This list of Brigham Young University alumni includes notable graduates, non-graduate former students, and current students of Brigham Young University (BYU), a private, coeducational research university owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) located in Provo, Utah, United States. It is the oldest existing institution within the LDS Church's Educational System, is America's largest religious university, and has the second-largest private university enrollment in the United States. Approximately 98% of the 34,000 students at BYU are members of the LDS Church; two-thirds of its American students come from outside the state of Utah. In addition to its undergraduate program, BYU offers graduate degrees in 47 departments and includes two professional schools: the Marriott School of Business and the J. Reuben Clark Law School. , BYU has 455,907 living alumni.
Over 26 BYU graduates have served in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, such as former Dean of the U.S. Senate Reed Smoot (class of 1879). Cabinet members of American presidents include former United States Secretary of Agriculture to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ezra Taft Benson '26 and Rex E. Lee '60, who was U.S. Solicitor General under President Ronald Reagan. Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts and 2008 presidential candidate and 2012 Republican presidential nominee, was valedictorian of his class in 1971.
BYU alumni in academia include former dean of the Harvard Business School Kim B. Clark, a vice president of Yale, Scott Strobel '87, and Michael K. Young '73, president of Texas A&M University and former president of the University of Washington. The university also graduated Nobel Prize winner Paul D. Boyer, as well as Philo Farnsworth (inventor of the electronic television) and Harvey Fletcher (inventor of the hearing aid). Seven of BYU's twelve presidents were alumni of the university.Wilkinson, Ernest L., ed., Brigham Young University: The First 100 Years. (Provo: BYU Press, 1975) p. Vol. 4, p. 478-479 for a list of eight who were BYU alumni, but this includes 3 acting so we are down to five. see also LDS Church Almanac, 2010 Edition, p. 47 for Jeffrey R. Holland as a BYU alum. The seventh alum who was president is Rex Lee, who was mentioned as such in the above paragraph. Technically only four of them were BYU alumni, the other two were BYA alumni, but the 12 presidents count includes the two principals of BYA, one of whom was dead when BYU first formed. Alumni of BYU who have served as business leaders include Citigroup CFO Gary Crittenden '76, former Dell CEO Kevin Rollins '84, Deseret Book CEO Sheri L. Dew, and Matthew K. McCauley, CEO of children's clothing company Gymboree.
In literature and journalism, BYU has produced several best-selling authors, including Orson Scott Card '75, Brandon Sanderson '00 & '05, and Stephenie Meyer '95. Other media personalities include ESPN sportscaster and former Miss America Sharlene Wells Hawkes '88 and former co-host of CBS's The Early Show Jane Clayson Johnson '90. In entertainment and television, BYU is represented by Jon Heder '02 (best known for his role as Napoleon Dynamite), Golden Globe-nominated Aaron Eckhart '94, and Jeopardy! all-time champion Ken Jennings '00. In the music industry BYU is represented by former American Idol contestant Carmen Rasmusen and The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square director Mack Wilberg.
BYU has also produced several leaders of religion. Alumni have comprised several LDS Church general authorities, including three church presidents (Dallin H. Oaks '54, Thomas S. Monson '74, and Ezra Taft Benson '26), six apostles (Clark G. Gilbert '94, Neil L. Andersen '75, D. Todd Christofferson '69, David A. Bednar '76, Jeffrey R. Holland '65 & '66, and Reed Smoot 1879), and two general presidents of the Relief Society (Julie B. Beck '73 and Belle Spafford '20).
A number of BYU alumni have found success in professional sports, representing the university in 7 MLB World Series, 5 NBA Finals, and 25 NFL Super Bowls. In baseball, BYU alumni include All-Stars Rick Aguilera '83, Wally Joyner '84, and Jack Morris '76. Professional basketball players include three-time NBA Finals champion Danny Ainge '81 and three-time Olympic medalist Krešimir Ćosić '73. BYU also claims notable professional football players including Super Bowl MVP Steve Young '84 & '94, Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer '90, and two-time Super Bowl winner Jim McMahon. In golf, BYU alumni include two major championship winners: Johnny Miller ('69) at the 1973 U.S. Open and 1976 British Open and Mike Weir ('92) at the 2003 Masters.
Academia and research
University administration Name Class year(s) Degree(s) Notability Reference 1966 B.S. 15th president of Utah State University 1976 M.O.B. (Marriott) 14th president of BYU-Idaho 1990 B.A. 3rd president of Coastal Carolina University; 12th president of Eastern Kentucky University; 15th president of Southern Utah University; 14th president of Snow College 19491949 B.S.M.S. 9th president of Snow College; 6th president of BYU-Hawaii — (transferred to Utah before graduating) 14th president of California State University, Chico; 12th president of Utah State University — (transferred to Harvard University before graduating) 17th commissioner of Church Education; 15th president of BYU-Idaho; Dean of Harvard Business School 19791982 B.S.M.O.B. (Marriott) 8th president of Bentley University; dean of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan 1972 Ed.D. 8th president of Western Michigan University 19501952 B.A.M.A. 4th dean of the BYU Marriott School of Business 198519891989 B.S.M.B.A. (Marriott)J.D. (Clark) 17th president of BYU-Idaho; director of the BYU MBA program 1984 B.S. (Marriott) Dean of the Berry College Campbell School of Business 1964 B.A. 11th president of BYU-Idaho; 3rd dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School 1907 5th president of BYU 19651966 B.A.M.A 9th president of BYU 1991 B.A. 6th president of Utah Valley University 19992003 B.S.M.S. 11th president of Brigham Young University–Hawaii 1915 B.A. Chancellor of the University of California at Los AngelesWilkinson. BYU First 100. Vol. 4, p. 478. 19601996 B.A.Hon. D.L. 10th president of BYU; 1st dean of J. Reuben Clark Law School 1978 M.S. President of the University of International Golden Indonesia 19891989 B.A.M.A. 10th dean of the BYU Marriott School of Business 1986 Ed.D. 11th president of Weber State University 1968 B.S. 17th president of Dixie State College; 9th president of Weber State University; director of BYU MBA program 1954 B.A. 8th president of BYU; interim dean of University of Chicago Law School 1963 B.S. President of University of North Texas; 9th president of the Washington State University 19401973 B.A.M.Ed. 2nd president of Utah Technical College (now Utah Valley University)Scott Strobel 1987B.A. Provost of Yale University (2020–present) 1934 B.S. 1st dean of the BYU Marriott School of Business 1986 B.A. 7th president of Utah Valley University 1963 B.S. Former dean of the University of Missouri School of Law; former president of the Association of American Law Schools 1934 B.A. 9th president of the University of Oregon (1954–1960); president of the University of Minnesota (1960–1967) 19791982 B.A.J.D. (Clark) 13th president of BYU; 5th dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School 1973 B.A. 25th president of Texas A&M University; 33rd president of the University of Washington; 17th president of the University of Utah; dean of The George Washington University Law School
Professors and researchers Name Class year(s) Degree(s) Notability Reference 1988 Ed.D. Professor of religion, 2008 Ratemyprofessors.com Best Professor 1939 B.S. Co-winner of 1997 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on the enzymatic mechanism underlying the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) 1986 B.A. Studies on GED; Columbia University professor and financial analyst 1975 B.A. Coined the term "disruptive technology"; Harvard Business School professor 2002 B.S. (Marriott) Winner of 2006 Burton Award for Legal Achievement 1974 B.A. Richard Lyman Bushman Professor of Mormon Studies at the University of Virginia (2013–2024); former associate professor of American Religious History at the Vanderbilt University 19231968 B.S.Hon. D.Sc. Co-inventor of the electronic television 1907 B.S. Physicist credited with invention of the hearing aid; founding dean of the BYU College of Engineering 1981 B.A. Senior research fellow at Brigham Young University; professor emeritus of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond 1933 B.A. (valedictorian) Pioneer of modern geography and expert on Soviet and American urban geography; BYU's first Rhodes Scholar B.A. Managing Historian at the Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter-day Saints 1998B.A.Professor at Harvard Divinity School; director of graduate studies in religion at Harvard University 1959 B.S. Medical researcher in field of women's health 1999 B.A. Professor of Religious Studies and History at Utah State University; former professor of religion at Claremont Graduate University 1992 B.S. Professor of physics at Brigham Young University 1971 B.S. Warren and Wilson Dusenberry Professor at Brigham Young University, specializing in agricultural economics 1999 B.A. Rita Anne Rollins Professor of Law at William & Mary Law School 19921994 B.A.M.A. Professor of History at the University of Utah 1977 Ph.D. Instructional design theory researcher and developer 1957 B.A. Biological pest control research professor 2008 B.A. Historian and author 19261928B.A.M.A. Sociologist; dean of the Graduate School at the University of Connecticut 2000 Ph.D. Coined the term "open content" 1927 B.S. Utah ecologist, first naturalist at Zion National Park
Arts Name Class Degree Notability Reference 1940 B.A. Cowboy artist and sculptor called "cowboy of cowboy artists" 1954 B.A. Director, producer, and animator of films 1984 B.A. Sports sculptor 19671968 B.A.M.A. Fantasy painter B.F.A Wildlife, landscape, and fantasy artist, fantasy and horror author 1997 B.F.A Academy Award-winning visual effects artist of films such as Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, 2003) and The Jungle Book (2016)Carter, Edward L. "Software paves way for Y. artists" , Deseret News, 10 February 1998. Retrieved on 12 April 2021.B.A.Painter Kathleen PetersonB.A.PainterStephenson, Kathy. "151 artists, 26 nations, one faith — Latter-day Saint art show features diverse works about belief" , The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 March 2019. Retrieved on 19 April 2021. Reed P. Smoot 1969 B.A.M.A. Master cinematographer Eugene Tapahe 19922024 B.F.A.M.F.A. PhotographerRita Wright 19761997 B.A.M.A.Art historian, museum director of the Springville Museum of ArtMeans, Sean P. "Springville Museum of Art gets new director" , The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 August 2012. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
Business and finance Name Class year(s) Degree(s) Notability Reference 1983 MBA (Marriott) Former CEO of ClearPlay Inc. 19781980 B.S. (Marriott)MBA (Marriott) Managing director, Sorenson Capital; former CEO of Salt Lake Olympic Committee 1963 B.S. Former president and CEO of Ryder Systems 1983 MBA (Marriott) Former president of Madison Square Garden; former general manager of the Utah Jazz; owner of the Major League Soccer franchise Real Salt Lake; owner of the National Hockey League franchise St. Louis Blues 1994 B.A. CEO and co-founder of 1-800 Contacts 1994 DRE Author of New York Times bestseller The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, listed in Time magazine's Top 25 most influential Americans 1967 B.S. (Marriott) CFO of Citigroup Inc. 2003