List of Northwestern University alumni

The following is a list of notable alumni who attended Northwestern University

Academia

Selected Northwestern Alumni

Ann-Margret, Actress

Warren Beatty, Actor

Edgar Bergen, Ventriloquist

Andrew Bird, Musician

Rod Blagojevich, former Governor of Illinois

David Boies, counsel, Bush v. Gore; founding partner, Boies, Schiller & Flexner

Mike Greenberg, ESPN employee and host of radio show Mike & Mike in the Morning.

William Jennings Bryan, former U.S. Secretary of State & three-time Democratic presidential nominee

Stephen Colbert, Comedian

Arthur Goldberg, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Actress

Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, former White House Chief of Staff, former U.S. Congressman

Dick Gephardt, former U.S. House Majority Leader

Charlton Heston, Actor

Douglas Kmiec, U.S. Ambassador

Todd Martin, former professional tennis player

George McGovern, former U.S. Senator & Democratic presidential nominee

Charles Horace Mayo, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic

Seth Meyers, Comedian

Peter George Peterson, Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations; Co-Founder & Senior Chairman of the Blackstone Group

Graham Spanier, President of Penn State University

John Paul Stevens, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Rachael Yamagata, Musician

• Fredrick L. Garner (Ph.D. 1988), Honors Spanish III Teacher at Brophy College Preparatory, is moving to Kenya next year to spread knowledge around the globe. He utilizes the house cup system (see Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry).
• Madeleine Wing Adler (B.A. 1962), President, West Chester University
• Amy Allen (Ph.D. 1996), Parents Distinguished Research Professor in the Humanities and professor of philosophy, Dartmouth College
• Jean Allman (B.A. 1979, Ph.D. 1987), J.M. Hexter Professor in the Humanities in Arts & Sciences and professor of history, Washington University in St. Louis
• Robert J. Alpern (B.A. 1972), Dean, Yale School of Medicine
• Elijah Anderson (Ph.D. 1976), William K. Lanman, Jr. Professor of Sociology, Yale University
• Geert Bekaert (Ph.D. 1992), Leon G. Cooperman Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia University
• Steven Berry (B.A. 1980), James Burrows Moffatt Professor of Economics, Yale University
• Wallace D. Best (Ph.D. 2000), Professor of Religion, Princeton University
• Sally Blount (Ph.D. 1992), Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
• Clinton Bristow, Jr. (B.A. 1971), former President, Alcorn State University
• Lawrence Bryan (Ph.D. 1973), President, MacMurray College
• Kristin Bumiller (B.A., M.A. 1979), Professor of Political Science and Gender Studies, Amherst College
• Joyce Chaplin (B.A. 1982), James Duncan Phillips Professor of Early American History, Harvard University
• Johnnetta B. Cole (M.A. 1959, Ph.D. 1967), President Emerita, Spelman College; President, Bennett College
• Juan Cole (B.A. 1975), Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History, University of Michigan
• James Hal Cone (M.A. 1963, Ph.D. 1965), Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
• William C. Dudley (M.A. 1995, Ph.D. 1998), Provost and Professor of Philosophy, Williams College
• Mitchell Duneier (B.A.), Professor of Sociology, Princeton University
• Troy Duster (B.A. 1957, Ph.D. 1962), Professor of Sociology, New York University and University of California, Berkeley
• Lee Edelman (B.A. 1975), Fletcher Professor of English Literature, Tufts University
• Kathryn Edin (Ph.D. 1991), Professor of Public Policy and Management, Harvard University
• Laura F. Edwards (B.A. 1985), Professor of History, Duke University
• Mahmoud El-Gamal (Ph.D. 1988), Chair of Islamic Economics, Finance, and Management, Professor of

Economics, and Professor of Statistics, Rice University

• Fred D. Fagg, Jr., former President, University of Southern California
• Steven Feierman (M.A., Ph.D.), Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania
• William R. Ferris (M.A. 1965), Joel Williamson Eminent Professor of History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Jonathan Freedman (B.A. 1977), Professor of English and American Studies, University of Michigan
• Susan Fuhrman (B.A. 1965, M.A. 1966), President, Teachers College, Columbia University
• Jane Gaines (B.S., M.A., Ph.D. 1982), Professor of Film, Columbia University
• Simon Gikandi (Ph.D., 1986), Robert Schirmer Professor of English, Princeton University
• Barry Glassner (B.S. 1974), Executive Vice Provost & Professor of Sociology, University of Southern California
• Avner Greif (M.A. 1988, Ph.D. 1989), Bowman Family Endowed Professor in Humanities & Sciences, Stanford University
• Philip Haile (Ph.D. 1996), Ford Foundation Professor of Economics, Yale University
• Herbert S. Hadley (LL.B ) Chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis (1923–1927) Governor of Missouri
• Geoffrey Galt Harpham (B.A. 1968), Director, National Humanities Center
• David Harris (B.S. 1991, Ph.D. 1997), Deputy Provost, Vice Provost of Social Sciences, and Professor of Sociology, Cornell University
• Fredrick C. Harris (Ph.D. 1994), Director of Center on African American Politics and Society and Professor of Political Science, Columbia University
• Cynthia Herrup (B.S.J. 1972, Ph.D. 1982), Professor of History and Law, University of Southern California
• Rosanna Hertz (M.A. 1977, Ph.D. 1983), Luella LaMer Professor of Sociology and Women's Studies, Wellesley College
• Linn W. Hobbs (B.S. 1966), Professor of Materials Science and Engineering; and Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Michael J. Hopkins (B.A. 1979, Ph.D. 1984), Professor of Mathematics, Harvard University
• Frank E. Horton (Ph.D. 1968), Chancellor of University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee(1980–1985), University of Oklahoma (1985–1988) and the University of Toledo (1989–1998).
• Roger D. Kamm (B.S. 1972), Germeshausen Professor of Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Louis Kaplow (B.A. 1977), Finn M.W. Caspersen and Household International Professor of Law and Economics, Harvard University
• Jonathan D. Katz (Ph.D. 1996), former head of Larry Kramer Initiative for Lesbian and Gay Studies, Yale University
• Joann (Wheeler) Kealiinohomoku (M.A. 1965), anthropologist and dance researcher
• Marc W. Kirschner (B.A. 1966), John Franklin Enders University Professor and Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard University
• Dale Knobel (Ph.D. 1976), President, Denison University
• Nirmalya Kumar (Ph.D. 1991), Co-Director, Aditya Birla India Centre; Director, Centre for Marketing; Faculty Director, Executive Education, London Business School
• Zachary Leader (B.A.), Professor of English, Roehampton University
• Michael Lounsbury (PhD 1999), Professor of strategic management, organizations and sociology at the University of Alberta
• Glenn Loury (B.A. 1972), Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences, Brown University
• John Malmstad (B.A. 1963), Samuel Hazzard Cross Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
• George E. Marcus (Ph.D. 1968), Professor of Political Science, Williams College
• Gaetana Marrone-Puglia (PhD. 1976), Professor of Italian, Princeton University
• Susan E. Mayer (Ph.D. 1986), Dean, Harris School of Public Policy Studies, University of Chicago
• Mark Crispin Miller (B.A. 1971), Professor of Media Ecology, New York University
• Ed Morgan (B.A. 1976), Professor of International Law at the University of Toronto
• Diana Mutz (B.A. 1984), Samuel A. Stouffer Professor of Political Science and Communication, University of Pennsylvania
• George Nemhauser (Ph.D. 1961), A. Russell Chandler lll Chair and Institute Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Gail Newman (B.A. 1976), Harold J. Henry Professor of German, Williams College
• J. Dennis O'Connor (Ph.D. 1968), former Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh
• Scott E. Page (M.S. 1990, Ph.D. 1993), Leonid Hurwicz Collegiate Professor of complex systems, political science, and economics, University of Michigan
• Charles M. Payne (Ph.D. 1976), Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor in the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago
• Ralph Pearson (Ph.D. 1943), Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Kirk E. Pillow (M.A. 1991, Ph.D. 1995), Provost and Dean, Corcoran College of Art and Design
• Benjamin Polak (M.A. 1986), William C. Brainard Professor of Economics, Yale University
• Andrew Postlewaite (Ph.D. 1974), Harry P. Kamen Professor of Economics and Professor of Finance, University of Pennsylvania
• Adam Przeworski (Ph.D. 1966), Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor of European Studies, New York University
• V. Kasturi Rangan (Ph.D. 1983), Malcolm P. McNair Professor of Marketing & Director of Research, Harvard Business School
• Thomas S. Robertson (M.A., Ph.D. 1966), Dean, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
• David R. Roediger (Ph.D. 1980), professor of history, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Joseph Rouse, (M.A., Ph.D.), Hedding Professor of Moral Science, Wesleyan University
• Norbert M. Samuelson, scholar of Jewish philosophy at Arizona State University and prolific writer and lecturer
• Rebecca Sherrick (Ph.D. 1980), President, Aurora University
• James Schmotter (Ph.D. 1973), President, Western Connecticut State University
• Laurence Senelick (B.A.), Fletcher Professor of Drama and Oratory, Tufts University
• Naoko Shibusawa, (M.A. 1993, Ph.D. 1998), Associate Professor of History, Brown University
• John B. Simpson (Ph.D. 1973), President, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
• David J. Skorton (B.A. 1970, M.D. 1974), President, Cornell University
• Graham Spanier (Ph.D. 1973), President, Pennsylvania State University
• Barbara Maria Stafford (B.A. 1964, M.A. 1966), William B. Ogden Distinguished Service Professor of Art History, University of Chicago
• Grover C. Stephens (B.A. 1948, M.A. 1949, Ph.D. 1952), Dean, School of Biological Sciences University of California at Irvine
• Roger Taylor (J.D. 1971), President, Knox College
• Stephan Thernstrom (B.A. 1956), Winthrop Professor of History, Harvard University
• Augusta Read Thomas (B.M. 1987), University Professor of Composition, University of Chicago
• Matthew Tirrell (B.S. 1973), Arnold and Barbara Silverman Professor of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
• Emilie M. Townes (Ph.D.) Andrew W. Mellon Professor of African American Religion and Theology, Yale University
• Glen L. Urban (Ph.D. 1966), Dean Emeritus of MIT Sloan School of Management
• Penny Von Eschen (B.A. 1982), professor of history and American culture, University of Michigan
• Justin Weir, (M.A. 1993, Ph.D. 1997), professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
• John E. Worthen (B.S. 1954), President of Ball State University from 1984 to 2000.

Arts/Entertainment (Theatre, TV and Film)

• Mara Brock Akil (B.A. 1992), creator and executive producer of Girlfriends and The Game, former supervising producer of The Jamie Foxx Show
• Claude Akins (B.S. 1949), actor (Inherit the Wind, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo)
• Ann-Margret (Olsson) (Class of 1963, never graduated), Academy Award-nominated actress (Tommy, Carnal Knowledge)
• Sharif Atkins (B.S. 1999), actor (ER)
• Jayne Atkinson (B.S. 1981), Tony Award-nominated actress (Enchanted April, The Rainmaker); currently portrays Karen Hayes on 24
• Jane Badler (B.S. 1976), actress (V)
• Kate Baldwin actress (1997 – theaterschool)
• Bonnie Bartlett (B.S. 1950), Emmy Award-winning actress (St. Elsewhere, Twins, Ghosts of Mississippi)
• Warren Beatty (Class of 1959, never graduated), Academy Award-winning actor/writer/director (Bonnie and Clyde, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Shampoo, Reds)
• Lee Phillip Bell (B.A. 1950) Emmy Award-winning co-creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful
• Rob Benedict (B.S. 1993), actor (Threshold, Felicity)
• Richard Benjamin (B.S. 1960), actor (Catch-22, Deconstructing Harry); director (Mermaids, Racing with the Moon)
• Edgar Bergen (attended, did not graduate), Academy Award-winning actor and ventriloquist (Charlie McCarthy)
• Greg Berlanti (B.S. 1994), screenwriter and producer (Dawson's Creek); creator of Everwood and Jack & Bobby; writer/director of Broken Hearts Club
• Eric Bernt (B.S. 1986), screenwriter (Surviving the Game, Virtuosity, Romeo Must Die)
• Craig Bierko (B.S. 1986), actor (Cinderella Man, The Thirteenth Floor); Tony Award-nominee (The Music Man)
• Karen Black (attended, never graduated), Academy Award-nominated actress (Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces)
• Jeff Blumenkrantz (B.S. 1986), Tony Award-nominated musical theatre composer/lyricist (Urban Cowboy)
• Robert Borden (B.S. 1989), executive producer/writer (George Lopez)
• Zach Braff (B.S. 1997), Emmy Award-nominated actor (Scrubs); writer/director (Garden State)
• Cary Brothers (B.S. 1995), Grammy-nominated musician (Garden State)
• Clancy Brown (B.S. 1981), actor (Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption)
• Charles Busch (B.S. 1976), Tony Award-nominated playwright (The Tale of the Allergist's Wife)
• Frank Buxton (B.S. 1951), actor/writer/director
• Bruno Campos (B.S. 1995), actor (Nip/Tuck)
• Adam Chase (B.S. 1990), Emmy Award-nominated writer/executive producer (Friends)
• Josh Chetwynd, UK based baseball analyst and former player
• Janet Choi, cast member of The Real World: Seattle
• Cindy Chupack (B.S. 1987), Emmy Award-winning executive producer and writer (Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond)
• Jeanne Clemson (M.A.), theater director, stage actress and teacher, preserved the Fulton Opera House
• Stephen Colbert (B.S. 1987), Emmy Award-winning comedian (The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)
• Jack Clay, acting teacher/director/actor
• Claire Coffee, actress (General Hospital)
• Kate Collins, actress (All My Children)
• Robert Conrad (B.S. 1955), actor (The Wild Wild West, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hawaiian Eye)
• Steven Conrad (B.A. 1991), screenwriter (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man)
• Cindy Crawford (attended, never graduated), model
• Jan Crull Jr.(attended, never graduated),filmmaker, Native American Rights Activist, Attorney
• Jane Curtin (attended, never graduated), original cast member of Saturday Night Live; Emmy Award-nominated actress (Kate & Allie, 3rd Rock from the Sun)
• Stephanie D'Abruzzo (B.S. 1993), Tony Award-nominated actress and puppeteer (Avenue Q)
• William Daniels (B.S. 1950), Emmy Award-winning actor (St. Elsewhere, Boy Meets World); former president of the Screen Actors Guild
• Zooey Deschanel (attended, never graduated), actress (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Elf, Almost Famous, Winter Passing)
• Lydia R. Diamond (B.S. 1992), playwright
• Matt Doherty (B.S. 1999), actor (So I Married an Axe Murderer, The Mighty Ducks films)
• Anne Dudek, actress (House, Psych, Law and Order: CI, Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, Mad Men, White Chicks, The Human Stain)
• Teddy Dunn (B.S. 2003), actor (Veronica Mars)
• Nancy Dussault (B.A. 1957), actress (Too Close for Comfort); two-time Tony Award nominee (Do Re Mi, Bajour)
• Gregg Edelman (B.S. 1980), Tony Award-nominated actor (City of Angels, Into the Woods)
• Jennie Eisenhower (B.S. 2000), actress; granddaughter of Richard Nixon and the great-granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Craig Erwich (B.A. 1989) former Executive Vice President of Programming at Fox TV
• Mary Frann (B.S. 1965), actress (Newhart, Days of our Lives)
• Temi Epstein (B.S. 1996), child actress (North and South)
• Joe Flynn, actor (McHale's Navy)
• Penny Fuller (B.S. 1959), Emmy Award-winning actress (The Elephant Man); Tony Award nominee (The Dinner Party)
• Gerald Freedman (B.S. 1949, M.A. 1950), theatre director (The Gay Life, The Robber Bridegroom, The Grand Tour)
• David T. Friendly (B.S. 1978), Academy Award-nominated producer (Little Miss Sunshine)
• George Furth (B.S. 1955), Tony Award-winning playwright (Company); actor (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid)
• Aimee Garcia (B.S. 2000), actress (George Lopez)
• Daniele Gaither (B.S. 1993), actress, comic (MADtv)
• Barbara Gaines (B.S. 1968), founder and artistic director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
• Frank Galati (B.A. 1965), Tony Award-winning director (The Grapes of Wrath), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter (The Accidental Tourist)
• Ana Gasteyer (B.S. 1989), actress (Mean Girls, Wicked); former cast member of Saturday Night Live
• Ileen Getz (B.S. 1985), actress (3rd Rock from the Sun)
• Zach Gilford (B.S. 2004), actor (Friday Night Lights)
• Eric Gilliland (B.S. 1984), writer/producer (Rosanne, My Boys)
• Ira Glass (attended, transferred), radio and TV personality
• Jonathan Glassner, TV writer/producer, most known for developing Stargate SG-1.
• Virginia Graham (M.S.J.), former daytime TV talk show host
• Michael Greif (B.S. 1981), Tony Award-nominated director of Rent and Grey Gardens
• Mamie Gummer (B.S. 2005), actress (Evening), daughter of Meryl Streep
• Anna Gunn (B.S. 1990), actress (Deadwood)
• Kathryn Hahn (B.S. 1995), actress (Crossing Jordan)
• Brad Hall (B.S. 1990), former cast member of (Saturday Night Live); creator of (The Single Guy, Watching Ellie)
• Samantha Harris (B.S. 1996), Emmy Award-nominated co-host of Dancing with the Stars
• Bill Hayes (M.M. 1949), Daytime Emmy Award-nominated actor (Days of our Lives)
• Heather Headley (B.S. 1997), Tony Award-winning actress and singer (Aida, The Lion King); Grammy Award-nominated R&B vocalist
• Kyle T. Heffner, actor Flashdance
• Marg Helgenberger (B.S. 1982), Emmy Award-winning actress (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, China Beach, Erin Brockovich)
• Charlton Heston (B.S. 1945), Academy Award-winning actor (Ben-Hur), National Rifle Association President
• Michael Hitchcock (B.S. 1980), writer, co-executive producer (MADTv); actor (Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, Serenity )
• Ron Holgate (B.S. 1959), Tony Award-winning actor (1776, The Grand Tour)
• David Hollander (B.S. 1990), creator, screenwriter, and executive producer of The Guardian
• David Horowitz (M.S. 1961), former host of Fight Back! With David Horowitz
• Jeffrey Hunter (B.A. 1949), actor (The Searchers, The Last Hurrah, King of Kings, The Longest Day)
• Lew Hunter (M.S. 1956), Emmy Award-nominated screenwriter (Fallen Angel); Chairman Emeritus and Professor of Screenwriting, UCLA School of Theater Film and Television
• Ron Husmann (B.S. 1959), Tony Award-nominated actor (Tenderloin)
• Martha Hyer (B.S. 1945), Academy Award-nominated actress (Some Came Running, Houseboat, The Sons of Katie Elder, Bikini Beach)
• Rex Ingram, actor (Cabin in the Sky, The Thief of Baghdad, Sahara, Green Pastures)
• Laura Innes (B.S. 1979), Emmy Award-nominated actress (ER); Emmy Award-nominated director (The West Wing)
• Robin Irwin, noted Broadway actress ("Titanic (musical)"), and ("Dance of the Vampires") She currently teaches at New York University
• David Ives (B.A. 1971), playwright, (All in the Timing)
• Brian d'Arcy James (B.S. 1990), Tony Award-nominated actor (Sweet Smell of Success: The Musical)
• Tim Johnson (B.A. 1983), director (Antz, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas)
• Jennifer Jones, Academy Award-winning actress (The Song of Bernadette, Since You Went Away, Love Letters, Duel in the Sun, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing)
• Peter Kapetan, (B.A. 1978), Broadway actor, singer, dancer 1956–2008
• Spencer Kayden (B.S. 1990), former cast member of MADTv; Tony Award-nominee for Urinetown
• James Keach (B.S. 1970), actor (The Long Riders); producer (Walk the Line); director (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman)
• Stacy Keach, Sr. (B.S. 1935), actor (Get Smart); director (Tales of the Texas Rangers)
• Clinton Kelly (M.S. 1993), co-host of (What Not to Wear)
• Peter Keramidas (B.S. 1987, M.B.A 1991), former Executive Vice President of Programming at Showtime Networks
• Richard Kind (B.S. 1978), actor (Mad About You, Spin City)
• Richard Kline (M.A. 1967), actor (Three's Company)
• Robert Knepper (attended, never graduated), actor (Prison Break, Hostage, Carnivàle)
• Gary Kroeger (B.S. 1981), former cast member of (Saturday Night Live)
• Roger Kumble (B.S. 1988), writer/director (Cruel Intentions)
• Jeff Kurland (B.S. 1975), Academy Award-nominated costume designer (Bullets Over Broadway, Ocean's Eleven, Collateral)
• Clyde Kusatsu (B.S. 1970), actor (All American Girl, In the Line of Fire)
• Mark Lamos (B.S. 1969), Tony Award-winning former artistic director of the Hartford Stage
• Sherry Lansing (B.S. 1966), former CEO of Paramount Pictures; Academy Award-nominated producer (Fatal Attraction); 2007 recipient of The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
• Martha Lavey (B.S. 1979, M.A. 1986, Ph.D. 1994), Tony Award-winning artistic director of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company
• Britt Leach, actor (Weird Science)
• Cloris Leachman (B.S. 1948), Academy Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning actress (The Last Picture Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Spanglish)
• Harry J. Lennix (B.S. 1986), actor (The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Commander in Chief, Ray)
• Richard J. Lewis (B.A. 1982), Emmy Award-nominated director/producer (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
• Herschell Gordon Lewis, filmmaker
• John Logan (B.S. 1983), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter (The Aviator, Gladiator, The Last Samurai)
• Laura Linney (attended for a year then transferred), actress (The Truman Show)
• Shelley Long (Class of 1971, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Cheers, The Money Pit, Irreconcilable Differences)
• Rob Loos (B.S. 1981), award-winning writer/producer/director(Captain Kangaroo, McGee and Me!, Touched by an Angel)
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Class of 1982, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Seinfeld, The New Adventures of Old Christine); former cast member of Saturday Night Live
• Paul Lynde (B.S. 1948), actor (Hollywood Squares, Bewitched, Bye Bye Birdie)
• J.P. Manoux (B.S. 1991), actor (ER, Phil of the Future, The Emperor's New School)
• Stephanie March (B.S. 1996), actress (Law & Order: SVU, Conviction)
• Michael Markowitz (B.S. 1983), Emmy Award-nominated writer and producer (Duckman, Becker)
• Garry Marshall (B.S. 1956), creator of Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and Mork & Mindy; director (Pretty Woman, Beaches, The Princess Diaries)
• Marshall W. Mason (B.S. 1961), Tony Award-nominated director (Fifth of July, As Is)
• Daphne Maxwell Reid (B.A. 1970), actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
• Jacquelyn Mayer (B.S. 1964), former Miss America
• Laverne McKinnon (B.S. 1987), Senior Executive Vice President of Drama Series Development, CBS Broadcasting, Inc.
• Ralph Meeker (B.S. 1943), actor (Kiss Me Deadly, Paths of Glory, Picnic, The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, The Anderson Tapes)
• Susan Messing (B.S. 1986), performer, teacher, and director at The Second City, ImprovOlympic, and the Annoyance Theatre
• Josh Meyers (B.S. 1998), actor (MADtv, That '70s Show)
• Seth Meyers (B.S. 1996), cast member of Saturday Night Live; co-anchor of Weekend Update; winner of the third Celebrity Poker Showdown
• Terri Minsky (B.S. 1980), creator/writer/executive producer of Lizzie McGuire, Less Than Perfect, and The Geena Davis Show
• John Cameron Mitchell (B.S. 1985), writer/actor/director (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), executive producer (Tarnation)
• Andrew Moskos (B.A. 1990), co-founder of Boom Chicago in Amsterdam
• Karen Moncrieff (B.S. 1986), Miss Illinois 1985; writer and director of The Dead Girl and Blue Car
• Jason Moore (B.S. 1993), Tony Award-nominated director (Avenue Q)
• Robert E. Mulholland (B.S.J. 1955, M.S.J. 1956), former President and C.O.O., NBC
• Megan Mullally (Class of 1981, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Will and Grace)
• Dermot Mulroney (B.S. 1985), actor (About Schmidt, My Best Friend's Wedding, The Family Stone)
• John Musker (B.A. 1975), writer/producer/director (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules)
• Tony Musante, actor (Toma, As the World Turns) *Margaret Nagle, screenwriter (Emmy Award Winning "Warm Springs")
• Patricia Neal (B.S. 1947), Academy Award-winning and Tony Award-winning actress (A Face In The Crowd, Hud, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Subject Was Roses)
• Tom Neal, actor (Detour, Jungle Girl)
• George Newbern (B.S. 1986), actor (Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride Part II, Justice League Unlimited)
• Jamie Ray Newman (B.S. 2000), actress (Veronica Mars, Stargate Atlantis)
• Peter Newman (B.S. 1975), producer (The Squid and the Whale)
• Agnes Nixon (B.S. 1944), Emmy Award-winning writer/producer (All My Children, One Life to Live, Another World, As the World Turns, Loving)
• Bruce Norris (B.S. 1982), actor (A Civil Action); playwright, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
• Denis O'Hare (B.S. 1984), Tony Award-winning actor (Take Me Out, Sweet Charity, Assassins)
• Dana Olsen (B.S. 1980), screenwriter (George of the Jungle, The 'Burbs)
• James Olson (B.S. 1952), actor (Rachel, Rachel, The Andromeda Strain, Ragtime, Commando)
• Jerry Orbach (Class of 1956, never graduated), Tony Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated actor (Law & Order, Promises, Promises, Dirty Dancing)
• Maulik Pancholy (B.S. 1995), actor (30 Rock, Weeds)
• Mary Beth Peil (B.S. 1962), Tony Award-nominated actress (The King and I, Dawson's Creek)
• Michael Pellerin (B.S. 1987), DVD producer, The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
• Jeff Pinkner, screenwriter (Lost)
• Michael Prywes, (B.S. 1996), writer and director of Returning Mickey Stern
• Paula Prentiss (B.S. 1959), Emmy Award-nominated actress (Where the Boys Are, The Parallax View, In Harm's Way, The World of Henry Orient)
• Jenny Powers (B.S. 2003), Miss Illinois 2000; Broadway actress (Little Women)
• John Quaintance (B.S. 1993), writer, (Joey, Aquamarine, Material Girls)
• John Qualen, actor (The Grapes of Wrath, The Searchers, Casablanca, The High and the Mighty)
• Maeve Quinlan (attended, transferred to University of Southern California), actress (90210, South of Nowhere, Ken Park, The Bold and the Beautiful)
• Lily Rabe (B.S. 2004), actress (No Reservations, Steel Magnolias)
• Charlotte Rae (B.S. 1948), Emmy Award-nominated and Tony Award-nominated actress (The Facts of Life, Diff'rent Strokes, Queen of the Stardust Ballroom)
• Tony Randall (Class of 1941, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actor (The Odd Couple, Mr. Peepers, Inherit the Wind)
• Robert Reed (B.S. 1954), Emmy Award-nominated actor (The Brady Bunch, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, Roots)
• Keith Reddin (B.S. 1978), playwright
• Marcia Rodd (B.S. 1960), Tony Award-nominated actress (Little Murders, Shelter)
• Tony Roberts (B.S. 1961), Tony Award-nominated actor (Annie Hall, Serpico, Play It Again, Sam)
• Jeri Ryan (B.S. 1991), actress (Boston Public, Star Trek: Voyager, Shark)
• Ethan Sandler (B.S. 1995), actor (Crossing Jordan)
• Kristen Schaal (B.S. 2001), actress and comedian, contributor to The Daily Show
• David Schwimmer (B.S. 1988), Emmy Award-nominated actor (Friends, Band of Brothers, Madagascar)
• Yuki Shimoda (Yukio Shimoda, B.A. in Accounting 1950's), Emmy Award-nominated actor, University of Chicago Compass Players "Second City", Japanese American nisei actor of the silver screen, stage and television, co-star of the Tony Award winning Broadway play, Auntie Mame with fellow Northwestern graduate Robert Reed
• Katherine Shindle (B.S. 1999), Miss America 1998, actress (Capote)
• Dan Shor, actor (Tron, Strange Behavior, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure)
• Candace Smith (J.D. 2002), Miss Ohio USA 2003; actress (Beerfest)
• Jerry Springer (J.D. 1968), host of The Jerry Springer Show; former mayor of Cincinnati
• Florence Stanley, actress (My Two Dads, Atlantis: The Lost Empire)
• McLean Stevenson (B.S. 1952), Emmy Award-nominated actor (M*A*S*H, The Doris Day Show); guest host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
• Peter Strauss (B.S. 1969), Emmy Award-winning actor (Rich Man, Poor Man, Masada, Soldier Blue, The Secret of NIMH)
• Nicole Sullivan (B.S. 1991), original cast member of MADtv; actress (The King of Queens); winner of the inaugural Celebrity Poker Showdown
• Hope Summers, actress (The Andy Griffith Show)
• Cody Sweet (B.S. 1963, Ph.D. 1972), international platform speaker on nonverbal communication, spokesperson Kimberly-Clark, Health-Tex, Body Language board game creator
• Inga Swenson (B.S. 1953), actress (The Miracle Worker, Benson)
• Leigh Taylor-Young (attended, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Soylent Green, Picket Fences, I Love You, Alice B. Toklas)
• Lloyd Thaxton (B.A. 1950), television show host, Emmy Award-winning producer of "Fight Back! With David Horowitz"
• David Thompson (B.S.J.), playwright and writer (The Scottsboro Boys, Steel Pier)
• Chuti Tiu (B.A. 1991), Miss Illinois 1994; actress (Desire)
• Deborah Tranelli (B.S. 1977), actress (Dallas)
• Robert Trebor, actor (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Raise Your Voice)
• Jason Tyne, resident playwright and director, Rising Sun Performance Company
• Ira Ungerleider (B.S. 1990), Emmy Award-nominated producer/writer (Friends)
• Tom Virtue (B.S. 1979), actor (Even Stevens, Read It and Weep)
• Billie Lou Watt (B.S. 1945), actress (Search for Tomorrow, Astro Boy)
• Michael Weston (B.S.), actor (The Last Kiss, Coyote Ugly, Six Feet Under)
• Kimberly Williams (B.S. 1993), actress (Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, According to Jim)
• Fred Williamson (B.S. 1960), actor (MASH, Three the Hard Way, Black Caesar, Starsky & Hutch); former professional defensive back who played in Super Bowl I
• Edward D. Wood, Jr., filmmaker
• Mary Zimmerman (B.S. 1982, M.A. 1985, Ph.D. 1994), Tony Award-winning director/writer (Metamorphoses); librettist (Galileo Galilei)

Business

• Arthur Andersen (B.B.A. 1917), founder of Arthur Andersen LLP
• Teruaki Aoki (Ph.D. 1970), Senior Executive Vice President, Sony
• James L. Allen (B.S. 1929), founder of Booz Allen Hamilton
• Edwin G. Booz (B.S. 1914), founder of Booz Allen Hamilton
• Lisa Caputo (M.S. 1987), Chairman and CEO, Citigroup Women and Company
• Sue Castorino (B.S. 1975), founder and President of The Speaking Specialists
• Nicholas Chabraja (B.A. 1964), Chairman and CEO, General Dynamics
• Douglas Conant (B.A. 1973, MBA 1975), President and CEO, Campbell Soup Company
• Bill Cook (B.S. 1953), Billionaire founder and owner of the Cook Group
• Terri Dial (B.A. 1971), former Pres./CEO of Wells Fargo Bank
• Richard Elden (B.A. 1956), founder of Grosvenor Capital Management
• D. Cameron Findlay (B.A. 1982), Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Aon Corporation
• Christopher Galvin (B.A. 1973), former Chairman and CEO of Motorola
• Elbert Henry Gary (J.D. 1868), co-founder of the United States Steel Corporation
• Hugh Hefner (attended for semester of graduate sociology courses), founder of Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
• David Ing (M.B.A. 1982), marketing scientist and senior consultant
• John H. Johnson (attended, never graduated), founder of the Johnson Publishing Company (Ebony and Jet magazines)
• Joseph Levy Jr. (B.B.A. 1947), Chairman of Levy Venture Management
• Andrew Mason (B.Mus. 2003), CEO, Groupon
• Jeffrey McClelland (B.S. 1980), former COO, US Airways
• Blythe McGarvie, director of Accenture, Viacom, and the Pepsi Bottling Group
• John Meriwether (B.S. 1969), founder of Long-Term Capital Management
• Divya Narendra (J.D./M.BA. 2012), co-founder of ConnectU
• David R. Nissen (B.A. 1973), President and CEO, GE Consumer Finance
• Morgan E. O'Brien (J.D. 1969), founder of Nextel Communications, Inc.
• William A. Osborn (B.A. 1969), Chairman and CEO, Northern Trust Corporation
• Peter George Peterson (B.S. 1947), former Chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers; co-founder of the Blackstone Group (*also listed under Politics, Government, and Public Policy)
• Christine Poon (B.A. 1973), Vice Chairman and Worldwide Chairman of Medicines & Nutritionals, Johnson & Johnson
• Pat Ryan (B.A. 1959), founder and Executive Chairman of Aon Corporation
• Paul Sagan (B.S. 1981), President and CEO, Akamai Technologies
• Gordon Segal (B.B.A. 1960), co-founder and CEO, Crate and Barrel
• Judith A. Sprieser (B.A. 1974, M.B.A. 1977), former CFO and EVP of Sara Lee, non-exec director of Allstate Corporation, USG Corporation, Intercontinental Exchange, Royal Ahold, Reckit Benckiser, Adecco.
• Alfred Steele (B.A. 1923), former CEO of Pepsi-Cola
• Russ M. Strobel (B.A. 1974), CEO, Nicor
• Jeanette Sarkisian Wagner (B.S. 1951), Vice Chairman, Estée Lauder
• Robert Wayman (B.S. 1967), former CFO and EVP, Hewlett-Packard
• William A. Woodburn (M.S. 1975), President and CEO, GE Infrastructure

For notable M.B.A. alumni see the Kellogg School of Management

Journalism

• J. A. Adande, ESPN contributor, Around the Horn; former Los Angeles Times sports columnist
• Peter Alexander, national correspondent, NBC News
• Peter Applebome (M.S. 1974), reporter at The New York Times
• Jabari Asim, columnist, Washington Post
• David Barstow (B.S. 1986), Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times
• Steve Bell (M.S. 1963), former correspondent for ABC News
• Amalie Benjamin, sports columnist, Boston Globe
• Ira Berkow (M.S. 1964), sports columnist, The New York Times
• Ari Berman (B.S. 2004), journalist at The Nation and author of Herding Donkeys
• Kai Bird (M.S. 1975), Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist
• Kevin Blackistone (B.S. 1981), ESPN contributor, Around the Horn; former Dallas Morning News sports columnist
• David Boardman (B.S. 1979) executive editor, The Seattle Times
• Steve Bogira, columnist, Chicago Reader
• Valerie Boyd (B.S. 1985), author of Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston; former Atlanta Journal-Constitution arts editor
• Christine Brennan (B.S. 1980, M.S. 1981), sports columnist, USA Today
• Elizabeth Brenner (B.S. 1976), publisher, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Elisabeth Bumiller, former White House Correspondent, The New York Times
• Ben Burns (B.S. 1934), founding editor of Ebony and Jet
• Benedict Carey (M.S. 1985), science reporter, The New York Times
• David Chalian, deputy political director, ABC News
• Pauline W. Chen (M.D.) author of Final Exam: A Surgeon's Reflections on Mortality (Knopf)
• Carina Chocano (B.A. 1990), former film critic for the Los Angeles Times
• Amanda Congdon (B.S. 2003), former hostess of Rocketboom
• Rance Crain (B.S. 1960), president and editor-in-chief, Crain Communications Inc.
• Mort Crim (M.S. 1963), former broadcast journalist
• Lester Crystal (B.S. 1956, M.S. 1957), executive producer, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
• Benoit Denizet-Lewis (B.S. 1997), contributor to the New York Times Magazine and author of America Anonymous
• Gregg Easterbrook (M.S.J.), author and journalist
• Leo Ebersole, writer, Chicago Tribune RedEye
• Rich Eisen, NFL Network anchor
• Stuart Elliott, advertising columnist for The New York Times
• Fred Eychaner (B.S. 1966), founder of Newsweb Corporation
• Evan Fitzgerald Sports Anchor, WDJT Milwaukee
• Linda Foley (B.S. 1977) president, The Newspaper Guild
• John Fricke, Emmy Award-winning author/historian; noted expert on Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz
• Jack Fuller (B.S. 1968), former publisher of the Chicago Tribune and president of the Tribune Company
• Georgie Anne Geyer, journalist
• Ira Glass, host, NPR's "This American Life" attended Northwestern but transferred to Brown University and graduated from there.
• Patrick Goldstein (B.A. 1975, M.A. 1976), columnist and reporter, Los Angeles Times
• Joshua Green (M.S.J.), senior editor, The Atlantic
• Lauren Green, religion correspondent for Fox News Channel
• Mike Greenberg ESPN Sportscenter anchor, Co-Host of Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio
• Matthew Greenhouse, controversial Colspace founder, alleged hologramming enthusiast
• Richard Harris (B.S. 1976), senior producer, Nightline
• John Heilemann (B.A.), journalist at New York magazine and co-author of Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime
• Jon Heyman, Baseball Writer, Sports Illustrated
• Kwame Holman (M.S. 1982), correspondent, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
• Stephen Hunter, Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for the Washington Post and novelist
• Michael Isikoff, investigative journalist for Newsweek magazine
• Laura Jacobs (B.A. 1978), contributing editor at Vanity Fair and New Criterion dance critic
• Jeff Jarvis, creator of Entertainment Weekly, columnist, professor at CUNY Journalism program
• Clara Jeffery, editor-in-chief, Mother Jones Magazine
• Maura Johnston (B.S. 1997), music editor, The Village Voice
• Sherry Jones (M.S. 1971), senior producer, Frontline
• Walter Kerr, Broadway theater critic, playwright, and author
• Hank Klibanoff (M.S.J. 1973), former managing editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation
• Rikki Klieman, Court TV anchor and legal analyst
• Michelle Kosinski, correspondent, NBC News
• Irv Kupcinet, former Chicago Sun-Times columnist
• Katherine Lanpher (B.S.J.), writer and radio personality, author of Leap Days
• Nicole Lapin (B.S.J. 2005), anchor, CNN Pipeline
• Jonathan Mahler (B.A. 1990), author, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx is Burning and The Challenge: Hamdan v. Rumsfeld and the Fight over Presidential Power
• Stewart Mandel, College Football Writer, Sports Illustrated
• Robert R. McCormick, former owner of the Chicago Tribune
• Steve McGonigle, The Dallas Morning News writer and investigative reporter
• Brent Musburger, sports announcer, ABC
• Rachel Nichols, ESPN and Washington Post reporter
• Kelly O'Donnell (B.A. 1987), White House correspondent for NBC News
• John Palmer, former news correspondent for NBC News
• Barry Petersen, foreign correspondent, CBS News
• Daniel H. Pink (B.A. 1986), author of A Whole New Mind
• Neal Pollack, novelist, essayist, and humor writer.
• Seth Porges, technology writer, television commentator, and Popular Mechanics editor.
• Steven Reddicliffe (B.S. 1975), former editor-in-chief, TV Guide; current television editor for The New York Times
• Nick Reding (B.A. 1994), author of "Methland" and "The Last Cowboys at the End of the World"
• Kathy Reichs, best-selling novelist and forensic anthropologist.
• Jacque Reid, television and radio personality, former lead anchor for the BET nightly news
• Dave Revsine, sportscaster for Big Ten Network, formerly with ESPN
• Darren Rovell, CNBC Sports Business Reporter
• Daniel Rubin, metro columnist,"The Philadelphia Inquirer"
• Jamie Samuelsen, radio personality (WDFN)
• Steve Scully (Master of Science), host, political editor, and senior producer of C-SPAN's Washington Journal
• Anatole Shub, journalist for Washington Post and New York Times, author*
• Jane Skinner, host of Fox News Live
• David Sirota, author of Hostile Takeover and political strategist
• Evan Smith, Editor in Chief of Texas Monthly
• Margaret Sullivan, Editor, The Buffalo News
• Lynn Sweet, Washington, D.C., bureau chief and columnist, Chicago Sun-Times
• Dina Temple-Raston (B.A. 1986), journalist, author, and National Public Radio correspondent
• Rick Telander, sportswriter, "Chicago Sun Times"
• Rebecca Traister (BA 1997), contributor to Salon.com and author of Big Girls Don't Cry
• Sander Vanocur, journalist
• Julia Wallace (B.S. 1978), editor, The Atlanta Journal Constitution
• Alan Weisman, (B.A., M.A.), journalist and author of The World Without Us
• Gary Weiss, journalist
• Michael Wilbon, ESPN analyst (Pardon the Interruption, NBA Countdown) and Washington Post sports columnist
• Jennifer Gilbert, Fox45 news anchor, Baltimore, MD
• Deborah Weiner, WBAL-TV Reporter, Weekend Anchor, Baltimore, MD

For more notable alumni visit the Medill School of Journalism's Hall of Achievement: http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/alumni/honors/

Law

• Simeon R. Acoba, Jr. (J.D. 1969), Justice, Hawaii Supreme Court
• Rachel E. Barkow (B.A. 1993), Professor of Law, New York University Law School
• Randy Barnett (B.A. 1974), Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law, Georgetown University
• Henry Moore Bates (LL.B. 1892), Dean of the University of Michigan Law School (1910–1939) and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
• Mary Frances Berry is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania. Civil Rights Commissioner, 1980–2004* William Duane Benton (B.A. 1972), Federal Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• Richard Ben-Veniste (L.L.M. 1968), former Watergate counsel and 9/11 Commission member
• Raoul Berger (J.D. 1935), former Charles Warren Senior Fellow in American Legal History, Harvard Law School
• Dalveer Bhandari (L.L.M. 1972), Justice, Supreme Court of India
• Vincent Blasi (B.A. 1964), Corliss Lamont Professor of Civil Liberties, Columbia University Law School; James Madison Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Virginia Law School
• David Boies (B.S. 1964), counsel, Bush v. Gore; founding partner, Boies, Schiller & Flexner
• Erwin Chemerinsky (B.S. 1975), Dean, University of California at Irvine School of Law
• G. Marcus Cole (J.D. 1993), Professor of Law, Helen L. Crocker Faculty Scholar, and Associate Dean for Curriculum, Stanford Law School
• Cyrus E. Dietz (J.D. 1902), Justice, Illinois Supreme Court
• Carl E. Douglas, (B.A. 1980), Lawyer, O.J. Simpson trial
• Arthur Goldberg (B.S.L. 1929, J.S.D. 1930), former Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
• Nan D. Hunter (B.A. 1971), Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center
• Douglas Kmiec (B.A. 1973), Caruso Family Chair and Professor of Constitutional Law, Pepperdine University School of Law; U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Malta
• Lawrence C. Marshall (J.D. 1985), Professor of Law, David and Stephanie Mills Director of Clinical Education, and Associate Dean for Public Interest and Clinical Education, Stanford Law School
• Lyman Ray Patterson, former Pope F. Brock Professor of Professional Responsibility, University of Georgia School of Law
• John Paul Stevens (J.D. 1947), Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
• Seymour Simon (B.S. 1935), former Justice, Illinois Supreme Court
• Loren Smith (B.A. 1966, J.D. 1969), Federal Judge, United States Court of Federal Claims
• Richard Tallman, Justice, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Jonathan Turley, J.B. and Maurice Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law, The George Washington University Law School

Medicine, Science and Technology

• David Applebaum, Israeli physician
• Robert A. Buethe, Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force
• Andy Carvin, founding editor and former coordinator of the Digital Divide Network
• George W. Crane, Ph.D., M.D., psychologist, physician, author, newspaper columnist
• Alston Scott Householder (B.A. 1925), mathematician
• Cheddi Jagan, dentist/Guyanese president
• Irene D. Long, Chief Medical Officer, Kennedy Space Center.
• Boris Lushniak, Assistant Surgeon General of the United States
• Charles Horace Mayo, doctor (Mayo Clinic)
• Robert F. Furchgott, Ph.D., 1940, Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine (1998)
• Marc Kirschner (B.A. 1966), founding chair of the Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School
• Richard Skrenta, creator of the first computer virus, Elk Cloner
• Joseph Staten, writer and director of the Halo video games
• Sam Treiman, former theoretical physicist and professor of physics at Princeton University
• Jacques Vallee (Ph.D. 1967), computer scientist, astronomer and UFO researcher
• Edward Weiler (B.A. 1971, M.S. 1973, Ph.D. 1976), director, Goddard Space Flight Center
• Gary Kremen, Internet Entrepreneur and private investor, Founder of Match.com, Sex.com, and Clean Power Finance. First investor in Dolores Labs.
• Daniel Hale Williams, first person to perform open heart surgery
• Ben Slivka, headed up Microsoft projects for first 3 Internet Explorer browser versions.
• Kermit E Krantz, (B.S. 1945, M.S. 1947, M.D. 1948) Distinguished University Professor of Medicine University of Kansas. Among others, developed the Marshall–Marchetti–Krantz (MMK) and invented the expandable tampon. Namesake of the Arey/Krantz Museum of Anatomy at the Feinberg School of Medicine.
• Pulickel Ajayan, Professor of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Rice University
• Richard Lerner, past president of the Scripps Research Institute, co-inventor of HUMIRA

Music, Literature and the Arts

• Steve Albini, recording engineer, musician
• Jack Anderson, dance critic, The New York Times
• Marie Arana, editor of Washington Post Book World, author of National Book Award-finalist American Chica and the novel Cellophane
• Steven Bach (B.A. 1961), former film executive and author of "Final Cut" and biographies including "Leni: The Life and Work of Leni Riefenstahl"
• Ernst Bacon, composer
• Mary Jo Bang (B.A., M.A.), 2007 National Book Critics Circle award winner for poetry collection entitled "Elegy;" professor of English at Washington University in St. Louis
• Saul Bellow (B.A. 1937), Nobel Prize-winning novelist
• Andrew Bird (B.M. 1995), singer-songwriter
• Chris Bliss, juggler
• Anthony Bozza, music journalist, author of Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem and Tommyland.
• Grace Bumbry, mezzo-soprano
• Robert Olen Butler (B.S. 1967), Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist
• William Butler (B.A. 2005), member of indie rock band Arcade Fire
• Mark Camphouse, composer, notably of symphonic wind pieces, and conductor
• Dan Chaon, author of You Remind Me of Me and Among the Missing
• Andrew Clements, author
• Julia Davids, founding member and Artistic Director of the Canadian Chamber Choir
• Lydia R. Diamond (B.S. 1992), playwright and professor at Boston University
• Maggie Dietz (B.A.), poet and author of "Perennial Fall"
• Cynthia Dobrinski, handbell composer and clinician
• Ivan Doig (B.S.J., M.S.J.), novelist
• Tananarive Due, novelist and journalist, The Living Blood
• Andy Duncan, former member of OK Go
• Mary Dunleavy, soprano
• Wilma Dykeman, writer
• Timothy Ferris, science author
• William R. Ferris (M.A. 1965), former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities
• Gillian Flynn (M.S.), author of mystery novels and former television critic at Entertainment Weekly
• Kyle Gann, composer, microtonalist
• Chester Gould, cartoonist
• Shari Goldhagen, author
• James Green (B.A. 1966), author
• Ayun Halliday, columnist and author of No Touch Monkey!
• Amir Hamed, Uruguaya writer
• Howard Hanson, composer
• Aleksandar Hemon (M.A. 1996), author and MacArthur Fellow, The Lazarus Project, Nowhere Man, The Question of Bruno
• Cristina Henriquez (B.A. 1999), author of The World in Half (Riverhead, 2009)
• Cheryl Holland, Music Therapist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
• Sheldon Harnick, lyricist
• Brigid Hughes, former editor-in-chief of The Paris Review and editor-in-chief of A Public Space
• Myron Hunt, architect
• Brendan Kelly, member of The Lawrence Arms
• Ardis Krainik (B.S. 1951), former General Manager of the Lyric Opera of Chicago
• Jay Krush, tubist
• William Lava, composer
• Laura Lippman (B.S.J.), mystery novelist
• Margaret Lloyd, soprano
• Attica Locke (B.S.), novelist and screenwriter, author of Orange Prize-nominated Black Water Rising
• M Mark, founding editor of PEN America: A Journal for Writers and Readers and founder of VLS: The Voice Literary Supplement
• George R.R. Martin (B.S.J. 1970, M.S.J. 1971), author, Game of Thrones
• Luke Matheny (B.S.J. 1997), director and star of 2011 Academy Award-winning short film God of Love
• Sherrill Milnes, baritone
• Robert McHenry, encyclopedist and author
• Paul Naprstek, (B.S.J. 1978), architect
• Audrey Niffenegger (M.F.A. 1991), novelist and artist; author of The Time Traveller's Wife
• Bruce Norris (B.A. 1982), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Clybourne Park
• Tawni O'Dell (B.S.J. 1986), novelist, Sister Mine, Coal Run, Back Roads
• Karen A. Page, writer
• Marge Piercy, novelist and poet
• Leslie Pietrzyk, writer
• Neal Pollack (B.S.J. 1992), satirical author and journalist
• Joshua Radin, singer-songwriter
• Kathy Reichs, author
• Steve Rodby, jazz bassist
• Ned Rorem, composer
• Tina Rosenberg (B.A. 1981, M.S.J.), Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist
• Veronica Roth, New York Times Best-Selling Author of Divergent
• Karen Russell (B.A. 2003), author of St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves and Swamplandia!
• Thom Russo ( B.A 1988), Grammy winning record producer, mixer, musician
• David Sanborn, saxophonist
• Joseph Schwantner, composer
• Sidney Sheldon, author (never graduated)
• Philip Skinner, opera singer
• Jon Solomon, DJ / record label owner
• Warren Spector, game designer
• Michael Sprinker, late literary theorist
• Frederick Swann, organist and President of the American Guild of Organists
• Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, composer
• Augusta Read Thomas, composer
• Trevanian, author
• Thomas Tyra (B.A. 1954, M.A. 1955), composer, music educator, bandmaster
• Walter Wager, author
• Nike Wagner, author
• Kate Walbert (B.A. 1983), National Book Award-nominated writer, author of A Short History of Women
• Margaret Walker (B.A. 1935), poet and author
• Doug Wamble (M.M. 1997), musician and composer
• Joshua Weiner (B.A. 1985), poet, author of The World's Room
• Paul Winter, musician
• Ari Wiseman (B.A.), Deputy Director, Guggenheim Foundation
• Rachael Yamagata (B.S. 1997), musician

Politics, Government, and Public Policy

• Dennis Daugaard, (J.D. 1978) Current Governor of South Dakota and former Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
• John Hoeven, (M.B.A. 1981) Current United States Senator from North Dakota and former Governor of North Dakota
• Jonathan Addleton (B.S. 1979), USAID mission director; U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia
• Ali Babacan (M.B.A. 1992), Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey
• Michael Bakalis (B.A. 1959, M.A. 1962, Ph.D. 1966), former Deputy Secretary of Education in the US Department of Education
• George Ball, former Undersecretary of State
• Judy Biggert, Republican congresswoman
• Rod Blagojevich, former Governor of Illinois
• Judy Baar Topinka, former State Treasurer of Illinois; Republican Gubernatorial candidate, 2006 election
• William Jennings Bryan, three-time Democratic presidential nominee
• Dale Bumpers (J.D. 1951), former U.S. Senator and Governor of Arkansas
• John A. Cade (M.B.A. 1954), former Maryland State Senator
• Francis H. Case, former U.S. Senator
• Salem Chalabi, ex-General Director of the Iraqi Special Tribunal
• Wendy Chamberlin (B.S. 1970), former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan; former assistant administrator, USAID Bureau for Asia and the Near East
• Cardiss Collins, former U.S. Representative from Illinois
• James L. Connaughton, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality
• Steven M. Cook, Former Warrenville Park District Commissioner, Natural Areas Commissioner, Investment Banker
• Dan Cronin, Current Illinois State Senator
• Nathan Daschle, executive director, Democratic Governors Association, son of Tom Daschle
• Karen DeCrow (B.S. 1959), former President of the National Organization for Women
• Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, former aide to Bill Clinton, former Democratic congressman of Illinois' 5th congressional district and former White House Chief of Staff of President Barack Obama
• Scott Feeney (B.A. 1987), country director, office of the Secretary of Defense
• Al From, founder and current CEO of the Democratic Leadership Council
• Chrissy Gephardt, prominent LGBT-rights political advocate, daughter of Dick Gephardt
• Dick Gephardt, former House Democratic leader
• Barbara Gittings, American LGBT activist
• Wendy Lee Gramm, former head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• Robert Hanssen (M.B.A. 1971), former FBI agent who engaged in spying for the Soviet Union and Russia against the United States
• Loy W. Henderson (B.A. 1915), former United States Foreign Service Officer
• Earl Dewitt Hutto, former United States Representative from Florida
• Janet Kafka (B.S. 1978), Consul of Spain in Texas
• Steve Kagen, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin
• Jim Kolbe, former U.S. Representative from Arizona, served 11 terms
• Scott L. Klug (M.S.J. 1976), former U.S. Representative from Wisconsin
• Liz Krueger (B.A.), New York State Senator
• Dan Lipinski (B.S. 1988), U.S. Representative from Illinois
• Frank Orren Lowden, former Governor of Illinois
• Edwin M. Martin, former United States Foreign Service Officer
• Carroll Metzner, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Catherine Waugh McCulloch, suffragist
• George McGovern, South Dakota Senator and 1972 Democratic candidate for president
• Eduardo Mondlane, Revolutionary leader of Mozambique
• Newton Minow, former director of the Federal Communications Commission
• Dawn Clark Netsch (B.A. 1948), politician
• John J. Nimrod, Illinois politician
• Phyllis Oakley (B.A. 1956), former assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research, the State Department
• George M. O'Brien (B.A. 1939), former U.S. Representative from Illinois
• Terry O'Neill (B.A.), president of the National Organization for Women (NOW)
• Glenn Pearce-Oroz (B.A. 1991), senior USAID urban and municipal development officer, Honduras
• Peter George Peterson, former chairman of the Council On Foreign Relations, United States Secretary of Commerce (*also listed under Business)
• John Edward Porter (B.S. and B.A 1957), former U.S. Representative from Illinois
• Gary Rader, Green Beret Army Reservist who burned his draft card in 1967
• J. Leonard Reinsch, former White House Press Secretary
• Amos Sawyer, former president of Liberia
• Mel Sembler (B.S. 1952), former U.S. ambassador to Italy
• Adlai Stevenson, Illinois governor and two-time Democratic presidential nominee
• Mike Synar (M.A. 1974), former United States Representative from Oklahoma
• James R. Thompson, former Governor of Illinois
• Daniel Walker, former Governor of Illinois
• Harold Washington, first black Chicago mayor
• Lois Weisberg (B.S. 1946), Commissioner, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
• Richard E. Wiley (B.S. 1955, J.D.), former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission

Sports

Baseball

• Jerry Doggett, former broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Eddie Einhorn (J.D. 1960), Vice Chairman of the Chicago White Sox
• Joe Girardi, former baseball player and current New York Yankees manager
• J.A. Happ, baseball player
• Mike Huff, former baseball player
• Kenesaw Mountain Landis (J.D. 1891), first Commissioner of Baseball
• Mark Loretta, baseball player

Basketball

• Don Adams, former NBA and ABA player
• Jim Burns, former NBA and ABA player
• Evan Eschmeyer, former basketball player
• Jake Fendley, former NBA player for the Fort Wayne Pistons
• Glen Grunwald (J.D. 1984), Senior Vice President for Basketball Operations of the New York Knicks
• Willie Jones, former NBA player
• Billy McKinney, former NBA player, current Director of Scouting for the Milwaukee Bucks
• Daryl Morey (B.S. 1996), general manager of the Houston Rockets
• Max Morris, All-American football and basketball player
• Jerry Reinsdorf (J.D. 1960), owner of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox
• Joe Ruklick, former NBA player for the Philadelphia Warriors, gave Wilt Chamberlain the final assist in his 100 point game
• Anucha Browne Sanders (B.S. 1985), former Senior Vice President, Marketing and Business Operations, New York Knicks
• Rick Sund, General Manager, Atlanta Hawks

Figure Skating

• Ronald Joseph, figure skater and long jumper
• Debi Thomas, figure skater

Football

• Mike Adamle, American football player and sportscaster
• Frank Aschenbrenner, American football player
• Darnell Autry, American football player and actor
• Frank Baker, American football player
• Brett Basanez, American football player
• D'Wayne Bates, American football player
• Sid Bennett, American football player
• George Benson, American football player
• Harold Blackmon, former American football player, Seattle Seahawks
• Ron Burton, former American football player, Boston Patriots (now known as the New England Patriots)
• Luis Castillo, American football player, San Diego Chargers
• Barry Cofield, American football player, New York Giants
• Javiar Collins, American football player, Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns
• John L. "Paddy" Driscoll, former American football player
• Pat Fitzgerald, former 2-time All-American football player, current Northwestern head football coach
• Barry Gardner, professional football player
• Otto Graham, former American football player
• Napoleon Harris, American football player, Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings
• Noah Herron, American football player, Green Bay Packers
• Chris Hinton, former 7-time Pro Bowl football player, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons & Minnesota Vikings
• Paul Janus, American football player
• Mike Kafka, American football player, Philadelphia Eagles
• Sherrick McManis, American football player, Houston Texans
• Matt O'Dwyer, American football player
• Ted Phillips, Chicago Bears President and CEO
• Tyrell Sutton, American football player, Carolina Panthers
• Steve Tasker, American football player, sports announcer, Buffalo Bills
• Jim Trimble, American football player, Atlanta Falcons
• Corey Wootton, American football player, Chicago Bears

Golf

• Luke Donald, golfer
• David Merkow, American golfer

Hockey

• Rocky Wirtz, Owner, Chicago Blackhawks

Race Car Driving

• Paul Dana, former race car driver in the Indy Racing League

Tennis

• Katrina Adams, tennis player
• Audra Cohen, 2007 NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Champion (never graduated)
• Grant Golden, tennis player
• Seymour Greenberg, tennis player
• Todd Martin, tennis player
• Marty Riessen, tennis player

Track and Field

• Jim Golliday, track
• Annette Rogers, sprinter

Other

• Patti Davis (attended, never graduated), daughter of Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis Reagan
• Vernard Eller, author and Christian pacifist
• Vergel L. Lattimore, Air National Guard Brigadier General
• Davis C. Rohr, U.S. Air Force Major General
• Jade Smalls, Miss Illinois 1999 and concert pianist
• Kelly O'Donnell, White House correspondent for NBC News, class of 1987 from the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP).
• Crispin Sanchez, (Ph.D. in education), advocate for education and athletics among Mexican Americans in South Texas

References

• "People affiliated with Northwestern University". NNDB. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
• "Notable Northwestern Alumni". Northwestern University. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
• "Northwestern Magazine". Northwestern University. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
• "Northwestern Alumni Exhibit". Northwestern University Library. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
• "Award Winning Medillians". Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
• "Medill Hall of Achievement". Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
• "People affiliated with Northwestern University". IMDB. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
• "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress". Retrieved June 12, 2007.