# List of Southern Illinois University alumni

Southern Illinois University Carbondale has had a number of notable alumni since it was first founded in 1869.

## Academics

* Robert Coover, T.B. Stowell Adjunct Professor of Literary Arts at Brown University
* Algeania Freeman, academic administrator
* Clara E. Hill, professor of psychology at University of Maryland College Park
* Gertrude Hull - history teacher for 40 years; tutor to Douglas MacArthur
* Louise Huffman - teacher and educator on US Antarctic programs
* John L. Koprowski, Dean of the Haub School of Environment 7 Natural Resources University of Wyoming, conservation biologist, Aldo Leopold Memorial Award from The Wildlife Society (M.A. Zoology 1985)
* Sir Curtis Price, KBE, current head of New College, Oxford, former President of the Royal Academy of Music and former president of the Royal Musical Association
* L. Eudora Pettigrew, former president of SUNY Old Westbury, first African-American president in the SUNY system
* Wilfred Reilly - Kentucky State University professor, author of "Hate Crime Hoax," and opponent of the alt-right movement

## Artists

* Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, artist
* Shinichi Ishizuka, manga artist
* Mary Manning, photographer

## Business people

* Curt Jones, founder of Dippin' Dots
* Kenny Troutt, founder of telecommunications company Excel Communications

## Crime

* Timothy Krajcir, serial killer

## Entertainers

* James Belushi, actor/comedian
* Hannibal Buress, stand-up comedian, actor, writer and producer
* Don S. Davis, actor best known for role on Stargate SG-1
* Bil Dwyer, actor, comedian
* Dennis Franz, actor best known for his work on NYPD Blue
* Dick Gregory (attended), actor, author, comedian, activist
* Justin Hartley, actor, best known for role on This is Us
* Steve James, documentary director and producer of Sundance award-winning Hoop Dreams and Stevie
* Jenny McCarthy (attended), actress and Playmate of the Year, was studying nursing at SIU when she submitted her photo to Playboy
* Melissa McCarthy, actress, famous for her role in Gilmore Girls and the motion picture Spy
* Gary Miller, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
* Tom Minton, animation producer, writer, artist
* Bob Odenkirk, actor/writer/comedian
* Tim O'Malley, actor/comedian, Godshow, Second City alum
* Randal Mario Poffo, also known as professional wrestler Macho Man Randy Savage; graduated 1971
* Rick Rizzs, broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners
* Richard Roundtree, actor, Shaft
* Ken Swofford, film and television actor, best known for Thelma and Louise (1991 film), Murder She Wrote (1984 drama series)
* Robert K. Weiss, producer of The Blues Brothers
* Walt Willey, actor best known for All My Children

## Musicians

* Hamiet Bluiett, jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer
* Shawn Colvin, musician, singer
* Lee England Jr., violinist, vocalist, arranger, and composer
* Open Mike Eagle, rapper
* Darryl Jones, bassist of The Rolling Stones
* David Lee Murphy, musician, singer
* Jason Ringenberg, musician, singer
* Mathien, singer, producer

## Politicians and government officials
### Federal government

* Roland Burris, former U.S. Senator from Illinois (2009–2010); previously served as Illinois Comptroller and Illinois Attorney General
* Jack Davis, U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 4th Congressional District who served from 1987 to 1989
* William Enyart, U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 12th Congressional District; served from 2013 to 2013; law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law
* Julio M. Fuentes, circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
* Tim Lee Hall, U.S. Congressman; represented Illinois's 15th Congressional District from 1975 to 1977
* Donald McHenry, United States ambassador to the United Nations (from 1979 to 1981)
* Brett James McMullen, Retired Brigadier General, United States Air Force Brett James McMullen
* David D. Phelps, U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 19th congressional district who served from 1999 to 2003
* Glenn Poshard, former U.S. Congressman, gubernatorial candidate, president of SIU
* Larry O. Spencer, Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force Larry O. Spencer

### Statewide officeholders

* Randy Daniels, former New York Secretary of State
* Albert E. Mead, former Governor of Washington

### State legislators

* Carl Bearden, member of the Missouri House of Representatives
* Kenneth Buzbee, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate representing the 58th district (1972–1984)
* John Cavaletto, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 107th district (2009–present)
* Jerry Costello II, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 116th district (2011–present)
* William Davis, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 30th district (2002–present)
* Chad Hays, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 104th district (2010–present)
* Jeanette Mott Oxford, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives
* Mary Nichols, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives representing the 72nd district (2010–present)
* Lena Taylor, Democratic member of the Wisconsin Senate for the 4th district (since 2005)
* Art Turner, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2010–present)
* Kathleen Vinehout, Democratic member of the Wisconsin Senate representing the 31st district (since 2007)
* Grant Wehrli, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 41st district (2015–present)
* Whitney Westerfield, politician

### Local officeholders

* Howard Brookins, Chicago Alderman for the 21st ward
* Forrest Claypool, member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners for District 12 (2002–2006), CEO of Chicago Public Schools
* David Coss, Mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico (2006–2014)
* Jason Ervin, Chicago Alderman for the 28th ward

### International figures

* Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq, Pakistani politician and son of former President General Zia-ul-Haq
* Joe Hung (Master's degree in journalism, 1965), Taiwanese journalist (Central News Agency) and diplomat, Representative of Taiwan to Italy (1993–2000)

## Sports figures
### Baseball

* Sam Coonrod, MLB pitcher
* Jim Dwyer, former Major League Baseball outfielder
* Steve Finley, former Major League Baseball center fielder, 5-time Gold Glove winner, 2-time All-Star
* Jason Frasor, Major League Baseball pitcher
* Joe Hall, former Major League Baseball pitcher
* Jerry Hairston Jr., Major League Baseball second baseman
* Dan Hartleb, college baseball coach at Illinois
* Duane Kuiper, former Major League Baseball second baseman, announcer, commentator for EA Sports baseball video games
* Al Levine, Major League Baseball pitcher
* Skip Pitlock, former Major League pitcher
* Derek Shelton, Major League Baseball manager, Pittsburgh Pirates
* Bill Stein, former Major League Baseball infielder
* Dave Stieb, former Major League Baseball pitcher, 7-time All Star
* Taira Uematsu (born 1983), Japanese coach for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball

### Basketball

* Ashraf Amaya, former NBA player
* Chris Carr, former NBA player
* Walt Frazier, Basketball Hall of Famer and named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History
* Mike Glenn, former NBA player
* Bryan Mullins, current Men's Basketball Head Coach
* Nate Hawthorne, former NBA player Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns
* Troy Hudson, NBA guard
* Joe Meriweather, NBA center
* Matt Shaw, former European Professional League

### Football

* Lionel Antoine, former NFL offensive tackle
* Houston Antwine, former NFL defensive lineman
* Tom Baugh, former NFL player
* Amos Bullocks, former NFL running back
* Jeremy Chinn, current NFL safety for the Carolina Panthers
* Madre Harper, current NFL cornerback for the Carolina Panthers
* Jim Hart, former NFL quarterback, 4-time Pro Bowl selection
* Kevin House, former NFL player
* Brandon Jacobs, NFL running back
* Craig James, current NFL cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles
* Yonel Jourdain, NFL running back for the Buffalo Bills
* Deji Karim, NFL running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars
* Carl Mauck, former NFL player and NFL coach
* Ryan Neal, current NFL safety for the Seattle Seahawks
* MyCole Pruitt, NFL tight end
* Marion Rushing, former NFL linebacker
* Bart Scott, NFL linebacker
* Sam Silas, former NFL lineman
* Russ Smith, former NFL guard
* Sebron Spivey, former NFL wide receiver
* Terry Taylor, former NFL cornerback
* Ernie Wheelwright, former NFL running back
* Adrian White, former NFL safety
* Jan Quarless, former football player and head coach at the SIU Carbondale

### Other

* Ron Ballatore, NCAA championship swimming coach, five-time Olympic swimming coach
* Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls, IFBB professional bodybuilder
* Roger Counsil, NCAA championship gymnastics coach
* Mick Haley, USA Olympic volleyball coach
* Frank Schmitz, four time individual NCAA gymnastics champion and silver medalist at the 1965 Trampoline World Championships
* Cameron Wright, retired high jumper; competed at the 1996 Olympic Games; Southern Illinois University Hall of Fame 2011

## Writers and journalists

* Jim Bittermann, CNN European correspondent based in Paris
* Chris Bury, ABC news anchor
* Bill Christine, sports writer and author
* Joan Lovett (Lovelace), CBS four-time Emmy award winner
* Adrian Matejka, poet, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award in poetry
* Michael Meyerhofer, poet and fantasy author
* P.S. Mueller, cartoonist for The New Yorker
* Jason Pargin, fantasy author
* Jared Yates Sexton, author, political commentator, and creative writing professor
* Chad Simpson, Micro Award-winning short and flash fiction author
* Jackie Spinner, writer at the Washington Post and author of Tell Them I Didn't Cry: A Young Journalist's Story of Joy, Loss, and Survival in Iraq

## Others

* Matthew F. Hale (Law School, 1998), white supremacist who solicited the murder of federal judge Joan Lefkow
* Joan E. Higginbotham, astronaut
* Rodney P. Kelly, retired Major General, U.S. Air Force
* Thomas McClelland, retired Captain, U.S. Navy
* Johnny R. Miller, Assistant Adjutant General of the Illinois Army National Guard
* Joseph Nechvatal, digital artist and art theoretician
* Dennis E. Spies, Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Diocese of Joliet
* Michael Swango, physician and serial murderer
* Mallica Vajrathon, United Nations senior staff member