Notable Alumni of Union Institute & University

Portia Simpson-Miller 1945–

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica

Danny K. Davis 1941–

U.S. representative for Illinois's 7th district

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1977

Also attended: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Chicago State University

Sidney Harman 1918–2011

Engineer, businessman and philanthropist

Also attended: CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Spouse: Jane Harman (Harvard University, Smith College)

Arnold Mindell 1940–2024

Author and therapist in transpersonal psychology

Doctor of Philosophy · Psychology · Class of 1972

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Union College

Michael Klare 1942–

Peace and security studies professor emeritus and author

Also attended: University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Columbia University in the City of New York

Stanley Aronowitz 1933–2021

Sociologist and CUNY Graduate Center professor

Attended until 1975

Also attended: CUNY Brooklyn College, The New School

Spouse: Ellen Willis (Barnard College)

David Cortright 1946–

Peace studies scholar, Notre Dame professor emeritus

Doctor of Philosophy · Political science · Class of 1975

Also attended: University of Notre Dame, New York University

Elizabeth Lipski

Clinical nutritionist and author

Clarissa Pinkola Estés 1945–

Writer and Jungian analyst, author of Women Who Run with the Wolves

Also attended: Colorado Heights University

Rita Mae Brown 1944–

Feminist writer, author of Rubyfruit Jungle

Also attended: University of Florida, New York University, School of Visual Arts

Bernie Krause 1938–

Musician and soundscape ecologist

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Elizabeth Sackler 1948–

Public historian, arts activist and philanthropist

Doctor of Philosophy · Public history

Father: Arthur M. Sackler (New York University)

E. M. Broner 1927–2011

Jewish American feminist author and professor

Also attended: Wayne State University

Jean Houston 1937–2026

Author in the human potential movement

Also attended: Barnard College

Joseph Bruchac 1942–

Children's writer and storyteller

Also attended: Cornell University, Syracuse University

Child: Jesse Bruchac (Goddard College)

Gary Null 1945–

Talk radio host and author

Also attended: Thomas Edison State University

Heid E. Erdrich 1963–

Ojibwe poet, editor and writer

Doctor of Philosophy · Indigenous literature in North America

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University, Dartmouth College

Brother Blue 1921–2009

Storyteller, educator, actor and street performer

Also attended: Yale University, Harvard University

Phillip Lopate 1943–

Essayist, film critic, fiction writer and poet

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Sibling: Leonard Lopate (CUNY Brooklyn College)

Tania Aebi 1966–

Sailor who solo circumnavigated the globe by age 21

James Patterson Lyke 1939–1992

Catholic archbishop of Atlanta

Jane O'Meara Sanders 1950–

Social worker and former Burlington College president

Also attended: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Goddard College

Spouse: Bernie Sanders (University of Chicago, CUNY Brooklyn College)

Child: Carina Driscoll (Middlebury College)

Loraine Hutchins 1948–2025

Bisexual activist, author and sex educator

Antonia Pantoja 1922–2002

Puerto Rican educator, founder of ASPIRA

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, CUNY Hunter College, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras