This is a list of notable alumni and faculty of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Academia, science and technology Benjamin Chavis, civil rights activist, head of NAACP Greg Gbur, author and physicist Glenda Gilmore, Peter and C. Vann Woodward Professor of History, Yale University Lily "Appalachian" Gross, a member of the inaugural United States Women's Cyber Team Mohammad Ab Rahman, Chief of Defence, Malaysian Armed Forces (Computer Science 1982–1985) Jill S. Tietjen, electrical engineer and consultant Shane Wighton, engineer and YouTube personality for Stuff Made Here
Architecture Bryan Cantley, visionary architect, academic (1987) Toby Witte, architect (2004)
Arts and literature Jeffery Beam, poet (1975) Amanda Oleander, fine artist (2013) Caridad Svich, playwright
Music Clay Aiken, singer, Broadway star, and 1st runner-up of the second season of American Idol Nicole Atkins, pop singer (2001) Seth Avett, musician, of The Avett Brothers (2002) Chris Lane, musician, of the Chris Lane Band The Moody Brothers, Grammy-nominated musicians Dave Moody, Dove Award-winning artist, producer, songwriter and indie filmmaker
Athletics
Eddie Basden, Chicago Bulls guard/forward (2005) Duggar Baucom, Citadel Bulldogs head basketball coach (1995) Calvin Brock, heavyweight boxer (1999) Jon Busch, Columbus Crew goalkeeper (1996) Cameron Clark, NFL player for the New York Jets Fieldin Culbreth, former Major League Baseball umpire Bayley Currey, NASCAR driver and engineer (2021) Jon Davis, professional basketball player for Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League Nate Davis, NFL player for the Tennessee Titans Floyd Franks, Chicago Fire midfielder (2006) Leemire Goldwire, professional basketball player (May 2008) Bryan Harvey, California Angels and Florida Marlins pitcher Alex Highsmith, NFL player for the Pittsburgh Steelers DeMarco Johnson, professional basketball player (1997) Bobby Lutz, Charlotte 49ers head basketball coach (1980) John Maine, New York Mets pitcher Cedric Maxwell, NBA great with the Boston Celtics and commentator (1983) (attended 1973–1977) Kelly Earnhardt Miller, NASCAR owner Benny Moss, UNC Wilmington head basketball coach (1992) Larry Ogunjobi, NFL player for the Cleveland Browns Joe Posnanski, national columnist at NBC Sports, New York Times best-selling author Layne Riggs, NASCAR driver Jordan Rinaldi, UFC fighterJanes, Théoden. (January 19, 2018). [https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article195597289.html His life was a mess. Then his talent for beating people up changed everything.
Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article195597289.html#storylink=cpy]. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved November 22, 2025. Donnie Smith, professional soccer player (2013–2018) Myatt Snider, NASCAR driver Melvin Watkins, head basketball coach at Charlotte and Texas A&M (1977) Rodney White, professional basketball player (2001)
Business and law R. Andrew Murray, US Attorney for the Western District of North CarolinaR. Andrew Murray: Following his active duty service, Mr. Murray attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he earned a degree in Political Science in 1989. Robert A. Niblock, Lowe's Chairman, President, and CEO (1984) Anne Tompkins, former US Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina
Politics and public life W. Ted Alexander, member of the North Carolina Senate Mike Davis, member of the California State Assembly (2006-2012) Dan Forest (1993), 34th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina Richard Hudson (1996), U.S. Representative from North Carolina Cassanni Laville, Dominican politician, MP and cabinet minister Lillian M. Lowery, Superintendent of the Maryland State Department of Education Vickie Sawyer, member of the North Carolina Senate Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee Dean Arp, member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senior Chairman of the House Appropriations CommitteeL. Dean Arp Jr.. William States Lee College of Engineering. Retrieved April 13, 2025. Addison McDowell, U.S. representative from North Carolina's 6th congressional district (2025–present)
Miscellaneous
Kimberly Clarice Aiken, Miss America 1994 (attended; did not graduate) Heather Childers, Fox News weekend anchor Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA 2005 (attended; did not graduate) Peter Jugis, 4th Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte Joe Posnanski, 2011 NSSA Sportswriter of the Year Aimy Steele, Founder and CEO of the New North Carolina Project
Notable UNC Charlotte faculty Social science, arts and humanities Blaine E. Brownell, Director of the School of Architecture and author of the Transmaterial book series (2006-2017) Blair Rudes, professor of linguistics; re-created the extinct language of Virginian Algonquian for Terrence Malick's 2005 film The New World James D. Tabor, Religious Studies Chair, designated occult expert in the case of Waco, Texas; author of the international bestseller The Jesus Dynasty
Science and technology Kathy Reichs, bestselling author; inspiration of the Fox television drama Bones Raphael Tsu, physicist known for his research in man-made quantum materials, superlattices, and quantum wells
References
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