Notable Alumni of Old Dominion University

Jodi Rell 1946–2024

87th Governor of Connecticut

Also attended: Western Connecticut State University

Winsome Sears 1964–

Former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

Also attended: Regent University, Tidewater Community College

Elaine Luria 1975–

Navy veteran and Virginia congresswoman

Master of Science · Class of 2004

Also attended: United States Naval Academy

Jen Kiggans 1971–

U.S. representative for Virginia's 2nd district

Bachelor of Science in Nursing · Class of 2011

Also attended: Boston University, Vanderbilt University

Scott Taylor 1979–

Former Navy SEAL and Virginia congressman

Also attended: Harvard University

Daryl Caudle 1963–

34th US Chief of Naval Operations

Master of Science · Industrial engineering and management

Also attended: Naval Postgraduate School, North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Thelma Drake 1949–

Former Republican congresswoman from Virginia

William J. Fallon 1944–

Retired US Navy admiral, former CENTCOM commander

Master of Arts · International studies

Also attended: Villanova University

Samuel Paparo 1964–

U.S. Navy admiral and Pacific commander

Master of Arts · International studies

Also attended: Naval Postgraduate School, Villanova University

Amanda Lee 1986–

Navy pilot, first female Blue Angels fighter pilot

Also attended: University of Minnesota-Duluth

Kenneth R. Plum 1941–

Former Democratic member of Virginia House of Delegates

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Kenneth Cooper Alexander 1966–

Mayor of Norfolk, Virginia

Also attended: Norwich University, Brightpoint Community College

David Bradley 1952–2022

Arizona state senator

Master of Education

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park

Kenneth R. Whitesell 1961–

Retired US Navy vice admiral, former Naval Air Forces commander

Bachelor of Science · Mechanical engineering

Kathleen M. Gainey

Retired US Army lieutenant general

Also attended: Babson College

Meyera E. Oberndorf 1941–2015

23rd Mayor of Virginia Beach

Donna W. Martin

Retired Army lieutenant general, 66th Inspector General

Kelly Convirs-Fowler

Member of the Virginia House of Delegates

Also attended: Virginia Wesleyan University

Phillip G. Sawyer 1961–

Retired US Navy vice admiral, Seventh Fleet commander

Master's degree · Industrial engineering and management

Also attended: United States Naval Academy

Michael J. Bloomfield 1959–

Astronaut, veteran of three Space Shuttle missions

Also attended: United States Air Force Academy

Tahani R. Amer 1965–

NASA aerospace engineer

Bachelor's degree, Master's degree · Mechanical engineering, Aerospace engineering · Class of 2011

Jill Yager 1945–

Zoologist and cave diver

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: Colorado State University-Fort Collins, Florida Institute of Technology

Jack T. Kirby 1938–2009

Historian of the American South

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Linda B. Hayden 1949–

Mathematician and mentor of minorities and women in STEM

Also attended: American University, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, Virginia State University

Deborah Shelton 1948–

Miss USA 1970 and Dallas actress

Natalie Diaz 1978–

Mojave poet and former basketball player, Pulitzer winner

Derrick Borte 1967–

Filmmaker, director of The Joneses

Also attended: The New School

Ben Bailey 1970–

Comedian and host of Cash Cab

Sarah McCoy 1980–

Bestselling novelist

Also attended: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Joe McCain 1942–

Actor and journalist, brother of John McCain

Also attended: United States Naval Academy, College of William and Mary

Father: John S. McCain, Jr. (United States Naval Academy)

Sibling: John McCain (United States Naval Academy)

LaShawn Merritt 1986–

Sprinter and Olympic 400m champion

Also attended: East Carolina University

Anne Donovan 1961–2018

Women's basketball player and coach

Attended until 1983

Tzipora Obziler 1973–

Israeli former professional tennis player

Justin Verlander 1983–

MLB pitcher for Tigers, Astros, Mets and Giants

Nancy Lieberman 1958–

Former pro basketball player and coach

Attended until 1980

Child: T. J. Cline (Niagara University)

Kent Bazemore 1989–

Former NBA basketball player

Attended until 2012

Ticha Penicheiro 1974–

Portuguese basketball player, Sacramento Monarchs

Attended until 1998

Medina Dixon 1962–2021

US women's national basketball team member with three medals

Anna Tunnicliffe 1982–

Sailor, 2008 Olympic gold medalist in Laser Radial

Carlos Mendes 1980–

Soccer head coach and former player

Chris Gatling 1967–

Former NBA player from 1991 to 2002

Dana Wright 1959–

Canadian former 400 metres hurdler

Alex DeJohn 1991–

Former professional soccer defender

Magnum T.A. 1959–

Retired professional wrestler

Brandon Vera 1977–

Mixed martial artist, inaugural ONE Heavyweight Champion

Mark West 1960–

Former NBA center, 1983 second-round draft pick

Izak van der Merwe 1984–

Retired South African tennis player

Hamchétou Maïga 1978–

Malian women's basketball player, played in WNBA

Sibling: Aissata Maiga (Troy University, Gulf Coast State College)

Gerald Lee 1987–

Finnish professional basketball player

Cal Bowdler 1977–

Former NBA power forward for the Hawks

Paul Diamond 1961–

Professional wrestler, half of The Orient Express

Clarisse Machanguana 1976–

Mozambican basketball player, formerly in the WNBA

Daniel Hudson 1987–

Former MLB pitcher who played 16 seasons

David Horst 1985–

Former soccer player for Real Salt Lake

Kenny Gattison 1964–

Former NBA player and assistant coach

Frank Hassell 1988–

Professional basketball power forward

Tony Brothers 1964–

NBA referee

Nabeel Qureshi 1983–2017

Evangelical Christian apologist and writer

Also attended: Biola University, Duke University

Renée Good 1988–2026

Woman fatally shot by ICE agent in 2026

Bachelor's degree · Class of 2020

Glenn Michael Souther 1957–1989

US Navy sailor who spied for the Soviet Union