Notable Alumni of Kansas State University

Juan Manuel Santos 1951–

Former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Prize recipient

Also attended: University of Kansas, Harvard University, Tufts University

Joseph Boakai 1944–

26th President of Liberia

Sam Brownback 1956–

46th Governor of Kansas and former US senator

Attended until 1979

Also attended: University of Kansas

Pat Roberts 1936–

US Senator from Kansas from 1997 to 2021

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1958

Also attended: University of Kansas

Susanna M. Salter 1860–1961

First woman mayor in the United States

Jane Dee Hull 1935–2020

20th Governor of Arizona

Also attended: Arizona State University-Tempe, University of Kansas

Roger Marshall 1960–

US senator from Kansas and physician

Bachelor of Science

Also attended: Butler Community College, University of Kansas

Jim Pillen 1955–

41st Governor of Nebraska

Allen West 1961–

Former U.S. representative and Texas GOP chairman

Master of Arts · Class of 1986

Also attended: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Richard Bowman Myers 1942–

Air Force general, 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Bachelor of Science · Mechanical engineering · Class of 1965

Also attended: Auburn University at Montgomery, Harvard University

Frank Carlson 1893–1987

30th Governor of Kansas and US senator

Agricultural science

Lynn Jenkins 1963–

Former U.S. Representative from Kansas

Associate degree · Class of 1985

Also attended: Weber State University

Jeff Colyer 1960–

47th governor of Kansas and surgeon

Also attended: Georgetown University, University of Kansas

Fred A. Seaton 1909–1974

US Secretary of the Interior under Eisenhower

Francisco Santos 1961–

Former Vice President of Colombia

Also attended: University of Kansas, Harvard University, The University of Texas at Austin

David Cheung 1937–2013

Hong Kong educator, pastor and former legislator

Also attended: University of Kansas, Covenant Theological Seminary

Cynthia Carroll 1956–

Former chief executive of Anglo American

Also attended: University of Kansas, Harvard University, Skidmore College

Clyde Tombaugh 1906–1997

Astronomer who discovered Pluto

Also attended: Northern Arizona University, University of Kansas

Vernon L. Smith 1927–

Economist and Chapman University professor

Also attended: California Institute of Technology, Friends University, University of Kansas

Segenet Kelemu 1957–

Ethiopian molecular plant pathologist

Doctor of Philosophy · Plant pathology · Class of 1989

Also attended: Montana State University

Alexander Wetmore 1886–1978

Ornithologist, sixth Secretary of the Smithsonian

Also attended: George Washington University

Samuel Wendell Williston 1851–1918

Paleontologist and entomologist

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1872

Also attended: Yale University

Joseph W. Kennedy 1916–1957

Chemist and co-discoverer of plutonium

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, University of Kansas, Stephen F. Austin State University

Charles Hazelius Sternberg 1850–1943

Fossil collector and paleontologist

David Grandison Fairchild 1869–1954

Botanist who introduced over 200,000 plants to the US

Father: George Thompson Fairchild (Oberlin College)

Child: Graham Fairchild (Harvard University)

Edward Harrison Taylor 1889–1978

Herpetologist and university professor

Also attended: University of Kansas

Geraldine L. Richmond 1953–

Chemist and University of Oregon research vice president

Bachelor of Science · Chemistry · Class of 1975

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Alwyn Howard Gentry 1945–1993

Botanist who studied tropical forest vegetation

Also attended: Washington University in St Louis, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Spouse: Rosa del C. Ortiz (University of Missouri--St. Louis)

Ernest Fox Nichols 1869–1924

Physicist and 10th president of Dartmouth College

Also attended: Cornell University

Way Kuo 1951–

Fourth President of City University of Hong Kong

Kirstie Alley 1951–2022

Actress known for Cheers

Spouse: Parker Stevenson (Princeton University)

Scott Bakula 1954–

Actor in Quantum Leap and Star Trek: Enterprise

Also attended: University of Kansas, Jefferson College

Rob Riggle 1970–

Actor, comedian and retired Marine officer

Also attended: University of Kansas, Webster University

Eric Stonestreet 1971–

Actor in Modern Family, two-time Emmy winner

Charles Melton 1991–

American actor and model

Claude McKay 1889–1948

Writer and poet of the Harlem Renaissance

Also attended: Tuskegee University

Sara Paretsky 1947–

Detective fiction author, creator of V. I. Warshawski

Also attended: University of Chicago, University of Kansas

Samuel Ramey 1942–

Operatic bass

Also attended: Wichita State University

Jerry Wexler 1917–2008

Music producer who coined "rhythm and blues"

Pete Souza 1954–

Chief White House photographer for Reagan and Obama

Also attended: Boston University

Lung Ying-tai 1952–

Taiwanese writer and public intellectual

Doctorate

Gordon Jump 1932–2003

Actor, played Arthur Carlson in WKRP in Cincinnati

Also attended: Otterbein University

Mitch Richmond 1965–

Former professional basketball player

Also attended: Moberly Area Community College

Michael Beasley 1989–

Former NBA player, notably with the Miami Heat

Kenny Harrison 1965–

Triple jumper and 1996 Olympic gold medalist

Austra Skujytė 1979–

Lithuanian heptathlete and decathlon world record setter

Jim Ryun 1947–

Olympic runner and former U.S. Congressman

Also attended: University of Kansas

Child: Ned Ryun (University of Kansas)

Bob Boozer 1937–2012

NBA player and 1960 Olympic gold medalist

Thane Baker 1931–

1956 Olympic 4×100m relay gold medalist

Erik Kynard 1991–

Track and field high jumper

Rolando Blackman 1959–

Former NBA player and four-time All-Star

Dean Wade 1996–

NBA player, Kansas State alumnus

Leticia Romero 1995–

Spanish women's basketball player

Attended until 2014

Also attended: Florida State University

Janee' Kassanavoid 1995–

Native American hammer thrower

Jeremiah Massey 1982–

American-born naturalized Macedonian basketball player

Also attended: Oxnard College

Rodney McGruder 1991–

Professional basketball player

Akela Jones 1995–

Barbadian track and field athlete

Ivan Riley 1900–1943

Hurdler at the 1924 Summer Olympics

Margaret Murdock 1942–

Sport shooter, 1976 Olympic silver medalist

Also attended: Washburn University

Bill Walker 1987–

Former professional basketball player

Attila Zsivóczky 1977–

Hungarian decathlete

Attended until 1999

Erin Brockovich 1960–

Environmental activist, subject of the film Erin Brockovich

Also attended: Wade College