Notable Alumni of University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Deb Haaland 1960–

Former U.S. Interior Secretary, New Mexico governor-elect

Bachelor of Arts · English studies · Class of 1994

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Michelle Lujan Grisham 1959–

32nd Governor of New Mexico

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1981

Gary Johnson 1953–

29th Governor of New Mexico

Martin Heinrich 1971–

U.S. senator from New Mexico

Attended until 2002

Also attended: University of Missouri-Columbia

Ben Ray Luján 1972–

U.S. Senator from New Mexico

Attended until 1995

Also attended: New Mexico Highlands University

Pete Domenici 1932–2017

U.S. Senator from New Mexico

Attended until 1954

Also attended: University of Denver

Child: Adam Laxalt (Georgetown University, Tulane University of Louisiana)

Shirley M. Hufstedler 1925–2016

First US Secretary of Education and federal judge

Also attended: Stanford University

Jerry McNerney 1951–

California state senator, former U.S. representative

Bachelor of Science, Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1981

Also attended: The United States Military Academy at West Point

Yosiwo George 1941–2022

Former Vice President of Micronesia

Also attended: University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Guam

Bruce King 1924–2009

Three-term governor of New Mexico

Edwin L. Mechem 1912–2002

15th, 17th and 19th Governor of New Mexico

Chen Chi-lu 1923–2014

First head of Taiwan's Council for Cultural Affairs

Attended until 1953

Robert Mercer 1946–

Hedge fund manager, former Renaissance Technologies co-CEO

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Child: Rebekah A. Mercer (Stanford University)

Jack Dongarra 1950–

Computer scientist; emeritus professor at University of Tennessee

Also attended: Chicago State University, Illinois Institute of Technology

F. Drew Gaffney 1946–

Physician and former NASA astronaut

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

James Anaya 1958–

Human rights law scholar, former CU Boulder law dean

Bachelor of Arts · Economics

Also attended: Harvard University

Thomas Madden 1960–

Historian at Saint Louis University

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Don E. Wilson 1944–

Mammalogist specializing in bats

Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science

Also attended: University of Arizona

Paul K. Benedict 1912–1997

Linguist who proposed the Austro-Tai language family

Also attended: Harvard University, Cornell University, New York Medical College

Marlene Zuk 1956–

Evolutionary biologist and behavioral ecologist

Also attended: University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Jun Ye 1967–

Chinese-American physicist at JILA and CU Boulder

Master of Science · Physics

Also attended: University of Colorado Boulder

Penny Marshall 1943–2018

Actress and film director, star of Laverne & Shirley

Spouse: Rob Reiner (University of California-Los Angeles)

Sibling: Garry Marshall (Northwestern University, Northwest University)

Edward Abbey 1927–1989

Author and environmentalist, wrote Desert Solitaire

Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1959

Also attended: Yale University, University of Pennsylvania

Spouse: Rita Deanin Abbey (University of New Mexico-Main Campus, Goddard College)

Kim Stanley 1925–2001

Television, stage and film actress

Rockmond Dunbar 1973–

Actor known for Prison Break and Soul Food

Also attended: Morehouse College

Steve-O 1974–

Stunt performer and Jackass cast member

Attended until 1997

Also attended: University of Miami

N. Scott Momaday 1934–2024

Kiowa novelist and poet, Pulitzer Prize winner

Bachelor of Arts · English · Class of 1958

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus, Stanford University

Agnes Martin 1912–2004

American abstract painter

Also attended: Teachers College at Columbia University, Western Washington University

John Lewis 1920–2001

Jazz pianist, founder of the Modern Jazz Quartet

Also attended: Manhattan School of Music

Joy Harjo 1951–

23rd U.S. poet laureate

Bachelor of Arts · Poetry · Class of 1976

Also attended: University of Iowa, Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development

Donald Gibb 1954–2026

Actor in the Revenge of the Nerds films

Michael Blake 1945–2015

Author of Dances With Wolves, Oscar-winning screenwriter

Also attended: Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

Robert Creeley 1926–2005

American poet associated with the Black Mountain poets

Also attended: Harvard University

Rudolfo Anaya 1937–2020

Chicano novelist, author of Bless Me, Ultima

Paula Gunn Allen 1939–2008

Poet, literary critic and novelist

Doctor of Philosophy · American studies · Class of 1975

Also attended: University of Oregon

Lois Duncan 1934–2016

Young-adult fiction writer

Also attended: Duke University

Richard Diebenkorn 1922–1993

Painter and printmaker

Also attended: San Francisco Art Institute, Stanford University

Joel-Peter Witkin 1939–

Photographer known for death and corpse themes

Master of Fine Arts

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

Walter Jon Williams 1953–

Science fiction writer

Bachelor of Arts

Daniel Abraham 1969–

Novelist, co-author of The Expanse series

Leslie Marmon Silko 1948–

Writer, key figure of the Native American Renaissance

Halim El-Dabh 1921–2017

Egyptian-American composer, electronic music pioneer

Also attended: Brandeis University, The New England Conservatory of Music

Rebecca Roanhorse 1971–

Science fiction and fantasy writer

Also attended: Yale University

Eddie Guerrero 1967–2005

Professional wrestler in WCW and WWE

Also attended: New Mexico Highlands University

Sibling: Mando Guerrero (University of Texas--El Paso)

Sibling: Héctor Guerrero (University of Texas--El Paso)

Josh Kerr 1997–

Scottish middle-distance runner, 2023 world 1500m champion

Danny Granger 1983–

Former NBA player

Also attended: Bradley University

Holly Holm 1981–

Boxer and mixed martial artist, former UFC champion

Attended until 2001

Lang Ping 1960–

Volleyball player; former China women's head coach

Courtney Frerichs 1993–

Steeplechase runner, 2020 Olympic silver medalist

Also attended: University of Missouri--Kansas City

Luc Longley 1969–

First Australian to play in the NBA

Cameron Bairstow 1990–

Australian former professional basketball player

Mel Daniels 1944–2015

Basketball player and coach in the ABA and NBA

Brian Urlacher 1978–

Former NFL linebacker for the Chicago Bears

Tony Snell 1991–

Professional basketball player

Jarrin Solomon 1986–

Trinidad and Tobago sprinter

Michael Cooper 1956–

Former Lakers player, five-time NBA champion

Also attended: Pasadena City College

Oniel Fisher 1991–

Jamaican footballer and national team right-back

Aaron Herrera 1997–

Soccer player for Guatemala national team

Charles Smith 1975–

Former professional basketball player

Angela Whyte 1980–

Canadian hurdler and three-time Olympian

Also attended: University of Idaho

Nikki Tyler 1972–

Former pornographic film actress