List of Washington State University people

The Washington State University Alumni Association defines an alumnus as anyone who was a student at WSU and is no longer attending. This page lists accomplished alumni and faculty members of WSU.

Nobel Laureates

• Irwin Rose, 1948, 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner for research in immune defense and proteins; discoveries may lead to development of drugs to combat Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, and cervical cancer; first year of undergraduate study was at WSU; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2005
• Mario Vargas Llosa, recipient of 2010 Nobel Prize in literature, visiting faculty, 1968-69
• Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize, 1970, recipient for “Green Revolution”, honorary doctorate recipient from WSU.

Notable alumni

Academe

• Judith A. Bense, academic; president of University of West Florida
• Howard Bowen, 1929 B.A. economics, 1933 M.A. economics, former president of Claremont University Center, University of Iowa, Grinnell College and American Association of Higher Education; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1965
• David Comer, consultant in field of circuit design for IBM, Intel, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, and Mobility Systems Inc.
• Gordon G. Gallup, psychologist at University at Albany's Psychology Department in biopsychology program
• Weldon Gibson, 1938 B.A. business administration, executive vice president of Stanford Research Institute; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1979
• Henry Heald, 1923 B.S. civil engineering, president of Ford Foundation, New York University, Illinois Institute of Technology, and American Society for Engineering Education; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1962
• W. Hudson Kensel, historian of American West
• David Miller, Seattle architect; co-founder of Miller/Hull Partnership; architecture professor at University of Washington; chair of UW Department of Architecture 2007–15
• George B. Thomas, former professor of mathematics at MIT; best known for being author of widely used calculus textbook
• Jon Wefald, former president of Kansas State University

Animal husbandry

• Helen Elaine Freeman, conservationist and endangered species advocate; specialized in saving snow leopards
• Ivan Peterson, 1942 D.V.M., member of Alpha Tau Omega; president of Sphinx Club and of Crimson Court; veterinarian in California; worked with television series Lassie; friend to Jane Goodall and helped sponsor her chimpanzee research; died in 1967

The arts, literature and media

• Sherman Alexie, 1994 B.A. American studies, author and filmmaker; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003
• Rudy Autio, sculptor, best known for figurative ceramic vessels
• Cindy Brunson, 1996 B.A. communications/broadcasting, ESPN anchor, Pac-12 Networks commentator
• Ana Cabrera, 2004 B.A. communications, CNN reporter and anchor
• Betty Feves, artist
• Deborah Gardner, Peace Corps volunteer murdered in Tonga in 1976; subject of American Taboo by Philip Weiss
• Art Gilmore, 1931, voice actor and announcer
• Keith Jackson, 1954 B.A. sports communications, ABC-TV sports commentator; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1978
• Edward Kienholz, pop art installation artist
• Grace Kim, cofounder of Schemata Workshop architecture firm in Seattle; cohousing expert; author of The Survival Guide to Architectural Internship and Career Development; commissioner of the Seattle Planning Commission.
• Gary Larson, 1972 B.A. communications, Far Side cartoonist; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1990
• Blake Lewis, American Idol Season 6 runner-up
• Dolph Lundgren, Swedish actor, studied chemical engineering for a year at Washington State
• Scott MacDonald, television actor
• Patrick F. McManus, outdoor humor writer; studied at Washington State College before it became Washington State University
• Edward R. Murrow, 1930 B.A. speech, journalist for CBS; "father of television news broadcasting"; WWII radio correspondent; Hear It Now radio program host; See It Now television program host; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1963
• Barry Serafin, 1986 B.A. humanities, ABC News correspondent; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1991
• D. C. Simpson, creator of webcomic Ozy and Millie and political cartoon I Drew This
• Clyfford Still, 1935 MFA, abstract expressionist painter,
• Frances Yeend, lyric soprano opera singer
• Krist Novoselic, 2016 B.S. social sciences, founding member and bassist for grunge band Nirvana

Business

• Paul Allen, 1977 (1973–75), co-founder of Microsoft; owner of Vulcan Enterprises, Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers; philanthropist; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999
• Scott E. Carson, B.A. business administration, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airlines
• Clint Cole, co-founder of Heartstream, creator of first automatic external defibrillator (AED) for commercial use; co-founder of Digilent, a Pullman electronics manufacturer
• J. Patrick Foley, 1955 B.A. education, president of Hyatt Hotels Corporation (1978–1984); chief executive officer of Braniff Airlines (1984–1988); served as chairman, president and chief executive officer of DHL Corporation Inc./DHL Airways Inc. (1988–1999)
• Jamie Kern Lima, 1999 B.A. business administration, co-founder of IT Cosmetics
• Robert L. Phillips, 1976 B.A. economics and B.A. mathematics. Author, entrepreneur and professor.
• Mark Suwyn, 1967 Ph.D. inorganic chemistry, CEO of NewPage Corp.; former chair and CEO of Louisiana-Pacific Corp., 1996–2004; former executive at International Paper and E.I. DuPont; member and former chair of WSU Foundation Board of Trustees
• Nick Huzar, 1999 B.A. MIS. CEO of OfferUp

Government, law and politics

U.S. Senator Patty Murray

Former Congressman George Nethercutt

• Svend Auken, 1962, Danish politician, Minister of Environmental Affairs 1993–2001
• John Folger, 1914 B.S. horticulture, 1917 M.S. horticulture, US Ambassador to Belgium 1957–59; member of board of governors of New York Stock Exchange; president of Investment Bankers Association of America; chaired GOP National Finance Committee; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1963
• Walt Horan, politician; Republican member of United States House of Representatives for ten terms
• Mike Lowry, 1962 B.A. general studies, former Governor of Washington
• Jim Moeller, politician from Washington, serves in Washington State House of Representatives representing 49th Legislative District
• Sid Morrison, 1954 B.S. horticulture, US Congressman, 1981–93, Washington's 4th District
• Patty Murray, 1972 B.A. physical education, US Senator representing Washington
• Marshall Neill, 1936 B.A. political science, Federal district court judge; Washington State Supreme Court judge; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1979
• George Nethercutt, 1967 B.A. English, US Congressman, 1995–2005
• Sam Reed, 2000–2013 Washington Secretary of State
• Robert A. Roe, Democrat representing New Jersey in US House of Representatives for over 23 years

Humanities

• Gary J. Coleman, general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Anthony Curcio, 2004 social sciences, author and youth speaker; athlete; became notorious criminal known as D.B. Tuber after masterminding armored car robbery; has since devoted life to educating youth on drug addiction
• Timothy Leary, 1946 M.S. psychology
• Laurence Peter, 1963 Ed.D., co-author of international best seller The Peter Principle: Why Things Go Wrong; author of three sequels, The Peter Prescription, The Peter Plan, and The Peter Pyramid; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1980
• William Julius Wilson, 1966 Ph.D. sociology, wrote The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, the Underclass and Public Policy and The Declining Significance of Race; one of nine people to receive National Medal of Science; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1988

Military

• Robert Higgins, 1957 B.S. pharmacy, navy rear admiral, deputy surgeon general, and Medical Corps chief; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2002
• Charles Ross Greening, 1936 B.S. Fine Arts, colonel in US Air Force; captained the Hari Kari-er in the Doolittle Raid of Japan
• James Fleming, colonel in US Air Force; helicopter pilot; Medal of Honor recipient for life-saving actions at Duc Co, South Vietnam in 1968
• Dale Noyd, decorated captain and fighter pilot in US Air Force who gained worldwide attention when he became conscientious objector to protest Vietnam War
• Sigmund R. Petersen, 1961 B.S. in civil engineering, rear admiral in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps); fourth director of NOAA Corps (1990–1995)
• Ronald J. Shurer II, 2001 B.A. Business Administration, Staff Sergeant and US Army Special Forces Medic. Recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in the Battle of Shok Valley, 2008 in Afghanistan.

Science, space and technology

• John Abelson, 1960 B.S. physics, co-founder and president of Agouron Pharmaceuticals; through rational drug design developed Viracept, leading drug used for controlling HIV infections, which cut death rate in half among AIDS patients in the mid-1990s; nephew of Philip Abelson and Neva Abelson; received the WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004
• Neva Abelson, 1934 B.S. chemistry, developed blood test for Rh disease; wife of Philip Abelson; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1989
• Philip Abelson, 1933 B.S. chemistry, 1935 M.S. physics, "father of the nuclear-fueled submarine"; Manhattan Project participant; editor of Science; husband of Neva Abelson; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1962
• Gary L. Bennett, scientist and engineer, specializing in aerospace and energy
• Jacob Bigeleisen, 1941 M.S. chemistry, founder of modern school of isotope chemistry; Manhattan Project participant; researcher at Brookhaven National Laboratory; vice president for research, dean of Graduate Studies and chemistry professor at State University of New York at Stony Brook; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1983
• William A. Bugge, 1922 B.S. civil engineering, Washington director of highways 1949–63; project director for design and construction of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) System in San Francisco; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1980
• Clint Cole, co-founder of Heartstream, creator of first automatic external defibrillator (AED) for commercial use; co-founder of Digilent, a Pullman electronics manufacturer
• John Fabian, 1962 B.S. mechanical engineering, NASA astronaut; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1983
• Hary Gunarto, 1988 Ph.D. electrical & computer engineering, Professor Emeritus of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan
• Sharon Hillier, 1982 Ph.D. Bacteriology and Public Health, faculty member of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
• Charles Glen King, 1918 B.S. chemistry, leading authority on Vitamin C; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1964
• Simon S. Lam, 1969 B.S. electrical engineering, 2004 ACM SIGCOMM Award winner; member of National Academy of Engineering
• Krist Novoselic, 2016 B.S social science; former bassist from punk rock band Nirvana & Sweet 75; FAA licensed Pilot
• Wajih Owais, Jordanian professor and researcher; chairman of board of directors of King Abdullah University Hospital;t President of Jordan University of Science and Technology
• Martin Pall, professor emeritus of biochemistry and basic medical sciences, specializing in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivity
• Irwin Rose, 1948, 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner for research in immune defense and proteins; discoveries may lead to development of drugs to combat Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, and cervical cancer; first year of undergraduate study was at WSU; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2005
• Karl Sax, 1916 B.S. horticulture, radiation biologist and geneticist; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1966
• Melissa Skala, 2002 B.S., cancer researcher and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Morgridge Institute for Research
• Edmund Schweitzer, 1977 Ph.D. electrical engineering, founder of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
• Orville Vogel, 1939 Ph.D. agronomy, wheat breeder whose findings sparked "Green Revolution"; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1977
• Allan Wilson, 1957 M.S. zoology, evolutionist; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1990

Sports and athletics

• Hamza Abdullah, former NFL safety for Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals
• Husain Abdullah, former National Football League (NFL) strong safety for Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs
• Frank Akins, former NFL running back for Washington Redskins
• Mike Akiu, football player
• Josh Akognon, member of the Nigeria national basketball team
• Calvin Armstrong, CFL offensive tackle for Edmonton Eskimos
• Dominique Arnold, 1996, track & field NCAA champion; American record holder in 110m high hurdles (12.90)
• Rick Austin, former Major League Baseball pitcher for Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers
• Byron Bailey, former NFL running back for Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers
• LaVar Ball, former basketball and football player
• Ed Barker, former NFL wide receiver for Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins
• Norton Barnhill, former National Basketball Association (NBA) guard for Seattle SuperSonics
• Kyle Basler, NFL punter for Cleveland Browns
• Aron Baynes, NBA center for San Antonio Spurs; 2014 NBA champion
• Pat Beach, former NFL tight end
• Todd Belitz, former MLB pitcher
• Leon Bender, drafted by Oakland Raiders in 1998, but died before playing an NFL game
• Troy Bienemann, NFL tight end for Arizona Cardinals
• Gale Bishop, former player for Philadelphia Warriors in BAA
• Drew Bledsoe, 1993 B.A. educ., NFL quarterback with Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills; top pick of 1993 NFL Draft
• Dorian Boose, former NFL defensive end for New York Jets and Washington Redskins
• Ed Bouchee, former MLB first baseman for Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets
• Adam Braidwood, first overall by Edmonton Eskimos in 2006 Canadian College Draft
• Bob Bratkowski, current offensive coordinator for NFL's Cincinnati Bengals
• Bobo Brayton, 1950 B.A. physical education, 1959 M.S. physical education, former WSU baseball coach
• Ed Brett, former NFL defensive end
• Alex Brink, NFL quarterback for Houston Texans
• Steve Broussard, NFL running back and WSU assistant football coach
• Mkristo Bruce, NFL defensive end for Jacksonville Jaguars
• Deone Bucannon, NFL inside linebacker for Arizona Cardinals
• Michael Bumpus, wide receiver with Seattle Seahawks
• Joe Burks, former NFL center
• Greg Burns, defensive backs coach for Kansas State University
• Lewis Bush, former linebacker for San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs
• Hugh Campbell, former head coach of Houston Oilers
• Ron Cey, MLB third baseman, six-time All-Star; graduate of Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma
• Cliff Chambers, former MLB pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals
• John Chaplin, 1963 B.A. geography, WSU track & field coach, 2000 US Olympic coach
• Gail Cogdill, NFL wide receiver, 3X Pro Bowl participant and 1960 NFL Rookie of the Year
• Erik Coleman, defensive back for Atlanta Falcons
• Don Collins, NBA player for Atlanta Hawks
• Jed Collins, NFL fullback; signed with Philadelphia Eagles in 2008
• Gene Conley, MLB All-Star and NBA player; first person to win championship in both sports
• Joe Danelo, former NFL placekicker
• Devard Darling, NFL wide receiver for Baltimore Ravens
• James Darling, NFL middle linebacker for Arizona Cardinals
• Jason David, NFL cornerback for New Orleans Saints
• Steve Dildine, linebacker for San Francisco 49ers
• James Donaldson, former NBA center
• Dan Doornink, former running back for New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks; practicing MD of internal medicine
• Chad Eaton, former NFL defensive tackle and recipient of Morris Trophy
• Dave Edler, former MLB third baseman for Seattle Mariners
• Turk Edwards, former offensive tackle for Washington Redskins, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Craig Ehlo, former NBA player for Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks
• Garner Ekstran, former CFL defensive end for Saskatchewan Roughriders, winner of 1966 Grey Cup
• Jack Elway, football head coach at Stanford and San Jose State, father of Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway
• Dick Farman, former offensive lineman and Pro Bowl selection for Washington Redskins
• Mark Fields, former linebacker and Pro Bowl selection for New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers
• Danielle Fisher, at 20, youngest person to summit tallest mountain on each continent (2005)
• Isaac Fontaine, former NBA guard for Memphis Grizzlies
• Eric Frampton, NFL safety for Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings
• Rodrigo de la Fuente, Spanish basketball player, formerly with FC Barcelona
• Aaron Garcia, quarterback for New York Dragons of the Arena Football League
• Jason Gesser, quarterback for Utah Blaze of Arena Football League
• Steve Gleason, 1998 Pac-10 defensive MVP and special teams captain of New Orleans Saints; Congressional Gold Medal recipient.
• Phil Glover, linebacker for Tampa Bay Storm
• Ed Goddard, former All-American quarterback and NFL player
• Kenny Graham, former AFL All-Star safety for San Diego Chargers
• Dan Grayson, American gridiron football player
• Brad Greenberg, current head men's basketball coach at Radford University
• Ken Greene, former NFL safety for St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Chargers
• Jason Hanson, 1993 B.S., Zoo., longtime NFL placekicker for Detroit Lions
• Glenn Harper, former CFL punter and winner of Grey Cup
• Charles Harris, offensive lineman for Tennessee Titans
• Tony Harris (1970–2007), pro basketball player
• Jerome Harrison, former NCAA All-American and running back for Cleveland Browns
• James Hasty, former Pro Bowl cornerback for Kansas City Chiefs
• Scott Hatteberg, former MLB first baseman for Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds
• Chris Hayes, former defensive back and Super Bowl XXXI champion for Green Bay Packers
• Mel Hein, 1931 B.S. physical education, All-American in 1930; eight-time All-Pro with New York Giants; received WSU Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1983; member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Mark Hendrickson, former NBA player and MLB pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers
• Jason Hill, NFL wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers
• Alex Hoffman-Ellis, football linebacker
• Jerry Houghton, former NFL offensive tackle
• Don Hover, former linebacker for Washington Redskins
• Erik Howard, former defensive tackle and member of two Super Bowl championship teams
• George Hurley, former offensive guard for Washington Redskins
• Ike Iroegbu (born 1995), American-born Nigerian basketball player for Hapoel Galil Elyon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Bernard Jackson, former NFL defensive back
• Chris Jackson, wide receiver for AFL's Philadelphia Soul
• Tim Jankovich, men's basketball head coach at Illinois State University
• Eldon Jenne, former Olympic track and field athlete; head football and basketball coach at Pacific University
• Brian Kelly, former wide receiver and member of Canadian Football Hall of Fame
• Allan Kennedy, former NFL offensive tackle
• Samson Kimobwa, retired distance runner from Kenya
• Mike Kinkade, 2000 Olympic baseball gold medalist; played in Chicago Cubs organization
• Peter Koech, 1988 Olympic silver medalist, 3,000m steeplechase
• Julius Korir, 1984 Olympic steeplechase champion
• Bernard Lagat, 2000, two-time Olympic track & field medalist in 1500m
• Ryan Leaf, 1999 (1995–98), former NFL quarterback with San Diego Chargers; taken second in 1998 NFL Draft
• Ron Lewis, former offensive guard for Washington Redskins
• Keith Lincoln, former NFL running back; record 206 yards rushing in 1964 American Football League Championship Game for San Diego Chargers, two-time Pro Bowl MVP
• Rian Lindell, kicker for the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks
• Gerry Lindgren, won 11 NCAA track & field distance running championships
• Chad Little, former NASCAR driver
• Don Long, MLB hitting coach for Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds
• Rien Long, 2003, only WSU player to win Outland Trophy, NFL defensive tackle for Tennessee Titans
• Dan Lynch, former first-team AP All-American football lineman, 1984
• John Marshall, defensive coordinator for Seattle Seahawks
• Rueben Mayes, former NFL running back with New Orleans Saints
• Rob Meier, former NFL defensive end for Jacksonville Jaguars
• Keith Millard, former NFL defensive lineman
• Gardner Minshew, NFL quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles
• Singor Mobley, former NFL safety for Dallas Cowboys
• Tom Niedenfuer, former MLB relief pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers
• Laurie Niemi, former Pro Bowl offensive lineman for Washington Redskins
• Paul Noce, former MLB shortstop for Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds
• John Olerud, former MLB first baseman for Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners
• Karl Paymah, NFL cornerback for Denver Broncos
• Scott Pelluer, former NFL linebacker for New Orleans Saints
• Brian Quinnett, former NBA player for New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks
• Pete Rademacher, Olympic gold medalist for boxing in 1956
• George Raveling, one of winningest coaches in WSU history, member of College Basketball Hall of Fame
• Taylor Rochestie (born 1985) American-Montenegrin player for Hapoel Haifa of the Israel Basketball Premier League
• Lisa Roman, Canadian Olympic gold medalist for rowing in summer 2020, member of the WSU Hall of Fame
• Henry Rono, former track & field world record holder in 10,000m, 5,000m, 3,000m, and 3,000m steeplechase
• Timm Rosenbach, former NFL player with Phoenix Cardinals; quarterbacks coach for WSU 2003–07
• Rob Ryan, former MLB outfielder for Arizona Diamondbacks and Oakland Athletics
• Mark Rypien, former NFL quarterback, Super Bowl XXVI MVP with Washington Redskins
• Herb Schmalenberger, former college football coach at UC Davis
• Aaron Sele, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Doug Sisk, former MLB relief pitcher
• Howie Slater, former NFL fullback
• Jonathan McKenzi Smith, NFL running back for Kansas City Chiefs
• Raonall Smith, former NFL outside linebacker for St. Louis Rams
• Jack Spring, former MLB relief pitcher
• Wes Stock, former MLB pitcher for Baltimore Orioles
• Wayne Sutton, former head football coach at Louisiana State University
• Harland Svare, former NFL player for the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants; former head coach of the Rams and San Diego Chargers; former general manager of the Chargers.
• Jack Thompson, 1984 Bus. Adm., former NFL quarterback known as "Throwin' Samoan"
• Klay Thompson, four-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors shooting guard
• Lamont Thompson, former All-American and NFL safety for Tennessee Titans
• Robbie Tobeck, former Pro Bowl center for Seattle Seahawks
• Marcus Trufant, 2003, first-round pick in 2003 NFL Draft; All-Pro cornerback for Seattle Seahawks
• Mike Utley, former offensive lineman for Detroit Lions; became paralyzed during a game against Los Angeles Rams in 1991
• Jeff Varem, pro basketball player
• Ed Viesturs, 1987 D.V.M., one of 12 people in world and only American to climb 14 tallest mountains; unaided by supplemental oxygen
• Ian Waltz, eight-time NCAA All-American for discus and shot put, 2004 US Olympian for discus
• Ashley Walyuchow, 1994, athletic director University of Houston-Victoria; Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year
• Duke Washington, former running back for Philadelphia Eagles
• Kyle Weaver, pro basketball player
• Mike Wilson, former NFL wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers
• Cory Withrow, NFL center for San Diego Chargers and Minnesota Vikings
• Paul Wulff, former NCAA All-American and WSU football head coach

Notable faculty

• Mario Vargas Llosa, recipient of 2010 Nobel Prize in literature, Visiting Faculty, 1968-69
• Olusola Adesope, Boeing Distinguished Professor of STEM Education
• James Asay, Institute of Shock Physics researcher; member of the National Academy of Engineering
• LeRoy Ashby, regents professor of history; twice Washington Professor of the Year; author of With Amusement for All: A History of American Popular Culture Since 1830
• Brett Atwood, print and online journalist; co-founder of Rolling Stone Radio; former managing editor at Amazon.com, RealNetworks and Billboard magazine
• Buck Bailey, WSU baseball coach
• Josephine Thorndike Berry, head of the Department of Home Economics, State College of Washington
• V. N. Bhatia, former WSU Honors Program director; Knight of Denmark, Dannebrog Order
• Anjan Bose, electrical engineering professor and former dean; developed training simulators and computational tools for reliable power-system operation; member of the National Academy of Engineering
• Asif J. Chaudhry, Vice President of International Programs, United States Ambassador to Moldova 2008–2011, also WSU Ag Econ PhD graduate 1988
• Walter Clore, horticulture researcher; "father of the Washington wine industry"
• Clint Cole, co-founder of Heartstream, creator of the first automatic external defibrillator (AED) for commercial use; co-founder of Digilent, a local Pullman electronics manufacturer
• R. James Cook, plant pathologist, cropping systems and biotechnology researcher; led first field test of a genetically modified organism in the Pacific Northwest; member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Alfred W. Crosby, professor of history 1966–1977; Crosby coined the term Columbian exchange in his 1972 book The Columbian Exchange. His is considered a founder of the field of environmental history.
• Rodney Croteau, leader in biosynthesis of cancer-fighting Taxol; expert on terpenoids; member of the National Academy of Sciences
• J. Thomas Dickinson, physicist, known for work in fracture, tribology and laser interactions with materials; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• William Henry Dietz ("Lone Star Dietz"), WSU football coach; won first annual Rose Bowl; professional football coach
• Don A. Dillman, sociologist; Regents Professor; Foley Distinguished Professor of Government and Public Policy; major contributor to modern survey methods; past president of the American Association of Public Opinion Research; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Elson S. Floyd, professor of Higher Education Administration; president of Washington State University
• Roald H. Fryxell, WSU professor of geoarchaeology in the Department of Anthropology; namesake of the Fryxell crater on the Moon
• Norman S. Golding, food scientist, inventor of Cougar Gold cheese
• Jeffrey Gramlich, professor of accounting
• Yogendra Gupta, physicist, director of WSU Institute for Shock Physics; Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• John Hirth, mechanical and materials engineer; characterized and modeled the behavior of materials at atomic and microstructural levels, including thin film formation useful to the semiconductor industry; member of the National Academy of Engineering
• Alexander Kuo, humanities and creative writing professor; author; writer-in-residence
• Mark G. Kuzyk, physicist, discoverer of the Kuzyk limit and the Kuzyk quantum gap
• Kelvin Lynn, materials scientist, renowned for "positron annihilation" research; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Armand Mauss, former professor of sociology and religious studies; frequently published works relating to Mormonism
• John M. Madsen, former dean and general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Amy Mazur, Claudius O. and Mary W. Johnson Distinguished Professor in Political Science
• Frances K. McSweeney, psychologist known for work on behavior and reinforcement, with findings on short-term changes in reinforcer effectiveness; WSU Meyer Distinguished Professor of Psychology; Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis
• Sue Peabody, Meyer Distinguished Professor of history
• Charles Pezeshki (Dr. Chuck), WSU professor of mechanical and materials engineering, 1998–present; past chair of the University Faculty Senate; founder and director of the Industrial Design Clinic
• Bhakta B. Rath, assistant professor of metallurgy and material Science; material physicist; head of the Materials Science and Component Technology of the United States Naval Research Laboratory
• V. Lane Rawlins, professor of economics and WSU president emeritus
• Cecilia Richards - mechanical engineer, known for her work on small-scale heat engines and on microelectromechanical systems
• Clarence A. "Bud" Ryan Jr., isolated and synthesized systemin, first polypeptide hormone found in plants, and discovered that plants produce natural insecticides in response to pest attacks; member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Michael Skinner, molecular and reproduction biologist; made discoveries in epigenetics including reduction in male fertility for four generations; his findings appeared in Discover magazine's "100 top science stories of 2005"
• Samuel H. Smith, WSU President Emeritus; former NATO post-doctoral fellow
• William Jasper Spillman, WSU professor of agriculture; wheat breeder; independently rediscovered Mendel's Law of Heredity; "father of agricultural economics
• Clyfford Still, abstract expressionist painter, Clyfford Still Museum, Denver
• Matthew Avery Sutton, WSU Professor of History. Scholar of American Evangelism.
• Orville Vogel, WSU and USDA wheat breeder; developer of semi-dwarf wheat varieties that fueled the Green Revolution; recipient of the National Medal of Science
• Diter von Wettstein, plant geneticist; internationally recognized for genetically modifying barley for brewing processes and disease resistance; National Academy of Sciences foreign associate; member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences
• Allen I. White, WSU professor of pharmacy faculty 1940–1960; dean of the WSU College of Pharmacy 1960–1979; pioneered off-campus training for the college7
• Susmita Bose, Notable Indian-American Scientist and Herman and Brita Lindholm Endowed Chair Professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University.

Notable regents

• Frances Penrose Owen, first woman on the WSU Board of Regents, serving 1957–1975