iwamoto has consistently advocated for vulnerable youth and marginalized communities. Her college education began in SFSU’s Creative Writing program, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. She went on to earn a law degree from the University of New Mexico.

Artemis Patrick 

MBA, 2001

 Artemis Patrick is the first female president and CEO of Sephora North America, overseeing strategy, vision and financial performance of its United States and Canadian businesses, shaping multiyear growth plans to maintain the company’s position as the No. 1 prestige beauty omni retailer. Patrick is part of Sephora’s Global Leadership Team and leads Sephora North America’s operating committee. 

Since joining Sephora in 2006, Patrick has been a consistent leader across several business functions, most recently as global merchandising officer for Sephora and chief merchandising officer for Sephora Americas. She was senior vice president and general manager of Sephora inside JCPenney and served as the vice president of eCommerce merchandising for Sephora.com.   

Aptly known as “the brand whisperer” by her industry peers, she is widely known as a brand builder in beauty and retail, both in the U.S. and internationally. Patrick oversaw Sephora’s most breakthrough categories and collaborations to date, including its partnership with Kohl’s, and now globally known categories like indie fragrances, inclusive foundation assortments and clean beauty. 

Ghazi Shami

B.A., Radio and Television, 1999

Ghazi Shami is the founder and CEO of EMPIRE, the largest independent record label, distributor and publisher in the United States. Since launching the company in 2010, he has transformed EMPIRE into a global powerhouse in independent music, known for its innovation, artist-first ethos and cultural impact.

In celebration of EMPIRE’s 15th anniversary in 2025, Shami was featured on the cover of Billboard’s sports and music issue and received the prestigious Clive Davis Visionary Award. He is consistently recognized across the industry, earning spots on Billboard’s Power Players, Indie Power Players and R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players lists, as well as Rolling Stone’s Future 25 and Variety’s Dealmakers Impact Report and Top 50 Hip-Hop Executives of All Time. Artists on his label have received multiple Grammy nominations and wins and have appeared on Billboard’s Hot 100 list. 

With roots in studio engineering and expertise in new media and global business, Shami brings a rare blend of creativity, technical knowledge and strategic vision. A sought-after speaker, he has appeared at major conferences such as SXSW, Web Summit and the Bitcoin Conference. His insights have been featured in Forbes, XXL, Grammy.com, Bloomberg and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Russ Stanley 

B.A., Management, 1988

Russ Stanley is the San Francisco Giants’ senior vice president of ticketing. Throughout his 36-year career with San Francisco’s Major League Baseball team, he pioneered innovations in the sports-ticketing industry that set new standards for fan engagement and revenue generation, such as establishing an online secondary market website called the Double Play Ticket Window — a precursor to platforms like StubHub. They also were first to offer a dynamic pricing model, which adjusts ticket prices based on demand, a model now commonplace today in professional sports and beyond. 

Stanley’s team employed the first client retention team in 2000, providing stellar customer “gold glove service” for top clients. These initiatives all contributed to a remarkable 530-game consecutive sell-out streak from October 2010 to July 2017. 

Under his leadership, Stanley’s team implemented many ideas that continue to raise the bar for the sports-ticketing industry and fan experience. In 2024, he was the recipient of the INTIX Lifetime Achievement Award and the John P. Buschhorn Ticketing Titan Award, and he was inducted into the Pacifica Sports Hall of Fame. 

Outside of the ballpark, Stanley is active in his community, serving on the board of the American Heart Association, the SFSU Foundation and the San Mateo Police Activities League.

Dr. Edgar Velázquez

B.S., Physiology, 2016

Dr. Edgar Velázquez is a physician whose life and career embody resilience, perseverance and a deep commitment to health equity. 

Born in Mexico, Velázquez immigrated to the United States at 13. He arrived in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District without knowing any English. The challenges of adapting to a new country were compounded by financial hardship, yet these experiences fueled his determination. He became the first in his family to attend college, starting at SFSU.  

While in college, he worked dishwashing jobs to cover tuition. Despite early struggles in remedial English and repeated setbacks in introductory Chemistry, he persevered, drawing strength from mentors such as Professor Leticia Márquez-Magaña. Through her Health Equity Research Lab, he contributed to published research and gained confidence that propelled him forward. He also participated in community-based research programs, including PASITO — a project exploring the impact of nature walks on stress in underserved populations. This deepened his commitment to addressing the health needs of underserved communities.