Notable Alumni of Wake Forest University

Richard Burr 1955–

US Senator from North Carolina from 2005 to 2023

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1978

Jesse Helms 1921–2008

Politician, journalist and Navy veteran

Also attended: Wingate University

Charlie Crist 1956–

Former U.S. Representative and governor

Attended until 1976

Also attended: Samford University, Florida State University

Spouse: Carole Crist (Georgetown University)

Kay Hagan 1953–2019

Former US senator from North Carolina

Juris Doctor · Class of 1978

Also attended: Florida State University

Ted Budd 1971–

US Senator from North Carolina

Master of Business Administration

Also attended: Appalachian State University, Dallas Theological Seminary

Bob Ehrlich 1957–

60th Governor of Maryland

Also attended: Princeton University

Spouse: Kendel Ehrlich (University of Delaware, University of Baltimore)

Robert Wilkie 1962–

10th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Also attended: Georgetown University, Loyola University New Orleans

Donna Edwards 1958–

Former US Representative from Maryland

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1980

Also attended: University of New Hampshire-Franklin Pierce School of Law

George Holding 1968–

Former US representative for North Carolina

Bachelor of Arts, Juris Doctor · Class of 1996

Josiah Bailey 1873–1946

U.S. senator from North Carolina

J. Melville Broughton 1888–1949

60th Governor of North Carolina

Attended until 1910

Also attended: Harvard University

Spouse: Alice Willson Broughton (William Peace University)

Larry Kissell 1951–

Former U.S. representative for North Carolina

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1973

Furnifold McLendel Simmons 1854–1940

US Senator from North Carolina

Attended until 1870

Also attended: Duke University

Brad Knott 1986–

US Representative for North Carolina's 13th district

Juris Doctor · Class of 2012

Also attended: Baylor University

Alton Lennon 1906–1986

US Senator and Representative from North Carolina

Creigh Deeds 1958–

Virginia state senator and 2009 gubernatorial nominee

Also attended: Concord University

Charlie Ergen 1953–

Co-founder of Dish Network and EchoStar

Also attended: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Thomas Marshburn 1960–

Former NASA astronaut and physician

Also attended: Davidson College, University of Virginia-Main Campus

Phillip Griffiths 1938–

Mathematician known for work in algebraic geometry

Also attended: Princeton University

Marc Blucas 1972–

Actor and former college basketball player

Carroll O'Connor 1924–2001

Actor who played Archie Bunker

Also attended: The University of Montana, United States Merchant Marine Academy

David Chase 1945–

Creator of The Sopranos, screenwriter and producer

Also attended: New York University, Stanford University

Lee Norris 1981–

Actor in Boy Meets World and One Tree Hill

Gary Chapman 1938–

Author of The Five Love Languages, counselor and radio host

Also attended: Wheaton College (IL)

Cheslie Kryst 1991–2022

Miss USA 2019 and attorney

Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia

Arvind Swamy 1970–

Indian actor known for Tamil cinema

Thomas Dixon Jr. 1864–1946

Baptist minister, writer and white supremacist

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University

Sibling: A. C. Dixon (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University)

Ward Horton 1976–

Actor known for playing John Form in Annabelle

Emily Giffin 1972–

Novelist, author of Something Borrowed

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Carter MacIntyre 1979–

Actor known for Undercovers

Archie Randolph Ammons 1926–2001

Poet and Cornell University professor of English

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Dave Willis 1965–

Co-creator of Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Squidbillies

Sibling: Bruce Willis (Montclair State University)

Melissa Harris-Perry 1973–

Professor and former MSNBC host

Also attended: Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, Duke University

Carol Barbee 1959–

Emmy-winning television writer and producer

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Spouse: Carlos Lacámara (University of California-Los Angeles)

Laurence Stallings 1894–1968

Playwright and screenwriter, co-author of What Price Glory

Also attended: Georgetown University

Rolonda Watts 1959–

TV talk show host of Rolonda

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

Drew Droege 1977–

Actor, comedian and writer

Jun-seong Kim 1975–

Hong Kong-born actor of Korean descent

Al Hunt 1942–

Journalist and news presenter

Spouse: Judy Woodruff (Duke University, Meredith College)

Dagen McDowell 1969–

Fox Business anchor and co-host

Tim Duncan 1976–

NBA player, 19 seasons with San Antonio Spurs

Chris Paul 1985–

Basketball player nicknamed the Point God

Arnold Palmer 1929–2016

Professional golfer, one of the sport's greatest

Muggsy Bogues 1965–

Shortest NBA player ever, longtime Charlotte Hornets guard

Alistair Johnston 1998–

Canadian soccer player for Celtic

Also attended: St John's University (NY)

Darius Songaila 1978–

Lithuanian basketball coach and former player

Al-Farouq Aminu 1990–

Nigerian-American former NBA player

Sibling: Alade Aminu (Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus)

Jeff Teague 1988–

Former NBA player with seven seasons at Atlanta Hawks

Ish Smith 1988–

Former NBA player and Wizards scout

Jack Harrison 1996–

English professional footballer and winger

Josh Howard 1980–

Former professional basketball player and coach

Michael Parkhurst 1984–

Former soccer defender, 2005 MLS Rookie of the Year

James Johnson 1987–

Basketball player who last played for the Indiana Pacers

John Collins 1997–

NBA player for the Detroit Pistons

Michael Bingham 1986–

British 400 metres sprinter

Spouse: Shana Cox (The Pennsylvania State University)

Sam Cronin 1986–

Former professional soccer midfielder

Rodney Rogers 1971–2025

Former NBA basketball player

Codi Miller-McIntyre 1994–

American-born Bulgarian basketball player

Ike Opara 1989–

Former professional soccer player

Noah Rubin 1996–

Tennis player, 2014 Wimbledon junior singles champion

Dickie Hemric 1933–2017

Former Boston Celtics basketball player

Borna Gojo 1998–

Croatian professional tennis player

Neil Covone 1969–

Soccer midfielder at the 1990 World Cup

Randolph Childress 1972–

Former pro basketball player, Wake Forest assistant coach

Child: Brandon Childress (Wake Forest University)

Jay Haas 1953–

American professional golfer

Child: Bill Haas (Wake Forest University)

Bill Haas 1982–

Professional golfer, 2011 FedEx Cup winner

Father: Jay Haas (Wake Forest University)

Brian Piccolo 1943–1970

Chicago Bears halfback in the NFL

Jennifer Kupcho 1997–

Professional golfer with four LPGA Tour wins

Lanny Wadkins 1949–

Professional golfer

Will Zalatoris 1996–

Professional golfer and PGA Tour winner

Psychology · Attended until 2018

Gary Hallberg 1958–

Professional golfer

Billy Packer 1940–2023

College basketball television analyst

Curtis Strange 1955–

Golfer, consecutive U.S. Open winner

Jon Abbate 1985–

Former linebacker who played at Wake Forest

Matt Antonelli 1985–

Former MLB second baseman for the Padres

Webb Simpson 1985–

Professional golfer, 2012 U.S. Open winner

Jamie Newman 1997–

Former football quarterback who played at Wake Forest

Also attended: University of Georgia

Carlos Basham Jr. 1997–

Professional football linebacker

Billy Andrade 1964–

Professional golfer and four-time PGA Tour winner

Jennifer Hoover 1969–

Virginia Tech women's basketball assistant coach

Darren Clarke 1968–

Professional golfer from Northern Ireland

Francis Arinze 1932–

Nigerian Catholic cardinal and former Vatican prefect

Also attended: Catholic University of America, University of Saint Mary of the Lake, University of Notre Dame

Michael Bruce Curry 1953–

27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

Also attended: Yale University