Notable Alumni of Oregon State University

Ted Stevens 1923–2010

US Senator from Alaska from 1968 to 2009

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Harvard University

Child: Ben Stevens (Arizona State University-Tempe, George Washington University)

John Ensign 1958–

Former US Senator from Nevada

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1981

Also attended: Colorado State University-Fort Collins, University of Nevada--Las Vegas

Frits Bolkestein 1933–2025

Dutch politician and former European Commissioner

Cecil D. Andrus 1931–2017

Governor of Idaho and Secretary of the Interior

Casten Nemra 1971–

Former President of the Marshall Islands

Also attended: University of Portland

Darlene Hooley 1939–

Former US representative from Oregon

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1961

Also attended: Point Loma Nazarene University

Irwandi Yusuf 1960–

Former Governor of Aceh

Rich McCormick 1968–

U.S. representative from Georgia and physician

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1990

Also attended: National University, Morehouse School of Medicine

Jensen Huang 1963–

Co-founder and CEO of Nvidia

Bachelor's degree · Electrical engineering · Class of 1984

Also attended: Stanford University

Phil Knight 1938–

Co-founder of Nike

Also attended: University of Oregon, Stanford University

Father: William W. Knight (University of Oregon)

Child: Travis Knight (Portland State University)

Linus Pauling 1901–1994

Chemist and peace activist

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering · Class of 1922

Also attended: California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Spouse: Ava Helen Pauling (Oregon State University)

Douglas Engelbart 1925–2013

Inventor of the computer mouse; HCI pioneer

Bachelor's degree · Electrical engineering · Class of 1948

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, University of Oregon

Donald Pettit 1955–

Astronaut and chemical engineer

Also attended: University of Arizona

William Oefelein 1965–

Former NASA astronaut, pilot of STS-116

Also attended: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Suzanne W. Simard 1960–

Canadian forest ecologist and UBC professor

Philip Emeagwali 1954–

Nigerian computer scientist

Also attended: George Washington University, University of Maryland-College Park, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann A. Kiessling 1942–

Reproductive biologist researching stem cells

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

George Andrews 1938–

Mathematician in number theory and combinatorics

Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University, University of Pennsylvania

Paul Hugh Emmett 1900–1985

Chemist, catalysis pioneer, Manhattan Project scientist

Also attended: California Institute of Technology

Helen Margaret Gilkey 1886–1972

Mycologist, botanist and botanical illustrator

Master of Arts · Class of 1911

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Michael Waterman 1942–

USC professor emeritus and bioinformatician

Bachelor's degree · Mathematics

Also attended: Michigan State University

Margaret Leinen 1946–

Paleoceanographer and paleoclimatologist

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Rhode Island

Octave Levenspiel 1926–2017

Chemical engineering professor, author of Chemical Reaction Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1952

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Timothy W. Tong 1953–

Former president of Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Tsai-Yu Hsiao 1903–1978

Chinese entomologist

Also attended: Iowa State University

Sara Jean Underwood 1984–

Model and actress; 2007 Playmate of the Year

Also attended: Portland State University

Pinto Colvig 1892–1967

Voice actor and animator

Child: Vance Colvig (Oregon State University)

Kendra Sunderland 1995–

Pornographic film actress and webcam model

George Bruns 1914–1983

Film and television composer, Oscar nominee

Kevin Hagen 1928–2005

Actor known as Dr. Baker in Little House on the Prairie

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, University of Southern California

Jodi Ann Paterson 1975–

Actress, model and Playboy Playmate

Spouse: Michael Andretti (Northampton County Area Community College)

George Oppen 1908–1984

Poet, member of the Objectivist group

Spouse: Mary Oppen (Oregon State University)

Beverly Willis 1928–2023

American architect

Trevor Bardette 1902–1977

Film and television actor

Tala Madani 1981–

Iranian-American painter and animator

Also attended: Yale University

John Brotherton 1980–

Actor known for Fuller House

Carolyn Davidson 1943–

Graphic designer of the Nike Swoosh logo

Also attended: Portland State University

Dick Fosbury 1947–2023

High jumper, 1968 Olympic gold medalist

Gary Payton 1968–

Former NBA player with 17 seasons

Child: Gary Payton II (Oregon State University, Salt Lake Community College)

A. C. Green 1963–

Former professional basketball player

Jade Carey 2000–

Gymnast at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics

Robbie Findley 1985–

Former professional soccer forward, US national team player

Forrest Smithson 1884–1962

1908 Olympic 110 m hurdles champion

Jorinde van Klinken 2000–

Dutch shot put and discus thrower

Also attended: Arizona State University-Tempe, University of Oregon, Thunderbird School of Global Management

Brent Barry 1971–

Former basketball player, coach and broadcaster

Father: Rick Barry (University of Miami)

Sibling: Jon Barry (University of the Pacific)

Jeff Monson 1971–

Mixed martial artist and boxer

Also attended: University of Minnesota-Duluth

Gary Payton II 1992–

NBA player with the Golden State Warriors

Attended until 2016

Also attended: Salt Lake Community College

Father: Gary Payton (Oregon State University)

Chad Johnson 1978–

Former NFL wide receiver with the Bengals

Also attended: Santa Monica College, Langston University

Clarence Pinkston 1900–1961

Olympic diver and two-time gold medalist

Also attended: Stanford University

Louis Kuehn 1901–1981

Diver, 1920 Olympic springboard gold medalist

Joni Huntley 1956–

High jumper, 1984 Olympic bronze medalist

Jill Bakken 1977–

2002 Olympic gold medalist in bobsleigh

Also attended: University of Utah, Eastern Washington University

Colby Covington 1988–

Former Interim UFC Welterweight Champion

Bachelor's degree · Sociology · Class of 2011

Also attended: Iowa Central Community College, University of Iowa

Mel Counts 1941–

Former NBA player and 1964 Olympic gold medalist

Jean Saubert 1942–2007

Alpine skier, two-time 1964 Olympic medalist

Also attended: Brigham Young University-Provo

Tex Winter 1922–2018

Basketball coach, innovator of the triangle offense

Also attended: Compton College, University of Southern California

Steve Johnson 1957–

Former NBA power forward and center

Alan Gordon 1981–

Former professional soccer player

Jared Cunningham 1991–

Basketball player, 24th pick in 2012 NBA draft

Jacoby Ellsbury 1983–

MLB center fielder for Red Sox and Yankees

Katharine Jefferts Schori 1954–

Former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

Also attended: Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Stanford University

Bobby Henderson 1980–

Founder of Pastafarianism

Bachelor of Science · Physics · Class of 2003