List of Western Michigan University alumni
The following is a list of Western Michigan University alumni. Note that 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
- James D. Griffioen, writer and photographer
- Kyoko Matsuoka, author and translator
- Richelle Mead, author
- Hideaki Miyamura, potter
- 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
- Tom Englert, second CEO of Discount Tire
- 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,[2] 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[3]
- Bruce Campbell, actor[3]
- Terry Crews, actor[3]
- Brooke Elliott, star of Lifetime Television Network show Drop Dead Diva[3]
- Nicole Forester, actress[3]
- Caleb Hammer, YouTuber (dropped out)[4]
- Mary Jackson, actress
- Page Kennedy, actor[3]
- Loretta Mae Moore Long, Susan Robinson on Sesame Street, 1960 Bachelor of Arts[5]
- Stephen Lynch, Tony Award-nominated actor, musician, stand-up comedian[3]
- Marin Mazzie, Tony Award-nominated actress[3]
- Jeff Osterhage, film and television actor
- Paigion, born Kimberly Walker, actress, radio and television personality
- John Saunders, ABC Sports television personality[3]
- Beby Tsabina, Indonesian actress, model, and singer
- David Wayne, film, television and Tony Award-winning stage actor[3]
- 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
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
- Michael Cohen, former lawyer of Donald Trump
- Gershwin A. Drain, judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- 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
Music
- Frankie Ballard, country music artist[3]
- Scott Boerma, director of bands at WMU[7] and former director of the Michigan Marching Band
- Matt Giraud, American Idol top 5 finalist[3]
- Josh Gracin, country music artist and American Idol finalist[3]
- Michael Gungor, lead singer of the musical collective Gungor
- Sango, DJ and electronic musician
- Wayne Static, lead singer and guitarist of industrial metal band Static-X[3]
- Luther Vandross, rhythm and blues/urban contemporary singer, songwriter, and record producer[3]
Politics, diplomacy and military
- Gardner Ackley, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under Lyndon Johnson, Economics Department chair at the University of Michigan[8]
- Jase Bolger, state representative, speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives[9]
- Scott Boman, Michigan politician[10]
- Jeanne Dietsch, New Hampshire state senator
- Gerald Jernigan, mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Robert B. Jones, mayor of Kalamazoo and Michigan state representative[11]
- Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, U.S. representative[12]
- Charles S. May, 16th lieutenant governor of Michigan
- Jack B. Olson, lieutenant governor of Wisconsin[13]
- Kristy Pagan, Democratic politician from Michigan who represents the 21st District in the Michigan House of Representatives
- Kitty Piercy, mayor of Eugene, Oregon[14]
- Mark Schauer, U.S. representative, state senator, minority leader of the Michigan Senate[15]
- Dylan Schmorrow, commander, U.S. Navy and aerospace experimental psychologist[16]
- Mark D. Siljander, U.S. representative[17]
- Rashida Tlaib, U.S. representative and former Michigan state representative;
Athletics
- Keegan Akin, MLB pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles[18]
- Richard Ash, NFL player for Dallas Cowboys[19]
- Mohammed Asif, professional sailor and space propulsion researcher[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, former 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]
- Skyler Young, basketball coach[65]
Fictional
- Tim Taylor, Home Improvement
- Jill Taylor, Home Improvement
- Dave Johnson, The Neighborhood
References
- ↑ "Michigan State University Libraries - Michigan Writers Series - Bonnie Jo Campbell, 1/24/03".
- ↑ "1970 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient". wmich.edu.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Bennett, Bryan (November 16, 2016). "These Are The Most Famous Western Michigan Alumni". Retrieved April 8, 2017.
- ↑ Gordon, Lauren (October 28, 2025). "Gov. Whitmer Lets YouTuber Caleb Hammer Audit Michigan State Budget". 103.3 WKFR. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
- ↑ "1971 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient". wmich.edu.
- ↑ "1982 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient". wmich.edu.
- ↑ "Marching Band director resigns". The Michigan Daily. January 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Gardner Ackley". University of Michigan Digital Library. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Jase Bolger MI House GOP Bio". Michigan House Republican Caucus. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ↑ Yoakum, Ted (October 18, 2012). "WMU alumnus and former Western Herald contributor running for US Senate seat in Michigan". Western Herald.
- ↑ "Robert Jones". Michiganliberal.com. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
- ↑ "Jack B. Olson". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
- ↑ "Kitty Piercy". eugene-or.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
- ↑ "Mark Schauer". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
- ↑ "Dylan Schmorrow". soartech.com. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Mark D. Siljander". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
- ↑ "Keegan Akin". baseball-reference.com/players. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ↑ "Richard Ash". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Star Vintage sailing world champion Mohammed Asif". Western Michigan University. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Jason Babin". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Freddie Bishop III". wmubroncos.com. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ↑ "Jim Bouton". baseball-reference.com/players. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Don Boven". Pro-Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Be Like Mike: Motivated Bears WR Daniel Braverman has no regrets," ESPN.
- ↑ "In Jewish faith and talent, Daniel Braverman is a rare NFL prospect," Sports Illustrated.
- ↑ "Judi Brown". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Kevin Connauton". Retrieved January 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Danny DeKeyser". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Louis Delmas". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Bill Doba". sports-reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Shawn Faulkner". StatsCrew.com. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Brad Fischer". baseball-reference.com/players. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Paul Griffin". Pro-Basketball Reference.Com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Ben Handlogten". Pro-Basketball Reference.Com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "John Harbaugh". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Glenn Healy". hockeydb.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Greg Jennings". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Keith Jones". Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "John Kusku". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on December 29, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- ↑ "Bill Lajoie". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Rich Maloney". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Charlie Maxwell". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Jamal Mayers". hockeydb.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Jay McDonagh". arenafan.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
- ↑ "Ira James Murchison". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Tom Nütten". National Football League. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "John Offerdahl". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ Walt Owens biography. Negro League Baseball Museum website. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
- ↑ "William Porter". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "John Potter". National Football League. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Mike Prindle". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Frank Quilici". Pro-Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Joe Reitz". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Sean Riley". arenafan.com. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Adam Rosales". Pro-Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Walker Russell". Pro-Basketball-Reference. Com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Tony Scheffler". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Neil Smith". hockeydb.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Wayne Terwilliger". Pro-Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "1934 Huntington Red Birds". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
- ↑ "Elliot Uzelac". sports-reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "John Vander Wal". Pro-Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Jordan White". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Skyler Young - Head Coach - Women's Basketball Coaches". Seattle University. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
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