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172 notable alumni U.S. News #55

Notable Alumni of The Pennsylvania State University

Notable alumni of The Pennsylvania State University include Gene Kelly (Dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer), Paul Berg (Stanford biochemist, 1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner) and Rick Santorum (Former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania).

College data and admissions

Alumni list

Politics and law

  • Rick Santorum 1958–

    Former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania

    Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1980

    Also attended: Pennsylvania State University-Dickinson Law, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

  • Jigme Thinley 1952–

    Former Prime Minister of Bhutan

  • William Perry 1927–

    Former US Secretary of Defense under Clinton

    Also attended: Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University

  • Kelly Ayotte 1968–

    Governor of New Hampshire, former U.S. Senator

    Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1990

    Also attended: Villanova University, The Pennsylvania State University

  • Francisco Sagasti 1944–

    Former President of Peru, engineer and academic

    Industrial engineering

    Also attended: University of Pennsylvania

  • Josh Green 1970–

    Governor of Hawaii and physician

    Doctor of Medicine · Class of 1997

    Also attended: Swarthmore College

  • Michael P. Murphy 1976–2005

    Navy SEAL officer and Medal of Honor recipient

    Also attended: United States Merchant Marine Academy

  • Frank Wolf 1939–

    U.S. representative from Virginia, 1981–2015

    Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1961

    Also attended: Georgetown University, University of Mississippi

  • Brian Fitzpatrick 1973–

    U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, former FBI agent

    Master of Business Administration · Class of 2001

    Also attended: Pennsylvania State University-Dickinson Law, La Salle University

    Sibling: Mike Fitzpatrick (St. Thomas University (FL), Pennsylvania State University-Dickinson Law)

  • Tom Marino 1952–

    Former US Representative from Pennsylvania

    Also attended: Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, Pennsylvania State University-Dickinson Law, Lycoming College

  • Joe Heck 1961–

    Former U.S. Representative from Nevada, physician

    Bachelor of Science · Attended until 1984

    Also attended: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

  • Harry Jacob Anslinger 1892–1975

    First Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Richard Schweiker 1926–2015

    14th US Secretary of Health and Human Services

    Also attended: University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

  • Charlie Dent 1960–

    Former Republican US representative from Pennsylvania

    Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1982

    Also attended: Lehigh University

  • Barbara Franklin 1940–

    29th US Secretary of Commerce

    Also attended: Harvard University

    Spouse: Wallace Barnes (Yale University, Williams College)

  • Dan Bongino 1974–

    Conservative podcaster and former FBI deputy director

    Master of Business Administration

    Also attended: CUNY Queens College, The Pennsylvania State University

  • Mike Fitzpatrick 1963–2020

    Former US representative from Pennsylvania

    Juris Doctor · Class of 1988

    Also attended: St. Thomas University (FL), Pennsylvania State University-Dickinson Law

    Sibling: Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania State University-Dickinson Law, La Salle University)

  • Scott Perry 1962–

    US Representative for Pennsylvania's 10th district

    Bachelor of Science · Class of 1991

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Summer Lee 1987–

    Democratic U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania

    Bachelor of Arts · Class of 2009

    Also attended: Howard University

  • Jay Hammond 1922–2005

    Fourth Governor of Alaska

    Also attended: University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • Guy Reschenthaler 1983–

    US Representative from Pennsylvania

    Also attended: Duquesne University, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

  • Glenn Thompson 1959–

    US Representative from Pennsylvania

    Bachelor of Science · Class of 1981

    Also attended: Temple University

  • John James 1981–

    Republican U.S. Representative from Michigan

    Master of Science · Information system, Supply chain management

    Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, The United States Military Academy at West Point

  • Michael F. Doyle 1953–

    Former U.S. representative from Pennsylvania

    Bachelor of Science · Class of 1975

  • Jim Gerlach 1955–

    Former US representative from Pennsylvania

    Also attended: Dickinson College, Pennsylvania State University-Dickinson Law

  • John Joyce 1957–

    U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania and dermatologist

  • Tom Feeney 1958–

    Former US representative from Florida

    Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1980

    Also attended: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

  • Su Jain-rong 1961–

    Economist and former Taiwan finance minister

  • Chen Tain-jy 1953–

    Taiwanese economist and former minister of National Development Council

Business

  • Linda Yaccarino 1963–

    Former CEO of X Corp

    Also attended: University of Pennsylvania

  • Ben Cohen 1951–

    Co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream

    Also attended: Colgate University

  • Lee Ju-yeol 1952–

    25th and 26th Governor of the Bank of Korea

  • Terry Pegula 1951–

    Billionaire sports team owner, East Resources founder

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

    Spouse: Kim Pegula (Houghton University)

    Child: Jessica Pegula (University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus)

  • Mark Parker 1955–

    Executive chairman of Nike

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

Science and academia

Arts and media

Sports

  • Joe Kovacs 1989–

    Shot putter, 2015 and 2019 world champion

  • Ali Krieger 1984–

    Former US women's soccer defender, two-time World Cup winner

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

    Spouse: Ashlyn Harris (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Lex Luger 1958–

    Professional wrestler and former football lineman

    Also attended: University of Miami, University of Pennsylvania, The Pennsylvania State University

  • Erin McLeod 1983–

    Canadian women's national team goalkeeper

    Also attended: Southern Methodist University

    Spouse: Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir (Pepperdine University)

  • David Taylor 1990–

    Wrestler and Oklahoma State head coach

  • Barney Ewell 1918–1996

    Sprinter; won one gold and two silver medals at 1948 Olympics

  • John Amaechi 1970–

    English former NBA player and psychologist

    Also attended: Vanderbilt University

  • Laura Freigang 1998–

    German footballer for Eintracht Frankfurt

  • Horace Ashenfelter 1923–2018

    Athletics competitor

  • Micha Hancock 1992–

    US women's national volleyball team setter

  • Miles Chamley-Watson 1989–

    Fencer, 2013 individual foil world champion

  • C.J. Hunter 1968–2021

    Shot putter, 1999 World Champion

    Spouse: Marion Jones (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Carmelina Moscato 1984–

    Canadian soccer player and coach

  • Alan Helffrich 1900–1994

    1924 Olympic 4×400 m relay gold medalist

  • Monica Aksamit 1990–

    Saber fencer, 2016 Olympic team bronze medalist

  • Aaron Russell 1993–

    Volleyball outside hitter, Olympic bronze medalist

    Attended until 2015

  • Adam Wiercioch 1980–

    Polish fencer, 2008 Olympic team épée silver medalist

  • Alexis Holmes 2000–

    Sprinter, 2024 Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist

    Also attended: University of Kentucky

  • Lawrence Shields 1895–1976

    Middle-distance runner specializing in the 1500 meters

  • Stephen Nedoroscik 1998–

    Gymnast, pommel horse bronze medalist at 2024 Olympics

  • Katsutoshi Naitō 1895–1969

    Japanese wrestler at the 1924 Olympics

  • Sam Coffey 1998–

    US women's national team midfielder

  • Haleigh Washington 1995–

    Member of the U.S. women's national volleyball team

  • Jan Jagla 1981–

    Former German professional basketball player

  • Chris Babb 1990–

    Former American professional basketball player

  • Harold Barron 1894–1978

    1920 Olympic silver medalist in 110 m hurdles

  • Saquon Barkley 1997–

    Running back for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Allison Baver 1980–

    Short track speed skater

    Also attended: New York Institute of Technology

  • Christa Harmotto 1986–

    Volleyball middle blocker, two-time NCAA champion

  • Aaron Brooks 2000–

    Wrestler, bronze medalist at the 2024 Olympics

    Bachelor's degree · Sports studies · Class of 2024

  • Nicole Fawcett 1986–

    Volleyball player, 2014 World Championship winner

  • Suzie McConnell-Serio 1966–

    Women's basketball player and coach

    Attended until 1988

  • Schuyler Enck 1900–1970

    Runner, 1924 Olympic 800 metres bronze medalist

  • Britt Baker 1991–

    Professional wrestler and dentist

    Bachelor of Science, Bachelor's degree · University of Pennsylvania Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences · Class of 2014

    Also attended: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

  • Mike Hughes 1959–

    Canadian rower

  • Knut Hjeltnes 1951–2024

    Norwegian discus and shot put athlete and coach

    Also attended: McDaniel College, Brigham Young University-Provo

  • Megan Hodge 1988–

    Volleyball player, 2012 Olympic silver medalist

    Attended until 2009

  • Calvin Booth 1976–

    Former NBA player and Denver Nuggets general manager

  • Phil Davis 1984–

    Mixed martial artist, former Bellator light heavyweight champion

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Carl Nassib 1993–

    Former NFL defensive end and linebacker

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Kevin Tan 1981–

    Gymnast and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist

  • Jerry Sandusky 1944–

    Former college football coach convicted of child molestation

  • Micah Parsons 1999–

    Green Bay Packers outside linebacker in the NFL

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Rocky Rodríguez 1993–

    Costa Rican footballer

  • Frank Brickowski 1959–

    Former NBA player

  • Tanisha Wright 1983–

    Former basketball player, Penn State head coach

  • Franco Harris 1950–2022

    NFL fullback, mainly with the Pittsburgh Steelers

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Allen Robinson 1993–

    Former NFL wide receiver, Penn State All-American

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Tim Frazier 1990–

    Professional basketball point guard

  • Michael Shine 1953–

    1976 Olympic 400m hurdles silver medalist

  • Shana Cox 1985–

    400m sprinter who represented the US and Great Britain

    Spouse: Michael Bingham (Wake Forest University)

  • Lamar Stevens 1997–

    Professional basketball player for Partizan

    Sociology

  • Sean Lee 1986–

    Former NFL linebacker from Penn State

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Bob Weiss 1942–

    Former professional basketball player and coach

  • Alex Bentley 1990–

    Professional women's basketball player

  • Chris Godwin 1996–

    Wide receiver for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Kerry Collins 1972–

    Former NFL quarterback for 17 seasons

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • NaVorro Bowman 1988–

    Former NFL linebacker

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Tamba Hali 1983–

    Former NFL defensive end and linebacker

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Christian Hackenberg 1995–

    Former NFL quarterback, Jets 2016 second-round pick

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Michael Robinson 1983–

    Former NFL fullback

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • John Cappelletti 1952–

    1973 Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL running back

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Trace "The Goat" McSorley 1995–

    Former quarterback, now Buffalo Bills offensive assistant

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

  • Anthony Adams 1980–

    Former NFL defensive tackle, TV host and actor

    Also attended: George Washington University, The Pennsylvania State University

  • Allie Long 1987–

    Soccer player, 2019 Women's World Cup champion

    Also attended: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The Pennsylvania State University

  • David Aardsma 1981–

    Former Major League Baseball pitcher

    Also attended: Rice University, The Pennsylvania State University

Other fields

From Wikidata “educated at” records (including people who attended without graduating), ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions. Degrees and years follow Wikidata and are left out where it has none.

Alumni network

Colleges that share the most alumni with The Pennsylvania State University (people who attended both).