Notable alumni of Northern Arizona University:
Alumni
Academia Valeen Tippetts Avery – historian Harvey Butchart – author and professor known for hiking exploits near Grand Canyon Aimée Classen – ecologist Frederick Colwell – microbial ecologist Lattie F. Coor – president of Arizona State University and the University of Vermont Elizabeth Hadly – biology professor Nellie Shaw Harnar – historian Lomayumtewa C. Ishii – Hopi researcher Hartman H. Lomawaima – director of the Arizona State Museum Randi Martinsen – geologist John Marzluff – wildlife professor Brad McRae – ecologist Katrina Miranda – biochemistry professor Raymond R. Rogers – geology professor Joseph Shepard – president of Western New Mexico University Cathy Small – anthropologist William A. Stein – professor and founder of CoCalc Lydia Tederick – White House curator Kimberly A. With – ecologist Evangeline Parsons Yazzie – Navajo educator
Actors and television Rutanya Alda – actress Seamus Dever – actor in Castle Camille Ford – actress and presenter of Food Wars Marjean Holden – actress Quentin Oliver Lee – Grammy Award-winning stage actor
Artists R.C. Gorman – Native American artist Ted Larsen – sculptor Ray Manley – photographer R. Carlos Nakai – 11-time Grammy-nominated Native American flutist Ryan Singer – artist Joe Sorren – painter Mary Antonia Wood – artist
Business Richard Bitner – real estate publisher Martin Casado – co-founder of Nicira Networks Cheryl Casone – Fox Business news anchor Robert Maynard Jr. – founder of LifeLock
Government and politics J. Christopher Ackerley – member of the Arizona House of Representatives Brent T. Adams – judge, Nevada Second Judicial District Court Cesar Aguilar – member of the Arizona House of Representatives Andreas Borgeas – member of the California State Senate Lisa Callan – member of the Washington House of Representatives Chad Campbell – member of the Arizona House of Representatives Howard Cannon – U.S. senator from Nevada Richard A. Carranza – chancellor of the New York City Department of Education Heather Carter – member of the Arizona State Senate Raul Hector Castro – 14th governor of Arizona; U.S. ambassador to Argentina, Bolivia, and El Salvador Doug Coleman – member of the Arizona House of Representatives Charlene Fernandez – Democratic leader of the Arizona House of Representatives Carl Gatto – member of the Alaska House of Representatives Anthony Hartsook – member of the Colorado House of Representatives Theresa Hatathlie – member of the Arizona State Senate Katie Hobbs – 24th governor of Arizona John Huppenthal – Arizona superintendent, member of the Arizona State Senate Jill Jim – member of the COVID-19 Advisory Board Anthony Kern – member of the Arizona State Senate Jonathan Lines – chairman of the Arizona Republican Party Judith Loganbill – member of the Kansas House of Representatives Lynda Lovejoy – member of the New Mexico State Senate Jonathan Nez – 9th president of the Navajo Nation Phefelia Nez – first lady of the Navajo Nation Jamescita Peshlakai – member of the Arizona House of Representatives Rick Renzi – U.S. representative from Arizona Tyrone Thompson – member of the Nevada Assembly Myron Tsosie – member of the Arizona House of Representatives Dennis Van Roekel – labor leader
Literature C. Dean Andersson – fantasy author Dia Cha – author Diana Gabaldon – author of the Outlander series Paul Genesse – fantasy author Kevin Hearne – author of The Iron Druid Chronicles series Carlton Mellick III – absurdist author Todd Robert Petersen – fiction writer Jennifer Roberson – fantasy author
Military Robin Braun – United States Navy rear admiral Jay R. Vargas – United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
Science and engineering Philip Johnston – code talker David Mangelsdorf – pharmacologist, chemist Michael Reeves – YouTuber and roboticist Tajana Rosing – computer engineer
Sports Greg Adams – National Hockey League Geordie Beamish – New Zealand long-distance runner Travis Brown – National Football League, quarterback Dave Cahill – National Football League, defensive tackle Darren Carrington – National Football League, safety Víctor Castillo – Venezuelan long jumper Allan Clark – National Football League, running back Shawn Collins – National Football League, wide receiver Diego Estrada – Mexican-American long-distance runner Casey Frank – American-New Zealand professional basketball player George Grantham – Major League Baseball, infielder Luis Grijalva – Guatemalan-American long-distance runner Tim Handel – German tennis player Michael Haynes – National Football League, wide receiver Mike Jankowski – skiing and snowboarding coach Maya Kalle-Bentzur – Israeli Olympic runner and long jumper Tara Koleski – soccer player David Lang – National Football League, running back Jeff Lewis – National Football League, quarterback Goran Lingmerth – National Football League, kicker Mark Lomas – National Football League, defensive lineman Lopez Lomong – South Sudanese-born track and field athlete and Olympian Peter Lomong – long-distance runner Pete Mandley – National Football League, wide receiver Derek Mason – current defensive coordinator for Auburn Tigers Todd McMillon – National Football League, cornerback Mike Mercer – National Football League Rex Mirich – National Football League, defensive tackle Samantha Monahan – professional soccer player Lee Mulleneaux – National Football League Abdihamid Nur – Somolian-born American long-distance runner Keith O'Neil – National Football League linebacker, Super Bowl XLI champion with Indianapolis Colts Josh Oppenheimer – Israeli-American professional basketball coach, and former professional basketball player Eleanor Pilgrim – Welsh professional golfer Frank Pollack – offensive tackle, San Francisco 49ers John Rade – National Football League, linebacker Claire Robertson – beach volleyball player Seton Sobolewski – college basketball coach Andre Spencer (1964–2020) – basketball player Brian Stewart – National Football League and college coach Rayna Stewart – National Football League, safety Francis St. Paul – football player Cathy Thaxton-Tippett – rower Rusty Tillman – National Football League, linebacker Andy Trouard – long-distance runner Nico Young – long-distance runner Kasandra Vegas – Samoan discus thrower Futsum Zienasellassie – long-distance runner
Other Latif – Saudi Arabian gamer Kayla Mueller – humanitarian and Islamic State hostage Lisa Olson – sports journalist
Notable faculty Harvey Butchart – mathematics Lomayumtewa C. Ishii – Hopi researcher Cathy Small – anthropology Gordon Swann – astrogeology (adjunct professor) Clyde Tombaugh – astronomer and discoverer of Pluto Chad Trujillo – astronomer and co-discoverer of Eris and Sedna
References