Notable Alumni of University of New Orleans

Sal Khan 1976–

Founder of Khan Academy

Also attended: Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

James H. Clark 1944–

Founder of Silicon Graphics and Netscape

Also attended: Tulane University of Louisiana, University of Utah

Ellen DeGeneres 1958–

Comedian, actress and talk show host

Mother: Betty DeGeneres (Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College)

Frank Ocean 1987–

Singer and songwriter, Grammy Award winner

Dawn Richard 1983–

Singer and Danity Kane group member

Lance E. Nichols 1955–

Actor best known for playing a dentist on Treme

Valerie Martin 1948–

Novelist whose Property won the Orange Prize

Also attended: University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Anita Ratnam 1954–

Indian classical and contemporary dancer and choreographer

Jericho Brown 1976–

Poet and writer

Master of Fine Arts · Class of 2002

Also attended: Dillard University, University of Houston

Peter Halley 1953–

Artist, central figure of Neo-Conceptualism

Also attended: Yale University

Joseph Boyden 1966–

Canadian novelist and short story writer

Kim McGuire 1955–2016

Actress, lawyer and writer

Also attended: Loyola University New Orleans

Billy Slaughter 1980–

Film and television actor, appeared in The Big Short

Erica Spindler 1957–

Bestselling author of romantic thrillers

Kathleen Alcalá 1954–

Novelist, essayist and creative writing teacher

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Stanford University

Bo McCalebb 1985–

Macedonian basketball player

Taryn Terrell 1985–

Professional wrestler, model and actress

Ervin Johnson 1967–

Former NBA player, Denver Nuggets community ambassador

Pat Barry 1979–

Former UFC heavyweight fighter and kickboxer

Also attended: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Wayne Cooper 1956–2022

NBA player for fourteen seasons

Ledell Eackles 1966–

Former NBA basketball player

Héctor Romero 1980–

Former Venezuelan professional basketball player

Kyndall Dykes 1987–

Palestinian basketball player

Ly Tong 1945–2019

Vietnamese American aviator and anti-communist activist