Arts & Literature
Lear deBessonet (Political & Social Thought '02) - Director of Public Works at the Public Theatre in New York City.
Claudia Emerson (1957-2014) (English '79) - Pulitzer Prize winner and Poet Laureate of Virginia.
Chad Harbach (MFA Creative Writing '04) - Award winning novelist, author of The Art of Fielding.
Eleanor Henderson (MFA Creative Writing '05) - Writer, author of Ten Thousand Saints and assistant professor at Ithaca College.
Edgar Allan Poe (attended U.Va. in 1826 for one-term) - Legendary author, poet, editor and literary critic.
Ron Suskind (Government '81) - Pulitizer Prize winning author. Works include The One Percent Doctrine, The Price of Loyalty, and Life, Animated.
Henry S. Taylor (CLAS '64) - Author of more than 15 books of poems and winner of the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
Athletics
Valerie Ackerman (CLAS '81) - Commissioner of the Big East Conference. President, WNBA 1996-2005. Four-year starter, three-time captain and two-time Academic All-American for the U.Va. women's basketball team.
Wyatt Allen (Economics '01) - Two-time Olympian and 2004 Gold Medalist in Men's Rowing. Member of the National Rowing Foundation's Hall of Fame.
Heather and Heidi Burge (CLAS '93) - The 6' 5" twin sisters helped lead UVa to three ACC championships and three NCAA final four appearances before graduating in 1993.
Rick Carlisle (Psychology '84) - Head coach of the NBA Dallas Mavericks.
Paul Ereng (Religious Studies '93) - 1988 Olympic gold medalist in the 800 meters.
Harrison Fitzgerald Flippin (1906-1968) (CLAS '31, MED '33) - World record holder in 60 and 70-yeard high hurdles, and national pentathlon champion.
D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Religious Studies '06) - NFL football player.
Thomas Jones (Psychology '99) - NFL running back (2000-2012).
Chris Long (Sociology '08) NFL football player and philanthropist
Heath Miller (Sociology '05) - NFL football player
Eppa Rixey (1891-1963) (CLAS 1914, GSAS '20) - Hall of Fame major league baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds. During off-seasons he was a Latin teacher at Episcopal High School in Alexandria.
Ralph Sampson (Rhetoric & Communication Studies '83) - Three-time College basketball player Player of the Year at U.Va. Number 1 pick in the 1983 NBA draft. Eight-year career in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and Washington Bullets.
Dawn Staley (Rhetoric & Communication Studies '92) - Three-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time All American at UVA, Sports Illustrated Player of the Year 1991, and member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Currently head coach at the University of South Carolina, and head coach of the head coach of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team through 2020.
Melanie Valerio (Rhetoric & Communication Studies '91) - 1996 Olympic gold medalist, 400-meter freestyle relay
Wally Walker (Psychology '76) - Former President and General manager, Seattle SuperSonics. Led U.Va. to its only ACC title and its first NCAA Tournament.
Ryan Zimmerman (Sociology '05) - Baseball player with the Washington Nationals.
Business
Frank Batten Sr. (1927-2009) (CLAS '50) - Chairman and CEO, Landmark Communications and Benefactor, U.Va. Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
Alfred R. Berkeley III (CLAS '66) - President of NASDAQ 1996-2000, and later, Vice-Chairman from 2000 to 2003
William Lyons Brown Jr. (CLAS '58) - President, Chairman and CEO of the Brown-Forman Corporation, and U.S. Ambassador to Austria
Daryl Brewster (Economics '79) - Several executive positions, including President, of Nabisco and Kraft Foods, 1996-2006. Turnaround CEO, Krispy Kreme 2006-2008
Thompson Dean (Foreign Affairs '79) - Co-Managing Partner and Co-CEO, Avista Capital Partners
U. Bertram Ellis Jr. (Economics '75, DARD '79) - Chairman & CEO, iXL Enterprises
C. Thomas Faulders III (Economics '71) - Chairman, CEO, LCC International, Inc. 1999-2005 and President and CEO of the U.Va. Alumni Association (2006-2017).
Thomas Farrell (Rhetoric and Communication Studies '76) - Chairman, President & CEO of Dominion Resources
Mansoor Ijaz (Physics '83) - Founder and Chairman of the Crescent Investment Management Ltd. investment firm
Paul Tudor Jones (Economics '76) - Founder and President, Tudor Investment Corp.
Meredith Kopit Levien (Rhetoric & Communication Studies '93) - President & CEO, The New York Times Company
John Nau (History '68) U.Va. Benefactor; President and CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors, and Member, U.Va. Board of Visitors
Julie Rasmussen (Slavic Languages & Literatures '87) - Majority Owner & Chairman, Hertz Russia and President, Mary Kay Cosmetics Europe, 1999-2002
Carl W. Smith (deceased 2005) (CLAS '51) - U.Va. Benefactor, and Founder and President, energy company Amvest Corporation
Elizabeth Smith (English '85) - Chairman and CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, Inc., the parent organization of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.
David Verklin (Rhetoric & Communication Studies '78) - Operating Partner at Calera Capital and recognized media industry leader.
Education
John T. Casteen III (BA English '65, MA '66, PhD. '70) - President, University of Virginia 1990-2010. Dean of Admissions at U.Va. (1975-82), Virginia Secretary of Education (1982-85) and President of the University of Connecticut (1985-1990).
Wade Hampton Frost (1880-1938) (CLAS 1901, MED 1903) - Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Frank Hereford (1923-2004) (BA Physics '43, Ph.D. '47) - President, University of Virginia 1974-1985, Dean of the U.Va. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Provost 1966-1970 and Vice-President 1970-1971.
Robert L. Hutchings (Ph.D Government '79) - Professor and Dean (2010-2015), LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and former Chairman, National Intelligence Council
Blake Morant (Rhetoric & Communication Studies, '75 and Law, '78) - Former Dean, and Robert Kramer Research Professor of Law, George Washington University Law School
Larry J. Sabato (Government '74) - Director and founder, Center for Politics; University Professor of Politics at U.Va.
Alan Shepard (English Ph.D., '90) - President and Vice Chancellor, Concordia University, Montreal
John White (English '99) - State of Louisiana Superintendent of Education
Entertainment
Marc Abraham, (English '71) - Film Producer and Director, Works include I Saw the Light, Children of Men, Spy Game, Air Force One and Bring it On.
Robert Aldrich (1918-1983) (CLAS '41) - Film Director, Writer & Producer. Films included What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, The Dirty Dozen, The Longest Yard
Lewis M. Allen Jr. (1922-2003) (CLAS '46) - Broadway producer, Annie; film producer, Lord of the Flies
Coran Capshaw (Psychology '83) - Manager of Dave Matthews Band, Tim McGraw and Trey Anastasio, among others. Founder of Red Light Management, co-founder of ATO Records, and former CEO of Musictoday.
Sarah Drew (Drama '02) - Stage, film and television actress, including on going role of Dr. April Kepner on ABC's Grey's Anatomy.
Tina Fey (Drama '92) - Film and television actress, writer and producer. Television credits includes Saturday Night Live cast member and head writer. Executive-producer and star of 30 Rock. Film credits include Mean Girls and Admission.
Bob Gazzale (English '87) - President and CEO of the American Film Institute; Emmy-winning TV producer and writer.
Samuel J. Goldwyn Jr. (1926-2015) (CLAS '47) - Film producer
Mark Johnson (CLAS '71) - Television and film producer. Works include Breaking Bad, Rain Man, Good Morning Vietnam, Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Notebook.
Stephen Malkmus (History '88) - Indie-rock musician; Former lead singer of the band Pavement.
Andrew M. Scheinman (CLAS '70, Law '73) - Television and Film producer. Works include Seinfeld, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally and The Princess Bride. Co-founder of film and television production company Castle Rock Entertainment.
Tom Shadyac (Government '80) - Film director and producer. Works include I Am, Patch Adams, Liar Liar, The Nutty Professor, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Bruce Almighty. Also creator of the popular "Are you a Preppie?" poster while a student at U.Va.
Melissa Stark (Foreign Affairs '95) - Reporter and host, NFL Network
Sean Patrick Thomas (Drama '92) - Television and film actor. Works include Save the Last Dance, Barbershop and the television series, The District.
Richard A. Tuggle (Government - Foreign Affairs '70) - Film director and screenwriter. Works include Escape from Alcatraz and Tightrope.
Dylan (Charles) Walsh (English '86) - Actor
Ann Ward (MA Drama '78) - Costume designer for theatre and dance. Won the 1994 Tony Award for Beauty and the Beast.
Stanley Winston (1946-2008) (CLAS '68) - Motion picture special effects expert. Works include the Terminator series of movies, the Jurasssic Park series, Aliens, Iron Man, Edward Scissorhands and Avatar. Winner of four Academy Awards.
Paul J. Witt (CLAS '63) - Film and television producer. Works include Three Kings, Dead Poets Society, Here Come the Brides, The Partridge Family, The Golden Girls and Soap.
Sasheer Zamata (Drama '08) - Comedian and former repertory player on Saturday Night Live.
Government, Law & Military
George F. Allen (CLAS '74, LAW '77) - U.S. Senator, Governor of Virginia
Mortimer M. Caplin (CLAS '37, LAW '40) - Former commissioner, Internal Revenue Service, founding member of Caplin and Drysdale law firm.
David A. Deptula (ROTC and CLAS '74, SEAS '76) - Dean of the Mitchell Institute of Aeropace Power and Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force (retired)
Edward E. Elson (CLAS '56) - Ambassador to Denmark 1993-98
William S. Farish III (CLAS '62) - U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom 2001-04
James S. Gilmore III (CLAS '71, LAW '77) - Governor of Virginia and Chairman of the Republican National Committee
Leroy Rountree Hassell (CLAS '77) - First African-American Chief Justice, Virginia Supreme Court
Kelley B. Hodge (Foreign Affairs, Spanish '93) - U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Jeannie Hong (CLAS '88) - Associate Judge, Baltimore City Circuit Court, and First Asian Pacific American Judge in the State of Maryland
W. Nathaniel Howell (CLAS '61, GSAS '65) - U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait 1987-91. Director of both the Institute for Global Policy Research and the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf Studies Program at U.Va.
Melissa Austin Long (Foreign Affairs, German '92), the first person of color to be appointed as a Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
General Robert B. Neller (History and Speech Communication '75) - 37th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Frederick E. Nolting Jr. (CLAS '33, GSAS '40, GSAS '42) - U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam 1961-63 and founding director of the Miller Center of Public Affairs
Larry J. Sabato (CLAS '74) - Director and founder, Center for Politics; University Professor of Politics at U.Va.
Javier Solana (Ph.D. Physics '71) - Secretary General of NATO (1996-99) and Secretary General of the Council of the European Union (1999-2009)
Alexander Hugh Holmes Stuart (1807-1891) (CLAS 1828) - Secretary of the Interior 1850-53 and Rector of the University 1874-1882
John Charles Thomas (CLAS '72, LAW '75) - First African-American Justice, Va. Supreme Court
Alexander Archer Vandegrift (1887-1973) (CLAS 1909) - Medal of Honor winner and 18th Commandant and the first 4-star general of the US Marine Corps.
E. Ashley Wills (CLAS '71) - U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives, 2000-03
News & Media
Nancy Andrews (CLAS '86 ) - Award-winning photo journalist/author; 1999 White House Photographer of the Year
Wyatt G. Andrews (CLAS '74) - CBS news correspondent
Fred Barnes ('65) - Co-founder and Executive Editor of The Weekly Standard and a regular contributor to Fox News.
Jamelle Bouie (Political & Social Thought '09), Columnist, The New York Times
Margaret Brennan (Foreign Affairs, Middle Eastern Studies, '02) - Moderator of "Face the Nation" and Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent, CBS News
Bruce Brandfon (CLAS '69) - VP and Managing Director at Publicitas. VP & Publisher of Scientific American 2001-2012.
Shelby Coffey (CLAS '68) - Vice Chairman, Nuseum. Other positions have included President of CNN Business News and CNNfn; former editor, U.S. News and Report, The Dallas Times Herald, and The Los Angeles Times.
Katie Couric (English '79) - Television journalist and author. Formerly anchor of the CBS Nightly News (2006-2011) and co-anchor of NBC's Today Show from 1991 through 2006.
John Dickerson (English '91) - Correspondent, 60 Minutes on CBS.
Kimberly Dozier (MA Foreign Affairs '93) - Contributing Editor to The Daily Beast and contributor to CNN. Previous positions as a news correspondent at the Associated Press and CBS News.
Brit Hume (CLAS '65) - Senior Political Analyst for Fox News. Various positions with ABC News from 1973 to 1996.
Sara James (English '83) - Australia-based correspondent for NBC News.
Richard Lowry (English '90) - Editor, National Review
Tyler Mathisen (Government '76) - Co-anchor of CNBC's Power Lunch as well as the Nightly Business Report,an evening business news program produced by CNBC for U.S. public television.
George P. Rodrigue (History '78) - Editor, The Cleveland Plain Dealer and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner.
Sheryl Gay Stolberg (Government '83) - Congressional Correspondent, The New York Times
Jia Tolentino (English '09) - Staff writer, The New Yorker
Kristin van Ogtrop (English '86) - Former editor of Real Simple magazine and previously held positions at Glamour, Vogue, Travel & Leisure, and Premiere.
Jenna Wortham (Anthropology '04) - Staff writer at The New York Times, and NYT Magazine On Technology columnist.
Science & Technology
Jesse W. Beams (1898-1977) (Ph.D. Physics 1925) - Ranks among the greatest American experimental physicists. Served as President of American Physical Society and was awarded the National Science Medal in 1967. His many contributions include the first linear electron accelerator and the magnetic ultracentrifuge.
Francis Collins MD, PhD (Chemistry '70) - Director, National Institutes of Health (2009-present) and Director, National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH (1993-2008).
Karl Gordon Heinze (1926-1993) (BA Math '47, MA Astronomy '48) - Astronomer, NASA astronaut, space scientist, and professor at Northwestern University.
Alfred K. Mann (1920-2013) (BA Physics '42, MS '46, Ph.D. '47) - Best known for his discoveries of fundamental properties of neutrinos and measurements of the particles coming from a supernova, as recounted in his 1987 book, Shadow of a Star.
Edward P. Ney (1920-1996) (Ph.D. Physics '46) - Professor, University of Minnesota and a Physicist who made major contributions to cosmic ray research, atmospheric physics, heliophysics, and infrared astronomy.
Jabez Curry Street (1906-1989) (Ph.D. Physics '47) - Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and Chair of Physics Department at Harvard University. Most notable achievement as co-discoverer of the elementary particle muon in 1957.
Kathryn Thornton (Ph.D. Physics '79) - Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at U.Va. School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. NASA Astronaut (1985-1996). Veteran of four space flights, logging over 975 hours in space, including more than 21 hours of extravehicular activity.
Stephen Volz (BS Physics '80) - Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
Peter "Jeff" Wisoff (Physics '80) - Former astronaut and principal associate director of National Ignition Facility and Photon Science at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. As an astronaut, flew on missions aboard the Endeavour (1993 and 1994), Atlantis (1997) and the Discovery (2000).