List of University of Rochester people

Here follows a list of notable alumni and faculty of the University of Rochester.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Notable alumni

Nobel laureates

• Vincent du Vigneaud (Ph.D. 1927), Nobel laureate (1955, chemistry)
• Arthur Kornberg (M.D. 1941, D.Sc. 1962), Nobel laureate (1959, physiology or medicine)
• Daniel Carleton Gajdusek (B.S. 1943), Nobel laureate (1976, physiology or medicine)
• Steven Chu (B.A. math and B.S. physics 1970), Nobel laureate (1997, physics), U.S. Secretary of Energy (2009-)
• Masatoshi Koshiba (Ph.D 1955), Nobel laureate (2002, physics)

Higher education leaders

• Myles Brand (PhD 1967) Former President, NCAA
• Robert J. Dolan (Ph.D. 1977), Dean of University of Michigan Business School (Ross)
• Thomas Farrell (B.A., M.S.), Vice President of University of Chicago
• Madeleine R. Grumet (Ph.D.), Dean of UNC Chapel Hill School of Education
• Karen R. Hitchcock (Ph.D.), Principal and Vice Chancellor of Queen's University, Canada
• Susan Hockfield (B.A. 1973), Former Dean and Provost of Yale University, Current President of MIT
• Barbara E. Kahn (B.A. 1974), Dean, of University of Miami School of Business
• Joseph B. Martin (Ph.D. 1971), Dean of Harvard Medical School
• Steven Matson (Ph.D.), Dean of Graduate School of UNC Chapel Hill
• Brian C. Mitchell (Ph.D.), President of Bucknell University
• Hugo Sonnenschein (B.A. 1961), President Emeritus and Adam Smith Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at University of Chicago
• David C. Sweet (B.A.), President of Youngstown State University 2000–present
• Gary Schuster (Ph.D. 1971), Former Provost and Vice President of Georgia Institute of Technology 2006 - 2009
• Nils Yngve Wessell (Ph.D. 1938), President of Tufts University 1953-1966

Academia

• William T. Bianco (Ph.D. 1987), political scientist. Dissertation on non-cooperative co-operation. Author of the book American Politics: Strategy and Choice
• Frederick R. Bieber (M.S. 1976), medical geneticist. Harvard University professor
• Morris Fiorina (Ph.D. 1972), Professor of Political Science at Stanford University and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. Author of Divided Government and Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America.
• Kenneth French (M.B.A. 1978, M.S. 1981, Ph.D. 1983), M. Heidt Professor of Finance at Dartmouth College and efficient markets theorist (along with Eugene Fama)
• Jerry Green (B.A. 1967, Ph.D. 1970), John Leverette Professor of Economics and former Provost of Harvard University
• Steven Hahn (B.A. 1978), Pulitzer Prize winning historian on faculty at University of Pennsylvania.
• N. Katherine Hayles, (Ph.D. 1977), critical literary theorist
• Zvi Hercowitz (Ph.D. 1980), macroeconomist at Tel Aviv University
• Peter van Inwagen (Ph.D.), well-known philosopher specializing in metaphysics, John Cardinal O'Hara Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame
• Francis W. Kelsey (B.A. 1880, Ph.D. 1886), Professor of Latin at the University of Michigan from 1889 to 1927 and namesake of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
• Richard McKelvey (Ph.D. 1971), political scientist and game theorist
• Arthur R. Miller (BA 1956) Phi Beta Kappa Graduate, Harvard Law graduate magna cum laude 1958, renowned law professor at Harvard University and since 2007 at NYU
• Grove Karl Gilbert (geologist)
• Mark Rosenzweig (B.A. 1943, M.S. 1944), research psychologist whose studies showed that the brain develops into adulthood based on life experiences.
• Ivan Sag (B.A. 1971), Professor of Linguistics at Stanford University
• José Scheinkman (Ph.D. 1974), Theodore A. Wells '29 Professor of Economics at Princeton University
• Richard Thaler (Ph.D. 1974), Economist known for pioneering behavioral finance
• H. Allen Orr, Evolutionary Biologist
• Albion W. Tourgée (1859), lawyer, civil rights activist. Represented Homer Plessy in the trial of Plessy v. Ferguson.
• David Sloan Wilson (B.A. 1971), Professor of Biology and Anthropology, Binghamton University and noted author.
• Steven M. Weinreb (Ph.D. 1967) Russell and Mildred Marker Professor of Natural Products Chemistry Chair, Pennsylvania State University, developer of the Weinreb ketone synthesis.

Performing arts

• George Abbott (B.A. 1911), Broadway showman who wrote, produced, and directed Broadway plays, including The Pajama Game (directed), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (directed), and Damn Yankees (co-wrote)
• Ron Carter (B.A. 1959) jazz double-bassist
• William Dooley (B.A. 1954), operatic baritone
• Doug Besterman (B.A. 1986), Tony Award winning orchestrator and arranger
• Frederick Fennell (B.A. 1937, M.A. 1939), conductor, primary figure in promoting the wind ensemble as a performing group
• Renée Fleming (M.A.S. 1983) Grammy-winning soprano opera singer
• Robert Forster (B.A. 1964) Academy Award nominated actor
• Michael Kanfer (1980) Academy Award-winning visual effects artist for special effects in Titanic, with previous work including Apollo 13, Harry Potter, and Superman Returns
• Chuck Mangione (B.M. 1963) Grammy-winning jazz performer and composer
• John R. Quieter (B.A. 1979, M.M. 1981) Grammy-winning opera singer
• Anthony Dean Griffey (M.M. 2001) Grammy-winning opera singer
• Thomas C. Hessenauer (B.A. 1984), actor and production assistant
• Forbes Riley (B.A. 1983, Political Science and Film Studies), infomercial hostess and actress most notable for having played the lead in Splatter University
• Debra Jo Rupp (B.A. 1974), actress That '70s Show
• Tony Levin bass player for Peter Gabriel
• Steve Gadd notable session drummer

Government

• Ruth B. Balser, (A.B. 1969), member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (served 1998 - present)
• D. Allen Bromley, (PhD 1952) Started his academic career at the University of Rochester, and later a long time professor and chair of the Physics Dept at Yale, publishing over 500 papers. First Secretary of Science and Technology, also served as Chairman for the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
• Steven Chu (B.A. math and B.S. physics 1970), current United States Secretary of Energy, Nobel Prize winner - Physics
• Mark Ferrandino, (B.A. 1999; M.A. 2000) Colorado House of Representatives 2007–Present
• Mary Ellen Jones, (B.A., 1958, M.A.), former New York State senator
• Lewis A. Kaplan, (A.B. 1966) Federal judge for New York's Southern District
• David T. Kearns, (B.A. 1952) former CEO of Xerox Corporation and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education
• Kenneth Keating, U.S. Representative and Senator from New York
• Lawrence Kudlow (1969), Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Ronald Reagan, CNBC host
• R. Brooks LaPlante, (MBA) Founder/CEO of Doughmakers Gourmet Bakeware and former member of the Indiana House of Representatives
• Chris Lee, Former Congressman, New York's 26th Congressional district.
• Allison M. Macfarlane, (B.S. Geological Sciences 1972) current chair of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Dan Rosenthal, (B.A. 1988) Assistant to the President in the White House under Bill Clinton
• Robert D. Sack, (B.A. 1960) Judge United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
• George F. Ward (B.A.), former United States Ambassador to Namibia
• Donald C. Winter, (B.S. 1969) Secretary of the Navy (2006–2009)
• Robert H. Conn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1981–1988)
• Jimmie V. Reyna, (B.A. 1975) Federal judge for United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Literature

• Francis Bellamy(1876), wrote the original Pledge of Allegiance, published in 1892
• Robert Leslie Conly (B.A. English), Newbery & Edgar award winning author of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971) and other books. Wrote under pseudonym Robert C. O'Brien.
• Dudley Doust, sports journalist and author
• Bill Kauffman, political journalist and author
• Myra Gelband (1971), Former Senior Editor at Sports Illustrated
• Galway Kinnell (M.A.) Pulitzer Prize winning poet and Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets
• Janet Maslin(1970), Film and Music critic for The New York Times
• Thomas Perry, (Ph.D Literature, 1974) Edgar Award-winning mystery writer

Science and technology

• Robert Dicke (Ph.D. 1939), inventor of lock-in amplifier, and who made contributions to the fields of astrophysics, atomic physics, cosmology and gravity
• Kelly Fitzsimmons (B.A. 1993), founder and CEO of HarQen, a Voice Management platform company.
• Stan Frankel (Ph.D. 1942), Manhattan Project scientist and computer designer
• Michael Gotlieb (MD 1973), First physician to identify AIDS as a disease
• Elon Howard Eton (B.A. 1890), Ornithologist
• Edward Gibson (B.S. 1959), former NASA astronaut who set an American record for space travel with 84 days in orbit
• G.K. Gilbert (1862), geologist and Wollaston Medal recipient
• Donald Henderson (M.D. 1954), physician and epidemiologist
• Jay Last (B.S. 1951), member of the Traitorous eight that founded Silicon Valley
• William F. May (B.S. 1937), chemical engineer who co-founded the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 1969.
• Kenneth Ouriel (M.D. 1977), medical researcher and prominent vascular surgeon who operated on Bob Dole
• James A. Pawelczyk (B.S. 1982), NASA astronaut
• Richard Rashid (M.S. 1977, Ph.D. 1980 Computer Science), invented the Mach operating system, currently head of Microsoft Research
• Maj. General Philip King Russel (M.D. 1958), Former Director of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research who contributed to the development against hepatitis A and B and other infectious diseases
• Bruce Schneier (B.S. Physics 1985), computer security expert
• Gary Starkweather (M.S. Optics 1966), inventor of the laser printer
• George Sudarshan (Ph.D. 1958 Physics), made contributions to the field of quantum optics and advanced the idea of the theoretical tachyon
• Avie Tevanian (B.A. Math 1983), figure in the development of the NeXT Computer and its successor, Mac OS X at Apple
• Joseph C. Wilson (B.A. 1931), Xerox founder who brought xerography to the world
• Herbert York (B.S. and M.S.), Manhattan Project physicist

Business

• Umit Boyner, Chairwoman of Turkish Industrialist'and Businessman's Association (TUSIAD).
• Robert Goergen(1960), CEO of Blyth, Inc.
• Edmund A. Hajim (B.S. 1958), Businessman and Hedge-fund manager who held senior positions with the Capital Group, E.F. Hutton and ING Aeltus Group
• Richard Handler, Chairman, CEO & President of Jefferies, Inc.
• Dawne Hickton, graduated 1979, Vice Chair, President, CEO of RTI International Metals
• Robert J. Keegan(1991 MBA), former Chairman of the Board of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and President of the Consumer Imaging business and an Executive Vice President of Eastman Kodak.
• Gail Lione (1971), Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Harley-Davidson
• Barry Meyer(1964), Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros.
• Malcolm Mosley, noted international banker who was the first American student to participate in an exchange program to Japan after the Second World War. "Mac" Mosley completed a year's worth of studies at Waseda University.
• Brain Roseboro (B.A. Economics, 1981) Former assistant secretary for financial markets in the Department of Treasury, current Chief of Staff to the Americas COO at UBS
• Kimberly A. Snyder, President & General Manager, Entertainment Imaging, Film, Photofinishing & Entertainment Group and Vice President, Eastman Kodak.
• Gerald B. Zornow, former Chairman of the Board of Eastman Kodak Company

Other

• Walter Cooper (scientist), research scientist, education reformer and civil rights activist
• Jeremy Glick, a passenger on United Flight 93 and widely considered to be a hero in the September 11 attacks
• Harold Hodge
• Terry Gurnett, graduated 1977, UofR coach of women's soccer with 400+ career wins
• David I. Leavitt, Editor at Virilion Inc.
• Paul Frommer (B.S. 1965), Creator of Na'vi, the native language of the humanoid heroes in the film Avatar (film)
• Zhe Zeng, a trained emergency technician who lost his life while trying to save others on September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center site
• Ken Hebel, World-renowned implant specialist who trains dentists and specialists in cosmetic dentistry.
• Arunas A. Chesonis, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of PAETEC Holding Corp..
• Nasser As-Saidi (PhD) - Lebanese cabinet minister and Economist

Notable faculty

See also: Category:University of Rochester faculty

Nobel laureates

• George Hoyt Whipple (Prof. 1914-1976), Nobel laureate (1934, physiology or medicine)
• Henrik Dam (Prof. 1942-1945), Nobel laureate (1943, physiology or medicine)
• Robert Fogel (Prof. 1960-1965, 1968–1975), Nobel laureate (1993, economics)
• Eric Kandel Nobel laureate (2000, physiology or medicine)
• George Whipplel Nobel laureate (1934, chemistry)
• Vincent du Vigneaud (1955, physiology or medicine)

Current

• Janet Catherine Berlo, art historian, Professor of Art History / Visual and Cultural Studies.
• Stanley Engerman, economist/historian, served as President of the Social Science History Association as well as President of the Economic History Association.
• Richard Fenno, political scientist and former President of the American Political Science Association
• C. R. Hagen, Professor of theoretical physics, co-theorist of Higgs boson and Higgs mechanism. Recipient of 2010 Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics.
• Robert L. Holmes, Secular pacifist and expert on nonviolent action.
• Steven Landsburg, economist, Slate magazine columnist and popular author on microeconomics.
• Walter Oi, Labor economist, member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• H. Allen Orr, University Professor of Biology, winner of the Darwin–Wallace Medal awarded every 50 years for outstanding contributions in evolutionary biology.
• Michael L. Scott, computer scientist and winner of the Edsger W. Dijkstra Prize in Distributed Computing
• Emil Wolf, physicist and co-author, along with Max Born, of one of the standard textbooks of optics, Principles of Optics. Also predicted Wolf effect.
• Ching W. Tang, physicist, inventor of Organic light-emitting diode and heterojunction organic solar cells, member of National Academy of Engineering, recipient of 2011 Wolf Prize in Chemistry.
• Lionel W. McKenzie, economist, general equilibrium, co-creator of the Arrow–Debreu–McKenzie model.
• Joseph H. Eberly, Andrew Carnegie Professor of Physics and Optics. Past president of Optics Society of America, and winner of Townes Award.
• Daven Presgraves, Associate Professor of Biology. Winner of Dobzhansky Prize in Evolutionary Biology.
• Edward L. Deci, Professor of Psychology, Gowen Professor in the Social Sciences. Co-founder of self-determination theory (SDT) with Richard Ryan.
• Esther Conwell, Professor of Chemistry and Physics. Winner of the National Medal of Science and member of both the National Academy of Science and National Academy of Engineering.