Notable Alumni of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Jim Justice 1951–

US senator, former governor of West Virginia

Also attended: Marshall University

Spouse: Cathy Justice (Marshall University)

Saxby Chambliss 1943–

Former US Senator from Georgia

Juris Doctor · Class of 1968

Also attended: University of Georgia, Louisiana Tech University

Bob Corker 1952–

Former US Senator from Tennessee

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1974

Jim DeMint 1951–

Former US Senator and Heritage Foundation president

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1973

Also attended: Clemson University

Howard Baker 1925–2014

Tennessee senator and diplomat

Also attended: Tulane University of Louisiana, The University of the South

Spouse: Nancy Kassebaum (University of Kansas, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor)

Father: Howard Baker, Sr. (The University of Tennessee-Knoxville)

William Gibbs McAdoo 1863–1941

American lawyer and statesman

Estes Kefauver 1903–1963

U.S. Senator from Tennessee

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1924

Also attended: Yale University

Allen West 1961–

Former U.S. representative and Texas GOP chairman

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1983

Also attended: Kansas State University

Clement Comer Clay 1789–1866

8th governor of Alabama

Child: Clement Claiborne Clay (The University of Alabama)

Ali Abu al-Ragheb 1946–2026

Former Prime Minister of Jordan

Bachelor of Science · Civil engineering · Class of 1967

Jimmy Duncan 1947–

US Representative for Tennessee from 1988 to 2019

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1969

Also attended: George Washington University

Chuck Fleischmann 1962–

U.S. Representative from Tennessee

Juris Doctor · Class of 1986

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Bart Gordon 1949–

Former US representative for Tennessee, 1985–2011

Juris Doctor · Class of 1973

Also attended: Middle Tennessee State University

Winfield Dunn 1927–2024

43rd Governor of Tennessee

Also attended: University of Mississippi, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

John S. Tanner 1944–

Former US Representative from Tennessee

Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Science · Class of 1968

John Gayle 1792–1859

7th Governor of Alabama

Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia

James B. Frazier 1856–1937

Governor of Tennessee and US senator

Tim Burchett 1964–

Republican U.S. representative from Tennessee

Rufus W. Cobb 1829–1913

25th Governor of Alabama

Heath Shuler 1971–

Former NFL quarterback and US Representative

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 2001

John Shelton Wilder 1921–2010

Lieutenant governor of Tennessee for 36 years

Also attended: University of Memphis

Herbert S. Walters 1891–1973

Democratic US senator for Tennessee

Also attended: Carson-Newman University

Cheri Beasley 1966–

Former chief justice of North Carolina Supreme Court

Juris Doctor · Class of 1991

Also attended: Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Duke University

Clifton Bledsoe Cates 1893–1970

19th Commandant of the Marine Corps

Grace Thorpe 1921–2008

Environmentalist and Native rights activist

Also attended: Northeastern State University

Van Hilleary 1959–

Republican U.S. Representative from Tennessee

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1981

Also attended: Samford University

Victor Ashe 1945–

Former US ambassador to Poland and Knoxville mayor

Also attended: Yale University

John Hancock 1824–1893

Texas judge and politician

Bob Clement 1943–

US representative from Tennessee

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1967

Also attended: University of Memphis

John Duncan 1919–1988

Tennessee congressman and attorney

Also attended: Cumberland University

Edward Terry Sanford 1865–1930

US Supreme Court associate justice

Also attended: Harvard University

Ray Blanton 1930–1996

44th governor of Tennessee

Richard Fulton 1927–2018

Former U.S. representative and mayor of Nashville

Tim Lee Carter 1910–1987

Former US Representative from Kentucky

Also attended: Western Kentucky University

Richard W. Austin 1857–1919

U.S. representative from Tennessee and diplomat

Bill Jenkins 1936–

U.S. Representative from Tennessee, 1997–2007

Juris Doctor · Class of 1961

Also attended: Tennessee Technological University

Walter Chandler 1887–1967

Mayor of Memphis and Tennessee congressman

Thomas Amos Rogers Nelson 1812–1873

Tennessee congressman, attorney and judge

Dave Ramsey 1960–

Financial adviser, radio host, founder of Ramsey Solutions

Child: Rachel Cruze (The University of Tennessee-Knoxville)

Charlie Ergen 1953–

Co-founder of Dish Network and EchoStar

Also attended: Wake Forest University

Min Kao 1949–

Co-founder of Garmin

Child: Jen Kao (The New School, New York University)

James M. Buchanan 1919–2013

Economist, Nobel laureate, public choice theorist

Also attended: University of Chicago, Middle Tennessee State University

Chris Hadfield 1959–

Canadian astronaut and former ISS commander

Master of Science · Aviation · Class of 1992

Scott Kelly 1964–

Astronaut, veteran of four space flights

Also attended: SUNY Maritime College

Sibling: Mark Kelly (Naval Postgraduate School, United States Merchant Marine Academy)

Frank Knight 1885–1972

Economist, a founder of the Chicago School

Also attended: Cornell University, Milligan University

Randolph Bresnik 1967–

NASA astronaut and retired Marine officer

Also attended: Citadel Military College of South Carolina

William Isaac Thomas 1863–1947

Sociologist, key figure in symbolic interactionism

Spouse: Dorothy Swaine Thomas (Barnard College)

William Oefelein 1965–

Former NASA astronaut, pilot of STS-116

Also attended: Oregon State University

Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie 1957–

Former NASA astronaut, four Space Shuttle missions

Also attended: United States Naval Academy

Jeffrey Ashby 1954–

NASA astronaut, veteran of three Shuttle missions

Also attended: University of Idaho

Clarice Phelps 1981–

Nuclear chemist who helped discover tennessine

Attended until 2014

Also attended: Tennessee State University, The University of Texas at Austin

Joe F. Edwards 1958–

NASA astronaut and retired naval officer

Also attended: United States Naval Academy

Massimo Pigliucci 1964–

Philosopher and biologist, professor at CCNY

Also attended: University of Connecticut

Harold E. Robinson 1932–2020

American botanist and entomologist

Master of Science · Entomology, Botany · Class of 1957

Also attended: Duke University, Ohio University-Main Campus

Alan Rabinowitz 1953–2018

Zoologist and CEO of Panthera

Also attended: McDaniel College

Hugh Iltis 1925–2016

Botany professor at University of Wisconsin–Madison

Also attended: Washington University in St Louis

William Baldwin 1779–1819

Physician and botanist

Also attended: University of Pennsylvania

Mark Dean 1957–

Computer engineer who developed the ISA bus

Also attended: Florida Atlantic University, Stanford University

Harri Lorenzi 1949–

Brazilian agronomist and writer on trees

Thomas Henry Kearney 1874–1956

Botanist and agronomist known for cotton research

Michael Persinger 1945–2018

Laurentian University psychology professor and neuroscientist

Also attended: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Michael Kulikowski 1970–

Historian and professor at Pennsylvania State University

Robert Russell Newton 1918–1991

Astronomer and physicist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Bachelor of Science · Electrical engineering · Class of 1940

Also attended: Ohio State University-Main Campus

Murray Bowen 1913–1990

Psychiatrist and pioneer of family therapy

Mladen Bestvina 1959–

Mathematician and professor at University of Utah

Doctor of Philosophy · Mathematics · Class of 1984

Subrata Roy

University of Florida professor, plasma flow control inventor

Doctor of Philosophy · Engineering science and mechanics · Class of 1994

Chang Sen-i 1943–

Nuclear engineer, former deputy director of Taiwan's INER

Oprah Winfrey 1954–

Media mogul and talk show host

Also attended: Tennessee State University

Kurt Vonnegut 1922–2007

Satirical novelist and author

Also attended: University of Chicago, Cornell University, Carnegie Mellon University

Child: Mark Vonnegut (Harvard University, Swarthmore College)

Sibling: Bernard Vonnegut (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Huell Howser 1945–2013

Television host of California's Gold

Cormac McCarthy 1933–2023

Novelist, playwright and screenwriter

Liberal arts education · Attended until 1953

Dixie Carter 1939–2010

Actress who starred in Designing Women

Also attended: University of Memphis, Rhodes College

Spouse: George Hearn (Rhodes College)

Spouse: Hal Holbrook (Denison University)

Logan Marshall-Green 1976–

Actor, star of The Invitation and Upgrade

Also attended: New York University

James Denton 1963–

Actor known for Desperate Housewives

David Keith 1954–

Actor and director known for An Officer and a Gentleman

Walter M. Miller 1923–1996

Science fiction writer

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Dale Dickey 1961–

American character actress

Van Jones 1968–

Political commentator, activist and author

Also attended: Yale University, The University of Tennessee-Martin

John Cullum 1930–

Stage actor, two-time Tony winner

Tramell Tillman 1985–

Actor, Emmy winner for Severance

Master of Fine Arts

Also attended: Jackson State University

Conrad Ricamora 1979–

Actor, known for How to Get Away with Murder

Cheryl Studer 1955–

Dramatic soprano and opera singer

Pam Tillis 1957–

Country singer and songwriter

Father: Mel Tillis (University of Florida)

Joseph Wood Krutch 1893–1970

Author, critic and naturalist

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Paula Pell 1963–

Comedy writer and actress, former Saturday Night Live writer

Also attended: Seminole State College of Florida

Michael Turner 1971–2008

Comics artist known for Superman/Batman

James A. Lindsay 1979–

Mathematician and author; grievance studies affair participant

Doctor of Philosophy · Mathematics, Combinatorics · Class of 2010

Also attended: Tennessee Technological University

Constance Shulman 1958–

Actress, originated Annelle in Steel Magnolias

Also attended: Circle in the Square Theatre School

Bennie Wallace 1946–

Jazz tenor saxophonist

John N. Heiskell 1872–1972

Arkansas Gazette editor and briefly U.S. senator

Telisha Shaw 1978–

Retired actress, dancer and singer

Catherine Wiley 1879–1958

Impressionist painter

Justin Gatlin 1982–

Sprinter, 2004 Olympic 100m champion

Peyton Manning 1976–

Former NFL quarterback for Colts and Broncos

Attended until 1998

Father: Archie Manning (University of Mississippi)

Sibling: Cooper Manning (University of Mississippi)

Kevin Nash 1959–

Professional wrestler and actor

Candace Parker 1986–

WNBA player, first overall pick in 2008

Attended until 2008

Spouse: Shelden Williams (Duke University)

Sibling: Anthony Parker (Bradley University)

Tianna Madison-Bartoletta 1985–

Long jumper, Olympian with three gold medals

Aries Merritt 1985–

Hurdler and former 110m hurdles world record holder

Christian Coleman 1996–

Sprinter, 2019 world 100m champion

Tobias Harris 1992–

NBA player drafted 19th overall in 2011

Sibling: Tyler Harris (Auburn University, North Carolina State University at Raleigh)

Nia Ali 1988–

Track athlete, 2019 world 100m hurdles champion

Also attended: University of Southern California

Bianca Belair 1989–

WWE professional wrestler

Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia, Texas A & M University-College Station

Khadija Shaw 1997–

Jamaica women's football captain and Manchester City top scorer

Also attended: Eastern Florida State College

Tamika Catchings 1979–

WNBA player, 2011 Most Valuable Player

Father: Harvey Catchings (Hardin-Simmons University)

DeeDee Trotter 1982–

Sprinter and former NCAA 400m champion

Timothy Mack 1972–

Pole vaulter, 2004 Olympic gold medalist

Also attended: Malone University

Wayne Pinnock 2000–

Jamaican long jumper, Olympic silver medalist

Also attended: University of Arkansas

Benita Fitzgerald-Brown 1961–

Hurdler and U.S. Center for SafeSport CEO

Allan Houston 1971–

NBA player from 1993 to 2005

Paul Annacone 1963–

Tennis coach of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras

C. J. Watson 1984–

Former professional basketball player

Josh Richardson 1993–

Former NBA player with ten seasons

Christopher Bailey 2000–

Sprinter and Olympic gold medalist

Also attended: University of Arkansas

Sam Graddy 1964–

1984 Olympic 4×100m relay gold medalist

Kelsey Robinson 1992–

US women's national volleyball team player

Mookie Betts 1992–

MLB player for the Los Angeles Dodgers

Tom Pappas 1976–

Retired American decathlete

Bernard King 1956–

Former NBA small forward

Sibling: Albert King (University of Maryland-College Park)

Dale Ellis 1960–

NBA player who once held the career 3-pointers record

Ernie Grunfeld 1955–

Former NBA player and general manager

Chamique Holdsclaw 1977–

Former WNBA basketball player

Attended until 1999

Kara Lawson 1981–

Head coach of Duke women's basketball and U.S. national team

Jeneba Tarmoh 1989–

Sprinter specializing in the 100 and 200 metres

Also attended: Texas A & M University-College Station

Christine Magnuson 1985–

Swimmer and two-time Olympic medalist

Rhian Wilkinson 1982–

Head coach of the Wales women's national soccer team

Matt Vogel 1957–

1976 Olympic gold medal swimmer

John-Patrick Smith 1989–

Australian tennis player specializing in doubles

Kevin Punter 1993–

Basketball player and captain of FC Barcelona

Gary Kikaya 1978–

Sprinter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Hannah Wilkinson 1992–

New Zealand footballer

Dalton Knecht 2001–

NBA player for the New York Knicks

Agricultural science

Also attended: Northeastern Junior College, University of Northern Colorado

Willie Gault 1960–

Former NFL wide receiver, Super Bowl XX champion

Melvin Stewart 1968–

Swimmer, two-time gold medalist at 1992 Olympics

Cindy Noble 1958–

1984 Olympic gold medalist in women's basketball

Monica Abbott 1985–

Professional softball pitcher

Erika Connolly 1998–

Swimmer, Olympic silver and bronze medalist in 2020

Tripp Schwenk 1971–

Olympic champion swimmer

Lawrence Johnson 1974–

Pole vaulter

Leonard Scott 1980–

Sprinter specializing in the 100 meters

Jordan McRae 1991–

Basketball player, 2016 NBA champion with Cavaliers

Grant Williams 1998–

NBA player for the Charlotte Hornets

Chris Woodruff 1973–

University of Tennessee tennis head coach, former pro

Marcus Haislip 1980–

Former NBA basketball player

Jarnell Stokes 1994–

Former pro basketball player who played for Tennessee

Tom Boerwinkle 1945–2013

Former NBA center, entire career with Bulls

LaVonna Martin 1966–

Hurdler and 1992 Olympic silver medalist

Spouse: Edrick Floreal (University of Arkansas)

Marie-Eve Nault 1982–

Former Canadian women's soccer defender

Ahmed Johnson 1963–

Former WWF professional wrestler

Also attended: Huston-Tillotson University

Cary Middlecoff 1921–1998

Professional golfer with three major championships

Chris Moneymaker 1975–

Poker player, 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event champion

James Vann Johnston, Jr. 1959–

Catholic Bishop of Kansas City–St. Joseph

Also attended: Catholic University of America