Notable Alumni of University of Illinois at Chicago

Carol Moseley Braun 1947–

First African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate

Attended until 1969

Also attended: University of Chicago

Chuy García 1956–

U.S. Representative from Illinois

Bobby Rush 1946–

US representative; co-founded Illinois Black Panther Party

Master of Arts · Class of 1994

Also attended: McCormick Theological Seminary, Roosevelt University

John R. Hodge 1893–1963

United States Army general

John H. Cox 1955–

Businessman and 2018 Republican nominee for Governor of California

Also attended: Illinois Institute of Technology

Jim McDermott 1936–

Former U.S. representative from Washington and psychiatrist

Doctor of Medicine · Class of 1963

Also attended: Wheaton College (IL)

Ertharin Cousin 1957–

12th Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1982

Also attended: University of Georgia, Stanford University

James R. Thompson 1936–2020

37th Governor of Illinois

Also attended: North Park University, Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis

Sheila Tlou 1950–

Former Botswana health minister and nursing professor

Attended until 1990

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dillard University, Columbia University in the City of New York

Larry Bucshon 1962–

Former U.S. representative for Indiana, cardiac surgeon

Doctor of Medicine · Class of 1988

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Medical College of Wisconsin

Steven Schiff 1947–1998

U.S. Representative from New Mexico

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1968

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Toshiko Abe 1959–

Japanese Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives

Also attended: University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Chicago

Chen Ching-min 1966–

Taiwanese nurse, health scientist and politician

Bachelor of Science in Nursing · Class of 1990

Also attended: Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Purdue University-Main Campus

Sandy Yu 1958–

Taiwanese politician

Doctorate

Also attended: Western Illinois University

Anuradha Acharya 1972–

Founder of Ocimum Bio Solutions and Mapmygenome

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Radovan Jelašić 1968–

Economist, former Governor of National Bank of Serbia

Master of Business Administration · Class of 1995

Tony Podesta 1943–

Lobbyist and founder of the Podesta Group

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sibling: John Podesta (Georgetown University, Knox College)

Polykarp Kusch 1911–1993

Physicist, shared the 1955 Nobel Prize in Physics

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Case Western Reserve University

Nancy Cartwright 1944–

Philosopher of science

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1971

Also attended: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

William A. Dembski 1960–

Mathematician, philosopher and intelligent design advocate

Also attended: University of Chicago, Princeton Theological Seminary

Barbara A. Schaal 1947–

Evolutionary biologist, former NAS vice president

Also attended: Yale University

Stanley J. Korsmeyer 1950–2005

Scientist known for B cell lymphoma and apoptosis research

Doctor of Medicine

Rhonda Hughes 1947–

Mathematician, professor emeritus at Bryn Mawr

Kathleen de la Peña McCook 1942–

Library scholar and University of South Florida professor

Also attended: University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jennifer Quinn

Mathematician and professor at UW Tacoma

Also attended: Williams College, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Justin Hartley 1977–

Actor, played Oliver Queen on Smallville

Also attended: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Spouse: Sofia Pernas (University of California-San Diego)

Spouse: Lindsay Hartley (University of Nevada--Las Vegas)

Janina Gavankar 1980–

Actress and musician

Alaa Al Aswany 1957–

Egyptian novelist and dentist

Nnedi Okorafor 1974–

Nigerian-American science fiction and fantasy writer

Doctor of Philosophy · English

Michael Gross 1947–

Actor in Family Ties and the Tremors franchise

Also attended: Yale University

Adrian Smith 1944–

Architect who designed the Burj Khalifa

Mike Hagerty 1954–2022

Actor known for comedic blue-collar roles

Gertrude Abercrombie 1909–1977

Chicago-based painter

Also attended: American Academy of Art College, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Lucas Neff 1985–

Actor, lead of sitcom Raising Hope

Rajaa al-Sanea 1981–

Saudi writer, author of Girls of Riyadh

Al Jourgensen 1958–

Cuban-American musician and music producer

Also attended: University of Northern Colorado

Steve Grand 1990–

Singer-songwriter known for All-American Boy

Also attended: Belmont University

Richard Hunt 1935–2023

Sculptor of abstract and public sculpture

Also attended: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Bernard Shaw 1940–2022

Lead news anchor for CNN from 1980 to 2001

Mequitta Ahuja 1976–

Painter known for self-portraiture

Also attended: Hampshire College

Michael Colgrass 1932–2019

Composer, musician and educator

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Kelly Cheung 1990–

Hong Kong actress, Miss Chinese International 2012 winner

Nancy Davidson 1943–

Artist known for large inflatable sculptures

Also attended: Northeastern Illinois University

Azhar Usman 1975–

Comedian and actor

Also attended: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Sheryl Underwood 1963–

Comedian, actress and television host

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Fresno City College, Governors State University

Tom Friedman 1965–

Conceptual sculptor

Also attended: Washington University in St Louis

Jorge Pardo 1963–

Cuban-American artist and sculptor

Also attended: Art Center College of Design

Tina DeRosa 1944–2007

Writer best known for the novel Paper Fish

Adam Langer 1967–

Author of the novel Crossing California

Also attended: Vassar College

Alvin Fielder 1935–2019

Jazz drummer and charter member of the AACM

Also attended: Texas Southern University

Jay DeMerit 1979–

Former soccer center back

Curtis Granderson 1981–

Former professional baseball outfielder

Baggio Hušidić 1987–

Bosnian former footballer

Mark Miller 1975–

Retired basketball player and college assistant coach

Othyus Jeffers 1985–

Former professional basketball player and coach

Also attended: Los Angeles Southwest College, Robert Morris University Illinois

Tai Odiase 1995–

Puerto Rican center, basketball player

Sherell Ford 1972–

Former basketball player, 26th pick in 1995 NBA draft

Josh Mayo 1987–

Professional basketball player

Cedrick Banks 1981–

Former American professional basketball player

Jeremy Hammond 1985–

Anarchist activist and former computer hacker

Joseph Mercola 1954–

Alternative medicine proponent and osteopathic physician

Mark Weber 1951–

Holocaust denier, director of the Institute for Historical Review

Also attended: Portland State University