List of University of the Arts (Philadelphia) alumni

The University of the Arts (UArts) was an American private arts university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia College of Art and the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts merged to form the University of the Arts in 1987. Through its predecessor institutions, the university dates back to 1870. The university closed in 2024.

Following is a list of some of the notable alumni and faculty of the University of the Arts and its predecessor institutions. Former institution names include the College of Performing Arts of the University of the Arts, Hahn Conservatory of Music, Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art, Philadelphia College of Art, Philadelphia College of the Arts, Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia Museum College of Art, Philadelphia Museum School of Art, Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Arts, Philadelphia Musical Academy, School of Applied Art, and the Zeckwer-Hahn Philadelphia Musical Academy.

Academia NameInstitutionDegree and yearNotabilityLydia ArtymiwPhiladelphia College of Art1973concert pianist and professor of piano at the University of MinnesotaKatie BaldwinUniversity of the ArtsMFA 2004printmaker and professor of art at the University of Alabama in HuntsvilleDan Dailey Philadelphia College of ArtBFA 1969glass artist and professor emeritus at the Massachusetts College of ArtElliot del BorgoPhiladelphia Conservatory of MusicMMcomposer and member of the faculty of the Crane School of Music 1966–1995Ruth E. FinePhiladelphia College of Art1962painter and printmaker, college instructor, curator at the National Gallery of Art, and art historianJodi ForlizziPhiladelphia College of ArtBFA illustrationprofessor of human-computer interaction at Carnegie Mellon UniversityGeorge GreenamyerPhiladelphia College of ArtBFA 1963professor at the Massachusetts College of ArtPaul HadleyPennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Artwatercolor and interior design faculty at the Herron School of Art and Design; designer of the Flag of IndianaNatalie HinderasPhiladelphia Conservatory of Musicpianist, composer, and professor at Temple UniversityPhilippa HobbsUniversity of the Artsprofessor of art and head of printmaking at the Technikon WitwatersrandWilliam KellyPhiladelphia College of Art1968artist and dean of the School of Art at the Victorian College of the ArtsJames E. LewisPhiladelphia College of ArtBFA 1949chairman of the Morgan State University art department 1950–1986Alphonse MattiaPhiladelphia College of ArtBFAfurniture designer and professor at Rhode Island School of Design and Boston UniversityFrederick MeyerPennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Artnon-graduatefounding president of the School of the California Guild of Arts and Crafts Vincent Persichetti Philadelphia Conservatory of MusicMM 1941; DMus 1945classical music composer, chairman of the composition department at Juilliard SchoolKaty SchimertPhiladelphia College of ArtBA 1985visual artist and professor at the Rhode Island School of DesignDana P. VaughanPhiladelphia Museum School of Art1924dean of the Rhode Island School of Design and Cooper UnionRoland WigginsPhiladelphia Conservatory of Musicnon-graduatemusic theorist, college professor, and director of the Luther P. Jackson Cultural Center at the University of VirginiaSamuel P. ZieglePhiladelphia Musical Academypainter and chair of the art department at Texas Christian University Architecture NameInstitutionDegree and yearNotabilityJulian AbelePennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial ArtCertificate architectural drawing 1898architectAlfred BendinerPhiladelphia Museum School of Industrial Arts1918architect and artistCharles Barton KeenPennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial ArtarchitectCharles KlauderPennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial ArtsarchitectHilyard RobinsonPennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Artsnon-graduatearchitectEdgar Viguers SeePennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial ArtsCertificate 1890architect Athletics NameInstitutionDegree and yearNotabilityPaul Felder University of the Arts2008professional MMA fighter with the Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipMelvin SuttonUniversity of the ArtsMFA dancecheerleader, member of the Carolina TopcatsAnthony WatsonUniversity of the Artsskeleton racer and participant in the 2018 Winter Olympics Business and nonprofit NameInstitutionDegree and yearNotabilityKenneth CarbonePhiladelphia College of Art1975chief creative director at the Carbone Smolan AgencyDaniel DelaneyUniversity of the ArtsBFA 2008James Beard Foundation Award-nominated restaurateurEffie KapsalisUniversity of the ArtsMasters industrial design and pervasive technologyhead of web, new media, and outreach and chief of content and communications strategy at the Smithsonian InstitutionNoel MayoPhiladelphia Museum College of Art1960founded Noel Mayo Associates, the first African American industrial design firmJillian Patricia PirtleUniversity of the ArtsBFA 2004CEO of the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical SocietyRon Pompei Philadelphia College of ArtBFAco-founder of Pompei A.D., a creative services firm Government NameInstitutionDegree and yearNotabilityJoseph MennaUniversity of the ArtsBFAChief Engraver of the United States MintJohn MercantiPhiladelphia College of ArtChief Engraver of the United States MintJohn R. SinnockPennsylvania Museum School of Industrial ArtCertificate industrial drawing 1910, surface design and color 1911, constructive design and modelling 1912; Diploma art instruction 1913Chief Engraver of the United States Mint

Literature NameInstitutionDegree and yearNotabilityMargaret AyerPhiladelphia Museum School of Industrial Artsauthor and illustrator of children's booksMargaret Ayer Papers. University of Oregon Libraries. Accessed March 06, 2026.Mike Berenstain Philadelphia College of Artauthor and illustrator of children's booksStan and Jan BerenstainPhiladelphia Museum School of Industrial Art1945authors and illustrators of children's booksHelen BortenPhiladelphia Museum College of Artauthor and illustratorAliki BrandenbergPhiladelphia Museum College of Art1951author and illustratorMary ChalmersPhiladelphia Museum College of Artpaintingauthor and illustrator of children's booksBarbara Chase-RiboudPhiladelphia Museum School of Artnon-graduatenovelist, known for Sally HemingsDu ChisizaPhiladelphia College of the Performing ArtsBFAplaywright, director, and politicianEmily HiestandPhiladelphia College of Artgraphic designwriter and poetBrian PinkneyPhiladelphia College of ArtBFA1983author and illustrator of children's books; recipient of two Caldecott Honors, a Coretta Scott King Award, and the Boston Globe–Horn Book AwardJerry PinkneyPhiladelphia Museum School of Art1939author and illustrator of children's booksHenry Clarence Pitz Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Arts1917book author and illustrator, magazine editor, and educatorMary Brecht Pulver School of Applied ArtBA, MAwriter of short stories and poetryBernard WaberPhiladelphia College of Artchildren's author known for Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Performing arts

Acting and performing NameInstitutionDegree and yearNotabilityMaxwell AtomsUniversity of the Artsanimator and voice actor known for The Grim Adventures of Billy & MandyJabari BanksUniversity of the Artsactor known for Bel-AirIrene BedardUniversity of the ArtsactressEmory CohenUniversity of the Artsnon-graduateactorLaDeva DavisPhiladelphia Musical AcademyBMustelevision presenter for the PBS series What's Cooking?Heather DonahueUniversity of the ArtsBFA 1996actress known for The Blair Witch ProjectKate FlanneryUniversity of the ArtsBFAactress known for The OfficeJohn JesurunPhiladelphia College of ArtBFA 1972theater director, playwright, media artist, and teacherLaChanzeUniversity of the Artsactress who received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a MusicalJohn-Paul LavoisierUniversity of the Artsjazz percussionfilm and television actorL Morgan LeeUniversity of the Artsstage actress, nominated for a Tony Award for A Strange LoopJared LetoUniversity of the Artsnon-graduateAcademy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning actor; member of Thirty Seconds to MarsBrad LoekleUniversity of the ArtscomedianJayson MussonUniversity of the ArtsBFA photographyactor, writer, and producer of the video series His History of Art and member of Plastic LittleElise NealUniversity of the Artsactress known for Rosewood, Money Talks, and Scream 2Ana OrtizUniversity of the Artsactress known for Ugly Betty and Devious MaidsLeslie ParrishPhiladelphia Conservatory of Musicnon-graduateactressKaDee StricklandUniversity of the Artsactress known for The Grudge

Choreography and dance NameInstitutionDegree and yearNotabilityRonne ArnoldPhiladelphia Dance AcademyBMus dance 1959dancer and choreographerJudith JamisonPhiladelphia Dance Academydancer and choreographerDonald T. LunsfordUniversity of the ArtsBFA modern dancedancer, choreographer, and educatorRevanta SarabhaiUniversity of the ArtsBFAfilm and theater dancer Music Visual arts

Applied arts and design The following alumni specialize in applied arts and design, including fashion, graphic, industrial, and interior design. NameInstitutionDegree and yearNotabilityRichard AmselPhiladelphia College of the Arts1969illustrator and graphic designerVernon Howe BaileyPennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial ArtCertificate 1889newspaper and magazine illustratorNed BeardPhiladelphia Museum School of Industrial Artgraphic artist and cartoonistHarry BlissUniversity of the Artscartoonist and illustrator; staff cartoonist at The New YorkerNoa DenmonUniversity of the ArtsBFA 2018; MATillustrator and recipient of the Caldecott MedalIrv DocktorPhiladelphia Museum School of Industrialbook and magazine illustratorWalter Hunt Everett Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Artillustrator and educatorRoger HanePhiladelphia Museum School of Art1961illustratorHerdeg, Walter (editor). Graphis vol. 29, #167. Zurich: The Graphis Press, 1973/74.Jack C. HarrisPhiladelphia College of Art BFA 1974comic book writer for DC ComicsSol HessPennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Designtypeface designerTrina Schart HymanPhiladelphia Museum College of Artnon-graduatechildren's book illustrator, recipient of the Caldecott MedalHarold KnerrPennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Artwriter and artist of the comic strip The Katzenjammer KidsBeth KrushPennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Artchildren's books illustratorJoe KrushPennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial ArtDiploma illustration 1939children's books illustratorErika Lopez University of the Artscartoonist and authorLoza Maléombho University of the ArtsBFA 2006fashion designerNoel MayoPhiladelphia College of ArtBS industrial design 1960industrial designer and teacherFrank ModePhiladelphia Museum School of Industrial Artcartoonist for The New YorkerShane O'NeillUniversity of the ArtsBFAtattoo artist who won the first season of Ink MasterJoseph Pennell Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Artdrafter, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazinesHerbert PullingerPennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Artsillustrator, printmaker, painter, and teacherArnold Roth Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Artillustration 1950cartoonistCharles SantorePhiladelphia Museum School of Art1956illustrator of children's booksElisabeth Hallowell SaundersPennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Artbotanical illustratorCal Schenkel Philadelphia College of Artnon-graduateillustrator and graphic designer, specializing in album cover designWilli SmithPhiladelphia Museum College of Artfashion designerCarson Van OstenPhiladelphia College of Artwriter and artist of Disney comicsAlina WheelerPhiladelphia College of Art1970graphic designer and brand consultant Contemporary and modern media