This list includes people who have graduated from or otherwise attended Kent State University at the main campus in Kent, Ohio, or one of its seven regional campuses in northeastern Ohio. Kent State counted over 270,000 living alumni as of 2023.
Name Notability Degree (year) CategoryMatthew AlecJazz saxophonist, composer, producer, and bandleaderB.A. Music, concentration in classical saxophone (2007)Music Author and educator in international businessM.B.A. Operations Management (1970)D.B.A. Finance and International Business (1975)BusinessContemporary artistB.F.A. Sculpture (2003)B.A. Art History (2003)Arts Contemporary painterB.F.A. Painting (1970)Arts Professional football player in the National Football League 1966–1968Athletics - football Professional football player in the National Football LeagueAthletics - football Ceramic artistM.F.A. Ceramics (1988)Arts Professional football player in the American Football LeagueAthletics - football Comic strip author of Funky Winkerbean and CrankshaftB.F.A. (1969)Literary 1978 Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, editor, writer, educatorB.A. Journalism (1975)Journalism Fashion designer, contestant on Project Runway and Project Runway: All StarsB.A. Fashion Design (1993)Fashion design Professional football player in the National Football LeagueAthletics - footballKaitlin BennettGun rights advocate, anti-abortion activist, and social media personalityB.A. Biology (2018)PoliticsBertice BerrySociologist, author, lecturer, comedian, educator, and former talk show hostPh.D.EducationKaitlyn BlackTelevision and theater actressB.A. Theater (2005) Film and televisionBlitz the Ambassador(Samuel Bazawule)Ghanaian-American hip-hop artist Music/entertainmentBob BordenWriter and frequent contributor, Late Show with David LettermanJournalism (1995)EntertainmentBrannon Braga^Producer and screenwriter for several Star Trek series and films, 24, and FlashforwardTransferredFilm and televisionRegina BrettColumnist with The Plain DealerBachelor's in JournalismJournalism Cedric BrownProfessional football player in the National Football League 1976–1984Athletics - footballEmmanuel BurrissProfessional baseball player in Major League Baseball as a second basemanAthletics - baseballDebra ByrdBackup vocalist for Barry Manilow; vocal coach for American Idol and Canadian Idol MusicSteve ByrneComedianEntertainmentCurt CacioppoContemporary classical music composer and pianistB.A. Piano PerformanceMusicAlan CanforaPolitical activist; one of nine students wounded during the Kent State shootingsPoliticsJohn CaparuloComedianBachelor's (1998)EntertainmentMichael CapellasCurrent CEO of First Data Corporation; former president/CEO of Hewlett-Packard, WorldCom, Compaq, and Serena SoftwareB.B.ABusinessVincent J. CardinalPlaywright and directorBachelor's in English and EducationTheaterDrew CareyActor, comedian, host of TV's The Price Is RightDid not graduateFilm and televisionRobert CarothersPresident of the University of Rhode Island since 1991Ph.D. (1969)EducationChris CarpenterProfessional baseball player in Major League BaseballAthletics - baseballGerald CasaleFounding member of DevoMusicAndrew ChafinProfessional baseball player in Major League Baseball as a pitcherAthletics - baseballDain ClayProfessional baseball player in Major League BaseballAthletics - baseballRobert E. CookDemocratic politician who served as a common pleas judge, district court of appeals judge, and in the United States House of RepresentativesBachelor's (1947)PoliticsJim CorrigallProfessional football player in the Canadian Football League as a defensive end, member of Canadian Football Hall of Fame, former KSU head football coachAthletics - footballCarol CostelloAnchor and reporter for CNNB.A. Journalism (2004)JournalismKyle CravenInternet celebrity from the Bad Luck Brian memeB.S. Construction Management (2012)EntertainmentJoshua CribbsProfessional football player in the NFLB.A. Communication Studies (2010)Athletics - footballBen CurtisProfessional golfer, 2003 British Open championAthletics - golfJose DavisProfessional football player in the NFL and the Arena Football LeagueAthletics - footballWayne DawsonTelevision newscaster at WJW in ClevelandB.A. Journalism (1979)JournalismJohn de LancieActorB.A. (1971)Film and televisionSarah DealFirst female Marine selected for Naval aviation training; first female aviator in the Marine CorpsB.S. Aerospace Flight Technology (1992)AeronauticsBryan DeCorsoCanadian professional golferB.S. Business Administration (1995)Athletics - golfJohn DennisRadio talk show personality and television sportscaster(1974)JournalismG. William DomhoffAuthor and research professor in psychology and sociology M.A. Psychology (1959)ScienceStephen R. DonaldsonAuthor of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever seriesM.A. English (1971)LiteraryJan DowlingHead women's golf coach at the University of Florida, Canadian former professional golferB.S. Leisure Studies (2002)Athletics - golfJoyce DyerWriterPh.D.LiteraryJoe EbanksProfessional poker player in the World Series of PokerDropped outEntertainmentJulian EdelmanProfessional football player in the NFLBusiness ManagementAthletics - footballJohn EdwardsProfessional basketball player in the NBA and NBDLAthletics - basketballAbram ElamProfessional football player in the NFLAthletics - footballDonald ErbComposerB.S. Composition (1950)John FergusonOrganist, composer, and teacherM.M.MusicColin FerrellProfessional football player in the NFLAthletics - footballJohn FiloPulitzer Prize-winning photographerArtsAl Fisher2008 Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the YearAthletics - basketballQuinton FlynnVoice actorFilm and televisionBrenda FreseHead coach for the Maryland Terrapins women's basketball programMaster's in Athletic Administration (1995)Athletics - women's basketballAngela FunovitsMentalist/illusionist, star of NBC's PhenomenonFilm and televisionDae Gak(Robert Genthner)Zen masterPh.D. Clinical Psychology (1973)ScienceNari GandhiIndian architect in organic architectureArchitecture Professional football player in the NFL as a tight endAthletics - footballMichael GlaserPoet Laureate of Maryland, 2004–2009M.A.Ph.D.LiteraryDick GoddardTV meteorologist at WJW in Cleveland, author, and cartoonistB.F.A. (1960)JournalismDan GoodspeedProfessional football player in the NFL, XFL, and Canadian Football League Athletics - footballAnthony GregorcEducational theorist; developer of the mind styles modelM.S., Ph.D.EducationMatt GuerrierProfessional baseball player in Major League Baseball as a pitcherAthletics - baseballMike GulanFormer professional baseball in Major League Baseball as a third-basemanAthletics - baseballMichael M. GunterEducator and scholar on the Kurdish peoplePh.D. International Relations (1972)EducationAlaina Reed HallTelevision and film actress on Sesame Street and 227Film and television Talk show hostB.A. Speech (1977)Film and televisionJimmy HallProfessional basketball player in Israeli National LeagueAthletics - basketballBob HallenFormer professional football player in the NFLAthletics - footballKen HammondFormer leader of SDS, activist in the 1960s and 70s during the Kent State shootingsB.A. (1985)PoliticsAndy HarmonProfessional football player in the NFLAthletics - footballWayne Alan HaroldFilmmakerB.A. Telecommunications (1988)Film and televisionJames HarrisonProfessional football player in the NFL as a linebacker Athletics - footballSteve HarveyTelevision personality; host of The Steve Harvey Morning Show and Family FeudEntertainmentDirk HayhurstProfessional baseball player in Major League Baseball, currently for the Toronto Blue Jays as a pitcher Communications (did not graduate)Athletics - baseballRobert HemenwayFormer chancellor at the University of Kentucky and the University of KansasPh.D. English (1966) EducationAnne HendershottAuthor and sociologistPh.D. SociologyPolitics, literaryDustin HermansonProfessional baseball player in Major League Baseball as a pitcherAthletics - baseballRick HillesPoet and educatorB.A.M.L.S.LiteraryKeno HillsProfessional football player in the NFLAthletics - footballNancy HollisterFormer Ohio state representative, lieutenant governor, and briefly served as Ohio's first female governorPoliticsDave HolmesWinner of ESPN's Dream JobJournalism College football coach, television sportscasterB.S. History (1959)Athletics - footballMike HovancsekInstrumentalist, founder of multicultural experimental music group Pointless OrchestraB.S. PsychologyMusicMackenzie HughesProfessional golfer in the PGA TourBusiness Management (2012)Athletics - golfChrissie HyndeLead singer for The Pretenders Did not graduateMusicKyle Jacksonprofessional baseball player in Banana BallSports psychology, minor in theater performanceAthletics - baseballJennifer Lyn JacksonPlayboy Playmate, April 1989Business and financeReginald Jagers IIIOlympic athlete, left handed discus world record holderAthletics - track and fieldVan JakesProfessional football player in the NFLAthletics - footballThomas JeffersonBronze medalist at the 1984 Summer OlympicsAthletics - track and field Angela Johnson Author and illustrator Did not graduate; received honorary doctorate (2007) LiteraryEmma JohnsonNational Pro Fastpitch pitcher B.B.A. Accounting & Finance (2015)Athletics - softballJeff JohnsonCleveland City Council member and Ohio state senatorCommunicationsPoliticsDaniel JohnstonSinger-songwriter and artistMusicMarvin JonesProfessional basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier LeagueAthletics - basketballMichael KeatonActor Dropped outFilm and televisionDon KingBoxing promoterDropped outEntertainmentIshmaa'ily KitchenProfessional football player in the NFLAthletics - footballJoe KotysMember of the 1948 United States Men's Gymnastics Olympic team; NCAA national champion on individual events in 1949, 1950, and 1951Athletics - gymnasticsAllison KrauseOne of the four students killed during the Kent State shootings in 1970Was studying art historyPoliticsAllen KukovichState representative in Pennsylvania from the Democratic PartyBachelor's (1969)PoliticsJack LambertProfessional football player in the NFL as a linebacker and a member of the Pro Football Hall of FameAthletics - football Attorney, former minority leader of the Oklahoma Senate.Athletics - footballEric LauerProfessional baseball player in Major League BaseballB.B.A. Business (2016)Athletics - baseballMike LebowitzAttorney, pioneer in military free speech, military lawJournalism (1999)LawJack LengyelCollege football coach and athletics administrator; coached at Marshall University following the crash in 1970 that killed most of the teamMaster's (1962)Athletics - footballBob LewisFounding member of DevoB.A. Anthropology (1970)MusicRobert LonghurstSculptorArtsJill MacoskaScientist and academicB.A. Physical Anthropology (1978)SciencePeter MakuckAuthor, poet, and criticPh.D. American LiteratureLiteraryProfessional football player in the CFL, 1988–2002Athletics - footballJohn MatskoCoach in the National Football LeagueAthletics - footballSarah MatthewsDeputy press secretary for President TrumpB.A. Public Relations (2017)PoliticsDavid W. MayU.S. Air Force brigadier general, adjutant general of WisconsinB.A. Music (1993)MilitaryBetty-Jean MaycockMember of 1960 United States women's gymnastics teamB.A. (1964) Athletics - gymnasticsHal McCoyBeat writer for the Cincinnati Reds, Baseball Hall of Fame memberJournalismBen McDanielsAssistant coach in the NFLAthletics - footballMike "Scooter" McGruderProfessional football player in the NFL, 1989–1997Athletics - footballNigel McGuinness(Steven Haworth)Professional wrestler, currently with WWE Sports/entertainmentJoe McKeownWomen's college basketball coachAthletics - basketballJay McNeilFormer professional football player in the CFL, 1994–2007Athletics - footballGene MichaelProfessional baseball player, manager, and scout in Major League BaseballAthletics - baseballPete MikolajewskiProfessional football playe