Notable Alumni of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Golda Meir 1898–1978

Prime Minister of Israel, 1969 to 1974

Alberto Fujimori 1938–2024

President of Peru from 1990 to 2000

Master's degree · Mathematics · Class of 1969

Child: Keiko Fujimori (Boston University, Columbia University in the City of New York)

Child: Kenji Fujimori (Kansas State University)

Jim Risch 1943–

U.S. senator from Idaho

Attended until 1963

Also attended: University of Idaho

Steve Sisolak 1953–

30th governor of Nevada

Bachelor of Science · Business studies · Class of 1974

Also attended: University of Nevada--Las Vegas

Matt Koehl 1935–2014

Second leader of the American Nazi Party

Paa Kwesi Nduom 1953–

Ghanaian politician, founder of Progressive People's Party

Also attended: St. Augustine College

Spouse: Yvonne Nduom (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

David Carl Crowley 1986–

Governor-elect of Wisconsin

Bachelor of Science · Education policy, Community education · Class of 2024

Abner Mikva 1926–2016

Federal judge, politician and law professor

Also attended: University of Chicago, Washington University in St Louis

Martin J. Schreiber 1939–

39th governor of Wisconsin

Also attended: Valparaiso University, Marquette University

Peter W. Barca 1955–

Former Wisconsin Department of Revenue secretary

Also attended: Harvard University, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jerry Kleczka 1943–2017

U.S. Representative from Wisconsin

Attended until 1962

Frank Zeidler 1912–2006

Socialist mayor of Milwaukee for three terms

Also attended: University of Chicago, Marquette University

Sibling: Carl Zeidler (Marquette University)

Satya Nadella 1967–

Chairman and CEO of Microsoft

Master of Science · Computer science

Also attended: University of Chicago

Jack Kilby 1923–2005

Electrical engineer; co-realized the first integrated circuit

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Virginia Satir 1916–1988

Psychotherapist known as Mother of Family Therapy

Also attended: Northwestern University

Eugenie Scott 1945–

Physical anthropologist opposing creationism teaching

Also attended: University of Missouri-Columbia

Laura Mersini-Houghton 1969–

Cosmologist and multiverse theory proponent

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 2000

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park

Phil Katz 1962–2000

Co-creator of the ZIP file format

Computer science · Attended until 1984

Jeff Halper 1946–

Anthropologist and activist

Steve de Shazer 1940–2005

Psychotherapist, pioneer of solution focused brief therapy

Katia Sycara

Carnegie Mellon robotics professor and AI researcher

Also attended: Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, Brown University, University of Wisconsin-Madison

George L. Kelling 1935–2019

Criminologist and Rutgers–Newark professor

Also attended: Luther Seminary, St. Olaf College, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Adrienne L. Kaeppler 1935–2022

Anthropologist and Smithsonian curator

Musicology, English-language literature

Also attended: University of Hawaii at Manoa

Pamela E. Harris 1983–

Mexican-American mathematician and professor

Doctorate

Also attended: Marquette University

Carlos Castillo-Chavez 1952–

Mexican-American mathematician and professor

Also attended: University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Cheng Xu 1964–

Chinese American aerodynamic design engineer

Willem Dafoe 1955–

Actor with four Academy Award nominations

Drama fiction

Spouse: Elizabeth A. LeCompte (Skidmore College)

Trixie Mattel 1989–

Drag queen, singer and television personality

Ruth Asawa 1926–2013

Modernist sculptor known for looped-wire sculptures

Andy Hurley 1980–

Drummer of Fall Out Boy

Frank Caliendo 1974–

Comedian and impressionist, known for MADtv

Euphrase Kezilahabi 1944–2020

Tanzanian poet, novelist and scholar

Doctor of Philosophy

Pamela Britton 1923–1974

Actress in My Favorite Martian

Joel Whitburn 1939–2022

Music historian and author of chart reference books

Also attended: Elmhurst University

Mildred Harnack 1902–1943

Literary historian, translator and anti-Nazi resistance member

Spouse: Arvid Harnack (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Marguerite Henry 1902–1997

Children's author and Newbery Medal winner

Herschel Burke Gilbert 1918–2003

Composer of film and television scores

Also attended: The Juilliard School

Hakob Karapents 1925–1994

Iranian-Armenian author and university teacher

Attended until 1949

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Jim Rygiel 1955–

Visual effects supervisor, three Academy Awards for Lord of the Rings

Also attended: Otis College of Art and Design

Naima Adedapo 1984–

Singer, American Idol season ten top 11

JoAnna Cochenet 1985–

Violinist, composer and conductor

Also attended: Coe College, University of Nevada-Reno

Spouse: Juan Gallastegui (Bard College, The Juilliard School)

Mary Flanagan 1969–

Artist, designer and game studies scholar

Also attended: University of Iowa

Frank Tenney Johnson 1874–1939

Painter of the Old West, known for moonlight technique

Denis Kitchen 1946–

Cartoonist and founder of Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Angna Enters 1897–1989

Dancer, mime, painter and writer

Hal Erickson 1950–

Media historian and former senior editor at AllRovi

Also attended: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Alan Kulwicki 1954–1993

Auto racing driver and team owner

Darcie Dohnal 1972–

Short track speed skater at the 1992 Winter Olympics

Clay Tucker 1980–

Former professional basketball player

Allison Pottinger 1973–

Curler who played in multiple Olympics

Also attended: University of Wisconsin--Oshkosh

Manny Lagos 1971–

Former professional soccer midfielder and coach

Sibling: Gerard Lagos (University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee)

Dylan Page 1982–

Basketball player in Spain's Liga ACB

Tony Meier 1990–

Basketball player who played in Poland

Mitchell Whitmore 1989–

Long track speed skater

Kyle Zenoni 1984–

Former soccer player, UMass Lowell head coach

Laurie Bell 1992–

English football coach and former defender

Philip Johns 1958–

Soccer goalkeeper and coach

John Edward Douglas 1945–

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiling pioneer

Educational specialist, Master of Science · Educational psychology

Also attended: Nova Southeastern University, Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

Will Allen 1949–

Urban farmer and former professional basketball player

Also attended: University of Miami

Zuhdi Jasser 1967–

Physician and Muslim political commentator

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1988

Also attended: Medical College of Wisconsin

Christine Boskoff 1967–2006

Mountaineer