List of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign people
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This is an incomplete list of notable people associated with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the United States of America. Bill Gates noted in a February 2004 speech that Microsoft hires more alumni of the university than from any other university in the world [1]. Notable people associated with the U of I have founded Oracle Corporation, Playboy, Netscape, PayPal, YouTube, AMD, and Siebel Systems. Notable people have invented the LED, integrated circuit, transistor, MRI, and the plasma screen.
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[edit] Notable faculty
- John Bardeen, 1951-1991 — Awarded Nobel prizes for Physics in 1953 for co-inventing the transistor and again in 1972 for work on superconductivity (one of the only 4 people in the world to win multiple Nobel Prizes)
- Ira Carmen, 1968-present — First political scientist elected to the Human Genome Organization and co-founder of the social science subdiscipline of genetics and politics.
- Elias James (E.J.) Corey, 1951-59 — Nobel laureate (Chemistry, 1990)
- David Gottlieb, 1946-1982 - discovered chloramphenicol, Guggenheim Fellow, Biology-Plant Science, 1963;
- Nick Holonyak Jr. — Lemelson-MIT Prize (2004), National Medal of Technology (2002), National Medal of Science (1990); credited for the invention of the LED and the first semiconductor laser to operate in the visible spectrum
- Paul Lauterbur, 1985- — Nobel laureate (Physiology or Medicine, 2003)
- Anthony J. Leggett, 1983- — Nobel laureate (Physics, 2003)
- Salvador Luria, 1950-59 — Nobel laureate (Physiology or Medicine, 1969)
- Rudolph Marcus, 1964-68 — Nobel laureate (Chemistry, 1992)
- Franco Modigliani, 1948-1952 — Nobel laureate (Economics, 1985)
- Abram L. Sachar, 1923-1948 — Founding president of Brandeis University
- Carl Woese — Crafoord Prize recipient (Bioscience, 2003); professor of microbiology, foreign member of the Royal Society
- Paul Saylor, 1967-2002, Emeritus Professor of Computer Science.
[edit] Notable alumni
Not all listed alumni graduated from the University, and are so noted if the information is known.
[edit] Nobel Prize winners
- Edward Doisy, B.S. 1914, M.S. 1916 — Physiology or Medicine, 1943
- Vincent Du Vigneaud, B.S. 1923, M.S. 1924 — Chemistry, 1955; also served as faculty member
- Robert W. Holley, B.A. 1942 — Physiology or Medicine, 1968
- Jack Kilby, B.S. 1947 — Physics, 2000; inventor of the integrated circuit
- Edwin G. Krebs, B.A. 1940 — Physiology or Medicine, 1992
- Polykarp Kusch, M.S. 1933, Ph.D. 1936 — Physics, 1955
- John Schrieffer, M.S. 1954, Ph.D. 1957 — Physics, 1972; also served as faculty member
- Phillip Sharp, Ph.D. 1969 — Chemistry, 1993
- Wendell Stanely, M.S. 1927, PhD. 1929 — Chemistry 1946
- Rosalyn Yalow, M.S. 1942, Ph.D. 1945 — Physiology or Medicine, 1977
[edit] Pulitzer Prize winners
- Barry Bearak, M.S. 1974 — International Reporting, 2002
- Michael Colgrass, B.A. 1956 — Music, 1978
- George Crumb, M.A. 1952 — Music, 1968
- David Herbert Donald, M.A. 1942, Ph.D. 1946 — Biography, 1961 and 1988
- Roger Ebert, B.S. 1964 — Criticism, 1975
- Roy J. Harris, B.A. 1925 — Public Service, 1950
- Hugh F. Hough, B.S. 1951 — Local General Spot News Reporting, 1974
- Paul Ingrassia, B.S. 1972 — Beat Reporting, 1993
- Monroe Karmin, B.S. 1950 — National Reporting, 1967
- Allan Nevins, B.A. 1912, M.A. 1913 — Biography, 1933 and 1937
- James Reston, B.S. 1932 — National Reporting, 1945 and 1957
- Robert Lewis Taylor, B.A. 1933 — Fiction, 1959
- George Thiem, B.S. 1921 — Public Service, 1950
- Carl Van Doren, B.A. 1907 — Biography, 1939
- Mark Van Doren, B.A. 1914 — Poetry, 1940
- Abe Zaidan, B.S. 1953 — Local Reporting, 1971
[edit] Academia
- Philip Handler, Ph.D. 1939 — President, National Academy of Sciences
- Steven B. Sample, B.S. 1962, M.S. 1963, Ph.D. 1965 — Tenth President, University of Southern California
- James J. Stukel, M.S. 1963, Ph.D. 1968 — Fifteenth President, University of Illinois
- Arnold Weber, A.B. 1950, A.M. 1951 — Fourteenth President, Northwestern University
- John Niland, PhD 1970 - Fourth President, University of New South Wales, Sydney
[edit] Astronauts
- Scott Altman, B.S. 1981
- Lee J. Archambault, B.S. 1982, M.S. 1984
- Dale A. Gardner, B.S. 1970
- David H. Matthiesen, B.S. 1980, M.S. 1982
- Steven R. Nagel, B.S. 1969
- Joseph R. Tanner, B.S. 1973
[edit] Business
- Jon Burgstone, 1995 — CEO of SupplierMarket
- Jim Cantalupo, 1966 — Chairman and CEO of McDonald's (1991-2004)
- Jerry Colangelo, B.S. 1962 — President & CEO of Phoenix Suns and managing general partner of Arizona Diamondbacks
- Jon Corzine, A.B. 1969 — Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs (1994-1999), cross listed in Politics section
- Louis K. Eilers, 1929 — Former President and CEO of Eastman Kodak
- George M.C. Fisher, 1962 — CEO of Eastman Kodak
- John Georges, 1951 — CEO of International Paper
- Jim Gillespie, - CEO of Coldwell Banker
- William W. Grainger, — Founder of W.W. Grainger
- Clifford F. Hood, 1915 — Former President of U.S. Steel
- Mannie Jackson, 1960 — Former pro basketball player, owner of the Harlem Globetrotters
- Robert L. Johnson, — Founder of Black Entertainment Television; principal owner of the Charlotte Bobcats
- Michael P. Krasny, B.S. 1975 — Chairman Emeritus and founder of CDW
- Steven Miller, B.S. 1967 — Chairman, President, & CEO of Shell Oil (1999-2002)
- Tom Murphy, B.S. 1938 — Chairman of General Motors
- Matthew Paull, A.B. 1972, M.A.S. 1975 — CFO of McDonald's
- Ron Popeil, 1957 — Inventor of the Infomercial (left after one year)
- Abe Saperstein, — Creator of the Harlem Globetrotters
- Jack Welch, M.S. 1959, Ph.D. 1961 — CEO of General Electric (1981-2001)
- C. E. Woolman, 1912 — Founder of Delta Air Lines
- Leslie B. Worthington, 1923 — President of U.S. Steel
[edit] Literature, media, and entertainment
- Bob Nanna — indie rock musician, founder of the bands Friction, Braid (band), Hey Mercedes, and The City on Film
- Mark Staff Brandl, B.F.A. 1978; artist, art historian and critic
- Dee Brown, M.S. 1951 — Author of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
- Avery Brundage, B.S. 1909; Olympian, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President (1952-1972)
- Marty Casey, B.A. Lead vocalist of the band Lovehammers
- John Chancellor, — Political analyst and newscaster for NBC Nightly News
- Iris Chang, B.A. 1989 — Author of The Rape of Nanking
- Roger Ebert, B.S. 1964 — Film critic
- Dave Eggers, — Writer
- Leslie Erganian. — Artist, Writer
- Lee Falk, 1932 — Creator of The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician
- Bill Geist, 1968 — CBS News correspondent
- Gene Hackman — Actor
- Erika Harold, — Miss America 2003
- Hugh Hefner, B.A. 1949 — Founder of Playboy magazine
- Nicole Hollander, B.A. 1960 — Syndicated cartoonist of Sylvia
- Th. Emil Homerin, B.A. 1977, M.A. 1978; professor, scholar of religion
- Irene Hunt, B.A. 1939 — Newbery Medal winning author of Up a Road Slowly
- Arte Johnson, 1949 — Laugh-In television personality
- Frederick C Klein, B.A. 1959 — sportswriter Wall Street Journal' and author
- Ang Lee, 1980 — Academy Award-winning movie director (Best Director, 2005, Brokeback Mountain)
- Carol Marin, A.B. 1970 — Former news anchor, 60 Minutes correspondent, and Illinois Journalist of the Year (1988)
- Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, 1980 — Actress
- Donna Mills, — Movie and TV actress
- Robert Novak, B.A. 1952 — Political commentator
- Suze Orman, B.A. 1973 — Financial adviser and author
- Larry Parks, — Academy-Award-nominated actor; blacklisted in Hollywood after testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee
- Henry Petroski — Civil engineer and writer
- Richard Powers, M.A. 1979 — Novelist and writer
- Irna Phillips, 1923 — Creator of the soap opera
- Andy Richter, briefly attended — Actor and former Conan O'Brien sidekick
- Alan Ruck, — Actor (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Star Trek: Generations, Spin City)
- Gene Shalit, 1949 — Film critic
- Deb Sokolow, B.A. 1996 - Artist
- Lorado Taft, Sculptor, writer and educator
- Lynne Thigpen, B.A. 1970 — 1997 Tony Award-winning actress
- Jean Thompson, Novelist, prize-winning short story writer
- Kurt Walters, Teacher, Stand-Up Historian.
- Douglas Wilson, — Television personality/designer
- George Karnes, CEO - Beatrice Food Comp. Fortune 500, Alumnist Award 1989
[edit] Military
- Lew Allen, Jr., M.S. 1952, Ph.D. 1954 — Chief of Staff, United States Air Force
- Archie R. Clemins, B.S. 1966, M.S. 1972 — Admiral, United States Navy; Former Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet
- Alfred G. Harms, B.S. 1971 — Retired Vice-Admiral, United States Navy
- Wilma L. Vaught, B.S. 1952 — Retired Brigadier General, United States Air Force
[edit] Politics
- Rafael Correa — Former Secretary (Minister) of Finances of Ecuador. Candidate in the 2006 Ecuador Presidential Election. Advanced to the run-off. Received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 2001
- John Anderson — Former U.S. Representative and 1980 presidential candidate
- James Brady, 1962 — White House Press Secretary under Ronald Reagan, hand gun control advocate
- Jon Corzine, A.B. 1969 — Governor of New Jersey (2006-present) and U.S. Senator from New Jersey (2001-2006), cross listed in Business section
- Dorothy Day, 1918 — founder of the Catholic Worker Movement
- Atef Ebeid, Ph.D. 1962 — Former prime minister of Egypt (1999-2004)
- Jesse Jackson — Civil rights leader, presidential candidate and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition -Expelled before graduation.
- Jesse Jackson Jr., J.D. 1993 — U.S. Representative from Illinois (1995-present)
- Annette Lu — Vice-president of the Republic of China (2000-present)
- Lynn Martin, B.A. 1960 — U.S. Representative from Illinois (1981-1991) and Secretary of Labor in the cabinet of George H.W. Bush (1991-1993)
- John W. McDonald, A.B. 1943, J.D. 1946 — United States Ambassador (Retired); career diplomat; co-founder and Chairman of the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy
- Oran McPherson — Former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and Minister of Public Works for the United Farmers of Alberta government.
- Fidel V. Ramos, 1951 — Former President of the Philippines (1992-1998)
- Samuel K. Skinner, 1960 — Secretary of Transportation (1989-1991); White House Chief of Staff during the George H. W. Bush Administration (1992)
- Phillips Talbot, B.S. 1936, A.B. 1936 — United States Ambassador to Greece (1965-1969), President of The Asia Society (1970-1981)
[edit] Science
- Murray S. Blum — Entomologist, authority on chemical ecology and pheromones
- Ronald Cohn, B.S. 1965, M.S. 1967, Ph.D. 1971 — Researcher and cameraman who helped document Koko, the mountain gorilla
- Alfred Y. Cho, B.S. 1960, M.S. 1961, Ph.D. 1968 — Father of molecular beam epitaxy; received the National Medal of Science in 1993
- Richard Hamming, Ph.D. 1942 — mathematician, who developed Hamming code and Hamming distance, winner of 1968 ACM Turing Award. IEEE's Richard W. Hamming Medal is named after him.
- Donald Johanson, B.S. 1966 — Anthropologist, discoverer of oldest known hominid, "Lucy"
- Francine Patterson, B.S. 1970 — Researcher who taught a modified version of American Sign Language to a mountain gorilla named Koko
- Allan Sandage, B.S., 1948 — Influential astronomer and cosmologist; winner of 1991 Crafoord Prize
- Charles W. Woodworth, B.S. 1885, M.S. 1886 — Founder of the Division of Entomology, University of California, Berkeley; the PBESA gives the C. W. Woodworth Award
- Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, Ph.D. 1975 — computer scientist, winner of 2000 ACM Turing Award, "in recognition of his fundamental contributions to the theory of computation, including the complexity-based theory of pseudorandom number generation, cryptography, and communication complexity"
[edit] Sports and athletics
Basketball
- Nick Anderson, former National Basketball Association player, Orlando Magic's career scoring leader
- Kendall Gill, former National Basketball Association player
- James Augustine, National Basketball Association player, forward for the Orlando Magic
- Dee Brown, National Basketball Association player, guard for the Utah Jazz
- Brian Cook, National Basketball Association player, forward for the Los Angeles Lakers
- Luther Head, National Basketball Association player, guard for the Houston Rockets
- Deron Williams, National Basketball Association player, guard for the Utah Jazz
- Roger Powell, National Basketball Association player, forward for the Utah Jazz
Baseball
- Lou Boudreau, late Major League Baseball player; member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Mark Dalesandro, former Major League Baseball catcher and third baseman
- Darrin Fletcher, former Major League Baseball catcher
- Tom Haller, former Major League Baseball catcher
- Scott Spiezio, Major League Baseball infielder and former World Series Champion (2002) (2006/St. Louis Cardinals)
Football
- Dick Butkus, National Football League linebacker; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Danny Clark, National Football League player, linebacker for the New Orleans Saints
- Jameel Cook, National Football League player, fullback for the Houston Texans
- Moe Gardner, former National Football League player, defensive line for the Atlanta Falcons
- Red Grange, charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- George Halas, former National Football League coach for the Chicago Bears; charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Greg Lewis, National Football League player, wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Brandon Lloyd, National Football League player, wide receiver for the Washington Redskins
- Neil Rackers, National Football League player, kicker for the Arizona Cardinals
- Simeon Rice, National Football League player, defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Eugene Wilson, National Football League player, defensive back for the New England Patriots
- Aaron Moorehead, National Football League player, wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts
- David Diehl, National Football League player, offensive guard for the New York Giants
- Kelvin Hayden, National Football League player, cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts
- Tony Pashos, National Football League player, offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens
- Steve Weatherford, National Football League player, punter for the New Orleans Saints
- George Plobb IV, Legendary Harry D. Jacobs High School JV Defensive Lineman
Golf
Danielle Burian (Professional Tennis Player)
[edit] Technology and innovation
- Sohaib Abbasi, B.S. 1980, M.S. 1980 — President and CEO of Informatica
- Max Abramovitz, B.S. 1929 — Architect on many campus and prominent international buildings including the United Nations Building, Assembly Hall (Champaign) and the Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City
- Marc Andreessen, B.S. 1993 — Co-creator of Mosaic, and later co-founder of Netscape
- Bruce Artwick, M.S. 1976 — Creator of Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Carol Ross Barney, B.Arch. 1971, M.Arch. 1984 — Architect for the new U.S. Federal Building after the Oklahoma City bombing
- Arnold O. Beckman, B.S. 1922, MS 1923 — Inventor of pH meter, founder of Beckman Instruments; major donor to U of I, the Beckman Institute and Beckman Quadrangle are named after him
- Eric Bina, B.S. 1986, M.S. 1988 — Co-creator of the Mosaic and among the first employees of Netscape
- Donald L. Bitzer — 2003 Emmy Award in Technical Achievement for the invention of the plasma display
- Ed Boon, B.S. 1986 — Creator of the Mortal Kombat video game
- John E. Bourgoin, B.S. 1968 - Chairman, president, and CEO of MIPS Technologies
- Temple Hoyne Buell, Architect for the first American central mall
- Jon Burgstone, B.S. 1995 — CEO of SupplierMarket and Faculty Chair of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology
- Steve Chen — Co-founder of YouTube
- Steve Dorner, B.S. 1983 — Creator of Eudora
- Alan M. Davis, M.S. 1973, Ph.D. 1975 — IEEE Fellow for contributions to software engineering, author, entrepreneur
- Lawrence Ellison — founder of Oracle Corporation (left after sophomore year)
- Jeanne Gang, B.S. - Prominent Chicago architect
- Michael Hart, B.A. 1973 — Founder of Project Gutenberg
- Jawed Karim, B.S. 2004 — Co-founder of YouTube
- Fazlur Khan, Ph.D. 1955 — Designer and builder of the Sears Tower, tallest building in the world when it was built in 1973
- Ed Krol - author of Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog
- Max Levchin, B.S. 1997 — Co-founder of PayPal
- Bob Miner, B.A. (mathematics) 1963 — Co-founder of Oracle Corporation
- Ray Ozzie, B.S. 1979 — Creator of Lotus Notes cofounder of Lotus, co-President of Microsoft
- César Pelli, M.Arch. 1954 — Architect for the Petronas Twin Towers
- Nathan Clifford Ricker, D.Arch. 1871 — First architect to receive a degree in Architecture from an American institution.
- Jerry Sanders, B.S. 1958 — Co-founder and former CEO of Advanced Micro Devices
- Thomas Siebel, B.A. 1975, M.B.A. 1983, M.S. 1985 — Founder of Siebel Systems
- H. Gene Slottow — 2003 Emmy Award in Technical Achievement for the invention of the plasma display