Notable Alumni

One measure of a great university is how its alumni change the world.

Here are just some of UConn’s many prominent alums who are making a difference. Scroll to browse the full list or use the categories below to jump to a specific section.
UConn Notable Alumni
  • Andre Drummond

    Two-time NBA All-Star.

  • Andrew Jean-Baptiste

    2011 Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year in men’s soccer, played with multiple professional teams.

  • Andy Bessette ’75 (CLAS)

    Former men’s track and field All-American; executive vice president and chief administrative officer the Travelers Companies Inc.

  • Asjha Jones ’02 (BUS)

    Olympic gold medalist, two-time WNBA All-Star and WNBA champion.

  • Breanna Stewart ’16 (CLAS)

    First-round draft pick for the WNBA, starting power forward for the Seattle Storm, Olympic gold medalist. Stewart won league MVP, a WNBA championship, and finals MVP in 2018.

  • Byron Jones ’16 (CLAS)

    Cornerback, first-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys.

  • Charles Nagy

    Former MLB All-Star pitcher, now Los Angeles Angels pitching coach.

  • Chris Gbandi ’04 (CLAS)

    Liberian footballer; played for several professional teams and Liberian national team.

  • Christine A. Dailey ’99 MA

    Inductee into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, associate head coach for UConn Women’s Basketball.

  • Cliff Robinson

    NBA All-Star and Sixth Man of the Year for the Portland Trail Blazers.

  • Damani Ralph ’09 (CLAS)

    MLS Rookie of the Year.

  • Dan Orlovsky ’17 (BGS)

    Quarterback for Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. UConn Magazine: The Future of Almost Everything: Who’s the Next Tom Brady?

  • Donald Brown ’10 (ED)

    First Husky ever to be picked in the first round of an NFL Draft.

  • Donyell Marshall ’10 (CCS)

    Fifteen-year career in the NBA, now head coach of the Central Connecticut State University men’s basketball team.

  • Emeka Okafor ’04 (BUS)

    Olympic bronze medalist, No. 2 overall NBA pick and 2005 Rookie of the Year.

  • George Springer

    Won a World Series ring with the Houston Astros in 2017 and was the World Series MVP.

  • Jennifer Rizzotti ’96 (CLAS)

    Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, head coach of George Washington University’s women’s basketball team. UConn Magazine: The Future of Almost Everything: She’s Got Game

     

  • John Dorsey ’92 (CLAS)

    Green Bay Packers linebacker; general manager of the Cleveland Browns.

  • Kara Wolters ’97 (CLAS)

    Olympic gold medalist, WNBA champion with the Houston Comets, inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame; studio analyst on SNY.

  • Kemba Walker

    Two-time NBA All-Star and leading scorer in Charlotte Hornets franchise history.

  • Kevin Ollie ’95 (CLAS)

    Twelve-year NBA point guard and former UConn head basketball coach; won NCAA championship in 2014.

  • Kirk J. Ferentz ’78 (ED)

    Head football coach for the University of Iowa and Big Ten Coach of the Year.

  • Matt Barnes

    Relief pitcher for the 2018 World Champion Boston Red Sox and first-round draft pick in 2011.

  • Maya Moore ’11 (CLAS)

    Olympic gold medalist, WNBA All-Star and champion, and inductee into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

  • Melissa Gonzalez ’11 (ED)

    Olympian and former UConn field hockey standout.

  • Mike Aresco ’76 JD

    Commissioner, American Athletic Conference.

  • Molly Qerim-Rose ’06 (CLAS)

    ESPN anchor and host of “First Take.” UConn Magazine: In the Hot Seat with ESPN’s Molly Qerim ’06 (CLAS)

     

  • Nick Ahmed

    Shortstop for the Arizona Diamondbacks who won a 2018 Gold Glove Award and was a first-round draft pick.

  • Nick Giaquinto ’79 (ED)

    Former running back who played in two Super Bowls, winning one.

  • Richard Hamilton

    Three-time NBA All-Star, led Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA championship.

  • Sara Whalen ’98 (CLAS)

    Olympic silver medalist, member of the 1999 Women’s World Cup championship soccer team, founding player of WUSA.

  • Scott Burrell ’10 (BGS)

    First American athlete to be a first round draft pick of two major sports leagues: MLB and NBA.

  • Shabazz Napier ’14 (CLAS)

    NCAA champion and 2014 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

  • Sue Bird ’02 (CLAS)

    Gold medalist, three-time WNBA champion.

  • Svetlana Abrosimova ’01 (BUS)

    Olympic bronze medalist as member of Russian national team, nine years in WNBA.

  • Swin Cash ’02 (CLAS)

    Olympic gold medalist, WNBA All-Star, and champion; inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

  • Tina Charles ’10 (CLAS)

    Olympic gold medalist, WNBA All-Star, and rebounding champion.

  • Tom Penders ’68 (BUS)

    Competed in both NCAA Basketball Tournament and the College Baseball World Series, long-time basketball coach with positions at URI, Columbia, Tufts, Texas, George Washington University, and Houston. UConn Magazine: The Quiet Genius of Coach Penders

     

  • Will Beatty, ’08 (CLAS)

    Super Bowl Champion with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

  • David Ushery ’89 (CLAS)

    Emmy-winning journalist and TV co-anchor.

  • Frank Litsky ’46 (CLAS)

    “The New York Times” sports writer and author who won numerous writing awards, including one from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

  • Les Payne ’64 (CLAS), ’03H

    Pulitzer Prize-winning editor and columnist and founder of the National Association of Black Journalists.

  • Matthew Jensen ’08 (SFA)

    Photographer who most recently won a John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Award.

  • Patricia MacLachlan ’62 (ED)

    Best-selling children’s author and winner of the 1986 Newbery Medal, the 1986 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction and the 1986 Golden Kite Award.

  • Ron Roy ’65 (CLAS)

    Children’s mystery book author, best known for his A to Z Mysteries series.

    UConn Magazine: The Future of Almost Everything: Books: The Original Entertainment Devices

  • Sara Bear Elizabeth Wishnevsky

    Hugo and Sturgeon Award-winning science fiction and fantasy writer who writes under the pen name Elizabeth Bear.

  • Scott DaRos ’07 (SFA)

    Emmy-winning stop-motion animator and creative director; won an Emmy Award for Individual Achievement in Character Animation in 2016.

  • Susanna Coffey ’77 (SFA)

    Painter and educator with an international reputation.

  • Toni Press-Coffman ’76 (SFA)

    Award-winning playwright who wrote the play “Touch.”

  • Austin Stowell ’07 (SFA)

    Actor known for roles in “Dolphin Tale” and Steven Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies.”

    Daily Campus: There’s Always Another Level to Get To

    UConn Magazine: “Bridge of Spies” Actor Credits UConn for His Magnanimity

  • Brian Schulz ’97 (CLAS)

    Emmy-winning director and cinematographer for Major League Baseball Productions.

  • Christopher Barreca ’97 (SFA)

    Tony Award-winning scenic designer.

  • Dan Rousseau ’08 (SFA)

    Emmy-winning lighting designer.

    UConn Today: Light Shines on Alumnus as Emmy Winner

    UConn Magazine: Dan Rousseau Lights It Up

  • Daniel Joseph “Dan” Lauria ’92 (SFA)

    TV, stage, and film actor known for portraying the father on the TV series, “The Wonder Years.”

  • Forrest McClendon ’89 (SFA)

    Actor and singer nominated for a Tony Award for his Broadway debut in “The Scottsboro Boys.”

  • Frank Filipetti ’71 (CLAS)

    Grammy-winning music producer, engineer, and mixer.

  • Jean Marie Keevins ’99 (SFA)

    Puppeteer, producer, writer, and designer who has built puppets for “Avenue Q,” Disney on Ice’s “Finding Nemo,” “Baby Einstein,” “The Muppets,” and other Broadway shows.

  • Jennifer Barnhart ’94 (SFA)

    Actress, puppeteer, and voice-over talent.

  • John “Beau” M. Billingslea Jr. ’66 (CLAS) ’69 JD

    TV and film actor, producer, and voice-over artist.

  • John Severino ’59 (CLAS)

    Past president of CBS and ABC television networks; media consultant for WeR1 World Network.

  • Meg Ryan (CLAS)

    Movie actress known for her roles in “When Harry Met Sally” and “Sleepless in Seattle.”

  • Michael John Bergin ’92 (BUS)

    Actor and model considered one of the first men to achieve supermodel status.

  • Michael Koskoff ’66 JD

    A principal at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder who co-wrote the screenplay for the movie, “Marshall.”

  • Moby aka Richard Melville Hall

    Musician, singer, and DJ, known for electronica music.

  • Paige Turco ’88 (SFA)

    TV and film actress aka Jean Paige Turco.

  • Pam Arciero ’82 MFA

    Puppeteer and voice-over artist who portrays Oscar the Grouch’s girlfriend, Grundgetta, on “Sesame Street.”

  • Richard Termine ’78 MFA

    Puppet designer and builder; Emmy-winning designer for “Sesame Street.”

  • Stuart “Skip” Schoolnik ’71 (SFA)

    Film producer, director, and editor known for “The Walking Dead” and “Angel.”

  • Tim Lagasse ’92 (SFA)

    Puppeteer, puppet designer, and filmmaker; Emmy-nominated creator of a series of short puppet films.

  • Bob Madonna ’82 (ENG)

    CEO of Savant Systems.

  • Briggs W. Morrison ’85 M.D.

    CEO of Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  • Daniel Earl Noble ’29 (CAHNR)

    Executive vice chairman of the board of Motorola.

  • David M. Lee ’55 MA, ’97H

    Physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics with Robert C. Richardson and Douglas Osheroff for discovering superfluidity in helium-3.

  • Dipayan Ghosh ’10 (ENG)

    Fellow of New America’s Technology in the Public Interest initiative and the Open Technology Institute, focusing on advancing consumer-oriented public policy initiatives.

  • Doug Bernstein ’85 (CLAS)

    Co-founder, president, and co-CEO of Melissa & Doug toys.

  • Frances Trelease ’83 (CLAS), ’96 MBA

    Founder and president of Boomer Den LLC, an internship and job placement service for adult workers.

    UConn Magazine: The Future of Almost Everything: New Tricks for Old Dogs

  • Jerold R. Mande ’78 (CAHNR)

    Former senior adviser to the U.S. Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.

    Naturally@UConn: Distinguished Alumnus Jerold Mande Honored by UConn Alumni Association

  • Kevin Burns ’86 (ENG)

    CEO of JUUL Labs Inc.

  • Peter D. Suzdak ’85 Ph.D.

    Former CEO of Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  • Richard Mastracchio ’82 (ENG), ’14H

    Engineer and former NASA astronaut; flew on three NASA Space Shuttle missions.

    UConn Today: UConn Alum Returning to Orbit for Fourth Space Mission

  • Robert Mastracchio ’64 (ENG), ’66 MS

    Retired vice president of engineering and research for the Exxon Mobil Corp.

  • Roger Boissonneault ’71 (CLAS)

    CEO and president of Warner Chilcott.

  • Roger Newton ’74 MS, ’05 H

    Co-discovered Lipitor and was founder and member of the board of directors of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.; director of a number of life science companies.

    UConn Today: Co-Discoverer of Lipitor Speaks at Health Center About New Cholesterol Drug

  • Shankar Musunuri ’93 Ph.D.

    Founder, chairman, and CEO of Ocugen Inc.

  • Theodore Millon ’54 Ph.D.

    American psychologist known for groundbreaking work identifying personality disorders.

  • Tim Shannon ’85 MD

    Former president and CEO of CuraGen Corp., now managing partner and general partner at Canaan Partners.

  • Debra Hess ’86 (BUS)

    CFO of NorthStar Realty Finance Corp.

  • P. Courtney Gaine ’00 (CAHNR), ’05 Ph.D.

    President and CEO of the Sugar Association.

  • Sam Gejdenson ’70 (CLAS)

    U.S. Representative, Democrat, 1981-2001.

  • Robert N. Giaimo ’44 JD

    U.S. Representative, Democrat, 1959-1981.

  • Gary Gladstein ’66 (CLAS), ’08H

    Former managing director of Soros Fund Management.

  • Bernard F. Grabowski ’49 (BUS), ’52 JD

    U.S. Representative, Democrat, 1965-1966.

  • Michael R. Grey ’84 MD

    Chair of Medicine for Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

  • Michael R. Grey ’84 MD

    Chair of Medicine for Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

  • Eunice Groark ’65 JD

    First female lieutenant governor of Connecticut.

  • Lubbie Harper Jr. ’67 MSW, ’75 JD

    Connecticut Supreme Court judge and first African-American graduate from UConn School of Law.

  • Hajim al-Hassani ’90 Ph.D.

    Speaker of Iraqi National Assembly under Iraqi Transitional Government.

  • Mark Freitas ’81 (BUS)

    CEO and president, Mark Edward Partners.

  • Edward A. Horrigan Jr ’50 (BUS)

    Former president and CEO of RJ Reynolds.

  • Samuel Jaskilka ’42 (CLAS)

    Commandant of U.S. Marine Corps, four-star general.

  • Joette Katz ’77 JD

    Former associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court- and Connecticut Commissioner of Children and Families.

  • John Kim ’87 MBA, BUS ’16

    President of New York Life Insurance Co., the largest mutual life insurance company in America.

  • Michael Koppel ’78 (BUS)

    Former executive vice president and CFO of Nordstrom, Inc.

  • Alan Kraut ’73 (ED)

    Executive director of the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System.

    UConn Magazine: The Future of Almost Everything: Modernizing Mental Health Treatment

  • Paul Krebsbach ’93 Ph.D.

    Dean, UCLA School of Dentistry.

  • John Krenicki ’84 (ENG), ’07H

    Former president and CEO of GE Energy; senior operating partner at Clayton, Dubiler & Rice.

  • Mary Laschinger ’92 MBA

    Chairman and CEO of Veritiv Corp.

  • Scott Cowen ’68 (BUS), ’10H

    Former president of Tulane University.

    UConn Magazine: The Future of Almost Everything: Whither the University?

  • N. Nangolo Mbumba ’73 MS

    2nd Vice President of Namibia

  • Craig Ashmore ’85 (ENG)

    Principal at Platinum Equity.

  • Stanley F. Battle ’75 MSW

    Former president of Coppin State University.

  • Frank Borges ’78 JD

    Chairman and managing partner at Landmark Partners.

  • Melinda Brown ’77 (BUS), ’85 MBA

    Senior vice president and corporate controller of Coach.

    UConn Business: Melinda Brown

  • J. Agnes Burns ’24 JD

    First graduate of UConn School of Law to be admitted to the Connecticut Bar and first female lawyer to appear before the Connecticut Supreme Court.

  • Michael Callahan ’95 JD

    Former general counsel of LinkedIn; executive director of the Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Center for Corporate Governance & Law at Stanford University.

  • Tansu Penbe Ciller ’72 Ph.D.

    First and only female prime minister of Turkey, 1993-96.

  • Robert Cizik ’53 (BUS)

    Retired chairman and CEO of Cizik Interests.

  • Joe Courtney ’78 JD

    U.S. Representative, Democrat since 2007.

  • Frank P. Longobardi Jr. ’77 (BUS)

    Chief Executive Officer of CohnReznick, an accounting, tax and advisory firm.

  • Joanne C. Crevoiserat ’85 (BUS)

    Executive vice president and CFO of Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

  • Robert Crispin ’75 MBA

    Retired chairman and CEO of ING Investment Management, Inc.

  • Emilio Daddario ’42 JD

    U.S. Representative, Democrat, 1959-1971.

  • Robert Diamond ’77 MBA, ’06H

    Former president and CEO of Barclays Bank.

  • Doug Elliot ’82 (BUS) ’17H

    President of The Hartford.

  • Gail Federici-Smith ’70 (CLAS)

    Co-founder of John Frieda and chief executive of Federici Brands.

  • Robert W. Fiondella ’68 JD, ’97H

    Former U.S. CEO of Phoenix Life Mutual Insurance Co.

  • Keith Fox ’80 (BUS)

    Former vice president of Worldwide Corporate Marketing at Cisco Systems.

  • Chris Fraser ’80 (BUS) (CLAS)

    President, CEO, and chairman of the board of KMG Chemicals.

  • Mike Soltys ’81 (CLAS)

    Vice president, corporate communications, ESPN.

    UConn Magazine: The Future of Almost Everything: Now Playing

  • Paula Riggi Singer ’76 (ED)

    President and CEO of Laureate Global Products and Services Group.

  • Tony Rizza ’87 (BUS)

    Senior managing director/portfolio manager of Columbus Circle Investors.

  • Rob Rodin ’77 (CLAS)

    Former CEO of Marshall Industries; now general partner and managing director of Riordan, Lewis & Haden Equity Partners.

  • Harvey Rosenblum ’65 (CLAS)

    Former executive vice president and director of research for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

  • John Rutherford ’75 MS

    Co-founder and COO of Strategy Capital.

  • Ronald A. Sarasin ’60 (BUS), ’63 JD

    U.S. Representative, Republican, 1973-1979.

  • Liz Scott and Jay Scott, ’91 (CLAS)

    Husband-and-wife team that founded Alex’s Lemonade Stand after losing daughter, Alexandra, to cancer.

  • Mark Shenkman ’65 (CLAS), ’07H

    Founder, president, and chief investment officer of Shenkman Capital Management Inc.

  • William “Bill” Simon ’81 (CLAS), ’88 MBA

    Former president and CEO of Walmart U.S.

    UConn Today: UConn Alum Named President CEO of Walmart US

    UConn Magazine: The Future of Almost Everything: Shopping Spree

  • Karl L. Schultz ’93 MPA

    U.S. Coast Guard Commandant.

    UConn Magazine: Karl L. Schultz ’92 MPA is the new commander of the U.S. Coast Guard

  • Karen Maguire ’68 (CLAS), ’71 MA, ’81 Ph.D.

    President/CEO and co-founder of Satuit Technologies, Inc.

  • Huw Thomas ’86 Ph.D.

    Dean, School of Dentistry at Tufts University.

  • Dan Toscano ’87 (BUS)

    Managing director at Morgan Stanley.

  • William Trueheart ’66 (CLAS)

    Former president of Bryant University.

  • Rick Valachovic ’77 DMD

    CEO and president of the American Dental Education Association.

  • Ann Withey-Miller ’86 (CLAS)

    Founder, inspirational president, and director of Annie’s Homegrown Foods.

  • Gregory S. Woodward ’77 (SFA)

    President of the University of Hartford.

    UConn Alumni: 5 Questions with a Composer Turned College President

  • Paul A. Yost Jr ’59 MA

    Former U.S. Coast Guard Commandant.

  • Dona D. Young ’80 JD

    Former chairman, president, and CEO of The Phoenix Companies Inc.

  • Charles Zwick ’50 (CAHNR), ’51 MS

    Economist, banker, and author.

  • Wayne Rawlins ’76 (CLAS), ’80 MD

    Vice president, chief medical officer.

  • Frances P. Mainella ’69 (ED)

    First female director, National Parks Service.

  • Myles Martel ’65 Ph.D.

    President, founder, and CEO of Martel & Associates.

  • Philip Marucha ’83 DMD, ’90 Ph.D.

    Dean of the School of Dentistry at Oregon Health Sciences University.

  • Anita McBride ’81 (CLAS)

    Chief of staff for First Lady Laura Bush and assistant to George W. Bush.

  • Brett McGurk ’96 (CLAS)

    Special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL.

  • Thomas Joseph Meskill Jr. ’58 JD

    Governor of Connecticut, US Representative, Republican, Chief Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals.

  • Chris Murphy ’02 JD

    U.S. Senator, Democrat.

  • Kathleen Murphy ’87 JD

    President of Fidelity Personal Investing.

  • Randy Nardone ’77 (CLAS)

    CEO, co-founder, principal, and director of Fortress Investment Group.

  • Denis Nayden ’76 (CLAS), ’77 MBA

    Former chairman and CEO of GE Capital Corp.; managing partner of Oak Hill Capital Management.

  • Kenneth North ’53 (BUS)

    Former U.S. Air Force Brigadier General.

  • William St. Onge ’48 JD

    U.S. Representative, Democrat, 1963-1970.

  • Joseph C. Papa Jr ’78 (PHARM), ’12H

    Chairman and CEO of Bausch Health Companies Inc.

  • Richard Piacentini ’84 MS

    Director of the Phipps Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh.

  • Robert Pianta ’78 (ED)

    Dean of the Curry School of Education, University of Virginia.

  • Joseph Polisi ’69 (CLAS)

    Former president of The Julliard School.

  • William Quinlan ’92 JD

    President and COO of Eversource Energy.

    UConn Magazine: The Future of Almost Everything: The Grid Reinvented

  • Carolyn Runowicz ’73 (CLAS)

    Former president of the American Cancer Society; internationally recognized leader in women’s health and gynecological cancer.

  • Amy Errett ’79 (CLAS)

    CEO and founder of Madison Reed, a tech-enabled hair care start-up.

    UConn Magazine: Amy Errett ’79 (CLAS)

  • Timothy Shriver, ’97 Ph.D, ’09 H

    Chairman of the Special Olympics, social leader, educator, activist, film producer, and business entrepreneur.

    UConn Advance: Fulfill your own dreams, Shriver tells graduates

    UConn Magazine: The Future of Almost Everything: Going for Gold