List of Hofstra University people

Hofstra University was founded in 1935 and has since graduated over 100,000 students. Below is a partial list of notable alumni.

Academia

• Michael Beckerman BA '73. Professor and chair of the department of music at New York University. He is a noted scholar on the music of the Czech republic and also a writer for the New York Times.
• Hilarie Cranmer BE '89. (MD, M.P.H.) Dr. Cranmer is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and faculty in the Division of International Health and Humanitarian Programs in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital.
• Jonathan D. Moreno, BA '73. bioethics professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
• Peter Morgan, attended but did not graduate.
• Dr. Thomas (Tim) F. Monahan, (Bachelor's- Economics '71) professor of accounting at Villanova University, and from 1996-2003 served as dean of the College of Commerce and Finance. Prior to joining Villanova's faculty in 1981, Dr. Monahan was a tenured professor at LaSalle University. Dr. Monahan has won teaching awards at both LaSalle and Villanova Universities and has published research in many academic journals. Additionally, Dr. Monahan serves on the board of Ariba.
• Morton O. Schapiro, economics professor and president of Williams College
• Robert Swirsky, author, lecturer, and computer scientist.
• Olivia Longett, attened but did not graduate.

Business

• Chris Albrecht, former chairman of HBO.
• Avi Arad '72, CEO of Marvel Studios.
• Donald E Axinn, Trustee at Brandywine Realty Trust, Director since 1998. Additionally, Mr. Axinn is the founder and chairman of the Donald E. Axinn Companies.
• Steve Bartels President/COO, Island Def Jam Music Group.
• Alan Bernon '76, president of Dean Foods.
• Laurence N. Charney, BBA. Board of Directors member, Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
• Eugene B. Connolly Jr. BS, MBA. retired Chairman and CEO of USG Corporation. Former member of the Boards of Chicago Stock Exchange, Directors of Pepper Companies, LaSalle National Bank and Zenith Electronics Corp. He served on the advisory boards of Good Shepherd Hospital, Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University and Indiana University School of Business.
• James Campbell '81, president and CEO of GE Consumer and Industrial.
• Robert F. Dall, Prominent money manager, longtime bond investor and a progenitor of mortgage-backed securities at Salomon Brothers and numerous investment banks.
• Maurice Deane '81, president, Bama Equities.
• Frances Emerson, vice president, corporate communications and global brand management for John Deere
• George Dempster, current chairman of the Board of Trustees Emeritus of Hofstra University. Former commissioner of Commerce for the state of New York.
• Joseph Dionne, former president, CEO and chairman of the Board for McGraw Hill.
• Diane Garnick, Investment Strategist, Invesco.
• Joseph Gregory, president and COO of Lehman Brothers.
• Robert Gutkowski, Marquee Group president, CEO and Director of the Company since December 1995. Former president and CEO of the Madison Square Garden Corporation, former vice president of programming for ESPN.
• Eric H. Hananel, tax partner and member of Board of Directors of BDO Seidman, LLP. He received both his bachelor and masters degrees from Hofstra University.
• David Katz '86, partner, Sterling Equities and part-owner of the New York Mets.
• Charles Kushner, noted billionaire real estate developer.
• David Mack, senior partner for The Mack Company Developers, vice chairman of the MTA and a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
• Robert McMahon, the night-shift Air France cargo handling supervisor at John F. Kennedy Airport from 1957 to his death in 1979, and was a suspect in the 1978 Lufthansa heist
• Bernard L. Madoff, chairman of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, which he founded in 1960. One of the largest market maker companies on Wall Street.
• Edward J. Mardovich, (MBA 1983) Former president of Euro Brokers. Killed in 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
• John Miller '79, founder of Arterial Vascular Engineering.
• Dennis Omanoff, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Manufacturing. McAfee, Inc. MBA, Zarb School of Business.
• Patrick J. Purcell, '77, M.B.A. President and Publisher, Boston Herald and Herald Media.
• James Quinn, '74, President and Vice Chairman, Tiffany & Co.
• Scott Ross, BS-1974. Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Digital Domain, Inc., one of the largest full-service digital production studios in the motion picture and advertising industries.
• Debra Ann Sandler, '82, B.B.A. Worldwide President, McNeil Nutritional.
• Thomas J. Sanzone, '82, Chief Information Officer, Credit Suisse Securities, LLC.
• Salvatore Soldano, former chairman of the American Stock Exchange and vice chairman of the NASD. Current Dean of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University.
• Frederick Thomas Varacchi '88, 9/11 victim, former chief operating officer of Cantor Fitzgerald and former president and COO of e-Speed.
• Frank G. Zarb, former chairman of NASD, Inc. and the Nasdaq Stock Market. Current chairman of insurer AIG.

Government, Legal and Political

• Maryanne Trump Barry, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge and sister of Donald Trump.
• Norm Coleman, U.S. Senator (R-Minnesota).
• Thomas DiNapoli, former New York state assemblyman and current New York State Comptroller.
• Judge John J. Farley, III, Judge of the original United States Court of Veterans Appeals. Hofstra Law alumni, '73.
• Dr. Lenora Fulani, first woman and the first African American to ever appear on the ballot in all 50 states for U.S. President.
• Peter S. Kalikow, MTA chairman.
• Ron Kovic, activist, author of Born on the Fourth of July.
• James Larocca, 1998 candidate for Governor of NY, served in the cabinets of two New York governors as Commissioner of Energy and Transportation and as President of the Long Island Association, (region's largest business and civic organization_. Also an award-winning playwright.
• Norman F. Lent, former U.S. Congressman, New York (R).
• David A. Levy, former U.S. Congressman, New York (R).
• Joseph Margiotta, former Nassau County, Long Island Republican chairman.
• Thomas McKevitt, BS, JD. represents District 17 in the New York State Assembly, which includes large portions of Nassau County, New York.
• Robert O. Muller, JD, '74. co-founder of International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1997.
• Roland Nicholson, Jr., Chairman of the Fortune Society, A Prisoner Rights Organization.
• David Paterson, Former minority leader of the New York State Senate. Current Lieutenant Governor of New York State under Governor Elliot Spitzer.
• Samuel J. Rozzi, Former Nassau County (Long Island, NY) Police Commissioner.
• Howard Safir, former New York City Police commissioner and former head of the United States Marshals Service.
• Thomas C. Wales, assassinated federal prosecutor.
• Perry Weitz, founder of the leading plaintiffs' law firm Weitz & Luxenberg.
• Brandon Jon Bonzheim, noted political scientist and tax law scholar.

Film

• Carol Alt, Supermodel, actress, attended but did not graduate.
• James Caan, actor, attended but did not graduate.
• Francis Ford Coppola, Academy Award/Oscar-winning director, producer and writer of cinematic classics such as; The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Apocalypse Now, Patton (won an oscar for writing the screenplay), The Outsiders, American Graffiti (producer), and numerous other films.
• Robert Davi, actor. Major roles in the James Bond film Licence to Kill, Die Hard, The Goonies, featured roles in Wiseguy.
• Rosemarie DeWitt, actress and granddaughter of James Braddock.
• Madeline Kahn, Tony Award-winner for Best Actress; The Sisters Rosensweig. Twice nominated for an Academy Award. Films include: Paper Moon, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and High Anxiety.
• Lainie Kazan, actress. Starred in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
• Joe Morton, award winning actor. Appeared in Terminator 2, etc.
• Mike Starr (actor), noted screen and stage actor. Filmography highlights include: Goodfellas, Dumb and Dumber, Summer of Sam, The Natural, The Bodyguard, and The Black Dahlia.
• Christopher Walken, Oscar-winning actor, attended but did not graduate.

Radio

• Matthew Barry, on-air talent, Pixy 103 WPXC.
• Brandon Costa, on-air talent, MLB.com. Does voice over work on MLB.com daily quick update of the previous nights games on MLB.com's Fastcast. Prior to joining MLB.com, Brandon spent four years on the airwaves of WRHU covering Hofstra baseball, basketball, football, and men's lacrosse.
• John DeBella, Long time highly-rated air talent (DJ), WMGK Philadelphia.
• Steven Epstein, Sony Classical music producer.
• Marc Ernay, sports anchor/reporter on 1010 WINS; teaches Sports Broadcasting at St. John's University.
• Joe Frank, radio monologuist and playwright.
• Lisa Glasberg. "Lisa G", American radio and TV personality.
• Ellie Greenwich, songwriter,Leader of the Pack, and many other 1960s hit records.
• Dan Ingram, prominent disc jockey for WCBS-FM, New York.
• Michael Johnson, musician, vocalist and guitarist of rock band Twenty-One Fifty.
• Howard Liberman, News anchor/reporter Bloomberg Radio 1130 AM WBBR New York City & air talent on Sirius Satellite radio.
• Peter McCarthy, on-air talent, MLB.com. Hosts MLB.com's Baseball Channels late night show Under the Lights from 10pm to 1am. Peter also hosts the Daily Rewind on MLB.com. Prior to joining MLB.com, Peter spent the previous three years broadcasting baseball, football, basketball, softball and lacrosse at Hofstra University.
• Vinny Micucci, on-talent, MLB.com. Co-host of Leading Off every weekday at 10 a.m. He also serves as a reporter on MLB.com's video side, covering various special events throughout the year. Prior to joining MLB.com, Vinny was the voice of Hofstra baseball, football, basketball and lacrosse.
• Olivia (singer), R&B Singer signed to G-Unit.
• Travis Tefft, producer "Opie & Anthony Show"- XM Satellite Radio & 92.3 FM K-Rock NYC.
• Ralph Tortora, on-air talent (DJ) Q104.3 NYC & WBAB Long Island.

Television

• Lou Berger '72, head writer for children's television show; "Sesame Street." Winner of 10 Emmy's for outstanding writing.
• Margaret Colin, TV appearances include Edge of Night and As the World Turns. Starred in Now and Again, Foley Square and Legwork. Films include The Devil’s Own, Independence Day, Three Men and a Baby, True Believer and Pretty in Pink.
• Alan Colmes, talk radio host, co-host of Fox News Channel's; "Hannity & Colmes".
• John Discepolo, former sports director WNYW Fox 5.
• Elizabeth Dennehy, Numerous TV commercials. Appeared in segments of Judging Amy, Gideon’s Crossing, Seinfeld and ER. Played Blake Fitzgerald on The Guiding Light and Shelby in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• Susan Sullivan, actress.
• Irv "Mr. G" Gikofsky, CW11 (NY) News at Ten weatherman, has been delivering forecasts on New York television for almost 30 years. BA-History, 1967. Additionally, He received an MA-Secondary Education from Hofstra.
• Meredith Eaton-Gilden, American actress and psychologist.
• Monica Horan, actress, Everybody Loves Raymond".
• Paul Manson, B.A. '97. Producer of NBC's Today Show.
• Tom McGowan, TV sitcoms; Everybody Loves Raymond, Judging Amy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, ER, King of the Hill and Frasier. Films Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, Sleepless in Seattle and As Good As It Gets.
• Barry Poznick, B.A., '90. Reality TV developer and producer.
• Philip Rosenthal, creator, producer and writer for hit comedy show; "Everybody Loves Raymond".
• Leslie Segrete, designer on TLC's While You Were Out and Trading Spaces.
• Eliot Wald, B.A. 1967. TV and film writer.

Theater

• Nancy Cassaro, creator of stage show: "Tony and Tina's Wedding". Nancy wrote the show for her theatre company, Artificial Intelligence, and starred in the 1st production in New York.
• James Stacy Barbour, Played Leon Czolgosz in Assassins, Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, Officer Lovestock in Urinetown, on Broadway. Toured with National Company of The Secret Garden. Played The Beast in Beauty and the Beast (Los Angeles and Broadway). TV: Sex and the City, Just Shoot Me and The District.
• Peter Friedman, Appeared on Broadway in Twelve Angry Men, Heidi Chronicles and Common Pursuit. Starring role in the Broadway musical Ragtime. (Tony nomination); off-Broadway in The Loman Family Picnic. Recurring role in TV series Brooklyn Bridge.
• Jared Fine, Managing Director/Producer, Banner New York, New York, Associate Artistic Director, Salvatore LaRussa Dance Theater www.sldt.org, Producing Associate on SHOUT! The Mod Musical and former Director of Project Development, PLUS Entertainment, New York.

Literature and Print Media

• Tim Bierbaum, artist for web comic The Librarianist
• Butch D'Ambrosio, Mad Magazine contributor and playwright
• Nelson DeMille, best selling author
• [Stephen Dunn], Pulitzer Prize for poetry, 2001, former varsity basketball player.
• Marilyn French, noted author and feminist.
• Lauren LaCapra, journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Daily News
• Taylor Long, music journalist, contributor to Resonance Magazine and SOMA Magazine and creator of T-Sides blog
• George Vecsey, New York Times sportswriter
• Clive Young, author of Crank It Up (Backbeat Books, 2004)
• Caitlin Abber, creator of EverydayCaitlin, as well as contributor on TothePeople.

Performing Arts

• Brian McGuinness, Stand-up comedian in New York City
• Robert Phillips, classical guitarist
• Ricky Roxburgh, Stand-up comedian in New York City
• Billy Scafuri, Member of Harvard Sailing Team sketch comedy troupe
• Dave Storch, Stand-up comedian in New York City
• Mike Weiss, Stand-up comedian in New York City

Medicine

• Dr. Donna Mendes '73, Senior Vascular Surgeon. Known for being the First African American Woman Vascular Surgeon certified by the American Board of Surgery.

Dr. Allen Zagoren ( DO,MPA,FACOS,FACN)- Associate Professor Drake University College of Business and Public Administration- Known for being a national expert in Wound management and the relationship of nutrition to wound healing. Wildly published and lecturing in this field- Dr. Zagoren is also a faculty member of the Drake University college of business and Public Administration where he is an adviser for health Policy to the Center for Professional Studies as well as a professor for health policy, bioethics and health care management,Former Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and research at Western University-Former Vice Chair Iowa Board of Medicine, Former Physician of the year ( 2000-2001)

Military

• Christopher P. Arena, '03 B.S. United States Marine Corps Marine Air-Ground Task Force Planner. In addition, Giant Realty (Trustee) and Liccardi Motors (Executive).
• Charles W. Dryden, (Lieutenant Colonel, USAF - Retired). BA in Political Science. He was a member of the famed 99th Pursuit Squadron, Tuskegee Airmen later the 332 Fighter Group, which served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy during World War II. Recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.
• Rear Admiral William M. Narva, '52. Dr. Narva (MD) was the attending physician for the U.S. Congress from 1986-1990. Additionally he is a prominent lecturer, consultant and adviser.

Sports

Baseball

• Randy Levine, Hofstra law school alumni, '80. Senior Counsel- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, LLP. Currrent President of the New York Yankees.
• Ken Singleton, former New York Mets, Montreal Expos, and Baltimore Orioles player and current YES Network commentator (never graduated)
• Richard Caputo, current Minor league baseball player for the Vermont Lake Monsters (Washington Nationals minor league system)

Basketball

• Speedy Claxton, current Atlanta Hawks point guard
• Loren Stokes, NBA free agent.
• William Bernhard Thieben, Position: F-C. Drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1956 NBA draft.
• Butch van Breda Kolff,(Not an Alumni member, but notable Hofstra "family" member.) Coached Hofstra Men's basketball from 1955-62 and from 1988-94 and compiled a 482-272 coaching record in 28 college seasons. He took six teams to the NCAA tournament at a time when tournament berths were much more scarce, and won seven conference titles. Coached the Los Angeles Lakers to two NBA finals with a team that included Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor and was 287-316 in 10 seasons as an NBA and ABA coach.

Football

• Charlie Adams, current wide receiver for the Houston Texans
• Stephen Bowen, DE, Dallas Cowboys
• Rocky Butler, current quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts
• Giovanni Carmazzi, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback
• Wayne Chrebet, former New York Jets wide receiver
• Willie Colon, Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Line
• Marques Colston, current wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints
• Devale Ellis, current wide receiver for the Detroit Lions
• Dave Fiore, former San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins guard
• Don Gault. QB, Cleveland Browns-1970.
• Arlen Harris, current running back and kick returner for the Atlanta Falcons.
• John Schmitt, Center, Played for 10 years with the New York Jets and one year with the Green Bay Packers. Member of New York Jets Super Bowl III Championship Team.
• Lance Schulters, current free safety for the Miami Dolphins
• Shaine Smith, WR, St. Louis Rams.
• Renauld Williams, former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers.
• Vincent Molinari, former right guard for Cincinnati Bengals.

Football "Related"

• Sal Alosi, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the New York Jets. Former head strength and conditioning coach for the Atlanta Falcons. Alosi was an assistant in the strength and conditioning department for the Jets for four years (2002-05). Alosi was a linebacker at Hofstra University before starting his coaching career at his alma mater (2001).

Lacrosse

• Athan Iannucci, Midfielder, Philadelphia Wings, Chicago Machine and New Westminster Salmonbellies
• Blake Miller, Midfielder, Long Island Lizards
• Brett Moyer, Defenseman, Philadelphia Barrage
• Nicky Polanco, Long Island Lizards
• Doug Shanahan, Midfield, Chicago Machine
• Brian Spallina, Defenseman, Philadelphia Barrage
• Chris Unterstein, current midfielder for the Rochester Rattlers