The list of Chicago State University people includes notable alumni, non-graduates, faculty and staff, chief executives, and affiliates of the Chicago State University.
Academia James A. Banks, founding director, Center for Multicultural Education, University of Washington; received bachelor's degree in social science and education from CSU in 1963 Jack Dongarra, distinguished professor of computer science at the University of Tennessee; earned Bachelor of Science in mathematics at CSU Frances Ekstam, professor and founder of the physical therapy program at Indiana University School of Medicine LaTanya McDade, first African American and first woman to serve in the role of Superintendent of Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia; earned Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1998 Cynthia Nance, Nathan G. Gordon Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law; graduated magna cum laude from CSU Martin Ridge, historian and director of research at the Huntington Library; earned bachelor of education at CSU in 1943 Margaret Taylor-Burroughs, co-founder of the DuSable Museum of African American History
Activism Margaret A. Haley, teacher, unionist, and land value tax activist; took classes for several years at CSU when it was Cook County Normal University Rhoda Hatch, teacher, anti-war activist and one of the first one hundred people in Chicago to die from COVID-19Eldeib, Duaa, Adriana Gallardo, and Akilah Johnson, et al. "The First 100: COVID-19 Took Black Lives First. It Didn’t Have to." Chicago, Illinois: ProPublica Illinois, May 9. 2020."Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus." Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Tribune, April 12, 2020, Section 1, p. 25.Hauck, Grace. "Losing Rhoda: Chicago family struggles over weeks to grieve matriarch, friends taken by the coronavirus." Tysons Corner, Virginia: USA Today, May 27, 2020 (retrieved online August 2, 2023).Sabino, Pascal. "West Side Educator and Activist Lost to Pandemic Was the 'Keeper of Our Sacred Family Stories.'" Chicago, Illinois: Block Club Chicago, January 25, 2021 (retrieved online August 2, 2023). Mamie Till, activist, educator, and mother of Emmett Till; graduated from CSU Jacqueline B. Vaughn, first female president of the Chicago Teachers Union
Athletics Deji Akindele, professional basketball player for Yalova Group BelediyeSpor of the Turkish Basketball First League Darron Brittman, former basketball player; first officially recognized NCAA Division I season steals leader in 1985–86 Josephine D'Angelo, left fielder who played – in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League; later earned her master's degree from CSUThe Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueEncyclopedia of Women and Baseball James "Chico" Hernandez, FIAS World Cup Vice-Champion in Sombo Wrestling; graduated from CSU David Holston, basketball player for JDA Dijon Basket of France's LNB Pro A; played for the Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team Bob Janecyk, goaltender for Chicago Blackhawks 1983–1984 and Los Angeles Kings 1984–1989; played for CSU and graduated in 1978 John Mallee, Major League Baseball hitting coach, Philadelphia Phillies; attended CSU Wayne Molis, professional basketball player who played for the New York Knicks 1966–1967; played for the Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team Royce Parran, professional basketball player who last played for Belfius Mons-Hainaut of the Belgian Basketball League; played for the Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team Clarke Rosenberg (born 1993), American-Israeli basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League Tony Weeden, professional basketball player; played for the Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team Willye White, first American track and field athlete to take part in five Olympics, competing on the 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, and 1972 teams; graduated from CSU in 1976 with a degree in public health administration
Arts and entertainment William D. Alexander, film producer; studied at CSU for several years John Curulewski, guitarist, vocalist and founding member of Styx; attended CSU in the late 1960s and early 1970s Dennis DeYoung, singer, songwriter and founding member of Styx; attended CSU in the late 1960s and early 1970s Christine Houston, playwright, educator, screenwriter, and creator of 227 (TV series); received bachelor's degree from CSU in 2017; former CSU instructor;https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-houston-92827131/ received honorary doctorate from CSU in 2025https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Cougar-Country-Alumni-Newsletter.html?soid=1133582126903&aid=p8VskQvm8eA Tina Howe, playwright of Museum, The Art of Dining, Painting Churches, Coastal Disturbances and Pride's CrossingJackson R. Bryer, Mary C. Hartig (ed.), Tina Howe, Encyclopedia of American Drama, Infobase Learning, 2015, (no page number) RM Johnson, author of The Harris Men, The Million Dollar Divorce, Love Frustration and The Million Dollar Demise; graduated CSU Nicole Mitchell, jazz flautist; alumna and part-time instructor at CSU Chuck Panozzo, bass guitarist and founding member of Styx; attended CSU in the late 1960s and early 1970s John Panozzo, drummer and founding member of Styx; attended CSU in the late 1960s and early 1970s Law Roach, celebrity stylist and judge on America’s Next Top Model Kanye West, rapper and record producer; attended CSU, but did not graduate, hence his debut album title The College Dropout Steven Whitehurst, author, poet and educator; graduated from CSU in 1990
Business Edith Heath (deceased), studio potter and founder of Heath Ceramics
Government and law
U.S. government and politics Danny K. Davis (1968), member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois's 7th congressional district since 1997 Blanche M. Manning (deceased), former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; graduated from CSU in 1961 with a Bachelor of Education William J. Walker, major general in United States Army, commanding general of District of Columbia National Guard; earned a Master of Science degree from CSU in 1990 Aaron S. Williams, 18th director of the Peace Corps; graduated CSU
State and local politics Howard B. Brookins Sr., Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, 1987–1993'Illinois Blue Book 1991-1992,' Biographical Sketch of Howard B. Brookins, pg. 85 Isaac "Ike" Carothers, former alderman of the 29th Ward Eugenia S. Chapman, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the Arlington Heights area 1965–1983; graduated from CSU'Illinois Blue Book 1981-1982,' Biographical Sketch of Eugenia S. Chapman, pg. 78'Former State Rep. Eugenia Chapman,' Chicago Tribune, Dan Wetzel, October 1, 1994 Shirley Coleman, politician who served as the 16th ward alderman 1991–2007 Annazette Collins, Democratic member of the Illinois General Assembly serving in the House 2001–2011 and the Senate 2011–2013 Marlow H. Colvin, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives 2001–2012 Marcus C. Evans Jr., Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives since April 2012 Karen Freeman-Wilson, attorney and President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, former Indiana Attorney General, former mayor of Gary, Indiana (conferred honorary doctoral degree by CSU in 2025) Michelle A. Harris, Chicago alderperson (eighth ward); earned Bachelor's degree in 2006https://myemail.constantcontact.com/CSU-Cougar-Country-Alumni-Newsletter.html?soid=1133582126903&aid=_D6LwqTFKcM Emil Jones III, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate since 2009; attended CSU Jeremiah E. Joyce, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate 1979–1993; earned his master's degree at CSU'Illinois Blue Book 1991-1992,' Biographical Sketch of Jeremiah E. Joyce, pg. 87 Edward Maloney, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate 2003–2013; earned master's degree from CSU Sharon G. Markette, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives 1983–1985; received bachelor's degree in criminal justice from CSU'Illinois Blue Book 1983-1984,' Biographical Sketch of Sharon G. Markette, pg. 68 Lillian Piotrowski, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives 1951–1964 and member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from 1964 until her death in 1974; attended CSU when it was Chicago Teachers College before earning her degree at Loyola University Chicago'Illinois Blue Book 1963-1964,' Biographical Sketch of Lillian Piotrowski, pg. 264 Al Riley, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 2007 Nicholas Smith, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives since February 2018; graduated from CSU with a B.S. in chemistry in 2000 Donne E. Trotter, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate 1993–2018 Karen Yarbrough, Democratic Cook County Recorder of Deeds 2010–2024 and former member of the Illinois House of Representatives 2001–2010; earned her bachelor of business administration degree from CSU in 1973
Non-United States politics Bola Tinubu, president of Nigeria since 2023, received his degree in accounting from CSU in 1979
Media Warren Ballentine, attorney and Soul 106.3 radio personality Leanita McClain, journalist and commentator; attended CSU before going to the Medill School of Journalism
Faculty and staff Gwendolyn Brooks, first African American Pulitzer Prize winner, held a self-named Distinguished Professorship at CSU Elnora D. Daniel, president of CSU from 1998 to 2008 Eliza Atkins Gleason, first African American to receive a doctorate in library science; associate professor of library science at CSU William Nicholas Hailmann, Chair of the Department of Psychology and History of Education in the early 20th century Francis Wayland Parker, principal of Cook County Normal School in the 19th century Carol Geary Schneider, professor of history at CSU prior to becoming President of the Association of American Colleges and Universities Henry H. Straight, taught at Cook County Normal School in 1883 Paul Vallas, served as Chief Administrative Officer in a temporary capacity from February 2017 to January 2018 Donda West, mother of rapper and producer Kanye West Pharez Whitted, director of jazz studies at Chicago State University
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