List of Michigan State University people


Michigan State University alumni number around 634,300 worldwide. Famous Spartans include [National |Basketball Association|NBA] star Earvin "Magic" Johnson; MLB stars Kirk Gibson, Steve Garvey, Robin Roberts; [National |Football League|NFL] stars Brad Van Pelt, Bubba Smith, Herb Adderley and Joe DeLamielleure; actors James Caan and Robert Urich; Evil Dead trilogy director Sam Raimi; LGBT rights activist and internet personality Tyler Oakley; former Michigan governors James Blanchard, Fred M. Warner, and John Engler; U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow; former U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham; and billionaires Eli Broad, Reinhold Schmieding, Drayton McLane, Jr., Harley Hotchkiss, Thomas H. Bailey, Tom Gores, Andrew Beal and Dan Gilbert.
Michigan State's faculty and academic staff number around 4,500 researchers. Throughout the years, notable researchers have included William J. Beal, who developed hybrid corn; psychologist Erich Fromm; G. Malcolm Trout, who invented the process for the homogenization of milk; and Barnett Rosenberg, the discoverer of cancer-fighting drug cisplatin.
In addition to faculty, Michigan State has around 6,000 administrative and non-academic staff. This includes the university's governing board, the board of trustees. Elected by statewide referendum every two years, trustees have eight-year terms, with two of the eight elected every other year. As of 2007, the board is made up of three Republicans and five Democrats, and has a 4:4 gender balance.
Other notable staff members include President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Athletic Director J Batt, men's basketball coach Tom Izzo, ice hockey coach Adam Nightingale, and football coach Jonathan Smith.
Table of contents

Notable alumni:
Academia:
[|Education] • [|Medicine] • [|Science] • Social science

[#Arts and media|]:
[|Cinema] • [|Journalism] • [|Literature] • [|Music] • Television & radio • [|Visual arts]

[|Business]:
Consumer goods • [|Finance] • [|Industry]

[#Politics and government|]:
[|Activism] • [|Diplomacy] • [|Law] • Public office

[#Sports and athletics|]:
[|Baseball] • Basketball • Football • Ice hockey • [|Running] • Soccer • [|Olympians] • MMA

[#Faculty and administration|]:
Notable faculty:
[#Arts and humanities|] • Science • Social science

Current administration:
[#Board of Trustees|] • Head coaches

Former administration:
Former presidents

Notes'External links'

Notable alumni

Academia

Administration

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
David Kpakpoe AcquayeB.S.1952professor, first head of the Soil Science, dean of agriculture, University of Ghana
Debra D. AustinB.A.former chancellor, State University System of Florida
Jacquelynn BaasB.A.1971curator, cultural historian, writer, and director emeritus, UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
Hugh P. BakerB.S.1901president, University of Massachusetts Amherst; dean, New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University
Sian BeilockPh.D.2003president, Dartmouth College
Warren W. BrandtB.S.1944first president, Virginia Commonwealth University
Frank A BucklessB.A.1981dean, Poole College of Management, NC State
Kenyon ButterfieldB.S.1891president, University of Rhode Island, UMass, and Michigan State University, appointed to the Country Life Commission by President Theodore Roosevelt
Antoinette Candia-BaileyM.A.2001vice president for student affairs at Lincoln University, 2023
Oscar CluteB.S.1862president, Michigan State, Florida Agricultural College, ordained minister
Richard A. CosierB.A.1969dean emeritus, Krannert School of Management, Purdue
William H. CunninghamB.B.A., M.B.A.1966, 1967former chancellor, University of Texas System
Paul D'AnieriB.A.1986vice president and provost, University of California, Riverside
Grover C. DillmanB.S.1913president, Michigan Tech University, 1935–1956
Jeffrey DockingB.A.1983president, Adrian College
Kristie L. EbiB.S.1972founder, former director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment, Washington School of Public Health
Glenn GoerkePh.D.1962former president/chancellor, University of Houston, University of Houston–Clear Lake, University of Houston–Victoria, and Indiana University East
Lloyd Vincent HackleyB.A.former chancellor, Fayetteville State University
Wendy HenselB.A.1992president, University of Hawaiʻi
Stanley O. IkenberryM.A., Ph.D.1957, 1960former president, University of Illinois
Charles L. IngersollB.S.second president, Colorado State University, credited with broadening and liberalizing the school's formerly narrow, vocational curriculum
Anne KhademianB.A. M.P.A.political scientist, executive director of the Universities at Shady Grove, the University System of Maryland
Charles KieslerB.A.1958former chancellor, University of Missouri
William Edward LaveryB.A.1953former president, Virginia Tech
Jay Robert McCollB.S.1890dean of engineering, University of Detroit
Charles McKennyB.S.1881former president, Central Michigan University, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and Eastern Michigan University
William H. SewellB.A., M.A.1933, 1934former chancellor, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Bernard SligerB.A., M.A., Ph.D.1949, 1950. 1955economist, former president, Florida State University
James D. SpanioloB.A.1968former president, University of Texas at Arlington
Teresa A. SullivanB.A.1970former president, University of Virginia
Dwight B. Waldoattended1881–82first president, Western Michigan University
Kim A. WilcoxB.S.1976chancellor, University of California, Riverside, former Michigan State University provost

Biology

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Edgar AndersonB.S.1918botanical geneticist
Liberty Hyde BaileyB.S.1882botanist, horticulturist, the "father of modern horticulture", author, philosopher
Charles Fuller BakerB.S.1892professor of Biology, Botany; college dean
Frank BentonB.S.1879entomologist educator, researcher, author, beekeeping innovator
Charles E. BesseyB.S.1869pioneer 19th-century botany educator; former president, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Robert L. CarrollB.S.1959vertebrate paleontologist, former director of Redpath Museum, McGill University
William James ClenchB.S.1921former curator of the Mollusk Collection, Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology
Leon Jacob Coleattended1890sgeneticist and ornithologist, nicknamed the "father of American bird banding"
Albert John CookB.S.1862zoology, entomology educator; chairman, California State Commission of Horticulture
Larry DaltonB.S.1965chemist best known for polymeric nonlinear electro-optics; recipient of Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and NIH Research Career Development Award
Arnold L. DemainB.S. M.S.1949 1950former professor of microbiology, MIT, founder and head of the Department of Fermentation Microbiology, Merck & Co, world-leading industrial microbiologist
Lyster H. DeweyB.S.1888botanist, expert at USDA researching various fibre plants, most notably hemp
C. Kurt DewhurstB.A.1970curator and folklorist, director emeritus of the Michigan State University Museum, past president, American Folklore Society
Michael DonoghueB.A.1976vice president, Evelyn Hutchinson Professor Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale; former director of the university's Peabody Museum of Natural History; elected to U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2005
Mary K. FirestoneB.S M.S. Ph.D.member, National Academy of Sciences, professor of soil microbiology in the Department of Environmental Studies, Policy, and Management, UC Berkeley
Charles Christian GeorgesonB.S.1877founding director of Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station, namesake of Georgeson Botanical Garden at University of Alaska
Alfred Gurdon GulleyB.S.1868University of Connecticut revered horticulture professor; the university administration building bears his name
Byron HalstedB.S.1871botany educator, former president of the Botanical Society of America
Ulysses P. HedrickB.S.1893botanist, horticulturalist
Perry G. HoldenM.S.1895first professor of Agronomy in the US
Patricia HuntB.A.1977Meyer Distinguished Professor in the School of Molecular Bioscience, Washington State University
Walter Stephen JuddB.S. M.S.1973 1974botanist and taxonomist, distinguished professor in the Department of Botany, University of Florida
Ezra J. KrausB.S.1907former chair of Botany Department, University of Chicago
Minakata Kumagusudid not graduatenaturalist, known for study of slime molds in early 20th-century Japan
Amy K. LeBlancD.V.M.1999veterinary oncologist and biologist, director of the Comparative Oncology Program at the National Cancer Institute
Henry J. OostingM.S.1927ecologist at Duke University
John J. Pipoly IIIB.S.1978botanist
Thomas D. SharkeyB.S. Ph.D.1974 1980distinguished professor, biochemistry and microbiology, Michigan State University
James W. ToumeyB.S.1889botanist, co-founder, early dean of Yale School of Forestry; namesake of the cactus genus Toumeya and New Hampshire's Yale-Toumey Forest
Samuel Mills TracyB.S., M.S.1868, 1871botany educator; donator and founder of Tracy Herbarium at Texas A&M
Truman G. YunckerB.S.1915bacteriologist, botanist; chair of Botany Department, DePauw University; appointed curator of DePauw Herbarium, later named the T.G. Yuncker Herbarium

Business

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Deborah A. Cobb-ClarkB.A.1983Australian economist, professor, University of Sydney
Scott DeRuePh.D.former dean of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan
Connel FullenkampB.A.1987economics professor at Duke University, financial trainer of US banks and corporations for the International Monetary Fund
John Thomas MentzerM.B.A, Ph.D.Chancellor's Professor and Vivienne R. Bruce Chair of Excellence in Business, University of Tennessee
Sue SchurmanB.S. M.A.1969 1977distinguished professor at Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, former dean

Education

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
William Chandler BagleyB.S.1895educator, pedagogy reformer championing Essentialism ; founder, School and Society; editor-in-chief, Journal of the National Education Association, 1920–25
Christine L. BorgmanB.A.1973Presidential Chair in Information Studies, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, UCLA
Catherine CorriganB.S.1995meteorite curator at the Smithsonian
Eugene DavenportB.S., M.S.1878, 1884agriculture educator; invited in 1891 by the government of Brazil to duplicate Michigan State with "Little Lansings"; dean of University of Illinois, College of Agriculture
Eduard C. LindemanB.A.1911pioneer and champion of adult education
Myrtle Craig MowbrayB.S.1907first African-American woman to graduate from MSU; professor at historically black colleges and universities in Kansas and Missouri
Roy PeaB.A.1974education scholar, Rhodes Scholar
Ione Genevieve ShadduckM.A., PhDeducator, women's rights activist, and attorney
Marta TiendaB.A.1972director, Graduate Studies; former director, Office of Population Research, Princeton University; TIAA trustee since 2005
Boyce Courtney WilliamsM.A., Ph.D.vice president of the NCATE

Engineering

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Bruce AblesonB.A.1984created Open Diary, the first online blogging community
Susan AveryB.S.1972first female president and director, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Louis George CarpenterB.S., M.S.1879, 1883pioneer, expert on irrigation engineering
Rolla C. CarpenterB.S., M.S.1873, 1876pioneer in heating and ventilating buildings as an Engineering Professor at Michigan State and Cornell; co-planned "Collegeville", the first subdivision in what later became East Lansing
Lloyd Groff CopemanB.S.1903invented first electric stove
Margaret J. EppsteinB.S.1978research scholar in complex systems, founder, Vermont Complex Systems Center
Ryan M. EusticeB.S.1998roboticist, senior vice president of Human-centric AI and Technology Adoption at the Toyota Research Institute
Martha GrayB.A.1978biomedical engineer, professor, MIT's Institute for Medical Engineering and Science
Laurel KuxhausB.S, B.A.2001biomechanical engineer and researcher, program director at the National Science Foundation, 2019–2023
Ivan LaHaieB.S.1976electrical engineer, IEEE Fellow for radar contributions
Charles SeveranceB.S. M.S. Ph.D.1984 1990 1996computer scientist, first executive director of the Sakai Foundation
Janelle ShaneB.S.2007research scientist, author, public speaker and humorist regarding artificial intelligence
Gary StarkweatherB.S.1960invented the laser printer
Ellen D. WilliamsB.S.1976nanotechnology researcher; member, National Academy of Sciences

Law

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Larry T. GarvinB.A., B.S.1983Lawrence D. Stanley Professor of Law, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, elected to the American Law Institute
Douglas LaycockB.A.1970Robert E. Scott Distinguished Professor at the University of Virginia School of Law
Connie S. RosatiB.A.1979professor of law and philosophy, University of Texas at Austin

Medicine

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Lisa BeroB.S.1980internationally recognized former chair within the World Health Organization (WHO), professor of medical and pharmaceutical policy, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Vence L. Bonham Jr.B.A.1978deputy director of the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and leader of the NHGRI Health Disparities Unit
Myrtelle Canavanattended1898–99pioneer pathologist
Raymond J DingledineB.S.1971professor, associate dean, Emory University, elected National Academy of Medicine, and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Darlene DixonPh.D.1985veterinary scientist, toxicologic pathologist, and senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health
Max EssexD.V.M1967virologist, professor of Health Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health
Philip FelgnerB.S.1972noted immunologist, a developer of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
Eldon Leroy FoltzB.S.1941former chair of neurosurgery, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Alfred D. HersheyB.S., Ph.D.1930, 19341969 Nobel laureate for physiology or medicine
Richard E. HolmesM.D.1977among the first African-Americans to attend Mississippi State University
Mark A. KayB.S.1980physician, professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, recognized for contributions in gene therapy, genome editing, and RNA biology
Sharon KujawaB.S.clinical audiologist, Director of Audiology Research at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, associate professor of otology and laryngology, Harvard Medical School
Mary L. MarazitaB.S.1976geneticist, Distinguished Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Scientist Award in Craniofacial Biology Research, International Association for Dental Research
Delano MeriwetherB.S.1963immunologist, first African-American accepted to Duke University School of Medicine, champion sprinter
Vinay PrasadB.S.2005professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, author
Barbara Ross-LeeD.O.1969first African-American woman dean of a U.S. medical school: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Edwin RubelB.S. M.S. Ph.D.leading developmental neurobiologist
Linda C. SamuelsonB.S.1976pioneering physiologist in stem cell research
Carolyn SargentB.A. Ph.D.1968 1979medical anthropologist, professor emerita of Sociocultural Anthropology and of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Washington University in St. Louis
David SulzerB.S.professor of neurobiology, Columbia, musician
Michael VanRooyenB.S.1984director, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard Medical School
Walter WillettB.S.1966epidemiology professor, Harvard School of Public Health

Physics

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
John G. AndersonB.S. Physics1970seismologist
Lyman J. BriggsB.S.1893physicist; director of the National Bureau of Standards; chaired the Uranium Committee
Gregory CharvatB.S., M.S., Ph.D.2002, 2003, 2007led an MIT research team to develop radar that can penetrate walls and display real-time video of the activity on the other side
John Park FinleyB.S.1873meteorologist, pioneered tornado forecasting
Njema FrazierPh.D.1997nuclear physicist at the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, past visiting professor at the National Defense University, named on list of "top 100 most powerful Black women"
Scott GaudiB.S.1995professor of astronomy at Ohio State University, former chair of NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group and Astrophysics Advisory Committee, co-chair of the National Academy of Sciences Exoplanet Science Strategy study
T. A. HeppenheimerB.S., M.S.1967, 1968aeronautics and space scholar, researcher and author; researcher associate fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; has held research fellowships at Caltech and the Max Planck Institute
Donald KeckB.S., M.S.1962, 1964co-developed low-loss optical fiber; recipient, National Medal of Technology
Eugene ParkerB.S.1948astrophysicist, developed concept of supersonic solar wind; Bruce Prize, Kyoto Prize winner
Nan PhinneyB.S.1966accelerator physicist at SLAC, American Physical Society Fellow
Charles E. St. JohnB.S.1887physicist at Mt. Wilson observatory; starred scientist, American Men of Science, 1903–1943
Norman SleepB.S.1967professor of geophysics, Stanford University; member, National Academy of Sciences
Norman SperlingB.A.1970astronomer, author, teacher
Rick Stevensattendedprofessor, computer science, University of Chicago, and associate laboratory director, Argonne National Laboratory
Paula SzkodyB.S.1970professor, Department of Astronomy, University of Washington; past president, American Astronomical Society
Herman Brenner WhiteB.S.1970nuclear physicist at Fermilab, won the 2010 American Physical Society Edward A. Bouchet Award

Psychology

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Richard N. AslinB.A.1971psychologist, focusing on speech perception
Charles BrainerdB.S., M.A. Ph.D.1966 1968 1970psychology professor, Cornell, known for co-developing fuzzy-trace theory
Jennifer CrockerB.A.1975professor, Ohio Eminent Scholar in Social Psychology at Ohio State; past president, Society for Personality and Social Psychology
Paul DresselM.A.1934founding director of Michigan State University's Counseling Center
David DunningB.A.1982social psychology professor, University of Michigan, co-author of the Dunning–Kruger effect
Raquel GurB.S. M.A. Ph.D.1971, 1972, 1974research psychiatrist and expert on schizophrenia, professor at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
James JacksonB.S.1966Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan, past director of the university's Institute for Social Research, named to the National Science Board
Peter Richard KilleenB.A.1964advanced psychology professor and researcher
Joe KortB.A.1985psychotherapist, clinical social worker, board-certified clinical sexologist and author
Rollo Maytransferredscholar, the "father of American existential psychology"
Daniel WegnerB.S.1970psychologist, introduced ironic process theory

Other sciences

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Edward AboufadelB.S.1986mathematics professor, elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Mark BatzerB.S. M.A.1983 1985geneticist, LSU Boyd Professor at Louisiana State University, elected fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Joanne EicherB.A. M.S. Ph.D.1948 1952 1959scholar in fashion design, recognized by the British Museum, editor-in-chief of the Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion
Harold B. EvansB.S. M.S1931 1932research chemist, one of few African-American scientists to work on the Manhattan Project
Fang ZhouziPh.D.1995pen name of Fang Shimin; popular scientific writer in China
Jennifer JuengelB.S.1987animal health researcher, fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Julie KovacsB.S.1981bioinorganic chemist and professor, University of Washington
Verghese KurienM.S.1948dairy scientist, father of White Revolution in India; Padma Vibhushan recipient
Steven LalleyB.S1976statistician and mathematician, professor, former department chair at The University of Chicago
Daniel MindiolaB.S.1992professor of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania
Jennifer TankB.S.1988ecologist, Galla Professor of Ecology of Streams and Rivers at the University of Notre Dame
Chelsea WaltonB.S.2005mathematician, professor at Rice University, won a fellowship to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as well as to the American Mathematical Society
Bess WardB.S.1976William J. Sinclair Professor of Geosciences, director of Ward Research Laboratory, Princeton University

Arts and media

Cinema

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
James Caandid not graduateactor, Las Vegas series, The Godfather, Mickey Blue Eyes
Jim CashB.A.1970Hollywood writer, Top Gun, Legal Eagles, Dick Tracy
Areeya ChumsaiB.A.1993filmmaker, author, lecturer, teacher, journalist and former Miss Thailand
Michael CiminoB.A.1959Academy Award-winning writer, director; directed, co-wrote The Deer Hunter
Edward S. FeldmanB.A.1950film and television producer
Sarah HabelB.A.2004actress
Greg HarrisonB.A.1991film director of Groove and November
Anthony HealdB.A.1971actor, The Silence of the Lambs
Walter HillB.A.1962producer, director of Last Man Standing and 48 Hrs.
David MageeB.A.1984screenwriter, nominated for 2004 Academy Award for Finding Neverland
Bill MechanicB.A.1973CEO, Pandemonium Films; former CEO, 20th Century Fox; producer of 82nd Academy Awards
Bob MurawskiB.A.film editor, winner, 2010 Academy Award for editing The Hurt Locker
Sam Raimidid not graduatedirector, producer, actor
Michealene RisleyB.A.writer, director; human rights activist
Tom Sizemoredid not graduateactor, Saving Private Ryan
Bernard WhiteB.A.actor, screenwriter and film director

Journalism

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Tim AlbertaB.A.2008journalist and author, has written articles for The Hotline, The Wall Street Journal, The National Journal, The National Review, Politico, and The Atlantic
Amy AstleyB.A.1989editor-in-chief, Architectural Digest, founded Teen Vogue
Ray Stannard BakerB.S.1889early 20th-century "muckraker" journalist; won 1940 Pulitzer Prize for last two volumes of biography of President Woodrow Wilson
Jack BerryB.S.1956sports journalist with The Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, United Press International, and the Golf Writers' Association of America
Richard CooperB.A.1969won 1972 Pulitzer Prize for Attica Prison riot coverage
Craig CustanceB.A.1999sports journalist, author
M.L. ElrickB.A.19902009 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting, Detroit Free Press
Ryan FieldB.A.1999sports anchor, WABC-TV
Martin FinnB.A.2002Fox News Channel producer for anchor Shepard Smith
Susan GoldbergB.A.1984editor-in-chief of National Geographic, editorial director, National Geographic Partners; first woman to hold position in National Geographics history
Don GonyeaB.A.1978White House correspondent, National Public Radio; won Peabody Award
Chris HansenB.A.Dateline NBC correspondent
Tanya HartB.A.Emmy Award-winning commentator, host of Hollywood Live with Tanya Hart, syndicated on American Urban Radio Networks; owns Tanya Hart Communications, Inc., a multimedia company
Thom HartmannB.A.broadcaster on Free Speech TV, author
Jemele HillB.A.1997columnist, The Atlantic, former television host at ESPN, columnist ESPN Page 2
Jacob KornbluthB.A.1994Emmy-winning documentarian
Adrienne LaFranceB.A.2004executive editor of The Atlantic
Wanda LauB.S.editor of technology and practice for Architect Magazine
Myra MacPhersonB.A.1956Pulitzer Prize nominee, journalist, author
James C. MooreB.A.1974award-winning writer ; New York Times bestseller of Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential
Suzanne SenaB.A.Fox News anchor
Fay Gillis Wellsdid not graduatefirst woman to parachute from an aircraft; White House correspondent for Storer Broadcasting Co.

Literature

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Verna AardemaB.A.1934award-winning author of children's novels using an African motif
Diane AsitimbayB.A.author, poet, teacher, and intercultural trainer
Wilton BarnhardtB.A.1982novelist; director of M.F.A. program in Creative Writing, NC State University; former Sports Illustrated reporter
Tom BissellB.A.1996author, journalist
Jan Harold BrunvandB.A.1955writer, folklorist scholar, popularized the term "urban legend"
Stephanie Burgisattendedfantasy novelist, music historian
Jeanne CavelosB.S.1982science fiction writer, editor, educator, and former astrophysicist
Kelly DiPucchioB.A.1989author of children's books
Carolyn ForchéB.A.1972poet, editor, human rights advocate
Richard FordB.A.1966writer of novel Independence Day; first to win both the Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award
R. Barri FlowersB.A., M.S.1977, 1980author of fiction and nonfiction; inducted into MSU Criminal Justice Wall of Fame in 2006
Peter GentB.A.1964novelist, athlete, wrote novel-turned-film North Dallas Forty
Dan GerberB.A.1962poet, novelist and essayist
Jennifer GreeneB.A.romance novelist, published 85 books, inducted into Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame
Jim HarrisonB.A., M.A.1960, 1966author, Guggenheim Fellowship recipient; novel, Legends of the Fall, basis for Hollywood film of same name
Jim C. HinesB.S.1996fantasy and science fiction writer
Helen Hullattended1905–07novelist, early feminist, English professor, Wellesley, Columbia
Cynthia HuntingtonB.A.poet
Beverly JenkinsB.A.novelist of mainly African-American historical romance, noted as one of the "100 most popular African American authors"
Geoff JohnsB.A.1995award-winning comic book author, New York Times bestselling author
Josh Kilmer-PurcellB.A.1991New York Times bestselling author of memoirs I Am Not Myself These Days and The Bucolic Plague, novel Candy Everybody Wants, and The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook; starred in television reality series The Fabulous Beekman Boys
Michael KimballB.A.1990novelist, founding editor of Taint Magazine
J.T. KrulB.A.1995comic book writer, published in Marvel and DC Comics
Michael P. Kube-McDowellB.A.1976award-winning science fiction writer; author of more than 500 nonfiction articles
Allison LeottaB.A.1991crime thriller novelist, former federal prosecutor
Josh MalermanB.A.musician, novelist, novel Bird Box basis for Hollywood film
Tom McGuaneB.A.1962novelist
Nnedi OkoraforM.A.science fiction/fantasy novelist
Daniel O'MalleyB.A.novelist
Janice RadwayB.A.1971author, literary and cultural studies scholar
Alma RoutsongB.A.1949author, alternative fiction
Pat SchmatzB.S.1983author of young adult fiction
Sandra SeatonM.A.1989playwright and librettist
Elizabeth SimsB.A.novelist, crime and mystery writer; Lambda Literary Award winner; contributing editor at Writer's Digest magazine
Robin SloanB.A.2002noted novelist, short story writer, literary magazine founder, columnist,The Atlantic
Vernor VingeB.S.science fiction writer; retired math and computer science professor, San Diego State University
Bob WoodB.A.1980author of Dodger Dogs to Fenway Franks and Big Ten Country
Timothy ZahnB.S.1973science fiction writer; winner of Hugo Award for novella Cascade Point; author of New York Times best-selling Star Wars novel Heir to the Empire

Music

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Bethany BeardsleeB.A.1948soprano noted for her performances of contemporary classical music
Dee Dee Bridgewaterdid not graduateGrammy- and Tony Award-winning jazz singer, actress
Henry ButlerM.M.1974jazz pianist
James Chanceattendedno wave jazz musician
Dorothy DeLayB.M.1936master violin teacher; trained superstars Itzhak Perlman, Cho-Liang Lin, Midori, and Sarah Chang
Thaddeus DixonB.M.2006songwriter, music producer, director, and instructor at UC Berkeley
Clare FischerB.M.1951Grammy Award-winning composer, arranger, and pianist; Latin jazz motif
GRiZdid not graduateDJ and electronic producer
Tee Grizzleydid not graduaterapper, singer, and songwriter; "First Day Out"
Milt Jacksondid not graduatejazz vibraphonist; member of the Modern Jazz Quartet
Doug JohnsonB.M.1986jazz and classical pianist, performer and teacher at Berklee College of Music and Wellesley College
Angela LanzaB.A.2006singer, toured overseas with USO
Lazarusmedicine rapper, songwriter
Jacques LevyPh.D.1961lyricist, librettist and theatrical director whose collaborators included Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn and Lucy Simon; others who have performed his work include Joe Cocker, Crystal Gayle and Carly Simon
Joseph LulloffB.A., M.A.saxophonist performing with numerous major orchestras, educator, Distinguished Professor at the Michigan State University College of Music
David MaslankaM.M., Ph.D.1967, 1971composer, best known for his works for wind ensemble
Dika NewlinB.M.1940musicologist, composer, pianist
Izler SolomonB.M.conductor, led major Midwest city orchestras; founder, Lansing Symphony Orchestra
Robin Spielbergattendednoted pianist, composer, actress, and author
Noel Paul Stookeydid not graduate"Paul" of 60s folk group Peter, Paul and Mary
Ben WilliamsB.M.2007jazz bassist, winner of the 2009 Thelonious Monk Award
Janet WilliamsB.M.1982internationally renowned soprano

Theatre

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
William David BrohnB.A.1955Tony Award-winning Broadway musical arranger for Ragtime; won Drama Desk Award for Miss Saigon orchestration
Robert LyonsB.A.writer, playwright, director
Kęstutis NakasB.A.1975playwright, author, performer, director, and teacher
Michael P. PriceB.A.1969executive director of Goodspeed Musicals, the major producer of American musical theatre

Business

Consumer goods

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Michael R. CannonB.A.president of Global Operations, Dell
Drayton McLane, Jr.M.B.A.1959owner of Houston Astros; director of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Mark A. MurrayB.A.president and CEO of Meijer; former president of Grand Valley State University

Finance

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Thomas H. BaileyB.A.1961founder and former CEO, Janus Capital Group
Eli BroadB.B.A.1954billionaire industrialist and philanthropist; former CEO of AIG
Dan GilbertB.B.A.1982chairman and founder of Quicken Loans; owner, NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers
Tom GoresB.S.1986global private-equity magnate, billionaire, owner of NBA's Detroit Pistons
Ernest GreenB.A., M.A.1962, 1964Little Rock Nine member; assistant labor secretary ; vice president, manager at Lehman Brothers
Andrew LahdeB.A.former hedge fund manager, founder, Lahde Capital
M. Peter McPhersonB.A.1963chairman, Dow Jones; president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges; MSU president 1993–2004
William RaduchelB.A.1966independent director, advisor, former Harvard professor
Edward W. ScottB.A., M.A.businessman, philanthropist

Industry

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Darius AdamczykB.S.1988chairman of Honeywell International Inc., elected, National Academy of Engineering
Montie BrewerB.B.A.former president and CEO, Air Canada
Rufus T. Bushdid not graduate19th-century oil refining industrialist, yachtsman, New York socialite
Jack DeBoerB.A.1952hotelier, founder of five national hotel brands, including Residence Inn
Jim DelligattiB.A.1964creator of the Big Mac sandwich, owner of over 50 McDonald's restaurants
Chris Densongraduatedinnovation expert, marketer, humorist, host of podcast Innovation Crush, director of Ignition Factory, Omnicom Group
Molly FletcherB.A.1993sports agent, president of client representation, Career Sports & Entertainment
Mary Kay HenryB.A.1979president, Service Employees International Union
James P. HoffaB.A.1963president, Teamsters; son of Jimmy Hoffa
Walter T. KelleyB.S.1919founded beekeeping supply company the Walter T. Kelley Company in 1926
Laura M. LabovichB.A.1994author, national job search expert, speaker, CEO
Michael LamachB.S.1985CEO, Ingersoll-Rand Corp.
Joanne M. MaguireB.S.1975executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems, 2006–2013
Russell MawbyB.S., Ph.D.1959philanthropist, 25-year CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
John H. McConnellB.B.A.1949founder, chairman emeritus, Worthington Industries; former owner of NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets
Craig MenearB.B.A.1979president, CEO, Home Depot
Dawn RileyB.A.1986first female yachting CEO; America's Cup participant; educator
Andy RoeserB.A.1981former president of the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA
Reinhold SchmiedingB.A.1977specialized medical tools manufacturer, Forbes 400 billionaire
JR ShawB.B.A.1955Canadian communications company founder/owner
Rick SirvaitisB.A., M.A.1971, 1976president of Storeboard Media LLC.
Robert C. StempelM.B.A.1970former chairman, CEO, General Motors
Paul WatermanB.S.1987CEO of BP Castrol and Elementis Plc
Kate Williamschef and restaurateur, owner of Lady of the House in Detroit

Politics and government

Activism

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
John H. AdamsB.A.1959environmental activist, lawyer, and co-founder of the Natural Resource Defense Council, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Abraham AiyashB.A.2017US foreign policy activist, House majority floor leader, Michigan House of Representatives, 4th legislative district
Suzanne Marie BabichB.S.1981public health scientist, author, dietitian and vegetarianism activist, professor, Fulbright Award winner
Gladys BeckwithB.A., M.A. Ph.D.1951 1956 1968activist, founder of the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame
Richard ConlinB.A.1968affordable housing activist and developer, former member of the Seattle City Council president
Donald N. DuquetteB.A.1969founding director of the Child Advocacy Law Clinic, University of Michigan Law School
Emma Genevieve GilletteB.S.1920"mother of Michigan's State Park system"
Shelly GrabeB.A.1996women's rights activist, social psychology professor, provost, UC Santa Cruz
Florence HallB.S.1909led Woman's Land Army of America during World War II
Rutherford P. Hayesattended1876-77library innovator, banker, son of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes
Jon HoadleyB.A.2006former executive director, National Stonewall Democrats
Susan JacobyB.A.1965journalist; author, Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism; NYC program director, Center for Inquiry
Russell KirkB.A.1940National Review magazine co-founder, "father of the modern conservative movement"
Jeffrey MillertransferredKent State shootings victim
Michael Schwernertransferredcivil rights activist, martyr; along with James Chaney and Andrew Goodman, was murdered by Philadelphia, MS-area Ku Klux Klan members for his African-American voter registration efforts during Freedom Summer, 1964
Lou SheldonB.A.1957evangelical conservative activist, founder and chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition
Jim WallisB.A.1970liberal Christian evangelical activist; author, God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It

Diplomacy

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Richard Clark BarkleyB.A.1954former U.S. ambassador to East Germany and Turkey
Stuart A. BernsteinB.A.1960former U.S. ambassador to Denmark
Clarence A. BoonstraB.A.1936former US ambassador to Costa Rica
Robin DialloB.A.1982former US ambassador to Haiti
John A. HeffernB.A.1976former United States ambassador to Armenia 2011–2014
Donna HrinakB.A.1972U.S. ambassador to Venezuela
Riina KionkaB.A.1983EU ambassador to Pakistan
John C. KornblumB.A.1964former ambassador to Germany
Roger A. MeeceB.S.1971former U.S. ambassador to Malawi and Congo
Peter F. SecchiaB.A.1963former U.S. ambassador to Italy

Armed forces

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Judith FedderB.S.1980lieutenant general of the United States Air Force
William F. Friedmanattendedleading cryptographer, led the research division of the U.S. Army's Signal Intelligence Service
James D. HittleB.S.1937brigadier general, U.S. Marine Corps
John D. HutsonB.A.1969former president and dean, Franklin Pierce Law Center, rear admiral, U.S. Navy; former Staff Judge Advocate and executive assistant to the commander, Naval Investigative Command
Frederick J. KenneyB.A.1981former rear admiral and Judge Advocate General, U.S. Coast Guard
William J. Maddox JrB.A.1944major general in the United States Army, commander of the United States Army Aviation Center
Paul T. MikolashekM.A.1982U.S. Army lieutenant general
George F. SchulgenB.S.1922former brigadier general, U.S. Air Force
Caral SpanglerB.A.1980assistant secretary, US Army
Donald A. StrohB.S.1915U.S. Army major general
Frances C. WilsonB.S.retired lieutenant general of United States Marine Corps; former president of National Defense University

Public office

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Spencer AbrahamB.A.1974former U.S. Secretary of Energy and U.S. senator from Michigan
Sandra E. AdamsB.A.1978rear admiral in U.S. Navy
Abraham AiyashB.A.2017representative, 9th district, Michigan
Tylease AlliB.A.2002reading clerk, Democratic, US House of Representatives
George R. AriyoshiB.A.1949third governor of Hawaii
Adnan BadranM.A., Ph.D.1961, 1963former prime minister of Jordan
James BlanchardB.A.1964former Michigan governor ; former ambassador to Canada
Eljay B. BowronB.S.1973former director of the US Secret Service; chairman and co-founder, Torchstone Global, LLC, a security company
Augustus CainePh.D.Secretary of Education of Liberia, 1965–1970
Albert J. Campbellattended1870srepresentative, U.S. Congress, Montana 1899–1901
Linda ChapinB.A.first chairman of the Orange County Commission in Florida; unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000
Ted ChudleighB.S.1965member, Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Donald G. CookB.S.1969commander, Air Education and Training Command, U.S. Air Force
Richard CordrayB.A.1981Ohio state treasurer ; Ohio attorney general ; inaugural chief, United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Charles Dwight CurtissB.S.1911former commissioner, Federal Highway Administration
Charles J. DeLandB.S.1899Michigan secretary of state, 1921–1926
Nancy E. DickB.A.1951former lieutenant governor, Colorado, first woman to hold this office
Emily DievendorfB.A.2001representative, Michigan House of Representatives, 77th district, first openly nonbinary Michigan state representative
Tony EarlB.A.1958former Wisconsin governor
John EnglerB.S.1971former Michigan governor
Bob EvnenB.A.1974secretary of state, Nebraska
Robert A. FicanoB.A.1974former Wayne County executive
Jason E. HammondB.S., M.S.1886, 1900former Michigan superintendent of Public Instruction
Penny HarringtonB.A.1964former police chief; first woman to head a major US city police force
Jim HillB.A.1969first African-American elected statewide in Oregon
Derek HodgeB.A.1963former lieutenant governor, U.S. Virgin Islands
Jennifer White HollandB.A.2010delegate, Maryland House of Delegates for District 10
Tim Johnson1970–1971Democratic senator of South Dakota
Don A. JonesB.S.1933rear admiral and civil engineer; served as the seventh director of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and second director of the Environmental Science Services Administration Corps
Lawrence KestenbaumB.A.1979attorney, politician, and the creator and webmaster of the Political Graveyard website
H. Stuart KnightB.S.1948director of the U.S. Secret Service
Jerry KnirkB.S.1974doctor and politician, served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives
Moussa KoussaB.A.1978former foreign minister of Libya, 2009–2011
Lee Wan-kooM.S.1984prime minister of South Korea
Wilson LivingoodB.A.1961former United States House sergeant at arms
Chris MagnusB.A.chief of police of Tucson, Arizona
Mark MazurB.A.1978former assistant secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Eileen McNultyB.A.government official, first female chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality
Chris MeagherB.A.2005former assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
Harry MonibaPh.D.vice president of Liberia, 1984–90
William Penn Mott Jr.B.S.1931former director of the National Park Service
Frederick H. MuellerB.S.1914former United States Secretary of Commerce under President Dwight Eisenhower
Shahzada Jamal NazirB.A.1999former federal minister for the ministries of National Health Services, Religious Affairs, National Harmony, National Heritage & Integration, in the government of Pakistan
Bryan NewlandB.A., J.D.2003, 2007assistant secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs
James S. Nunneley1933former Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives
Diane PappasB.A.Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives
Gregory QuinnB.A.1972representative, St. Louis County Council, attorney
Peter RheinsteinB.A., M.S.1964former official of the Food and Drug Administration
Kristen McDonald RivetB.A.1992U.S. congresswoman for Michigan's 8th congressional district
Kathleen D. RoeB.A., M.A.former director of Archives and Records Management Operations at the New York State Archives
Helen RosenthalB.A.1982New York City Council member, 6th District
Debbie StabenowB.A., M.A.1972, 1975U.S. senator from Michigan
David A. StockmanB.A.1968former director of Office of Management and Budget under President Ronald Reagan
Marta SuplicyB.A. in Psychologymayor of São Paulo, 2001–2004; senator for São Paulo, 2010–present
Clay TallmanB.A.1895commissioner, United States General Land Office, member of Nevada State Senate 1909–1913, president pro tempore
Bob TraxlerB.A.1953U.S. Congress, Michigan, 1974–93; Mackinac Island State Park Commission, 1992–present
John P. WaltersB.A.1974former director, Office of National Drug Control Policy
Fred M. Warnerattended, did not graduate1880sgovernor of Michigan, 1905–1911
Gretchen WhitmerB.A., J.D.1993, 199849th governor of Michigan, second woman to hold the position

Sports and athletics

Baseball

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Steve GarveyB.A.1968former first baseman, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kirk GibsonB.A.1979former manager, Arizona Diamondbacks; former outfielder, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers
Mike MarshallB.S., M.S., PhD1965, 1967, 1978former closer for several Major League teams
Anthony Misiewiczcurrent pitcher, Seattle Mariners
Mark MulderB.A.1998former pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
Dale PetroskeyB.A.1978president, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Robin RobertsB.A.1947former pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies; Hall of Fame member

Basketball

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Maurice Agerformer professional basketball player
Alan Andersonformer professional basketball player
Charlie BellB.S.2000former professional basketball player
Miles Bridgesprofessional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets
Shannon Brownprofessional basketball player with the Miami Heat
Ben Carterprofessional basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League
Mateen CleavesB.S.2000former professional basketball player
Deyonta Davisprofessional basketball player
Paul Davisformer professional basketball player
Draymond GreenB.A.2012professional basketball player with the Golden State Warriors
Johnny Greenformer professional basketball player
Gary Harrisprofessional basketball player with the Denver Nuggets
Mark HollisB.S.1985former team manager; current athletic director
Jaren Jackson Jr.professional basketball player with the Memphis Grizzlies
Earvin "Magic" Johnsonbusinessman and former Los Angeles Lakers basketball player
Greg Kelserbroadcaster and former professional basketball player
Erazem Lorbekformer professional basketball player
Kalin Lucasprofessional basketball player Forlì of the Serie A2
Matt Mazzaformer professional basketball player
Adreian PayneB.S.2014professional basketball player
Morris PetersonB.S.2000former professional basketball player
Zach Randolphformer professional basketball player
Shawn RespertB.A.1995former professional basketball player
Jason Richardsonformer professional basketball player
Scott SkilesB.S.1986former professional basketball player, former coach of the Chicago Bulls
Steve SmithB.S.1991former professional basketball player; philanthropist
Eric SnowB.S.1995former professional basketball player
Denzel Valentineprofessional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls
Sam VincentB.S.1981former professional basketball player
Kevin WillisB.S.1984former professional basketball player

Bodybuilding

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Colette NelsonB.S.IFBB professional bodybuilder

Football

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference-----
Flozell AdamsB.A.1998former offensive tackle, Dallas Cowboys-----
Herb AdderleyB.S.1961former cornerback, Green Bay Packers; elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980-----
Brian AllenB.A.2017center, Los Angeles Rams-----
Denicos AllenB.S.2014linebacker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers-----
Morten AndersenB.A.1982former placekicker, New Orleans Saints; all-time leading scorer in NFL history-----
Fred ArbanasB.A.1961former tight end, Kansas City Chiefs-----
Edwin BakerB.A.2013running back, New Orleans Saints-----
Tony BanksB.A.1996former quarterback, Houston Texans-----
Le'Veon BellNFL running back, Kansas City Chiefs-----
Larry BetheaB.A.1977former NFL defensive end, Dallas Cowboys-----
Ed BuddeB.S.1963former offensive lineman, Kansas City Chiefs-----
Max BulloughB.A.2014former NFL linebacker, Houston Texans-----
Derek Bunch1985former NFL linebacker, Washington Redskins-----
Plaxico BurressB.A.2000former wide receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers-----
Garrett CelekB.S.2011former NFL tight end, San Francisco 49ers-----
Connor CookB.A., M.A.2014, 2015quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals-----
Kirk CousinsB.A.2011quarterback, Minnesota Vikings-----
Demetrious Cox2016safety, Carolina Panthers-----
B.J. CunninghamB.S.2012wide receiver, Chicago Bears-----
Kellen DavisB.A.2007former NFL tight end, New York Jets-----
Joe DeLamielleureB.A.1973former guard, Buffalo Bills; elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003-----
Darqueze DennardB.A.2014cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals-----
Tony Discenzoformer tackle, Boston Patriots and Buffalo Bills-----
Kurtis DrummondB.A.2015safety, Houston Texans-----
T. J. DuckettB.A.2002former running back, Seattle Seahawks-----
Billy Joe DuPreeB.A.1972former NFL tight end, Dallas Cowboys-----
Paul EdingerB.S.2000former placekicker, Minnesota Vikings-----
Dixon EdwardsB.A.1990former NFL linebacker, Dallas Cowboys-----
Brandon FieldsB.A.2007former NFL punter, Miami Dolphins-----
Fou FonotiB.A.2014offensive tackle, San Francisco 49ers-----
Wayne FontesB.S.1961former coach, Detroit Lions-----
Bennie FowlerB.A.2014wide receiver, Denver Broncos-----
Dan FranceB.A.2014offensive tackle, Cincinnati Bengals-----
William Gholstondefensive end, Tampa Bay Buccaneers-----
Joel Heathdefensive tackle, Houston Texans-----
Tyler HooverB.A.2014defensive end, Indianapolis Colts-----
Brian HoyerB.A.2008quarterback, Houston Texans-----
Mark IngramB.S.1996former wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles-----
Taiwan JonesB.A.2015linebacker, New York Jets-----
Jeremy LangfordB.A.2015running back, Chicago Bears-----
Tony LippettB.A.2015wide receiver, Miami Dolphins-----
Keshawn MartinB.A.2011wide receiver, Houston Texans-----
Derrick MasonB.A.1997former wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens-----
Brandon McKinneyB.A.2006former defensive tackle, Indianapolis Colts-----
Jim MillerB.S.2002former quarterback, New York Giants-----
Earl MorrallB.A.1955former quarterback, Baltimore Colts-----
Muhsin MuhammadB.A.1996former wide receiver, Carolina Panthers-----
Keith MumpheryB.A.2015wide receiver, Houston Texans-----
Domata Pekodefensive tackle, Cincinnati Bengals-----
Julian PetersonB.A.2000former linebacker, Detroit Lions-----
Javon RingerB.S.2009former running back, Tennessee Titans-----
Andre RisonB.A.1989former wide receiver, Oakland Raiders-----
Trenton RobinsonB.A.2011defensive back, Washington Redskins-----
Charles RogersB.S.2003former wide receiver, Detroit Lions-----
Marcus RushB.A.2015linebacker, San Francisco 49ers-----
George SaimesB.S.1963former safety, Buffalo Bills-----
Dion SimsB.A.2013tight end, Miami Dolphins-----
Bubba SmithB.A.1966former defensive end, Baltimore Colts; actor, Police Academy-Jeff SmokerB.S.2007former quarterback, Arizona Rattlers
Drew StantonB.S.2007quarterback, Arizona Cardinals-----
Kevin VickersonB.A.2005defensive tackle, New York Jets-----
Kenneth Walker III2021running back, Seattle Seahawks-----
Trae Waynescornerback, Minnesota Vikings-----
George WebsterB.A.1966former linebacker, Houston Oilers-----
Tyrone WillinghamB.A.1977former wide receiver; head coach of Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington-----
Jerel WorthyB.A.2012defensive tackle, Kansas City Chiefs-----

Golf

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Emily Bastel GlaserB.S.2002head coach of Florida Gators women's golf team; former LPGA Tour pro golfer

Gymnastics

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Stanley TarshisNCAA champion gymnast, horizontal bar

Ice hockey

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Justin Abdelkaderwinger, Detroit Red Wings
Rod Brind'AmourB.S.1989right wing, Carolina Hurricanes
Anson CarterB.S.1996right wing, Carolina Hurricanes
Adam HallB.S.2002right wing, Philadelphia Flyers
Duncan Keithdefense, Chicago Blackhawks
John-Michael LilesB.S.2003defense, Toronto Maple Leafs
Donald McSweenB.S.1987defense, Buffalo Sabres
Drew Millerdid not graduateleft wing, Detroit Red Wings
Kelly MillerB.S.1985former left wing, Washington Capitals
Kip MillerB.S.1990former forward, Washington Capitals; 1990 Hobey Baker Award winner
Ryan MillerB.S.2002goaltender, Vancouver Canucks; 2001 Hobey Baker Award winner
Corey Troppforward, Columbus Blue Jackets

Running

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Michael Wardian1996marathoner

Soccer

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Jordan GruberAmerican-Israeli soccer player

Olympians

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Fred AldermanB.S.1927winner of gold medal in 4x400-meter relay at the 1928 Summer Olympics
Savatheda FynesB.S.winner of gold medal in 4x100-meter freestyle relay at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Linda GustavsonB.A.1972winner of gold, silver and bronze medals in 4x100-meter freestyle relay, and 400- and 100-meter freestyle events at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Pam KruseB.A., M.A., PhD1973, 1975, 1979winner of silver medal in 800-meter freestyle at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Allan KwartlerB.S.1948three-time Olympic saber champion
Howard PattersonB.A.1950competitor in 100-meter backstroke at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Clarke ScholesB.A.1952winner of gold medal in 100-meter freestyle at the 1952 Summer Olympics
Ken WalshB.A.1967winner of gold medals in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and 4x100-meter medley relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics

Mixed martial arts

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
Rashad EvansB.S.2003professional mixed martial artist; won The Ultimate Fighter 2, former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion
Gray Maynard2003three-time NCAA All-American wrestler; professional MMA fighter; former UFC Lightweight Champion

Wrestling

NameDegreeYearCommentsReference
George "The Animal" SteeleB.S.1960professional wrestler, school teacher, author, and actor

Faculty and administration

Notable faculty

Arts and humanities

NameTenureCommentsReference
Theophilus C. Abbot1858–1889professor of English literature, president, State Agricultural College
Wes "Warmdaddy" Andersonpresentassociate professor of Jazz Studies, Michigan State University
Michael Deasepresentassociate professor of Jazz Studies, Michigan State University
Henry R. Pattengill1886–1890assistant professor of English
H. Owen Reed1939–1976composer, conductor, music theorist
A. J. M. Smith1943–1972Canadian poet and anthologist
Diane Wakoskiretired 2011professor of Creative Writing, Michigan State University
Rodney Whitakerpresentdirector of Jazz Studies, Michigan State University

Science

NameTenureCommentsReference
Selman Akbulut1986–presentmathematician specializing in real algebraic geometry and 4-dimensional manifolds
James C. Anthony2003–presentpsychopathologist
Warren Babcock1891–1913professor of Mathematics; secretary of the faculty, 1898–1913; second mayor of East Lansing
William J. Beal1871–1910developed hybrid corn; co-planned "Collegeville", the first subdivision in what later became East Lansing, Michigan
Marc Breedlove2001–presentneuroscientist specializing in steroid hormones and sexual behavior
Dennis R. Heldman1966–1984food scientist; Institute of Food Technologists president
John C. Holmes1855–1861horticulturalist; founder of MSU
Richard Lenski1991–presentmicrobiologist; conductor of the E. coli long-term evolution experiment
Barry Pittendrigh2016–presentmolecular biologist
Robert Root-Bernstein1987–presentphysiologist, author, MacArthur Fellow
Barnett Rosenberg1961–1997discoverer of cisplatin
Anatoliy Skorokhod1993–2011probabilist
Horst Stöcker1982–1985theoretical physicist
Walter M. Urbain1965–1975food scientist

Social science

NameTenureCommentsReference
Walter Adams1947–1992economist, former president of Michigan State
Mohammed Ayoob1990–presentprofessor of international relations and Muslim studies
Kent John Chabotar1972–1975political scientist; president, Guilford College
Robert C. Craig1966–1989professor in the department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education
Erich Fromm1957–1961psychologist and philosopher

Current administration

Head coaches

NameTenureCommentsReference
J Batt2025–presentathletic director
Robyn Fralick2023–presentwomen's basketball
Tom Izzo1995–presentmen's basketball
Adam Nightingale2022–presentmen's ice hockey coach
Jonathan Smith2024–presentmen's football