This list of University of Miami alumni includes academics, business executives, scientists, heads of state and governmental agencies, political and nonprofit leaders, television and film personalities, musicians, professional athletes, artists, authors, writers, and others.
Founded in 1925, the University of Miami is located in Coral Gables, Florida, south of Downtown Miami in the Miami metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in Florida, eighth-largest metropolitan area in the nation, and 70th-largest metropolitan area in the world. The university is a private research university that offers 154 undergraduate, 150 master's, and 70 doctoral degree programs across 10 schools and colleges and over 350 majors and programs.
The University of Miami is a major research university with $520 million in annual research and sponsored program expenditures, making it the 61st-largest university for research in the nation."Rankings by total R&D expenditures", National Science Foundation, 2025 Its undergraduate academic admissions standards are the highest of any university or college in the state of Florida, and the university is Carnegie-classified as "Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity." University of Miami faculty include globally-recognized leaders in most academic disciplines, including four Nobel Prize winners to date.
With over 21,000 faculty and staff, the University of Miami is the second-largest employer in Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and seventh-most populous county in the nation. The University of Miami has been regularly ranked one of the top universities in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report, which ranks it the 64th-best national university as of 2026. The University of Miami campus spans and has over of buildings. It has an endowment of $1.71 billion as of 2025.
The university's athletic teams are collectively known as the Miami Hurricanes and compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Its football team has won five national championships since 1983 and its baseball team has won four national championships since 1982."Institutional Research and Strategic Analytics," University of Miami website, retrieved May 28, 2022
Academia
Alumnus Notability ReferenceEric J. Barronformer president, Penn State University and Florida State University, and former National Center for Atmospheric Research Irma Becerra-Fernandez seventh president, Marymount University, and former provost, St. Thomas UniversityRobert A. Bryan former interim president, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, and University of South Florida, and English literature scholar Betty Castor former president, University of South Florida, former president, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and former Education Commissioner of FloridaJames W. Crawford III president, Texas Southern University, and former president, Felician UniversityWarren Dean former historianJoanna Falco-Leshin professor of English and humanities, Miami Dade CollegeDamián J. Fernández 10th president, Warren Wilson College, and former 5th president, Eckerd CollegeMónica Ponce de León dean, Princeton University School of ArchitectureWalter Lynn professor, founder, and director of Cornell University Center for Environmental Quality Management LaVerne E. Ragster former president, University of the Virgin IslandsBertha Vazquez education director, Center for Inquiry
Art and literature
Alumnus Notability ReferenceAlgis Budrysformer science fiction writer Xavier Cortadaeco-artist Martin J. DainAmerican photographer and photojournalist Patrick Farrellphotojournalist, the Miami Herald, and winner of 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography Alex Flinnauthor and writer Jody HouserEisner-nominated comics writer Donald Justiceformer writing professor, poet, and winner of 1980 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry Fiona Kelleghanscience fiction critic Rhoda Lermanformer author and playwrightToby Lerner Ansinfounder of Miami City Ballet, co-founder of Sunbeam TelevisionMark Medoffformer author, playwright, and Tony Award winner Arnold Newmanformer photographer and 2006 International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum inductee (did not graduate) Joel Resnicoffformer artist and fashion illustrator (did not graduate)Adam Sandow publisher, Metropolis and Worth magazines Publisher builds multimillion-dollar creative empire in Boca Raton Marcia Heroux Pounds. Sun-Sentinel. May 15, 2015.Bobuq SayedAfghan-Australian writer and poetJames Twittyabstract painterMarion WieselHolocaust survivor, former writer, and wife of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Elie Wiesel
Business
Alumnus Notability ReferenceRony Abovitzfounder, MAKO Surgical Corp. Will Allenurban farmer and MacArthur Foundation's "Genius Award" recipient Ralph Alvarezboard member, Dunkin' Donuts, and former president and chief operating officer, McDonald's Micky Arisonbillionaire, chairman, and former chief executive officer, Carnival Corporation, and owner of the Miami Heat (did not graduate) Iqbal Arshadformer executive, Google, Lenovo and senior vice president of engineering-global product development at MotorolaMaria Azuaexecutive for Fidelity Investments and former Vice President of Advanced Cloud Solutions and Innovation for IBMRon Berkowitzchief executive officer and president, Berk Communications Bakr bin Ladenformer chairman, Saudi Binladin Group, half-brother of Al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden Benjamin Breierboard member, Federation of American Hospitals and former chief executive officer and president, Kindred Healthcare Lyor Cohenglobal head of music, Google and YouTube Wendy Craiggformer governor, Central Bank of The BahamasJohn W. Creighton Jr.former president and chief executive officer, Weyerhaeuser Company and UAL Corporation Tomi Davies founding president of the African Business Angel Network and chief executive officer of TVCLabs Ghassan Elashi founder of Holy Land Foundation and former vice president of InfoCom CorporationJuan Carlos Escotet billionaire banker, founder of Banesco and Abanca banks; president of Spanish fútbol club Deportivo de La CoruñaJosé Ferrébusinessman, industrialist; known for financing the construction of the New World Tower in Central Business District, MiamiDany Garciaformer chairwoman, XFL professional football league, film producer, and ex-wife and manager of Dwayne Johnson "Dany Garcia, chairwoman and owner," at XFLJames J. Grecochief executive officer, Tijuana FlatsMaurice R. Greenbergbillionaire, former chief executive officer of American International Group Jason Haikaramarketing executive, Fox Broadcasting Company David Komanskyformer chief executive officer, Merrill Lynch (did not graduate) Rohan Marleyco-founder, Marley Coffee, and son of late reggae musician Bob Marley Jorge Maschairman and chief executive officer, MasTec, chairman of Cuban American National Foundation, and managing owner, Inter Miami CFTom McAlpinchairman of Virgin Voyages and former president of Disney Vacation CruisesJustin Moonowner of Kahr Arms and co-founder of Rod of Iron MinistriesMatthew Rubelformer president of Collective Brands, Inc.Ronnie Schneiderformer tour manager of the Rolling Stones (1965–1969), former comptroller executive for Virgin Megastores and founder of Association of Concert BandsDavid A. Siegelfounder of Westgate Resorts and former owner of the Orlando PredatorsOmar Solimanco-founder, College Hunks Hauling Junk, reality television personality, Millionaire Matchmaker, Shark Tank, and The Pitch Johnny C. Taylor Jr.president and chief executive officer, Society for Human Resource Management Noah Tepperbergco-chief executive officer, Tao Group Hospitality Geisha Williamsformer chief executive officer, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Martin Zweigformer investment advisor and author, Winning on Wall Street
Film, television, and theater
Alumnus Notability ReferencePaul Adefarasin televangelistSomy Ali actress, writer, model, and filmmaker Majel Barrettformer actress who played Nurse Christine Chapel, Number One, computer's voice on Star Trek, Lwaxana Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Alan Campbellactor who played Derek Mitchell on Jake and the Fatman and E.Z. Taylor on Three's a CrowdBob Clarkformer director, A Christmas Story and Porky's Lewis ClealeBroadway theatre actor and singer, Sunset Boulevard and Spamalot Jeff Coopwoodmovie and television actor, voice of The Borg in Star Trek: First Contact Michael Dunnformer actor, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nominee for Ship of FoolsAlix Earlesocial media personality and actressGail Edwardsformer actress, It's a Living, Full House, and Blossom Fahadh Faasilactor and producer Alex Ferrersyndicated television judge, Judge Alex Jeff Garlincomedic actor who played Jeff Greene on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and Murray Goldberg on ABC's The Goldbergs (did not graduate) Galen Geringactor who plays Rafe Hernandez on Days of Our Lives and Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald on Passions Robert Greenhutfilm producerCharles Grodinformer actor and former television talk show host (did not graduate) Joshua Henryactor and singer, The Scottsboro Boys, Hamilton, Carousel, and Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration David Isaacsformer producer, Paramount Pictures, and writer, Cheers and Frasier Jay W. Jensenformer actor, philanthropist, and high school drama teacher to actors Andy García and Mickey Rourke Dwayne "The Rock" Johnsonactor and WWE professional wrestler Nancy Kulpactress who played Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies Max Landisdirector, producer, and screenwriter, known for Chronicle, Bright, and Channel Zero Savanah Leaffilm director and video artist; BAFTA-award-winning film Earth Mama; music video for Gary Clark Jr.'s single "This Land" (Grammy Award nominee for Best Music Video)Dawnn Lewisactress who played Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor on A Different World Ray Liottaformer actor, "Henry Hill" in Goodfellas and Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams Kiel Martinactor who played J. D. LaRue on Hill Street BluesJoseph Mascoloactor who plays Stefano DiMera on Days of Our Lives Marilyn Milianjudge, The People's Court Finesse Mitchellcomedian and former repertory performer, Saturday Night Live Alan Mruvkafilm/television producer and screenwriter; co-founded E! Entertainment; Pacific BlueJosh Rhett Noblefilm and voice actorDavid Nutterdirector, Game of Thrones, and Emmy Award winner Frank Perryformer director, Mommie Dearest Jo Ann Pflugactress, MASH, The Fall Guy, and Operation Petticoat Gene Roddenberryproducer, writer, and creator of Star Trek: The Original Series (did not graduate) Ernie Sabellaactor, Chicago, Hill Street Blues, Curtains, and The Lion King Saundra Santiagoactress who played Det. Gina Navarro Calabrese on Miami Vice Tessie Santiagoactress who played Tessa Alvarado on Queen of Swords Cristina SaraleguiSpanish language television personality Alberto Sardiñastelevision hostGianmarco Soresistand-up comedian, podcast host, political activist Sylvester Stalloneactor, Rocky Balboa in Rocky (degree granted in 1998) Patti Stangerreality television producer and personality, The Millionaire Matchmaker Steve-Ocomedic actor, Jackass (did not graduate)
Government and politics