# List of Western Illinois University people

The following is a list of notable people associated with Western Illinois University, located in the American city of Macomb, Illinois.

## Notable alumni
### Politicians and government officials
#### Federal government

* Darwin Gale Schisler, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Illinois's 19th congressional district from 1965 to 1967. He earned his B.A. at Western Illinois University
* Vincent R. Stewart, LtGen US Marine Corps and 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
* Tim Walberg, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Michigan's 7th congressional district since 2011. He attended Western Illinois University, but earned his B.A. at Taylor University
* Harlan Watson, Special Envoy to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

#### State legislators

* Tod Bowman, Democratic member of the Iowa Senate for District 29. He earned his M.Ed. at the university.
* Rich Brauer, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 87th district (2003–2015). He attended Western, but did not graduate
* Kathie Conway, Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives representing the 104th district since 2011. She graduated with a B.S. in Law Enforcement Administration
* Kirk Dillard, Republican member of the Illinois Senate (1994–2014) and gubernatorial candidate in 2010 and 2014.
* Randy Frese, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 94th district (2015–present). He earned B.S. in agriculture from Western
* Regis Groff, Democratic member of the Colorado Senate from the 33rd district (1974–1994). He was the second African-American elected to the Colorado Senate
* Norine Hammond, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2010–present). Her district, the 93rd, includes the university's Macomb campus
* Joe Hutter, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. He earned his B.A. from Western.
* Kimberly Lightford, Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois Senate. She has represented the 4th district since 1998. She earned a B.A. in communications at Western.
* Mona Martin, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives for the 43rd district (1993-2001). She earned her B.S. from Western
* Jerry L. Mitchell, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2012). He represented the 90th district and earned his Ed.S. at Western Illinois University
* John Millner, Republican member of the Illinois Senate representing the 28th district (2005–2013). Earned his master's degree in criminal justice administration at the university
* Richard P. Myers, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2010. He earned his B.S. at the university
* Cynthia Nava, Democratic member of the New Mexico Senate from 1992 to 2012
* Timothy H. Osmond, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 61st district (1999–2002)
* James O'Toole, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 1992 to 2002. He attended Western Illinois University, but graduated from University of Missouri at St. Louis
* Matthew Rinker, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from district 99 (2023–present). He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics.
* Todd Sieben Republican member of the Illinois Senate (1993–2008). He earned his B.S. in business administration at Western
* Mike Smiddy, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 71st district (2013–present). He attended Western Illinois University
* Litesa Wallace, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 67th district (2014–present). She earned her B.A. and M.Ed. from Western
* Frank B. Wood, Democratic member of the Iowa Senate from the 42nd district.

#### Local officeholders

* Matthew Shirk, Public Defender of Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit Court (2008–16). He earned his B.S. at the university in 1997

#### Activists

* Mary Matalin, Republican political strategist who worked on the campaigns of Dave O'Neal, George H. W. Bush and served as chief of staff to Lee Atwater
* Erin Merryn, activist behind Erin’s Law, a law requiring kids be taught personal body safety education, which has been passed in 37 states
* Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. She is a human rights advocate who has worked for the Anti-Defamation League. She earned her M.S. at Western
* C. T. Vivian, leader in the Civil Rights Movement who participated in the Freedom Rides

#### International figures

* Ahmet Kenan Tanrıkulu – Turkish politician
* Camilo Osías Filipino politician

### Business

* Robert Nardelli – former chairman and chief executive officer of Chrysler, former president and CEO of Home Depot
* Jeremy Schoemaker – internet entrepreneur

### Media and arts

* Michael Boatman – actor and author
* Cisco Cotto - radio host, pastor, and professor
* Mark Konkol – 2011 Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist (Chicago Sun-Times)
* John Mahoney – actor, Frasier, taught at Western
* Doug Quick - broadcast weatherman, author and museum curator
* Warhol.SS — rapper, dropped out after one week

### Education

* David L. Chicoine, 19th president of South Dakota State University (2007–present). He earned his M.A. at Western Illinois University
* Bob Krause, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Kansas State University (1986–2009). He served as acting Athletic Director from 2008 to 2009
* Michael Shonrock, 22nd president of Lindenwood University
* Paul Vallas, education administrator who has served as the chief executive for Chicago Public Schools (1995–2001), School District of Philadelphia (2002–2006) and the Recovery School District of Louisiana (2007–2012)
* Syed Abul Kalam Azad, treasurer of University of Dhaka

### Athletes and coaches

* Jaelon Acklin - Canadian Football League
* Don Beebe – National Football League
* David Bowens – National Football League
* Fabien Bownes – National Football League
* Lee Calhoun – Olympic gold medal winner
* Bryan Cox – National Football League
* Joe Dykstra - National Basketball Association
* Booker Edgerson – National Football League
* Larry Garron – National Football League
* Don Greco – National Football League
* Rodney Harrison – National Football League
* Edgerton Hartwell – National Football League
* Frisman Jackson – National Football League
* William James – National Football League
* Kosuke Kimura – soccer midfielder for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer
* Gary Lagesse – Hall of Fame Softball Coach
* Gene Lamont – Major League Baseball
* Rob Lazeo – Canadian Football League
* Lamar McGriggs – National Football League
* Russ Michna – Arena Football League
* Red Miller – former head coach of the NFL Denver Broncos and USFL Denver Gold
* Dennis Morgan – National Football League
* J. R. Niklos – National Football League
* Terell Parks (born 1991) - basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Paul Reuschel – Major League Baseball
* Rick Reuschel – Major League Baseball
* Jimmy Ray Robinson - National Football League
* Khalen Saunders – Super Bowl champion (LIV) - National Football League
* Mike Scifres – National Football League
* Rich Seubert – National Football League
* Paul Singer - National Football League
* Rick Short – Major League Baseball
* Tom Soehn – director of soccer operations for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
* Aaron Stecker – National Football League
* John Teerlinck – National Football League
* Marco Thomas – Canadian Football League
* Mike Wagner – National Football League
* Jason Williams – National Football League
* Frank Winters – National Football league