The following is a list of notable alumni of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).
Activists
Abelhaleem Hasan Abdelraziq Ashqar, Palestinian political scientist, activist Angela McGlowan (born 1970), Republican political commentator, author, and consultant James Meredith, first African American student at Ole Miss; leader in the American civil rights movement
Actors and models
Susan Akin-Lynch, Miss America 1986 Tate Ellington, actor Cynthia Geary, actress Anthony Herrera (1944–2011), actor Kate Jackson, actress Tom Lester, actor Heather McMahan, actress and comedian Gerald McRaney, actor Mary Ann Mobley (1937–2014), Miss America 1959; actress Lynda Mead Shea, Miss America 1960 Tate Taylor, director of The Help Larry A. Thompson, film producer and talent manager
Artists William Eggleston, photographer Ron Gorchov (1930–2020), artist William R. Hollingsworth Jr. (1910–1944), painter Lawrence Arthur Jones (1910–1996), muralist and printmaker Glennray Tutor, photorealist painter
Athletics
Tyji Armstrong, NFL tight end Kent Austin, CFL quarterback and head coach Shakira Austin (born 2000), basketball center for the Israeli Elitzur Ramla Coolidge Ball, college basketball coach Doby Bartling (1913–1992), college football, basketball and baseball coach Reginald Becton, professional basketball player Gwen Berry, hammer thrower Mahesh Bhupathi, professional tennis player George Blair, AFL defensive back Pete Boone, college athletic director Billy Brewer, college football coach Johnny Brewer (1937–2011), NFL tight end, linebacker Alundis Brice, NFL cornerback A. J. Brown, NFL wide receiver Jeff Calhoun, major league pitcher Mickey Callaway, major league pitcher; manager Van Chancellor, women's basketball coach Chris Coghlan, major league outfielder Charlie Conerly, NFL quarterback James "Bus" Cook, NFL sports agent Bill Courtney, high school football coach, subject of documentary film Undefeated Zack Cozart, baseball shortstop and third baseman for the San Francisco Giants Bobby Crespino, NFL tight end Doug Cunningham (1945–2015), NFL running back Roland Dale, NFL end Terence Davis, NBA basketball player Eagle Day, NFL punter, CFL quarterback Tony Dees, field and track, Olympic medalist David Dellucci, major league outfielder Jim Dunaway, NFL defensive tackle Perry Lee Dunn, NFL running back Patrick Eddie, NBA basketball player Tim Elko, MLB first baseman Doug Elmore (1939–2002), NFL punter Evan Engram, NFL tight end Jeff Fassero, major league pitcher Charlie Flowers, AFL football player John Fourcade, NFL quarterback Bobby Franklin, NFL safety, college football coach Rufus French, NFL tight end Jake Gibbs, major league catcher, college baseball coach Kline Gilbert (1930–1987), NFL offensive tackle Jennifer Gillom, Olympic medalist, professional basketball player Larry Grantham, NFL, AFL linebacker Parker Hall (1916–2005), NFL quarterback Greg Hardy, NFL defensive end Gene Hickerson (1935–2008), NFL offensive guard Antwon Hicks, Olympic hurdler Stan Hindman (1944–2020), NFL defensive lineman Gunnar Hoglund, MLB pitcher Candice Holley (born 1981), basketball player Von Hutchins, NFL defensive back Peria Jerry, NFL defensive end Chad Kelly, professional football player Sam Kendricks, pole vaulter, Olympic medalist Don Kessinger, MLB shortstop, All-Star, and Gold Glove Award winner, and Ole Miss head baseball coach Grae Kessinger, MLB shortstop Keith Kessinger, MLB shortstop and head baseball coach for Arkansas State Red Wolves Bobby Kielty, major league outfielder Frank Kinard (1914–1985), NFL offensive tackle Dawson Knox, NFL tight end Greg Little, NFL offensive tackle Ken Lucas, NFL cornerback Archie Manning, NFL quarterback, father of NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning Eli Manning (class of 2003), NFL quarterback Deuce McAllister, NFL running back Dexter McCluster, NFL wide receiver DK Metcalf, NFL wide receiver Cary Middlecoff (1921–1998), professional golfer Donte Moncrief, NFL wide receiver Doug Nikhazy, MLB pitcher Michael Oher, NFL offensive tackle Ashlee Palmer, NFL linebacker Jermey Parnell, NFL offensive tackle Pat "Gravy" Patterson, college baseball coach Jimmy Patton (1933–1973), NFL defensive back Drew Pomeranz, major league pitcher Barney Poole (1923–2005), NFL end James E. "Buster" Poole (1915–1994), NFL wide receiver Ray Poole (1921–2008), NFL end Armintie Price, pro basketball player Kelvin Pritchett, NFL defensive tackle Brittney Reese, long jumper, Olympic gold medalist Ricky Robertson, Olympic high jumper Ryan Rolison, MLB pitcher Carol Ross, NCAA and WNBA women's basketball coach Jamarca Sanford, NFL safety Seth Smith, MLB outfielder Chris Snopek, major league infielder Rafaelle Souza, Brazilian soccer player Savanté Stringfellow, world champion and Olympic long jumper Marvin Terrell, AFL guard Matt Tolbert, major league infielder Sean Tuohy, sports commentator, restaurateur Guy Turnbow (1908–1975), NFL tackle Todd Wade, NFL offensive tackle Gee Walker (1908–1981), major league outfielder Mike Wallace, NFL wide receiver Wesley Walls, All-Pro NFL tight-end Chris Warren, pro basketball player Terrence Watson (born 1987), American-Israeli basketball player in the Israeli Premier League Skeeter Webb (1909–1986), major league infielder Michael White, college basketball coach Romello White (born 1998), basketball player for Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League Patrick Willis, NFL linebacker Isiah Young (born 1990), Olympic sprinter
Authors
Howard Bahr, novelist Larry Brown (1951–2004), author Hubert Creekmore (1907–1966), author Ellen Douglas (pen name of Josephine Haxton, 1921–2012), novelist Winifred Hamrick Farrar (1923–2010), Mississippi poet laureate John Faulkner (1901–1963), plain-style writer, brother of William Faulkner William Faulkner (1897–1962), author, Nobel laureate John Grisham, author, attorney, state representative Carolyn Haines, author Greg Iles, novelist, screenwriter Florence King, humorist and political columnist (attended graduate school but did not complete the program) Prakash Kona, essayist, poet Florence Mars (1923–2006), author Jonathan Miles, journalist, novelist Melany Neilson, author Stel Pavlou, British author, screenwriter (studied as an exchange student) Genevieve Pou (1919–2007), author Patrick D. Smith, author Robert Bruce Smith, IV, Mississippi historian Donna Tartt, author, attended but transferred before graduation Paige Williams, author and staff writer for The New Yorker Stark Young, playwright, novelist, and drama critic
Business figures James L. Barksdale (born 1943), businessman Dixie Carter (born 1964), businesswoman Barry Dixon (born 1959), interior designer Ernest Duff (1931–2016), businessman, lawyer and bishop Thomas F. Frist Sr. (1910–1998), businessman and physician Bill Jordan, businessman and host William Bonner McCarty, businessman Leigh Anne Tuohy (born 1960), businesswoman and interior designer
Educators and academic administrators David Beckley (M.A.1975, Ph.D. 1986), president of Rust College and Wiley College Glenn Boyce, chancellor of Ole Miss John L. Crain, president of Southeastern Louisiana University Mike Edmonds, acting president of Colorado College 2020–2021, first Black president of Colorado College Henry Minor Faser (1882–1960), dean, School of Pharmacy Charles Betts Galloway (1849–1909), Methodist bishop James Bruton Gambrell (1841–1921), president of Mercer University Thomas Hines, professor emeritus of History, University of California, Los Angeles Daniel Jones, physician, UM chancellor Robert Khayat, UM chancellor Rory Lee, clergyman, college president E. Wilson Lyon, president of Pomona College Edward Mayes (1846–1917), UM chancellor William David McCain (1907–1993), segregationist spokesman, president of University of Southern Mississippi Thomas K. McCraw (1940–2012), business historian Milburn Price, hymnologist, music educator Frederick G. Slabach, president of Texas Wesleyan University Ella King Torrey (1957–2003), scholar, academic administrator; president of San Francisco Art Institute
Journalists and media figures Sharyn Alfonsi, 60 Minutes, reporter Chris Berry, iHeartMedia Russ Dallen, publisher of Latin American Herald Tribune, journalist, author Ben Ferguson, radio host and commentator John Fortenberry, film and television director Ron Franklin, ESPN sportscaster Angela McGlowan, political commentator Donald C. Simmons, Jr., documentary filmmaker and author Larry Speakes, White House press secretary, journalist, author Curtis Wilkie, author, journalist
Jurists and attorneys
Rhesa Barksdale (born 1944), U.S. court of appeals judge Neal Brooks Biggers Jr. (1935–2023), U.S. district judge Debra M. Brown (born 1963), U.S. district judge George C. Carlson Jr., chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court Charles Clark (1925–2011), U.S. court of appeals judge Glen H. Davidson (born 1941), U.S. district judge Bobby DeLaughter (born 1954), prosecutor, judge Jess H. Dickinson (born 1947), associate justice, Mississippi Supreme Court Jim Hood (born 1962), Mississippi attorney general Charles Bowen Howry (1844–1928), assistant U.S. attorney general, court of claims judge E. Grady Jolly (1937–2026), U.S. court of appeals judge Ann Hannaford Lamar (born 1952), associate justice, Mississippi Supreme Court Michael P. Mills (born 1956), U.S. district judge Mike Moore (born 1952), Mississippi attorney general Charles W. Pickering (born 1937), U.S. district judge Michael K. Randolph (born 1946), associate justice, Mississippi Supreme Court Richard Scruggs (born 1946), trial attorney Sydney M. Smith (1869–1948), chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court Keith Starrett (born 1951), U.S. district judge Phil Stone (1893–1967), attorney Bill Waller Jr. (born 1952), chief justice, Mississippi Supreme Court
Military figures
Charles P. Hall (1886–1953), lieutenant general, World War II Paul V. Hester, Air Force general John S. McCain, Sr. (1884–1945), U.S. Navy admiral
Musicians Mildred Allen, operatic soprano Mose Allison, jazz and blues pianist Glen Ballard, songwriter, producer Colour Revolt, indie rock band Caroline Herring, singer, songwriter Guy Hovis, singer Josh Kelley, musician Vincent Mason, singer-songwriter Dent May, singer-songwriter George McConnell, guitarist, musician Rivers Rutherford, country songwriter John Stirratt, bassist (The Hilltops, Wilco) Nancy Van de Vate, composer Jim Weatherly, singer-songwriter
Physicians
Carlos Manuel Chavez, heart surgeon Garth Fisher, plastic surgeon John C. Fleming (born 1951), family physician, U.S. representative Thomas F. Frist, Sr. (1910–1998), cardiologist, founder of Hospital Corporation of America Arthur Guyton (1919–2003), physiologist, author of Textbook of Medical Physiology Edward Hill, family physician, AMA president Leonard McCoy (2227–2364), fictional Star Trek character; chief medical officer, USS Enterprise, Starfleet admiral
Politicians Thomas Abernethy (1903–1998), U.S. representative William Allain (1928–2013), governor John Mills Allen (1846–1917), U.S. representative Chapman L. Anderson (1845–1924), U.S. representative Rick Austin, Georgia state representative Haley Barbour, governor Ross Barnett (1898–1987), governor Earl L. Brewer (1869–1942), governor Ed Bryant, U.S. representative from Tennessee T. Jeff Busby (1884–1964), U.S. representative
Millard F. Caldwell (1897–1984), governor of Florida Ezekiel S. Candler, Jr. (1862–1944), U.S. representative Thomas C. Catchings (1847–1927), U.S. representative Marvin Childers (born 1961), Arkansas state representative Travis Childers, U.S. representative Thad Cochran (1937–2019), U.S. senator James Collier (1872–1933), U.S. representative Ross A. Collins (1880–1968), U.S. representative Robert H. Conn, assistant secretary of the Navy Martin Sennett Conner (1891–1950), governor Walter M. Denny (1853–1926), U.S. representative Aubert C. Dunn (1896–1987), U.S. representative