Notable Alumni of University of Rochester

Josh Shapiro 1973–

48th governor of Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Arts · Political science · Class of 1995

Also attended: Georgetown University

Larry Kudlow 1947–

Financial commentator and former National Economic Council director

Bachelor of Arts · History · Class of 1969

Also attended: Princeton University

Kenneth Keating 1900–1975

Former U.S. senator from New York and diplomat

Attended until 1919

Also attended: Harvard University

Vittorio Grilli 1957–

Former Italian minister of economy and finance

Elwell Stephen Otis 1838–1909

US Army general in the Philippine–American War

Also attended: Harvard University

Donald C. Winter 1948–

Former United States Secretary of the Navy

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Muhammad Ali Pate 1968–

Nigerian physician and politician

Also attended: Duke University

Laura Friedman 1966–

US congresswoman and former film producer

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1988

Sereno E. Payne 1843–1914

First House majority leader

Attended until 1864

David Jayne Hill 1850–1932

Diplomat and former president of Bucknell and Rochester

Albion W. Tourgée 1838–1905

Civil rights activist, novelist and lawyer

Mary Anne Krupsak 1932–2024

First woman elected Lieutenant Governor of New York

Also attended: University of Chicago, Boston University

James Breck Perkins 1847–1910

Historian and US congressman

Jenean Hampton 1958–

57th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky

Also attended: Wayne State University

Chris Lee 1964–

Former US congressman from New York

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1987

Also attended: Chapman University

Robert A. Sherman 1953–

Attorney and former U.S. Ambassador to Portugal

Also attended: Boston University

George Bradshaw Kelly 1900–1971

Former U.S. Representative from New York

Avie Tevanian 1961–

Former Apple senior VP of software engineering

Bachelor of Arts · Mathematics · Class of 1983

Also attended: Carnegie Mellon University

Paul Singer 1944–

Hedge fund manager, founder of Elliott Management

Also attended: Harvard University

Ümit Boyner 1963–

Turkish businesswoman, former TÜSİAD president

Alejandro Zaffaroni 1923–2014

Biotechnology entrepreneur who founded several Silicon Valley companies

Robert T. Huang 1945–

Businessman linked to Synnex

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Barry Meyer 1946–

Former chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Also attended: Case Western Reserve University

Richard B. Handler 1961–

CEO of Jefferies since 2001

Also attended: Stanford University

Donna Strickland 1959–

Nobel Prize in Physics laureate, optical physicist

Doctor of Philosophy · Physics · Class of 1989

Steven Chu 1948–

Nobel physicist and former US Secretary of Energy

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Sibling: Morgan Chu (University of California-Los Angeles, Yale University)

Masatoshi Koshiba 1926–2020

Japanese physicist, founder of neutrino astronomy

Arthur Kornberg 1918–2007

Biochemist, 1959 Nobel laureate in Medicine

Also attended: CUNY--City College, New York University

Child: Roger D. Kornberg (Harvard University, Stanford University)

Child: Thomas B. Kornberg (Columbia University in the City of New York)

Richard Thaler 1945–

University of Chicago economist

Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts · Class of 1974

Also attended: Case Western Reserve University

Harvey J. Alter 1935–

Nobel laureate who helped discover hepatitis C virus

Daniel Carleton Gajdusek 1923–2008

Medical researcher, 1976 Nobel laureate in Medicine

Attended until 1943

Also attended: California Institute of Technology, Harvard University

Lewis A. Swift 1820–1913

Astronomer who discovered 13 comets

Bruce Schneier 1963–

Cryptographer and computer security expert

Also attended: American University

E. C. George Sudarshan 1931–2018

Indian American theoretical physicist at University of Texas

J. C. R. Licklider 1915–1990

Psychologist, computer scientist and Internet pioneer

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 2024

Also attended: Washington University in St Louis

Robert H. Dicke 1916–1997

Astronomer and physicist, Princeton professor

Also attended: Princeton University

Edward G. Gibson 1936–

NASA astronaut, pilot, engineer and physicist

Also attended: California Institute of Technology

Gary L. Francione 1954–

Rutgers professor of law and philosophy

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Grove Karl Gilbert 1843–1918

American geologist

Tullio Regge 1931–2014

Italian theoretical physicist

John C. Slater 1900–1976

Physicist who advanced theory of atomic electronic structure

Also attended: Harvard University

Spouse: Rose Mooney-Slater (University of Chicago, Tulane University of Louisiana)

Robert Zubrin 1952–

Aerospace engineer, Mars Direct proponent

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Stephen Kotkin 1959–

Historian and Hoover Institution senior fellow

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

William H. Masters 1915–2001

Gynecologist and human sexuality researcher

Also attended: Hamilton College

Spouse: Virginia E. Johnson (Drury University, University of Missouri-Columbia)

Esther M. Conwell 1922–2014

Physicist known for Conwell-Weisskopf theory

Also attended: University of Chicago, CUNY Brooklyn College

Ryan Dahl 1981–

Software engineer, creator of Node.js and Deno

Also attended: University of California-San Diego, Palomar College

Jeff T. Alu 1966–

Amateur astronomer, musician and photographer

Also attended: Chapman University

Herbert York 1921–2009

Nuclear physicist

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Lev Manovich 1960–

Digital culture theorist and CUNY professor

Also attended: New York University

Peter van Inwagen 1942–

Philosopher and University of Notre Dame professor

Also attended: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

James A. Pawelczyk 1960–

Astronaut and physiology researcher on STS-90

Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University, University of North Texas

Partha Chatterjee 1947–

Indian political scientist and anthropologist

David Sloan Wilson 1949–

Evolutionary biologist, Binghamton University professor emeritus

Also attended: Michigan State University

Josh A. Cassada 1973–

NASA astronaut and former Navy test pilot

Also attended: Albion College

Paul Frommer 1944–

USC communications professor and linguistics consultant

Also attended: University of Southern California

N. Katherine Hayles 1943–

Literary scholar of science, literature and technology

Doctor of Philosophy · English-language literature · Class of 1977

Also attended: California Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, Rochester Institute of Technology

Gary Starkweather 1938–2019

Engineer who invented the laser printer

Also attended: Michigan State University

Richard Rashid 1951–

Founder of Microsoft Research

Also attended: Stanford University

Mary Calderone 1904–1998

Physician; first female medical director of Planned Parenthood

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, Vassar College

Arif Dirlik 1940–2017

Historian of modern China and political ideology

Kenneth French 1954–

Finance professor at Dartmouth's Tuck School

Also attended: Lehigh University

Franklin Stahl 1929–2025

Molecular biologist, co-conducted Meselson-Stahl experiment

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1956

Also attended: Harvard University

Israel Charny 1931–2024

Israeli psychologist and genocide scholar

Also attended: Temple University

Corinna Cortes 1961–

Google Research vice president, machine learning expert

Doctorate

Frieda Robscheit-Robbins 1888–1973

Pathologist who researched anemia with George Whipple

Also attended: University of Chicago

Susumu Okubo 1930–2015

Japanese theoretical physicist at University of Rochester

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1958

Susan Hockfield 1951–

Neuroscientist and 16th president of MIT

Also attended: Georgetown University

Ellsworth Paine Killip 1890–1968

Botanist

Louis Hyman Bean 1896–1994

Analyst who predicted Truman's 1948 victory

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1919

Also attended: Harvard University

Charles Augustus Strong 1862–1940

Philosopher and psychologist

Also attended: Harvard University, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School

Father: Augustus Hopkins Strong (Yale University, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School)

William J. Youden 1900–1971

Analytical chemist and statistician

Chemistry · Attended until 1921

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Paul Allen Walker 1946–1991

Social psychologist, founding president of HBIGDA

Frederick Pei Li 1940–2015

Physician who co-discovered Li–Fraumeni syndrome

Also attended: Georgetown University, New York University

Ho-Kwang Mao 1941–

Chinese-American geologist and high-pressure researcher

Hu Sheng-cheng 1940–2018

Taiwanese economist and game theorist

Ming Chu-cheng 1953–

Taiwanese political scientist

Master's degree

Also attended: University of Notre Dame

Mai Chao-cheng 1941–2019

Taiwanese economist and Tamkang University professor

Also attended: Texas A & M University-College Station

Michele Boldrin 1956–

Economist and Washington University professor

Hugo F. Sonnenschein 1940–2021

Economist, 11th president of the University of Chicago

Also attended: Purdue University-Main Campus

Steven Landsburg 1954–

Professor of economics at the University of Rochester

Also attended: University of Chicago

Eric J. Topol 1954–

Cardiologist, founder of Scripps Research Translational Institute

Doctor of Medicine · Class of 1979

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University, University of Virginia-Main Campus

Shirley Jackson 1916–1965

Writer of horror and mystery fiction

Also attended: Syracuse University

Spouse: Stanley Edgar Hyman (Syracuse University)

Robert Forster 1941–2019

Film and television actor

Bachelor of Arts · Study of history

Angelo Badalamenti 1937–2022

Composer known for David Lynch film scores

Also attended: Manhattan School of Music

Renée Fleming 1959–

Opera soprano and National Medal of Arts recipient

Also attended: The Juilliard School

Tony Levin 1946–

Rock bassist

Sibling: Pete Levin (Boston University, The Juilliard School)

Lance Reddick 1962–2023

Actor in The Wire, Fringe and Bosch

Bachelor of Music

Also attended: Yale University, Johns Hopkins University

Carol J. Adams 1951–

Writer and feminist, author of The Sexual Politics of Meat

Debra Jo Rupp 1951–

Actress, Kitty Forman in That '70s Show

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1974

Leehom Wang 1976–

Singer-songwriter, actor and film director

Also attended: Berklee College of Music, Williams College

Ron Carter 1937–

Jazz double bassist, most-recorded in history

Also attended: Manhattan School of Music

George Abbott 1887–1995

Theatre producer, director and playwright

Journalism · Attended until 1911

Also attended: Harvard University

Chuck Mangione 1940–2025

Jazz flugelhorn player behind Feels So Good

Sibling: Gap Mangione (Syracuse University)

Steve Gadd 1945–

Jazz drummer and session musician

Also attended: Manhattan School of Music

Maria Schneider 1960–

Jazz composer and orchestra leader

Also attended: University of Miami, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Mitch Miller 1911–2010

Choral conductor and record producer

Nicolas Slonimsky 1894–1995

Musicologist, conductor and composer

Zari Elmassian 1906–1990

Singer known for Hollywood musicals including The Wizard of Oz

Also attended: California State University--Fresno, The New England Conservatory of Music

David Diamond 1915–2005

Classical music composer

Also attended: Cleveland Institute of Music

Wendy O. Williams 1949–1998

Lead singer of punk band Plasmatics

Janet Maslin 1949–

Former New York Times film and literary critic

Spouse: Jon Landau (Brandeis University)

Alexander Courage 1919–2008

Composer and arranger for television and film

Hettienne Park 1983–

Actress known for Beverly Katz in Hannibal

Also attended: The New England Conservatory of Music

Charles Strouse 1928–2025

Composer of Broadway musicals including Annie

Bachelor of Music

Dominick Argento 1927–2019

Composer known for operatic and choral music

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University

Bob Ludwig 1944–

Mastering engineer for over 1,300 artists

Randall Thompson 1899–1984

Composer and educator noted for choral works

Also attended: Harvard University

Samuel Adler 1928–

Composer and conductor, taught at Eastman and Juilliard

Also attended: Boston University, Harvard University

Grace Bradley 1913–2010

Hollywood film actress of the 1930s

Nicholson Baker 1957–

Novelist and essayist

Also attended: Haverford College

Lew Soloff 1944–2015

Jazz trumpeter, member of Blood, Sweat & Tears

Also attended: The Juilliard School

Jon Hassell 1937–2021

Trumpeter and composer, developer of Fourth World music

Lynn Abbey 1948–

American fantasy author

Spouse: Robert Asprin (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor)

Laurence Rosenthal 1926–

Composer and conductor for film, television and theatre

Kristian Bezuidenhout 1979–

Australian pianist and harpsichordist

Jennifer Donnelly 1963–

Young adult author of A Northern Light

Stephen Albert 1941–1992

Composer and Pulitzer Prize winner

Also attended: University of Pennsylvania, University of the Arts

Warren Hull 1903–1974

Actor, singer and television personality

Also attended: New York University

Rosalina Abejo 1922–1991

Filipina composer and conductor

Also attended: Catholic University of America

Claron McFadden 1961–

Operatic soprano

Rick Braun 1955–

Smooth jazz trumpeter and record producer

Claire Watson 1927–1986

Operatic soprano known for Mozart roles

Thomas Perry 1947–2025

Mystery and thriller novelist, Edgar Award winner

Doctor of Philosophy · English literature · Class of 1974

Also attended: Cornell University

Lucrecia Kasilag 1918–2008

Filipino composer and music educator

Allen Vizzutti 1952–

Trumpeter, composer and music educator

Jason Robert Brown 1970–

Musical theatre composer, lyricist and playwright

Spouse: Georgia Stitt (New York University, Vanderbilt University)

Robert C. O'Brien 1918–1973

Children's novelist and National Geographic journalist

Alan Abel 1928–2020

Associate principal percussionist of the Philadelphia Orchestra

Michael Torke 1961–

Composer influenced by jazz and minimalism

Attended until 1984

Also attended: Yale University

Edward D. Hoch 1930–2008

Detective fiction writer of over 950 short stories

Claude VonStroke 1971–

House music producer who owned Dirtybird Records

Ye Xiaogang 1955–

Composer of contemporary classical music

Ulysses Kay 1917–1995

American neoclassical composer

Also attended: University of Arizona

Jacob Avshalomov 1919–2013

Composer and conductor

Also attended: Reed College

Child: David Avshalomov (Harvard University)

Roger Bobo 1938–2023

Tuba virtuoso, conductor and teacher

William Warfield 1920–2002

Concert bass-baritone and actor

Spouse: Leontyne Price (The Juilliard School, Central State University)

Yoshihisa Hirano 1971–

Japanese composer known for Death Note score

Donald Johanos 1928–2007

Conductor, music director of Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Beatrice Kaufman 1895–1945

Editor, writer and playwright

Also attended: Wellesley College

Spouse: George S. Kaufman (Harvard University)

William Bergsma 1921–1994

Composer and head of University of Washington music school

Also attended: Stanford University

Michael Walsh 1949–

Music critic, author and screenwriter

Kevin Puts 1972–

Composer and 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner

Also attended: Yale University

Kenneth Lee Spencer 1911–1964

Opera singer and actor in Broadway musicals

Eugene List 1918–1985

Concert pianist and teacher

Also attended: The Juilliard School, University of the Arts

Spouse: Carroll Glenn (The Juilliard School)

Bill Pursell 1926–2020

Composer and session pianist

William Albright 1944–1998

Composer, pianist and organist

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Robert Nathaniel Dett 1882–1943

Composer, organist and choral director

Master of Music

Also attended: Harvard University, Oberlin College

Wayne Barlow 1912–1996

Composer and music professor

Alec Wilder 1907–1980

Composer and lyricist

Jim Gelcer 1961–

Canadian jazz drummer, composer and producer

Donald Hunsberger 1932–2023

Conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble

Maurice Stern 1930–

Operatic tenor and sculptor

Gordon Shi-Wen Chin 1957–

Taiwanese composer and conductor

Richard M. Dolan 1962–

American author and ufologist

Also attended: Alfred University

Galway Kinnell 1927–2014

American poet and university teacher

Also attended: Princeton University

Renée Richards 1934–

Tennis player and ophthalmologist

Also attended: Yale University

Dominic Seiterle 1975–

Canadian rower, 2008 Olympic gold medalist

Also attended: Dartmouth College

Eric Born 1970–

Swiss judoka and businessman

Jack Brand 1953–

Canadian professional soccer goalkeeper

John DiBartolomeo 1991–

Captain of Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball

Brian Daboll 1975–

NFL coach, former New York Giants head coach

Mariann Budde 1959–

Episcopal Bishop of Washington

Bachelor of Arts · Study of history

Francis Bellamy 1855–1931

Baptist minister who promoted the Pledge of Allegiance

James Smith Bush 1825–1889

Episcopal priest, lawyer and writer

Also attended: Yale University

Child: Samuel P. Bush (Stevens Institute of Technology)

Zhe Zeng 1972–2001

Banker and EMT volunteer who died in 9/11 attacks

Jeremy Glick 1970–2001

Passenger on United Flight 93 in 9/11 attacks