List of Western Michigan University alumni explained

The following is a list of Western Michigan University alumni. Note some of the individuals listed may have only attended the university at one point and not graduated.

Arts and literature

• Bonnie Jo Campbell, author^[1]
• Xavier Davis, pianist
• Gwen Frostic, artist, naturalist, poet laureate of Michigan, namesake of WMU's Frostic School of Art, 1929 Bachelor of Arts
• Peter Geye, author
• James D. Griffioen, writer and photographer
• Kyoko Matsuoka, author and translator
• Richelle Mead, author
• Hideaki Miyamura, potter
• Melinda Moustakis, author ^[2]
• Howard Norman, novelist
• Arleta Richardson, author
• Carey Salerno, poet
• Diane Seuss, poet
• Terry Wooten, poet

Business

• Robert Bobb, Emergency Financial Manager for the Detroit Public Schools
• Jeanne Dietsch, co-founder of MobileRobots Inc
• Alec Gores, billionaire president of the Gores Group with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion
• Gerrard Wendell Haworth, businessman, founder of Haworth, Inc.
• Richard Haworth, businessman, chairman of Haworth, Inc., WMU trustee
• Timothy E. Hoeksema (1972), founder of Midwest Airlines
• Homer Hartman Stryker,^[3] founder of Stryker Corporation, 1916 Certificate of Teaching

Education

• Terry Bergeson, State of Washington Superintendent of Public Schools
• Robert H. Bruininks, President of University of Minnesota
• Dr. James Bultman, President of Hope College
• John A. Fallon, President, Eastern Michigan University; President, SUNY Potsdam; President, William Penn University
• Frank Douglas Garrett, All-America basketball, academic dean, Oakland University
• M. Peter McPherson, President of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, member of the Dow Jones board of directors, President-Emeritus of Michigan State University
• John J. Pruis, President of Ball State University
• Merze Tate, first African American graduate of WMU; first African American woman to attend Oxford; Harvard PhD

Entertainment

• Tim Allen, actor and comedian^[4]
• Bruce Campbell, actor
• Terry Crews, actor
• Brooke Elliott, star of Lifetime Television Network show Drop Dead Diva
• Nicole Forester, actress
• Mary Jackson, actress
• Page Kennedy, actor
• Don Lane, American-born Australian entertainer
• Loretta Mae Moore Long, Susan Robinson on Sesame Street, 1960 Bachelor of Arts^[5]
• Stephen Lynch, Tony Award-nominated actor, musician, stand-up comedian
• Marin Mazzie, Tony Award winning actress
• Jeff Osterhage, film and television actor
• John Saunders, ABC Sports television personality
• Paigion, born Kimberly Walker, actress, radio and television personality
• David Wayne, film, television and Tony Award-winning stage actor
• Lauren Zakrin, Broadway actress

Journalism

• Roz Abrams, New York City TV news presenter, CNN reporter
• Ed Gordon, television talk show host on BET and MSNBC, correspondent for NBC News and CBS News, and radio host on NPR
• LZ Granderson, columnist for ESPN and CNN
• Emily Rouleau-McElhaney, sports producer, Bally Sports Detroit

Law

• Dennis W. Archer, Mayor of Detroit, Michigan Supreme Court Justice, President of the American Bar Association, WMU trustee, 1965 Bachelor of Science^[6]
• John J. Bursch, former Michigan Solicitor General
  • Gershwin A. Drain, Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Michael Cohen, Former lawyer of Donald Trump
• Karla Gray, Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
• Richard Allen Griffin, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• Wallace Kent, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• John E. Turner, former Washington State Court of Appeals Judge, Division 2^[7]

Music

• Frankie Ballard, country music artist
• Scott Boerma, Director of Bands at WMU^[8] and former Director of the Michigan Marching Band
• Matt Giraud, American Idol top 5 finalist
• Josh Gracin, country music artist and American Idol finalist
• Michael Gungor, lead singer of the musical collective Gungor
• Sango, DJ and electronic musician, 2015 Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
• Wayne Static, lead singer and guitarist of industrial metal band Static-X
• Luther Vandross, rhythm and blues/urban contemporary singer, songwriter, and record producer

Politics, diplomacy and military

• Gardner Ackley, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under Lyndon Johnson, Economics Department Chair at the University of Michigan^[9]
• Jase Bolger, State Representative, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives^[10]
• Scott Boman, Michigan politician^[11]
• Jeanne Dietsch, New Hampshire state senator
• Gerald Jernigan, mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Robert B. Jones, Mayor of Kalamazoo and Michigan State Representative^[12]
• Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, U.S. Representative^[13]
• Charles S. May, 16th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
• Jack B. Olson, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin^[14]
• Kristy Pagan, Democratic politician from Michigan who represents the 21st District in the Michigan House of Representatives
• Kitty Piercy, Mayor of Eugene, Oregon^[15]
• Mark Schauer, U.S. Representative, State Senator, Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate^[16]
• Dylan Schmorrow, Commander, U.S. Navy and aerospace experimental psychologist^[17]
• Mark D. Siljander, U.S. Representative^[18]
• Rashida Tlaib, U.S. Representative and former Michigan state representative;

Athletics

• Keegan Akin, MLB pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles^[19]
• Richard Ash, NFL player for Dallas Cowboys^[20]
• Jason Babin, NFL player for Arizona Cardinals^[21]
• Freddie Bishop III, CFL player for Calgary Stampeders^[22]
• Jim Bouton, MLB baseball player, World Series pitcher for New York Yankees, actor, author of Ball Four^[23]
• Don Boven, NBA player^[24]
• Daniel Braverman (born 1993), NFL football player^{[25] [26]}
• Judi Brown, Olympic silver medalist^[27]
• Matt Cappotelli, professional wrestler
• Orlando Colon, aka Epico, WWE wrestler, played baseball for Western Michigan
• Scott Colton, aka Colt Cabana, professional wrestler and podcaster
• Kevin Connauton, NHL player for Dallas Stars^[28]
• Terry Crews, NFL all-conference MAC player and actor
• Corey Davis, NFL wide receiver for the New York Jets, highest drafted NFL player in WMU history (5th overall)
• Danny DeKeyser, defenseman for Detroit Red Wings^[29]
• Louis Delmas, All-American free safety NFL player^[30]
• Bill Doba, head football coach at Washington State University (2003–2007)^[31]
• Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations of Boston Red Sox, former GM of Detroit Tigers
• Shawn Faulkner, football player^[32]
• Brad Fischer, bullpen coach for Oakland Athletics^[33]
• Paul Griffin, NBA player^[34]
• Ben Handlogten, NBA player^[35]
• John Harbaugh, NFL head coach for Baltimore Ravens (Master's degree from WMU)^[36]
• Glenn Healy, NHL goalie^[37]
• Greg Jennings, former NFL wide receiver^[38]
• Keith Jones, hockey analyst on NBC Sports and NHL player^[39]
• Ernie Koob, MLB pitcher, threw no-hitter for 1917 St. Louis Browns
• John Kusku, Team USA goalball player, Paralympic silver medalist^[40]
• Bill Lajoie, general manager of Detroit Tigers, 1984–90; special advisor for three other teams^[41]
• Rich Maloney, head coach for University of Michigan baseball team^[42]
• Charlie Maxwell, Major League Baseball player^[43]
• Jamal Mayers, NHL player for Chicago Blackhawks^[44]
• Jeff Mayweather, trainer and former professional boxer
• Jay McDonagh, football player^[45]
• Ira James Murchison, Olympic gold medalist, NCAA national champion^[46]
• Lenda Murray, bodybuilder, 8-time Ms. Olympia
• Tom Nütten, retired NFL player for St. Louis Rams^[47]
• John Offerdahl, 5-time Pro Bowl NFL player^[48]
• Walter Owens, Negro league baseball pitcher, basketball and track and field player for Michigan, baseball and basketball coach at Detroit's Northwestern High School^[49]
• William Perigo, Western Michigan basketball player and head coach
• William Porter, Olympic gold medalist^[50]
• John Potter, professional football kicker^[51]
• Mike Prindle, NFL placekicker^[52]
• Frank Quilici, infielder (1965, 1967–70) and manager (1972–75) for the Minnesota Twins^[53]
• Joe Reitz, NFL offensive lineman, WMU basketball player^[54]
• Mark Ricks, football player
• Sean Riley (born 1974), football player^[55]
• Adam Rosales, MLB third baseman for Oakland Athletics^[56]
• Walker Russell, NBA player^[57]
• Tony Scheffler, NFL tight end for Detroit Lions^[58]
• Neil Smith, owner of Greenville Road Warriors of ECHL, general manager of NHL's New York Rangers and New York Islanders^[59]
• Paul Szczechura, NHL player for Tampa Bay Lightning
• Wayne Terwilliger, Chicago Cubs second baseman, MLB coach, author^[60]
• Roger Theder, head football coach, University of California, Berkeley (1978–1981)
• Ray Thomas, MLB player^[61]
• Elliot Uzelac, head football coach, Western Michigan University (1975–1981) and U.S. Naval Academy (1987–1989)^[62]
• John Vander Wal, professional baseball player^[63]
• Jordan White, professional football player^[64]

Fictional

• Tim Taylor, Home Improvement
• Jill Taylor, Home Improvement

External links

• Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

Notes and References

1. Web site: Michigan State University Libraries - Michigan Writers Series - Bonnie Jo Campbell, 1/24/03.
2. Web site: National Endowment for the Arts, Melinda Moustakis, 2014 Prose.
3. Web site: 1970 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. wmich.edu.
4. News: Bennett . Bryan . These Are The Most Famous Western Michigan Alumni . April 8, 2017 . November 16, 2016.
5. Web site: 1971 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. wmich.edu.
6. Web site: 1982 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. wmich.edu.
7. Web site: John Turner – an Olympia, Washington (WA) Criminal Law Lawyer. findlaw.com. April 8, 2017.
8. Web site: Marching Band director resigns. The Michigan Daily. January 9, 2013.
9. Web site: Gardner Ackley. University of Michigan Digital Library. December 15, 2013.
10. Web site: Jase Bolger MI House GOP Bio. Michigan House Republican Caucus. December 6, 2015.
11. News: Yoakum . Ted . WMU alumnus and former Western Herald contributor running for US Senate seat in Michigan . Western Herald . October 18, 2012.
12. Web site: Robert Jones. Michiganliberal.com. December 16, 2013. https://archive.today/20131216161546/http://www.michiganliberal.com/diary/17202/state-rep-robert-jones-rip. December 16, 2013. dead.
13. Web site: Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. December 16, 2013.
14. Web site: Jack B. Olson. Wisconsin Historical Society. December 16, 2013.
15. Web site: Kitty Piercy. eugene-or.gov. December 16, 2013.
16. Web site: Mark Schauer. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. December 16, 2013.
17. Web site: Dylan Schmorrow. soartech.com. December 16, 2013. dead. https://archive.today/20131216161444/http://www.soartech.com/news_and_events/news/dr._dylan_schmorrow_joins_soartech_as_chief_scientist/. December 16, 2013.
18. Web site: Mark D. Siljander. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. December 16, 2013.
19. Web site: Keegan Akin. baseball-reference.com/players. March 5, 2023.
20. Web site: Richard Ash. Pro-Football Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
21. Web site: Jason Babin. Pro-Football Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
22. Web site: Freddie Bishop III . wmubroncos.com . October 7, 2014.
23. Web site: Jim Bouton. baseball-reference.com/players. December 15, 2013.
24. Web site: Don Boven. Pro-Basketball-Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
25. http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago-bears/post/_/id/4702823/be-like-mike-motivated-daniel-braverman-has-no-regrets-leaving-college-early "Be Like Mike: Motivated Bears WR Daniel Braverman has no regrets,"
26. https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/04/28/daniel-braverman-nfl-draft-western-michigan-jewish "In Jewish faith and talent, Daniel Braverman is a rare NFL prospect,"
27. Web site: Judi Brown. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417174327/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/judi-brown-1.html. dead. April 17, 2020. sports-reference.com. December 15, 2013.
28. Web site: Kevin Connauton. January 18, 2014.
29. Web site: Danny DeKeyser. hockey-reference.com. December 15, 2013.
30. Web site: Louis Delmas. Pro-Football Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
31. Web site: Bill Doba. sports-reference.com. December 15, 2013.
32. Web site: Shawn Faulkner . justsportsstats.com . November 6, 2015.
33. Web site: Brad Fischer. baseball-reference.com/players. December 15, 2013.
34. Web site: Paul Griffin. Pro-Basketball Reference.Com. December 15, 2013.
35. Web site: Ben Handlogten. Pro-Basketball Reference.Com. December 15, 2013.
36. Web site: John Harbaugh. Pro-Football Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
37. Web site: Glenn Healy. hockeydb.com. December 15, 2013.
38. Web site: Greg Jennings. Pro-Football Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
39. Web site: Keith Jones. Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. December 15, 2013.
40. Web site: John Kusku. https://web.archive.org/web/20151229043228/http://www.teamusa.org/para-goalball/athletes/John-Kusku. dead. December 29, 2015. teamusa.org. December 22, 2016.
41. Web site: Bill Lajoie. baseball-reference.com. December 15, 2013.
42. Web site: Rich Maloney. baseball-reference.com. December 15, 2013.
43. Web site: Charlie Maxwell. baseball-reference.com. December 15, 2013.
44. Web site: Jamal Mayers. hockeydb.com. December 15, 2013.
45. Web site: Jay McDonagh . arenafan.com . December 27, 2014.
46. Web site: Ira James Murchison. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418011531/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mu/ira-murchison-1.html. dead. April 18, 2020. sports-reference.com. December 15, 2013.
47. Web site: Tom Nütten. National Football League. December 15, 2013.
48. Web site: John Offerdahl. Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
49. http://www.nlbemuseum.com/nlbemuseum/history/players/owensw.html Walt Owens biography
50. Web site: William Porter. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417172659/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/po/bill-porter-1.html. dead. April 17, 2020. sports-reference.com. December 15, 2013.
51. Web site: John Potter. National Football League. December 15, 2013.
52. Web site: Mike Prindle. Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
53. Web site: Frank Quilici. Pro-Baseball-Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
54. Web site: Joe Reitz. Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
55. Web site: Sean Riley . arenafan.com . January 6, 2015.
56. Web site: Adam Rosales. Pro-Baseball-Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
57. Web site: Walker Russell. Pro-Basketball-Reference. Com. December 15, 2013.
58. Web site: Tony Scheffler. Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
59. Web site: Neil Smith. hockeydb.com. December 15, 2013.
60. Web site: Wayne Terwilliger. Pro-Baseball-Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
61. Web site: 1934 Huntington Red Birds. Baseball-Reference.com. December 3, 2013.
62. Web site: Elliot Uzelac. sports-reference.com. December 15, 2013.
63. Web site: John Vander Wal. Pro-Baseball-Reference.com. December 15, 2013.
64. Web site: Jordan White. Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 15, 2013.