Notable Alumni of University of Idaho

Sarah Palin 1964–

Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican VP nominee

Bachelor's degree · Journalism · Class of 1987

Also attended: University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Hawaii--Hilo, Hawaii Pacific University

Jim Risch 1943–

U.S. senator from Idaho

Bachelor of Science, Juris Doctor · Forestry · Class of 1968

Also attended: University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee

Mark Felt 1913–2008

Watergate whistleblower Deep Throat, former FBI official

Also attended: George Washington University

Larry Craig 1945–

Former U.S. senator from Idaho

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1969

Also attended: George Washington University

Brad Little 1954–

33rd Governor of Idaho

Dirk Kempthorne 1951–2026

49th U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Bachelor of Arts · Political science · Class of 1976

Also attended: San Bernardino Valley College

Philip Habib 1920–1992

Career American diplomat specializing in Asia

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Steve Symms 1938–2024

Former U.S. senator from Idaho

Keith Harvey Miller 1925–2019

Governor of Alaska

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Robert L. Ghormley 1883–1958

Navy vice admiral, South Pacific commander in WWII

Also attended: United States Naval Academy

James A. McClure 1924–2011

Republican U.S. Senator from Idaho

Also attended: Idaho State University

Bill Sali 1954–

Former US Representative from Idaho

Juris Doctor · Class of 1984

Also attended: Boise State University

Phil Batt 1927–2023

29th Governor of Idaho

Terrel Bell 1921–1996

Secretary of Education under Reagan

Also attended: University of Utah

James F. Amos 1946–

35th Commandant of the Marine Corps

Abe McGregor Goff 1899–1984

Lawyer and former Idaho congressman

Juris Doctor · Class of 1924

Orval H. Hansen 1926–2017

Former U.S. congressman from Idaho

Also attended: George Washington University

Child: Jim D. Hansen (University of Idaho, College of William and Mary)

Jeffrey Ashby 1954–

NASA astronaut, veteran of three Shuttle missions

Also attended: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Tom Mueller 1961–

SpaceX employee No. 1, founder of Impulse Space

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1985

Also attended: Loyola Marymount University

Harry Huskey 1916–2017

Computer design pioneer

Also attended: Ohio State University-Main Campus

Guy McPherson 1960–

Professor emeritus and ecologist at University of Arizona

Also attended: University of Georgia, Texas Tech University

Lawrence H. Gipson 1880–1971

Historian; 1962 Pulitzer Prize for History winner

Also attended: Yale University

Angeles Arrien 1940–2014

Cultural anthropologist, author of The Four-Fold Way

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Boyd E. Haley 1940–

Chemist and retired University of Kentucky professor

Also attended: Franklin College, Washington State University

Steven Amstrup 1950–

Polar bear zoologist, 2012 Indianapolis Prize recipient

Also attended: University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Herma Albertson Baggley 1896–1981

First female full-time naturalist at Yellowstone National Park

Arden L. Bement, Jr. 1932–

Engineer with executive roles in government, industry, academia

Also attended: Colorado School of Mines, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Bob Twiggs 1935–

Aerospace engineer, co-inventor of the CubeSat

Bill Fagerbakke 1957–

Actor, voice of Patrick Star in SpongeBob

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: Southern Methodist University

Edward Elmer Smith 1890–1965

Science fiction author of the Lensman series

Also attended: George Washington University

Lou Dobbs 1945–2024

Conservative commentator and television host

Also attended: Harvard University

Claude King 1923–2013

Country singer known for Wolverton Mountain

Gladys Lehman 1892–1993

Prolific Hollywood screenwriter

Dave Klein 1972–

Cinematographer

Talbot Jennings 1894–1985

Screenwriter with two Academy Award nominations

Also attended: Yale University, Harvard University

Megan Griffiths 1975–

Film and television director and screenwriter

Also attended: Ohio University-Main Campus

Jim Lemley 1965–

Film producer known for Wanted

David Neiwert 1956–

Freelance journalist and blogger

Dan O'Brien 1966–

1996 Olympic decathlon champion

Also attended: Spokane Falls Community College

Joachim B. Olsen 1977–

Danish shot putter and former politician

Kristin Armstrong 1973–

Cyclist, three-time Olympic gold medalist

Gus Johnson 1938–1987

Professional basketball player in the NBA and ABA

Gordon Herbert 1959–

Basketball coach of Canada national team and NZ Breakers

Kunle Adejuyigbe 1977–

Nigerian sprinter

Kaniel Dickens 1978–

Former professional basketball player

Jerry Kramer 1936–

Green Bay Packers guard, author

Angela Whyte 1980–

Canadian hurdler and three-time Olympian

Also attended: University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Tzvetelina Yanchulova 1975–

Bulgarian beach volleyball player, two-time Olympian

Sibling: Petja Jantschulowa (University of San Diego)

Mark Schlereth 1966–

Former NFL guard and sportscaster

Victor Sanders 1995–

American professional basketball player

Jessica Draskau-Petersson 1977–

Danish long-distance runner

Jim Norton 1938–2007

Football safety and punter for the Houston Oilers

George Ogbeide 1968–

Nigerian long jumper

Also attended: Washington State University

Russell Winger 1984–

Track and field athlete in discus and shot put

Bill Stoneman 1944–

Former MLB pitcher who threw two no-hitters

Also attended: University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Andrew Blaser 1989–

Skeleton racer who competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics

Food science, Nutritional science

Shiloh Keo 1987–

Former NFL safety

Red Morrison 1932–2023

Professional basketball player and FBI agent

Art Anderson 1936–2021

NFL offensive tackle

Brayon Blake 1995–

Professional basketball player

Also attended: Cochise County Community College District