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 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, former 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 Roberta Griffith, artist
Business people Kenny Troutt, founder of telecommunications company Excel Communications
Crime Timothy Krajcir, serial killer
Entertainers Jim 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 Drake Anthony, YouTuber, best known for videos on chemistry and high voltage. 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 alumhttps://aol.imdb.com/name/nm0641795/resum 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 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
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 Marty Joe Murray, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives representing the 78th District (2024–present)
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
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 authorGauen, Pat (May 3, 2018). "Author seeks to link three Belleville murders". St. Louis Post-Gazette. p. A6. Retrieved November 10, 2022. 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 Michael J. Schwerin, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy Dennis E. Spies, Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Diocese of Joliet Michael Swango, physician and serial murderer Mallica Vajrathon, United Nations senior staff member
References
External links