This is a list of Illinois State University alumni who are notable enough to warrant an article in Wikipedia. The list is organized by general fields of achievement.
Business +NameGraduation yearNotesTricia Griffith1986CEO of Progressive Corporation; first woman named as Fortune magazine's Businessperson of the Year (2018)Patti S. Hart1978Vice chairman of International Game Technology; named one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" in 1998 by Fortune magazine"Business: Notable Alumni ." Illinois State University. Retrieved on February 20, 2009.
Education +NameGraduation yearNotesJ. Michael Adams1969 President of Farleigh Dickinson UniversityJ. Michael Adams, A Visionary Leader , retrieved November 16, 2012.K. Patricia Cross 1948Retired professor at University of California-Berkeley; former senior lecturer and chair of the Department of Administration, Planning, and Social Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of EducationJohn DosseyMathematician, distinguished professor in the department of mathematicsDonald McHenry 1957U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Carter Administration; Distinguished Professor of Diplomacy at Georgetown UniversityPatrick Schloss1974Author, researcher, and former president of Northern State University and Valdosta State UniversityKenneth "Buzz" Shaw 1961Chancellor of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York 1991–2004Reg Weaver 1962President of National Education Association 2002–2008"Education: Notable Alumni ." Illinois State University. Retrieved on February 20, 2009.Paul Wehman1974 M.S.Professor of counseling and special education and director of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
Journalism and letters
Todd Heisler – photojournalist and winner of Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography Richard Roeper – author, columnist, film critic for Chicago Sun-Times, co-host of television's At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper Randy Salerno – Emmy Award-winning news anchor at WGN-TV and WBBM-TV in Chicago
Law Michael P. McCuskey – federal judge Owen P. Thompson – Illinois district judge
Literature Norbert Blei – author of the Chicago trilogy of Neighborhoods, The Ghost of Sandburg-Es Phizzog, and Chi TownEllis Press , retrieved November 16, 2012. Mort Castle – writer specializing in the horror genre; has written seven novels, two short story collections, and hundreds of shorter worksHorror World , retrieved November 16, 2012. Kate Charles – mystery novelist who bases all of her novels out of the Church of England; wrote Evil Angels Among Them, Unruly Passions, and Cruel HabitationsTen Famous Illinois State University Graduates, retrieved November 16, 2012. Eric Rohmann – author and illustrator of children's books; received the 2003 Caldecott medal for My Friend Rabbit; received a 1995 Caldecott Honor book award for Time Flies; wrote The Cinder Cats and The Prairie TrainCaldecott-winning Illustrator/Author Eric Rohmann to Appear in Champaign , retrieved November 16, 2012. Lester W. Smith – game designer specializing in role-playing games; creator of the Origins Award-winning game Dragon Dice
Music Lil Bibby – rapper, producer, and record executive Suzy Bogguss – country music singer and guitarist Syleena Johnson – musician Gregory Kunde – operatic tenor Michelle Williams (attended) – musician, Destiny's Child
Science NameGraduation yearNotesCurt M. Horvath1985 Virologist and immunologistMalcolm L. McCallum1995Conservation scientist, herpetologistJenny P. Y. Ting1975 President of Farleigh Dickinson UniversityAmy Wagner1992Neuroscientist
Government Federal government Adam Kinzinger – served as a U.S. representative for Illinois's 16th congressional districtAdam Kinzinger , retrieved November 16, 2012. Thomas R. Lamont – assistant secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) (2009–2014) Donald McHenry – former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (1979–81)"Government and Public Service: Notable Alumni ." Illinois State University. Retrieved on February 20, 2009.
State government Pamela Althoff – Republican member of the Illinois Senate (2003–present) and mayor of McHenry, Illinois (2001–2003)About Senator Althoff , retrieved November 16, 2012. Bob Bacon – Democratic member of the Colorado Senate (2005–2013) and Colorado House of Representatives (1997–2003) Jason Barickman – Republican member of the Illinois Senate (2013–present) Scott M. Bennett – Democratic member of the Illinois Senate (2015–present) Thomas M. Bennett – Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2015–present) Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant – Democratic member of the Illinois Senate (2013–present) and Will County regional superintendent of schools (2007–2013) William B. Black – Republican member of Illinois House of RepresentativesIllinois General Assembly, retrieved November 16, 2012. Jim Durkin – Republican minority leader and member of Illinois House of Representatives (2006–present)"." VoteSmart. Retrieved on January 10, 2012. Josh Harms – Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–2015) Jay Hoffman – Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–present); previously served 1995–2001About Jay Hoffman , retrieved November 16, 2012. Lyman Beecher Kellogg – president of Emporia State University 1865–1871; 14th Kansas attorney general Frank Mautino – Illinois auditor general (2015–present) and Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1991–2015)Illinois General Assembly , retrieved November 16, 2012. Jerry L. Mitchell – Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2012)Illinois General Assembly, retrieved November 16, 2012. Rosemary Mulligan – Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1993–2013) Laura Murphy – Democratic member of the Illinois Senate (2015–present) Michele Reagan – 27th secretary of state of Arizona Kitty Rhoades – Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (1998–2010)'Wisconsin Bluebook 2007–2008,' Biographical Sketch of Kitty Rhoades, pg. 39 Dan Rutherford – Illinois treasurer (2011–2015) and gubernatorial candidate in 2014 Republican primary Sue Scherer – Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–present) Elgie Sims – Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2012–present) Thomas P. Sinnett – state representative, Illinois House of Representatives (1924–1938), Democratic floor leader (1933–1934) Arthur Turner – House majority leader and Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1981–2010) Tammie Wilson – Republican member of the Alaska House of Representatives (2009–present) Christine Winger – Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2015–present)
Local government Jim Ardis – mayor of Peoria, Illinois (2005–2021) Denny Doyle – mayor of Beaverton, Oregon (2009–present) J. Michael Houston – mayor of Springfield, Illinois 1979–1987 and 2011–2015 George P. McLain (1847–1930) – Los Angeles City Council member at the end of the 19th century Mboka Mwilambwe – first African-American mayor of Bloomington, Illinois Harry Osterman – member of the Chicago City Council from the 48th ward (2011–present)
Sports
Jeremy Accardo – relief pitcher (2005–12) for several Major League Baseball teams Dave Bergman – former Major League Baseball first baseman (1975, 77–92); member of the 1984 World Series champion Detroit Tigers; his uniform No. 12 was retired by the ISU baseball team Cathy Boswell – member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic gold medal basketball team; played professional basketball in ItalyCathy Boswell Profile , retrieved November 26, 2012. Duane Butler – professional football linebacker (1997–2006) Lee "Buzz" Capra – former All-Star Major League baseball pitcher (1971–77); led the National League in ERA in 1974 Jackie Carmichael (born 1990) – basketball player Aveion Cason – former NFL running back (2001–08) Doug Collins – television sports commentator and former head coach of the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards Neal Cotts – former Major League Baseball relief pitcher; member of the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox Paul DeJong – Major League Baseball infielder for the Chicago White Sox Luke Drone – former NFL player and current AF2 player Eric Eckenstahler – former Major League Baseball pitcher, played for the Detroit Tigers Steve Fisher – retired college basketball coach; was head coach at San Diego State University (1999–2017) and Michigan (1989–97); led the Michigan Wolverines to the 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Kevin Glenn – former CFL quarterback; finalist for the league's MVP award in 2007; has played for several CFL teams, most recently the Saskatchewan Roughriders James "Boomer" Grigsby – former NFL fullback (2005–08), playing most of his career for the Kansas City Chiefs Shelby Harris – NFL defensive end Brent Hawkins – former NFL defensive end (2006–07), playing his entire NFL career for the Jacksonville Jaguars; most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL Robert Hawkins – professional basketball player (1975–79) Brent Headrick – MLB Pitcher for Minnesota Twins and NY Yankees Matt Herges – Major League Baseball relief pitcher (1999–2009) Brandon Joyce – professional football offensive lineman for several teamsBrandon Joyce Profile , retrieved November 26, 2012. Ed Kinsella – first athlete from ISU to play in Major League Baseball (1905, 1910)"Great Moments in Redbird Baseball History" . goredbirds.com. Retrieved December 6, 2010."History and Records" . grfx.cstv.com. Retrieved December 6, 2010. Dan Kolb – Major League Baseball relief pitcher (1999–2007) John Kropke – defensive tackle in the Canadian Football League (1989–97) Charlotte Lewis – member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic gold medal women's basketball teamCharlotte Lewis, former ISU women's basketball star, dies, retrieved November 26, 2012. Reggie Lynch (born 1994) – basketball player for Bnei Herzliya of the Israeli Basketball Premier League Cameron Meredith – former National Football League wide receiver Jim Meyer – former NFL offensive tackle (1987) Dennis Nelson – starting offensive tackle for the Super Bowl championship team of the Baltimore Colts during the 1970sIllinois State University NFL Draft Results , retrieved November 26, 2012. Tom Nelson – NFL safety for the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens Nate Palmer – former NFL linebacker for the Tennessee Titans Mike Prior – former NFL defensive back (1985, 87–98); member of the Super Bowl XXXI champion Green Bay Packers Lorene Ramsey – retired women's basketball coach of Illinois Central College, who with a career record of 887–197, won more games than any other women's basketball coach at any college levelLorene Ramsey Profile , retrieved November 26, 2012. John Rave – MLB OF for Kansas City Royals James Robinson – free agent NFL-RB and formerly with USL Louisville Kingsrunning back Laurent Robinson – NFL wide receiver (2007–12), most recently for the Jacksonville Jaguars Mark Rodenhauser – center for seven NFL teams Cameron Siskowic – linebacker for the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2008–09) Brock Stewart – Major League Baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays Kye Stewart – linebacker with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders (2010–11) Colton Underwood – football player; contestant on the Bachelor franchise Zeke Upshaw – professional basketball player D. A. Weibring – PGA golfer; ISU's golf course is named in his honor Tom Wieghaus – former Major League Baseball catcher (1981, 83–84) Jeff Wilkins – professional basketball player (1977–93) Joe Woods – defensive coordinator of the NFL's Denver Broncos, champions of Super Bowl 50