Notable Alumni of University of Akron Main Campus

Michael Morell 1958–

Former Deputy Director of the CIA

Also attended: Georgetown University

Riyad Mansour 1947–

Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN

Also attended: Youngstown State University

Lynne M. Tracy 1964–

Former US ambassador to Russia

Also attended: University of Georgia

Betty Sutton 1963–

Former US Representative and Ohio appeals judge

Juris Doctor · Class of 1990

Also attended: Kent State University at Kent

Shri Thanedar 1955–

US Representative from Michigan, businessman

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1982

Thomas C. Sawyer 1945–2023

Democratic politician from Akron, Ohio

Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts · Class of 1970

Marlene Anielski 1961–

Former Ohio state representative

Also attended: Eastern Michigan University

Mary Taylor 1961–

65th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio

Alice M. Batchelder 1944–

Senior judge, US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

Also attended: Ohio Wesleyan University, University of Virginia-Main Campus

Spouse: William G. Batchelder (Ohio State University-Main Campus, Ohio Wesleyan University)

Evelyn Lundberg Stratton 1953–

Former Ohio Supreme Court justice

Also attended: University of Florida, Ohio State University-Main Campus

James E. Akins 1926–2010

US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1973 to 1976

Deborah L. Cook 1952–

Judge of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Don Plusquellic 1949–

Former mayor of Akron, Ohio

Also attended: Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

John R. Adams 1955–

Federal judge, Northern District of Ohio

Also attended: Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

Samuel H. Bell 1925–2010

Federal district judge, Northern District of Ohio

Also attended: American University, College of Wooster

Vernon Sykes 1951–

Former Ohio state senator

Doctor of Philosophy · Public administration theory

Also attended: Harvard University, Ohio University-Main Campus, Wright State University-Main Campus

Child: Emilia Sykes (University of Florida, Kent State University at Kent)

Kenneth R. Cox 1928–2026

Democratic member of the Ohio General Assembly

Sterling Tucker 1923–2019

First chair of the DC Council

Michele Reynolds

Ohio state senator

Master of Arts

Also attended: Thomas Jefferson School of Law, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, Hondros College of Nursing

Daniel Richard Crissinger 1860–1942

3rd chairman of the Federal Reserve

Sandra Pianalto 1954–

Economist, former president of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank

Also attended: George Washington University, Duke University

Juris Upatnieks 1936–2026

Latvian-American physicist and holography pioneer

Bachelor's degree · Electrical engineering · Class of 1960

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Dorothy Adkins 1912–1975

Psychologist known for psychometrics and educational testing

Also attended: Ohio State University-Main Campus

Edith Claypole 1870–1915

English-American physiologist and pathologist

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-San Francisco, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sibling: Agnes Claypole Moody (University of Chicago, Cornell University)

Crystal Mackall 1960–

Immunologist and Stanford professor of pediatrics

Also attended: Northeast Ohio Medical University

Tofy Mussivand 1936–2024

Iranian-Canadian medical engineer, artificial cardiac pump inventor

Jack L. Davis 1950–

Classical archaeologist and University of Cincinnati professor

Also attended: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

James Ingram 1952–2019

Singer-songwriter and two-time Grammy winner

Yvette Nicole Brown 1971–

Actress in the sitcom Community

Dan Auerbach 1979–

Guitarist and vocalist of The Black Keys

Patrick Carney 1980–

Drummer of the Black Keys

Sibling: Michael Carney (Columbus College of Art & Design)

Neil Zaza 1964–

Rock guitarist

Meg Johnson 1901–

Poet and lecturer

George Wallace 1952–

Comedian and actor

River Butcher 1982–

Stand-up comedian, actor, writer and podcast host

Cinda Williams Chima 1952–

Young adult fantasy novelist

Also attended: Case Western Reserve University

Michael Buckley 1969–

Children's author of The Sisters Grimm

Also attended: Ohio University-Main Campus

Karen Ziemba 1957–

Musical theatre actress and 2000 Tony Award winner

Nick Kosir 1983–

TV meteorologist known for TikTok dancing videos

Bachelor of Arts · Communication studies · Class of 2005

Also attended: Mississippi State University

Shawnacy Barber 1994–2024

Canadian pole vaulter and 2015 world champion

Richie Laryea 1995–

Canadian professional soccer player

Darren Mattocks 1990–

Jamaican footballer and forward

Clayton Murphy 1995–

Middle-distance runner, 2016 Olympic 800m bronze medalist

Wil Trapp 1993–

MLS defensive midfielder for Minnesota United

Teal Bunbury 1990–

Soccer forward who played for US national team

Adam Najem 1995–

Footballer who played for Afghanistan national team

Jonathan Lewis 1997–

Professional soccer winger

Ara Parseghian 1923–2017

Notre Dame football coach, two national championships

Also attended: Miami University-Oxford

Nate Linhart 1986–

Former professional basketball player

Romeo Travis 1984–

Former basketball player, naturalized Macedonian

Steve Zakuani 1988–

Congolese former footballer

Kofi Sarkodie 1991–

Soccer player

Jason Taylor 1974–

Former NFL defensive end, mostly with the Miami Dolphins

Child: Mason Taylor (Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College)

Anthony Ampaipitakwong 1988–

Thai-American footballer for Thailand national team

Dillon Serna 1994–

Former professional soccer midfielder

João Moutinho 1998–

Portuguese footballer for Lech Poznań

Scott Caldwell 1991–

Former professional soccer midfielder

Saad Abdul-Salaam 1991–

Former professional soccer defender

Enrique Freeman 2000–

Basketball player for the Salt Lake City Stars

Jean Hixson 1922–1984

Aviator and Women Airforce Service Pilot, Mercury 13 member

Elementary and secondary education