Notable Alumni of Wayne State University

Rashida Tlaib 1976–

U.S. Representative from Michigan

Bachelor of Arts · Political science · Class of 1998

Also attended: Thomas M Cooley Law School

Janet Jagan 1920–2009

6th President of Guyana, first woman in the role

Also attended: University of Detroit Mercy, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Spouse: Cheddi Jagan (Howard University, Northwestern University)

Keith Ellison 1963–

Minnesota attorney general, former US representative

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1986

Also attended: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Fuat Oktay 1964–

First vice president of Turkey

John Conyers 1929–2019

Democratic US Representative from Michigan, 1965–2017

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1957

Spouse: Monica Conyers (Central Michigan University, Bennett College)

Gary Peters 1958–

US senator from Michigan

Juris Doctor · Class of 1989

Also attended: Alma College, University of Detroit Mercy, Michigan State University

Ulana Suprun 1963–

Physician and Ukraine's acting health minister

Also attended: Michigan State University

Viola Liuzzo 1925–1965

Civil rights activist who supported the Selma march

David Levy Yulee 1810–1886

Florida senator, father of Florida railroads

Dan Benishek 1952–2021

Former U.S. representative from Michigan and surgeon

Doctor of Medicine · Class of 1978

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

John Kluge 1914–2010

Television mogul, founder of Metromedia

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Stephen M. Ross 1940–

Founder of Related Companies, real estate developer

Also attended: University of Florida, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, New York University

Hayden White 1928–2018

Historian, author of Metahistory

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Joseph Weizenbaum 1923–2008

German-American computer scientist and MIT professor

Master of Science, Bachelor of Science · Class of 1950

Carl Djerassi 1923–2015

Chemist known as father of the birth control pill

Also attended: Kenyon College, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Spouse: Diane Middlebrook (Yale University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus)

Douglas McGregor 1906–1964

Management professor at MIT Sloan

Also attended: Harvard University

Robert Ettinger 1918–2011

Father of cryonics

Jerry M. Linenger 1955–

Former NASA astronaut who flew to Mir

Also attended: University of Southern California, United States Naval Academy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Deborah Tannen 1945–

Georgetown linguistics professor and sociolinguist

Master of Arts · English literature

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, Binghamton University

Susie Orbach 1946–

Psychotherapist, author of Fat Is a Feminist Issue

Father: Maurice Orbach (Columbia University in the City of New York)

Robert Kearns 1927–2005

Inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper

Also attended: University of Detroit Mercy, Case Western Reserve University

Lily Tomlin 1939–

Actress and comedian

Spouse: Jane Wagner (School of Visual Arts)

Casey Kasem 1932–2014

Radio host and voice of Shaggy in Scooby-Doo

Spouse: Jean Kasem (University of Guam)

Jack White 1975–

Guitarist and lead vocalist of the White Stripes

Tom Sizemore 1961–2023

Actor

Also attended: Michigan State University, Temple University

Spouse: Maeve Quinlan (University of Southern California)

Tom Skerritt 1933–2026

Actor and director

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Helen Thomas 1920–2013

Journalist and author, longtime White House reporter

Ernie Hudson 1945–

Actor known as Winston in Ghostbusters

Also attended: Yale University

Child: Ernie Hudson Jr. (Michigan State University)

Sixto Rodriguez 1942–2023

Detroit singer-songwriter

Crystal Reed 1985–

Actress known for Teen Wolf

Wayne Dyer 1940–2015

Self-help author and motivational speaker

Jeffrey Tambor 1944–

Actor known for Larry Sanders Show and Arrested Development

Also attended: San Francisco State University

David Ramsey 1971–

Actor, John Diggle in Arrow

Donald Byrd 1932–2013

Jazz trumpeter, composer and vocalist

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, Manhattan School of Music, Teachers College at Columbia University

Yusef Lateef 1920–2013

Jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer

Also attended: University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Manhattan School of Music

Arthur Coleman Danto 1924–2013

Art critic, philosopher and Columbia University professor

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

S. Epatha Merkerson 1952–

Actress, Emmy and Golden Globe winner

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Also attended: Indiana University-Bloomington, Eastern Michigan University

Philip Levine 1928–2015

Poet known for poems about working-class Detroit

Also attended: University of Iowa

Tim Meadows 1961–

Comedian, longtime Saturday Night Live cast member

Paul Feig 1962–

Filmmaker, director of Bridesmaids

Also attended: University of Southern California

Chad Everett 1937–2012

American film and television actor

Spouse: Shelby Grant (Northeastern State University)

Della Reese 1931–2017

Singer and actress

Joe Henderson 1937–2001

Jazz tenor saxophonist

Kenny Burrell 1931–

Jazz guitarist and composer

James Lipton 1926–2020

Host of Inside the Actors Studio

Also attended: New York University

Spouse: Nina Foch (American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York)

Thomas Ligotti 1953–

Horror author

Also attended: Macomb Community College

Kenya Moore 1971–

Miss USA 1993 and reality television star

Anita Barone 1964–

Actress known for sitcoms including Friends

Also attended: University of Detroit Mercy

Spouse: Matthew Glave (Ohio University-Main Campus)

Pepper Adams 1930–1986

Jazz baritone saxophonist and composer

Bill Prady 1960–

Co-creator of The Big Bang Theory

Curtis Fuller 1934–2021

Jazz trombonist, member of Jazz Messengers

Haaz Sleiman 1979–

Actor in The Visitor and Killing Jesus

Sam Richardson 1984–

Actor and comedian, known for Veep

Richard LeParmentier 1946–2013

Actor, played Admiral Motti in Star Wars

Dorothy Ashby 1932–1986

Jazz harpist, singer and composer

John Sinclair 1941–2024

Poet, writer and political activist

Also attended: Albion College, University of Michigan--Flint

Spouse: Leni Sinclair (Wayne State University)

Larry Joe Campbell 1970–

Actor known for According to Jim

Also attended: Central Michigan University

Otmar Szafnauer 1964–

Engineer and former Alpine F1 team principal

Electrical engineering

Lorenzo Wright 1926–1972

American sprinter

Wilbert McClure 1938–2020

Boxer, 1960 Olympic light middleweight gold medalist

Also attended: University of Toledo

Dario Hunter 1983–

Rabbi, lawyer and politician

Also attended: University of Detroit Mercy, Princeton University