Notable Alumni of New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Roosevelt Skerrit 1972–

Prime Minister of Dominica

Also attended: University of Mississippi

Steve Pearce 1947–

Former U.S. Representative, Bureau of Land Management director

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1970

Also attended: Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

Ed Foreman 1933–2022

Businessman and former U.S. congressman

Also attended: Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

Gabe Vasquez 1984–

U.S. representative from New Mexico

Bachelor of Arts · English studies · Class of 2008

Gary King 1954–

30th attorney general of New Mexico

Also attended: University of Colorado Boulder

Javier Gonzales 1966–2022

Former mayor of Santa Fe

Greg Lopez 1964–

Former U.S. representative for Colorado

Attended until 1986

James Edward Wharton 1894–1944

US Army brigadier general killed in Normandy

Howie Morales 1973–

Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico

Also attended: Western New Mexico University

Lester Lyles 1946–

Retired four-star general of the U.S. Air Force

Also attended: Howard University, Harvard University

John McEneny 1943–

Former New York State Assembly member and historian

Also attended: Harvard University, Siena University

Clarence Moniba 1979–

Liberian politician and 2023 presidential candidate

Alvy Ray Smith 1943–

Co-founder of Pixar and computer scientist

Also attended: Stanford University

Sylvia Acevedo

Former CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA

Also attended: Stanford University

Jaron Lanier 1960–

Computer scientist and virtual reality pioneer

Alan Hale 1958–2026

Astronomer, co-discoverer of Comet Hale–Bopp

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1992

Also attended: United States Naval Academy

Paul Carpenter Standley 1884–1963

Botanist known for work on neotropical plants

Also attended: Drury University

Kathy Lueders 2000–

Engineer who led NASA's human spaceflight program

Also attended: University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Sarah Stewart 1905–1976

Viral oncology pioneer who co-discovered polyoma virus

Also attended: University of Chicago, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Harold Reitsema 1948–

Astronomer who helped discover Larissa and Telesto

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1977

Also attended: Calvin University

Rose Marie Pangborn 1932–1990

Food scientist, pioneer in sensory analysis

Also attended: Iowa State University

Denise Stephens 1953–

Astronomy associate professor at Brigham Young University

Also attended: Brigham Young University-Provo

Ralph Grimaldi 1943–

Mathematician and Rose-Hulman professor

Bill Inmon 1945–

Computer scientist known as father of the data warehouse

Also attended: Yale University

Patricia D. Lopez 1950–

Computer scientist in computer vision

Amy Simon-Miller

Planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Also attended: Florida Institute of Technology

Carrie Anderson 1950–

Planetary scientist at NASA Goddard

Also attended: Arizona State University-Tempe

Scott Bailey 1978–

Actor known for Guiding Light

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Cyrus Nowrasteh 1956–

Film director and screenwriter

Also attended: University of Southern California

Child: Alex Nowrasteh (George Mason University)

William Frankfather 1944–1998

American actor

Vee F. Browne 1956–

Navajo journalist and children's writer

Journalism

Also attended: Western New Mexico University

David Chisum 1971–

American actor

Upile Chisala 1994–

Malawian poet and Instapoet

Denise Chavez 1948–

Chicana author, playwright and stage director

Also attended: University of New Mexico-Main Campus, Trinity University

Franc Luz 1950–

American actor

Larry Williams

Keyboardist, saxophonist, composer and arranger

Also attended: Indiana University-Bloomington

Lee K. Abbott 1947–2019

Short story writer, Ohio State professor emeritus

Also attended: University of Arkansas

Pascal Siakam 1994–

Cameroonian NBA player, 2019 champion

Sam Lacey 1948–2014

Former basketball player

Sim Bhullar 1992–

Canadian basketball player, first of Indian descent in NBA

Randy Brown 1968–

Retired basketball player and former NBA coach

Also attended: University of Houston

Earl Calloway 1983–

American-born naturalized Bulgarian basketball player

Also attended: Indiana University-Bloomington, Georgia State University-Perimeter College

John Williamson 1951–1996

Former ABA player, two-time champion with New York Nets

Jonathan Gibson 1987–

Professional basketball player, New Mexico State alumnus

Daniel Mullings 1991–

Canadian former professional basketball player

Zach Lofton 1992–

Professional basketball player

Also attended: Illinois State University, Texas Southern University

Bandja Sy 1990–

French professional basketball player

Jim Bostic 1953–

Retired basketball player

Jahmar Young 1986–

Former pro basketball player, New Mexico State alumnus

Rich Beem 1970–

Professional golfer, 2002 PGA Championship winner

Reggie Jordan 1968–

Former professional basketball player and coach

Ursula Wikström 1980–

Finnish professional golfer

Jimmy Collins 1946–2020

Basketball player and coach

Jemerrio Jones 1995–

Professional basketball player

Also attended: Hill College

Trevelin Queen 1997–

Basketball player, formerly in the NBA

Steve Colter 1962–

Former NBA player across eight seasons

Christopher Gabriel 1988–

South African basketball player

George Wells 1947–2020

Professional wrestler and CFL player

Also attended: Laney College

Clara Belle Williams 1885–1994

First African-American graduate of New Mexico State University