Notable Alumni of University of Denver

Condoleezza Rice 1954–

66th United States Secretary of State

Also attended: University of Notre Dame, University of Notre Dame -

Mohammad Javad Zarif 1960–

Iranian diplomat and former vice president

Also attended: San Francisco State University

Sultan bin Salman Al Saud 1956–

Saudi prince, first Arab to fly in space

Also attended: Syracuse University

Sibling: Ahmed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (University of California-Irvine)

Sibling: Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (University of California-Berkeley)

Mike Enzi 1944–2021

U.S. senator from Wyoming from 1997 to 2021

Master of Business Administration · Class of 1968

Also attended: George Washington University

Cevdet Yılmaz 1967–

Vice President of Turkey

Byron Dorgan 1942–

Former US senator from North Dakota

Master of Business Administration · Class of 1966

Also attended: University of North Dakota

Gale Norton 1954–

48th US Secretary of the Interior

George W. Casey, Jr. 1948–

36th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army

Also attended: Georgetown University

Pete Domenici 1932–2017

U.S. Senator from New Mexico

Attended until 1958

Also attended: University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Child: Adam Laxalt (Georgetown University, Tulane University of Louisiana)

Paul Laxalt 1922–2018

Former Governor and U.S. Senator of Nevada

Also attended: Santa Clara University

Sibling: Robert Laxalt (University of Nevada-Reno)

Christopher R. Hill 1952–

Diplomat, former US Ambassador to Serbia

Also attended: Bowdoin College

Ed Schafer 1946–

29th US Secretary of Agriculture

Also attended: University of North Dakota

Fred Karger 1950–

Political consultant and gay rights activist

Mo Udall 1922–1998

U.S. representative from Arizona, 1976 presidential contender

Also attended: University of Arizona, Arizona Board of Regents

Child: Mark Udall (Williams College)

Jim Nicholson 1938–

Fifth US Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, The United States Military Academy at West Point

Sibling: John W. Nicholson (The United States Military Academy at West Point, University of Pennsylvania)

John Patrick Williams 1937–2025

Montana's longest-serving U.S. congressman

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1961

Also attended: The University of Montana

Spouse: Carol Williams (The University of Montana-Western)

Massouma al-Mubarak 1947–

Kuwait's first female minister, political science professor

Also attended: University of North Texas

Mary Cheney 1969–

Activist and daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney

Also attended: Colorado College

Father: Dick Cheney (Yale University, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Mother: Lynne Cheney (University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado College)

Feng Ting-kuo 1950–2018

Taiwanese politician and former legislator

Ruth Handler 1916–2002

Inventor of Barbie, co-founder of Mattel

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Spouse: Elliot Handler (Art Center College of Design)

David Malpass 1956–

Former President of the World Bank Group

Also attended: Colorado College, Georgetown University

Richard Hilton 1955–

Businessman, father of Paris Hilton

Father: Barron Hilton (University of Southern California)

Asma Barlas 1950–

Pakistani-American academic and writer on Islam

Harold Agnew 1921–2013

Physicist, third director of Los Alamos National Laboratory

Also attended: University of Chicago

Margaret Singer 1921–2003

Clinical psychologist who studied undue influence in cults

Donald Howard Menzel 1901–1976

Theoretical astronomer and astrophysicist

Also attended: Princeton University

Aven Nelson 1859–1952

Botanist and University of Wyoming founding professor

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1904

Also attended: Harvard University, Drury University, Truman State University

Harold Johnson 1921–1980

Astronomer and university teacher

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Neil Simon 1927–2018

Playwright and screenwriter

Also attended: New York University

Spouse: Marsha Mason (Webster University)

Robin Hobb 1952–

Fantasy author of the Realm of the Elderlings series

Sinbad 1956–

Stand-up comedian and actor

Chris Broderick 1970–

Guitarist, former member of Megadeth

John Edward Williams 1922–1994

Author of Stoner and Augustus

Also attended: University of Missouri-Columbia

Cedar Walton 1934–2013

Hard bop jazz pianist and composer

Es'kia Mphahlele 1919–2008

South African writer, founder of modern African literature

Doctorate · Class of 1968

Lowell Thomas 1892–1981

Journalist, broadcaster and documentary filmmaker

Master's degree, Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1912

Also attended: Valparaiso University, Princeton University

Child: Lowell Thomas Jr. (Dartmouth College)

Duane Michals 1932–2026

Photographer known for narrative photo sequences

Also attended: The New School

Alan Berg 1934–1984

Denver talk radio host

Also attended: University of Colorado Denver

Morton Subotnick 1933–

Electronic music composer of Silver Apples of the Moon

Ted Shawn 1891–1972

Dancer and choreographer, pioneer of American modern dance

Ray Baker 1948–

Theater, television and film actor

Spouse: Patricia Richardson (Southern Methodist University)

Paula Broadwell 1972–

Writer, academic and former military officer

Also attended: Harvard University, The United States Military Academy at West Point

Michelle Kwan 1980–

Figure skater and former US Ambassador to Belize

Also attended: Tufts University

Sibling: Karen Kwan (Boston University)

Phil Heath 1979–

Professional bodybuilder

Vince Boryla 1927–2016

Basketball player, coach and executive

Paul Stastny 1985–

Former NHL center

Sibling: Yan Stastny (University of Notre Dame)

Jerome Biffle 1928–2002

1952 Olympic long jump gold medalist

Byron Beck 1945–

Former ABA and NBA player for the Nuggets

Also attended: Columbia Basin College

Glenn Anderson 1960–

Canadian NHL player for the Edmonton Oilers

Jasmi Joensuu 1996–

Finnish cross-country skier

Troy Terry 1997–

Right winger for the NHL's Anaheim Ducks

Shawn Rhoden 1975–2021

IFBB Pro bodybuilder and Mr. Olympia

Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen 1987–

Norwegian alpine skier

Antti Laaksonen 1973–

Finnish former pro ice hockey winger, ex-NHL

Juho Olkinuora 1990–

Finnish ice hockey goaltender

Brandon Curry 1982–

Professional bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro League

Jason Zucker 1992–

NHL left winger

Royce O'Neale 1993–

NBA player for the Charlotte Hornets

Tyler Bozak 1986–

Canadian ice hockey centre, formerly Maple Leafs

Allison Jones 1984–

Paralympic alpine skier and cyclist

Kevin Dineen 1963–

Canadian ice hockey coach and former player

Robin Winkler 1954–

American-born Taiwanese lawyer and environmentalist

Also attended: New York University