Notable Alumni of The Catholic University of America

Kathy Hochul 1958–

Governor of New York

Juris Doctor · Class of 1983

Also attended: Syracuse University

Spouse: William J. Hochul, Jr. (University of Notre Dame)

Martin O'Malley 1963–

Former Governor of Maryland and Mayor of Baltimore

Also attended: University of Maryland, Baltimore, University System of Maryland

Spouse: Katie O'Malley (University of Baltimore, Towson University)

Bob Casey 1960–

US senator from Pennsylvania, 2007–2025

Juris Doctor · Class of 1988

Also attended: College of the Holy Cross

Father: Robert P. Casey (George Washington University, College of the Holy Cross)

Tom Harkin 1939–

Former U.S. senator from Iowa

Attended until 1972

Also attended: Iowa State University

Terry McAuliffe 1957–

72nd Governor of Virginia

Also attended: Georgetown University

Jim McGreevey 1957–

52nd Governor of New Jersey

Also attended: Georgetown University, Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York

James Soong 1942–

Chairman of People First Party, former Taiwan Province governor

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, Georgetown University

Jeffrey Chiesa 1965–

Former U.S. senator and New Jersey attorney general

Juris Doctor · Class of 1990

Also attended: University of Notre Dame

Nora Astorga 1949–1988

Nicaraguan revolutionary and UN ambassador

Thomas E. Donilon 1955–

22nd US National Security Advisor

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Spouse: Catherine M. Russell (George Washington University, Boston College)

Sibling: Mike Donilon (Georgetown University)

Kathleen Rice 1965–

Former U.S. Representative for New York's 4th district

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1987

Also attended: Touro College

Charles Daniel Balvo 1951–

Catholic archbishop and Holy See diplomat

Mónica Jiménez 1940–2020

Chilean politician and Minister of Education

Sibling: Jorge Jiménez (Johns Hopkins University)

Anna Mae Hays 1920–2018

First woman general in the US Armed Forces

Katherine Zappone 1953–

Former Irish Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Also attended: Boston College

Spouse: Ann Louise Gilligan (Boston College)

Giuseppe De Andrea 1930–2016

Italian Catholic prelate and Holy See diplomat

Brendan Carr 1979–

Chair of the Federal Communications Commission

Juris Doctor · Class of 2005

Also attended: Georgetown University

Jack Miller 1916–1994

U.S. Senator from Iowa and federal circuit judge

Also attended: University of Iowa, Creighton University, Columbia University in the City of New York

Jesse Brown 1944–2002

Second US Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Also attended: Roosevelt University

Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo 1941–2003

8th president of the Nigerian Senate

Spouse: Margery Chuba-Okadigbo (George Washington University, Georgetown University)

Mitch Landrieu 1960–

Former mayor of New Orleans

Also attended: Loyola University New Orleans

Father: Moon Landrieu (Loyola University New Orleans)

Sibling: Mary Landrieu (Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College)

Ed Gillespie 1961–

Former Republican National Committee chair and political strategist

Rick Renzi 1958–

Former U.S. Representative from Arizona

Juris Doctor · Class of 2002

Also attended: Northern Arizona University

Rebecca Enonchong 1967–

Cameroonian entrepreneur, founder of AppsTech

Bachelor of Science · Economics · Class of 1994

Also attended: American University

Charles Kaman 1919–2011

Aeronautical engineer and founder of Kaman

Mary Daly 1928–2010

Radical feminist philosopher and theologian

Also attended: Saint Mary's College, The College of Saint Rose

Hugh Everett III 1930–1982

Physicist who proposed the relative state interpretation

Also attended: Princeton University

Michael D. Griffin 1949–

Physicist and former NASA administrator

Also attended: University of Southern California, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University

Euphemia Haynes 1890–1980

Mathematician, first African American woman with a math PhD

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1943

Also attended: University of the District of Columbia, University of Chicago, Smith College

Joseph Weber 1919–2000

Physicist who built the first gravitational wave detectors

Also attended: Naval Postgraduate School, United States Naval Academy

Theodore Hesburgh 1917–2015

Notre Dame president for 35 years and priest

Raymond E. Brown 1928–1998

Catholic priest and biblical scholar

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University

Julius Arthur Nieuwland 1878–1936

Notre Dame chemistry professor and priest, acetylene researcher

Dorothea Orem 1914–2007

Nursing theorist, creator of self-care deficit theory

John P. Meier 1942–2022

Biblical scholar and Catholic priest

Marguerite Williams 1895–1991

Geologist, first African American with a geology doctorate

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1942

Also attended: Howard University, Columbia University in the City of New York

Thomas L. Saaty 1926–2017

Mathematician, inventor of Analytic Hierarchy Process

Also attended: Yale University, Washington Adventist University

Marjorie Perloff 1931–2024

Poetry scholar and critic, Stanford professor

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: Barnard College, Oberlin College

Tom G. Palmer 1956–

Libertarian author and Cato Institute senior fellow

Richard William Timm 1923–2020

Catholic priest, educator and zoologist

Also attended: University of Notre Dame

Julia Ching 1934–2001

University of Toronto professor of religion and East Asian studies

Also attended: The College of New Rochelle

Susan Sarandon 1946–

Academy Award-winning actress and activist

Bachelor of Arts · Drama fiction · Class of 1968

Spouse: Chris Sarandon (Catholic University of America, West Virginia University)

Child: Eva Amurri (Brown University)

Jon Voight 1938–

Actor and Academy Award winner

Child: Angelina Jolie (New York University)

Child: James Haven (University of Southern California)

John Slattery 1962–

Actor and director

John Heard 1946–2017

American actor

Also attended: Clark University

Pat Carroll 1927–2022

Actress, voice of Ursula in The Little Mermaid

Fulton J. Sheen 1895–1979

Catholic Bishop of Rochester and television preacher

John Carroll Lynch 1963–

Character actor and director, known for Fargo

Chris Sarandon 1942–

Actor, voice of Jack Skellington

Also attended: West Virginia University

Spouse: Joanna Gleason (University of California-Los Angeles, Occidental College)

Frances Sternhagen 1930–2023

Character actress on stage, film and television

Also attended: Vassar College

Saeed Jaffrey 1929–2015

British-Indian film, stage and television actor

Attended until 1957

Child: Sakina Jaffrey (Vassar College)

Siobhan Fallon Hogan 1961–

Actress, comedian, writer and producer

Also attended: Le Moyne College

Brian Williams 1959–

Former NBC Nightly News anchor

Also attended: George Washington University, Brookdale Community College

Child: Allison Williams (Yale University)

Philip Bosco 1930–2018

Actor, Tony winner for Lend Me a Tenor

Jason Miller 1939–2001

American actor and playwright

Also attended: University of Scranton

Spouse: Susan Bernard (University of California-Los Angeles)

Spouse: Linda Miller (Catholic University of America)

Don Shirley 1927–2013

Jazz pianist and composer

Also attended: University of Chicago

Henry Gibson 1935–2009

Actor and comedian in Laugh-In

Susan Anspach 1942–2018

Stage, film and television actress

Spouse: Mark Goddard (Bridgewater State University, College of the Holy Cross)

Ed McMahon 1923–2009

American announcer and game show host

Also attended: Boston College

Allison Hayes 1930–1977

Film and television actress and model

Lisa Ann Walter 1963–

Actress in The Parent Trap and Abbott Elementary

Attended until 1983

Elizabeth Hand 1957–

Science fiction and fantasy writer and journalist

Abiodun Koya 1980–

Nigerian-born classical and operatic singer

Also attended: University of the District of Columbia

Carl Amery 1922–2005

German writer and environmental activist

Zulu Sofola 1931–1995

Nigerian playwright, first female theatre professor in Africa

Master of Arts · Drama fiction

Also attended: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Virginia Union University

Alfred Gough 1967–

Screenwriter and producer, developer of Smallville

Also attended: University of Southern California

Paula Vogel 1951–

Playwright and university teacher

Also attended: Cornell University, Bryn Mawr College

Spouse: Anne Fausto-Sterling (Brown University)

Li Lili 1915–2005

Chinese film actress and singer

Julie Nixon Eisenhower 1948–

Author and daughter of President Nixon

Also attended: Smith College, New York University, Brown University

Spouse: David Eisenhower (George Washington University, Amherst College)

Father: Richard Nixon (Whittier College, Duke University)

Veronica Taylor 1965–

Voice actress, English voice of Ash in Pokémon

Also attended: Brandeis University

John McGiver 1913–1975

Character actor in film and television

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, Fordham University

Daniel Hugh Kelly 1952–

Actor in Hardcastle and McCormick

Sammy Nestico 1924–2021

Jazz composer and arranger

Attended until 1952

Also attended: Duquesne University

Thomas Berry 1914–2009

Catholic priest and cultural historian

David Driskell 1931–2020

Artist and scholar who established African-American art studies

Also attended: Howard University

Maureen Dowd 1952–

New York Times columnist and author

William Smithers 1927–2026

Actor known for Dallas

Also attended: Hampden-Sydney College

Eric Pierpoint 1950–

American actor and writer

Also attended: University of Redlands

Father: Robert Pierpoint (University of Redlands)

Rosalina Abejo 1922–1991

Filipina composer and conductor

Also attended: University of Rochester

James Rado 1932–2022

Co-author of the musical Hair

Laurence Luckinbill 1934–

Actor, playwright and director

Master of Fine Arts · Class of 1958

Also attended: University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, New York University

Ernest Thompson 1949–

Writer and actor, Oscar winner for On Golden Pond

Also attended: American University

Dieter Lehnhoff 1955–

Guatemalan composer, conductor and musicologist

Bibi Osterwald 1918–2002

American actress

Raymond Ibrahim 1973–

American author, translator and columnist

Also attended: California State University--Fresno

Christopher West 1969–

Catholic author and speaker on Theology of the Body

Mart Crowley 1935–2020

Playwright of The Boys in the Band

Rockwell Blake 1951–

Operatic tenor, first Richard Tucker Award winner

Also attended: SUNY at Fredonia

Veanne Cox 1963–

Stage and screen actress, Emmy and Tony nominee

Jean Kerr 1922–2003

Author and playwright of Please Don't Eat the Daisies

Also attended: Marywood University

Spouse: Walter Kerr (Northwestern University)

Harolyn Blackwell 1955–

American lyric coloratura soprano

Amanda Abizaid 1953–

Singer-songwriter, actress and model

Also attended: George Washington University

Dan Gilvezan 1950–

Actor who voiced Spider-Man and Bumblebee

Also attended: Webster University

Wang Jun'an 1970–

Yue opera performer specializing in young male roles

Luis Antonio Tagle 1957–

Filipino Catholic cardinal

Raymond Leo Burke 1948–

Catholic cardinal

Francis Arinze 1932–

Nigerian Catholic cardinal and former Vatican prefect

Also attended: University of Saint Mary of the Lake, University of Notre Dame, Seton Hall University

Timothy M. Dolan 1950–

Catholic cardinal, former Archbishop of New York

Also attended: Kenrick Glennon Seminary

Seán Patrick O'Malley 1944–

Catholic cardinal, former Archbishop of Boston

Donald Wuerl 1940–

Cardinal and former Archbishop of Washington

Francis George 1937–2015

Cardinal and former Archbishop of Chicago

Also attended: Tulane University of Louisiana, Creighton University

Liubomyr Huzar 1933–2017

Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Also attended: Fordham University

Justin Francis Rigali 1935–

Catholic cardinal

Also attended: St John's Seminary

James Stafford 1932–

Catholic cardinal, former major penitentiary

Also attended: Loyola University Maryland

Blase Cupich 1949–

Archbishop of Chicago and cardinal

Also attended: University of St Thomas (MN)

Daniel DiNardo 1949–

Catholic cardinal, former Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

Also attended: Duquesne University

Theodore Edgar McCarrick 1930–2025

Former Archbishop of Washington, laicized in 2019

Also attended: Fordham University

Robert Barron 1959–

Catholic bishop and theologian

Master of Arts · Philosophy · Class of 1982

Also attended: University of Saint Mary of the Lake

James Aloysius Hickey 1920–2004

Former Archbishop of Washington and cardinal

Also attended: Sacred Heart Major Seminary

Roger Mahony 1936–

Former Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles

Also attended: St John's Seminary

Joseph Asajirō Satowaki 1900–1996

Japanese cardinal and Archbishop of Nagasaki

Patrick Joseph Hayes 1867–1938

Archbishop of New York and cardinal

Also attended: Manhattan University

Charles J. Chaput 1944–

Former Archbishop of Philadelphia

Also attended: University of San Francisco

Joseph Strickland 1958–

Former Catholic bishop of Tyler, Texas

Licentiate of Canon Law · Class of 1994

Jan Pieter Schotte 1928–2005

Belgian cardinal and Roman Curia official

Terence Cooke 1921–1983

Cardinal and Archbishop of New York

William E. Lori 1951–

Catholic archbishop of Baltimore

Also attended: Mount St. Mary's University

Allen Henry Vigneron 1948–

Former Catholic archbishop of Detroit

Also attended: Sacred Heart Major Seminary

Joseph Bernardin 1928–1996

Catholic cardinal, Archbishop of Chicago

Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia

Humberto Sousa Medeiros 1915–1983

Archbishop of Boston and Catholic cardinal

Emil Kapaun 1916–1951

Korean War Army chaplain and Medal of Honor recipient

John Krol 1910–1996

Catholic cardinal and prelate

John Carberry 1904–1998

Catholic cardinal, former Archbishop of St. Louis

John Francis O'Hara 1888–1960

Catholic cardinal, Archbishop of Philadelphia

Also attended: University of Notre Dame

Howard James Hubbard 1938–2023

Former Catholic bishop of Albany

Philip Wilson 1950–2021

Former Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide

Francis Thomas Hurley 1927–2016

Former Catholic archbishop of Anchorage

James Charles McGuigan 1894–1974

Longest-serving Catholic Archbishop of Toronto

Canon law · Attended until 1927

Edward Malesic 1960–

Catholic Bishop of Cleveland

Also attended: Lebanon Valley College

Joseph J. Tyson 1957–

Catholic Bishop of Yakima

Also attended: Shoreline College, University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Richard Garth Henning 1964–

Catholic archbishop of Boston

Master's degree · Biblical theology · Class of 2000

Also attended: St John's University (NY)

Gerald Barbarito 1950–

Former Catholic bishop of Palm Beach

Frank Joseph Dewane 1950–2026

Catholic Bishop of Venice in Florida

Also attended: George Washington University, University of Notre Dame, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Peter Joseph Jugis 1957–

Catholic Bishop of Charlotte, 2003–2024

Also attended: University of North Carolina at Charlotte

John Bosco Manat Chuabsamai 1935–2011

Thai Catholic bishop of Ratchaburi

Robert Joseph McManus 1951–

Catholic bishop of Worcester, Massachusetts

George Hugh Niederauer 1936–2017

Catholic archbishop of San Francisco

Also attended: St John's Seminary, Stanford University

Mario Eduardo Dorsonville-Rodríguez 1960–2024

Colombian-born Catholic bishop

Dennis Marion Schnurr 1948–

Catholic Archbishop of Cincinnati

Also attended: Loras College

Józef Życiński 1948–2011

Polish archbishop of Lublin and philosopher

Philip Hannan 1913–2011

Eleventh Archbishop of New Orleans

Michael Joseph Bransfield 1943–2026

Former Catholic bishop of Wheeling-Charleston

Also attended: Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary-Overbrook

Donald Walter Trautman 1936–2022

Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Erie

Also attended: Niagara University

David William Valencia Antonio 1963–

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Segovia, Philippines

John M. Quinn 1945–

Bishop of Winona–Rochester until 2022

Also attended: University of Detroit Mercy, Sacred Heart Major Seminary

Robert James Carlson 1944–

Former Catholic archbishop of St. Louis

Also attended: University of St Thomas (MN)

Martin Holley 1954–

Catholic bishop, former Bishop of Memphis

Also attended: Alabama State University, Coastal Alabama Community College, Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary

David M. O'Connell 1955–

Bishop of Trenton and former Catholic University president

Also attended: Niagara University

Robert Deeley 1946–

Catholic bishop, former Bishop of Portland in Maine

Webster Tarpley 1946–

Writer, political activist and conspiracy theorist

Also attended: Princeton University, Skidmore College

Clarence Kelly 1941–2023

Sedevacantist Catholic bishop, founder of Congregation of Saint Pius V

Aloysius John Wycislo 1908–2005

Eighth Catholic bishop of Green Bay

Also attended: University of Saint Mary of the Lake