Notable Alumni of Northern Illinois University

Tammy Duckworth 1968–

US senator from Illinois

Also attended: George Washington University, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Capella University

Dennis Hastert 1942–2026

51st Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

Master of Science · Class of 1967

Also attended: Wheaton College (IL)

Anies Baswedan 1969–

Former Governor of Jakarta and Minister of Education

Political science

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park, University System of Maryland

Don Bacon 1963–

Nebraska congressman and retired Air Force brigadier general

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1984

W. Willard Wirtz 1912–2010

Former US Secretary of Labor and law professor

Also attended: Harvard University, Beloit College

Robin Kelly 1956–

U.S. Representative for Illinois's 2nd district

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 2004

Also attended: Bradley University

Eric Sorensen 1976–

U.S. representative from Illinois and former meteorologist

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1999

Suh Byung-soo 1952–

South Korean politician and former mayor of Busan

Doctor of Philosophy

Ruth Munson 1958–

Former Illinois state representative

John Miller 1947–2016

Virginia state senator and journalist

Fai Hung-tai 1954–

Taiwanese legislator and Kuomintang caucus leader

Master's degree

Also attended: University of Kentucky

Thomas F. Konop 1879–1964

Former U.S. Representative from Wisconsin

Also attended: University of Wisconsin--Oshkosh

Chel Diokno 1961–

Filipino lawyer and politician

Robert Fioretti 1953–

Attorney and Chicago alderman for the 2nd ward

John Arena 1965–

Former Chicago City Council alderman

Chen Shyh-kwei 1952–

Former head of Taiwan's Overseas Community Affairs Council

Wu Jun 1972–

Guizhou politician investigated in 2014

John Sall 1948–

Co-founder of SAS Institute, creator of JMP

Also attended: North Carolina State University at Raleigh, Beloit College

Paul Sereno 1957–

University of Chicago paleontologist and dinosaur discoverer

Judith Curry 1953–

Climatologist; former chair at Georgia Tech school

Bachelor of Science · Geography · Class of 1974

Also attended: University of Chicago

Ibrahim H. Umar

Nigerian academic, vice-chancellor of Bayero University Kano

Panitan Wattanayagorn 1960–

Thai political scientist at Chulalongkorn University

Robert Zemeckis 1952–

Film director, producer and screenwriter

Also attended: University of Southern California

Dan Castellaneta 1957–

Voice of Homer Simpson on The Simpsons

Joan Allen 1956–

Actress and Tony Award winner

Bachelor of Arts · Theatre · Class of 1989

Also attended: Eastern Illinois University

Spouse: Peter Friedman (Hampshire College, Hofstra University)

Carrie Snodgress 1945–2004

Actress, Oscar-nominated for Diary of a Mad Housewife

Also attended: DePaul University

Wood Harris 1969–

Actor in Remember the Titans and Above the Rim

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: New York University

Sibling: Steve Harris (University of Delaware, Northern Illinois University)

Maria Kanellis 1982–

Professional wrestler, singer and model

Matt Walsh 1964–

Comedian and actor known for Veep

Barbara Alyn Woods 1962–

Actress known for One Tree Hill

Steve Harris 1965–

Actor known for The Practice

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: University of Delaware

Sibling: Wood Harris (Northern Illinois University, New York University)

Cindy Morgan 1951–2023

Actress known for Tron and Caddyshack

Kurt Sutter 1960–

Screenwriter, director, producer and actor

Master of Fine Arts

Spouse: Katey Sagal (California Institute of the Arts)

Charlotte Kate Fox 1985–

Actress, lead of Japanese drama Massan

Also attended: American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York, Marymount Manhattan College, Santa Fe University of Art and Design

Colin Stinton 1947–

Canadian actor, frequent David Mamet collaborator

Joe Miñoso 1978–

Actor in NBC's Chicago Fire

Also attended: Adelphi University

Markos Moulitsas 1971–

Founder of political blog Daily Kos

Also attended: Boston University

Jeff Doucette 1947–

Actor, comedian and director

Also attended: Lewis University

Samantha Irby 1980–

Comedian, essayist and television writer

Shih-Hui Chen 1962–

Taiwanese composer and music educator in the US

Also attended: Boston University

Peter Sotos 1960–

Writer, musician and publisher

Also attended: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Jason Matthew Smith 1972–

Actor known for playing Cupcake in Star Trek films

Also attended: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Joey Leung 1996–

Hong Kong actress and host, Miss Hong Kong 2022 runner-up

Ken Henry 1929–2009

Speed skater

Abdel Nader 1993–

Former basketball player drafted by the Boston Celtics

Tom Gullikson 1951–

Tennis coach and former professional player

Sibling: Tim Gullikson (Northern Illinois University)

Tim Gullikson 1951–1996

Tennis player and coach of Pete Sampras

Sibling: Tom Gullikson (Northern Illinois University)

Kenny Battle 1964–

Former professional basketball player

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Fritz Peterson 1942–2023

Former MLB pitcher for the Yankees

Paul Dawkins 1957–2019

Former Utah Jazz basketball player

Jim Bradley 1952–1982

Basketball player

Michael Turner 1982–

Former NFL running back, Northern Illinois alumnus

Michael Fakuade 1989–

Former basketball player, two-time BAL champion

Marin Marić 1994–

Croatian professional basketball player

Bob Wood 1921–2014

NBA guard with the Sheboygan Red Skins

Anthony Maestranzi 1984–

Italian point guard basketball player

Richard Oruche 1987–

Former pro basketball player of Nigerian descent

Also attended: University of Illinois Springfield

Terry Martin 1980–

Mixed martial artist who competed in middleweight

Leon Rodgers 1980–

American-born Venezuelan basketball player

Patricia Palinkas 1943–2025

First woman to play professional American football

Donald Whiteside 1969–

Former professional basketball point guard

Billy Harris 1951–2010

Basketball player and Chicago streetball star

Stephanie Raymond 1985–

Former WNBA player for the Chicago Sky