Notable Alumni of George Washington University

Mikheil Saakashvili 1967–

Former President of Georgia, ex-Governor of Odesa Oblast

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

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović 1968–

President of Croatia from 2015 to 2020

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 1929–1994

First Lady of the United States, 1961–1963

Also attended: Georgetown University, Smith College, Vassar College

Spouse: John F. Kennedy (Harvard University, Princeton University)

Father: John Vernou Bouvier III (Yale University)

Syngman Rhee 1875–1965

First President of South Korea

Also attended: Harvard University, Princeton University

Colin Powell 1937–2021

65th U.S. Secretary of State and Army general

Also attended: CUNY--City College

Spouse: Alma Powell (Fisk University)

Child: Michael Kevin Powell (Georgetown University, College of William and Mary)

Lee Myung-bak 1941–

17th President of South Korea

Juan Guaidó 1983–

Venezuelan opposition politician, former National Assembly president

Elizabeth Warren 1949–

US senator from Massachusetts

Attended until 1968

Also attended: Rutgers University-New Brunswick, University of Houston

Spouse: Bruce Mann (Yale University, Brown University)

Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé 1966–

Togolese leader since 2005, former president

J. Edgar Hoover 1895–1972

First director of the FBI

Master of Laws, Bachelor of Laws

Also attended: Georgetown University

Soh Jaipil 1864–1951

Korean-American independence activist, physician and journalist

Also attended: University of Pennsylvania

Daniel Noboa 1987–

President of Ecuador

Master's degree · Public administration · Class of 2022

Also attended: Northwestern University, Harvard University, New York University

John Foster Dulles 1888–1959

U.S. Secretary of State under Eisenhower

Attended until 1911

Also attended: Princeton University

Child: John W. F. Dulles (Harvard University, Princeton University)

Child: Avery Dulles (Harvard University)

Robert Byrd 1917–2010

U.S. Senator from West Virginia, 1959–2010

Also attended: American University, University of Charleston, Concord University

Harry Reid 1939–2021

US senator from Nevada from 1987 to 2017

Attended until 1964

Also attended: Southern Utah University, Utah State University

Allen Dulles 1893–1969

First civilian and longest-serving CIA director

Also attended: Princeton University

Sibling: John Foster Dulles (George Washington University, Princeton University)

Tammy Duckworth 1968–

US senator from Illinois

Master of Arts · International relations

Also attended: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Northern Illinois University, Capella University

James E. Webb 1906–1992

Second administrator of NASA

Also attended: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Daniel Inouye 1924–2012

United States Senator from Hawaii

Attended until 1952

Also attended: University of Hawaii at Manoa

Spouse: Irene Hirano (University of Southern California)

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi 1958–

Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2017 to 2018

Master of Engineering · Electrical engineering

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Kellyanne Conway 1967–

Former Trump senior counselor and campaign manager

Juris Doctor · Class of 1992

Also attended: Trinity Washington University

Spouse: George T. Conway III (Yale University, Harvard University)

Mark T. Esper 1964–

27th US Secretary of Defense

Also attended: Harvard University, The United States Military Academy at West Point

Aldrich Ames 1941–2026

Former CIA officer convicted of spying for USSR

Bachelor's degree · Historiography · Class of 1967

Also attended: University of Chicago

William Barr 1950–

77th and 85th US Attorney General

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Father: Donald Barr (Columbia University in the City of New York)

Mark Warner 1954–

US Senator from Virginia and former governor

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1977

Also attended: Harvard University

Mark Felt 1913–2008

Watergate whistleblower Deep Throat, former FBI official

Also attended: University of Idaho

Mike Enzi 1944–2021

U.S. senator from Wyoming from 1997 to 2021

Accounting · Class of 1966

Also attended: University of Denver

Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer 1958–

Former interim president of Iraq

Also attended: American University

Huma Abedin 1976–

Longtime aide and chief of staff to Hillary Clinton

Spouse: Anthony Weiner (State University of New York at Plattsburgh)

J. William Fulbright 1905–1995

U.S. Senator from Arkansas

Also attended: University of Arkansas

Spouse: Harriet Mayor Fulbright (George Washington University, Harvard University)

Mother: Roberta Fulbright (University of Missouri-Columbia)

Albert Rivera 1979–

Former leader of Spain's Citizens party

Attended until 2009

John Warner 1927–2021

Senator from Virginia, former Secretary of the Navy

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus, Washington and Lee University

Larry Craig 1945–

Former U.S. senator from Idaho

Attended until 1970

Also attended: University of Idaho

S. M. Krishna 1932–2024

Former Indian Minister of External Affairs

Also attended: Southern Methodist University

Ken Starr 1946–2022

Independent counsel who authored the Starr Report

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: Harding University, Duke University, Brown University

Roger Stone 1952–

Conservative political consultant and lobbyist

Charles Colson 1931–2012

Nixon's Special Counsel, involved in Watergate

Also attended: Brown University

George W. Romney 1907–1995

43rd governor of Michigan and former HUD secretary

Also attended: University of Utah

Spouse: Lenore Romney (George Washington University, University of Utah)

Child: G. Scott Romney (Harvard University, Michigan State University)

John W. Snow 1939–

73rd United States Secretary of the Treasury

Also attended: Kenyon College, University of Toledo, University of Virginia-Main Campus

Eric Cantor 1963–

Former US House majority leader

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1985

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, College of William and Mary

Hal Moore 1922–2017

US Army lieutenant general and author

Master's degree · Class of 1964

Also attended: Harvard University, The United States Military Academy at West Point

Gina Hinojosa 1973–

Governor-elect of Texas

Juris Doctor · Class of 1999

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Carl Lutz 1895–1975

Swiss diplomat who rescued Jews in Budapest

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1923

Mohammad Mustafa 1954–

Prime Minister of Palestine and economist

Doctorate, Master's degree · Management, Economics · Class of 1988

Belva Ann Lockwood 1830–1917

Suffragist and one of the first US women lawyers

Billy Mitchell 1879–1936

US Army general instrumental in creating the Air Force

Adam Kokesh 1982–

Political activist and former Marine

Also attended: Claremont McKenna College

John Kiriakou 1964–

Former CIA officer and whistleblower

Master's degree, Bachelor's degree · Legislative affairs, Middle Eastern studies

Tarak Nath Das 1884–1958

Indian revolutionary and scholar

Doctor of Philosophy · International relations · Class of 1924

Also attended: Norwich University

John P. O'Neill 1952–2001

FBI special agent and counter-terrorism expert

Also attended: American University

Mao Ning 1972–

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson and department director

Hsu Mo 1893–1956

Chinese diplomat and International Court of Justice judge

James R. Lilley 1928–2009

US ambassador to China, former CIA operative

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

William R. Richardson 1929–2023

Four-star Army general, former TRADOC commander

Also attended: The United States Military Academy at West Point

John Fugh 1934–2010

First Chinese American general in the US Army

Bachelor of Laws

Also attended: Georgetown University, Harvard University

John Deng 1952–

Taiwan minister without portfolio and lawyer

Master's degree · Class of 1983

Tyler Kent 1911–1988

Diplomat who stole secret documents in London

Also attended: Princeton University

Lee Chun-yi 1965–

Taiwanese politician and political scientist

Doctorate · Political science

Also attended: Boston College

Chen Yunying 1953–

Educator and NPC deputy for Taiwan Province

Spouse: Justin Yifu Lin (University of Chicago)

Kao Su-po 1968–

Taiwanese legal scholar and former legislator

Doctor of Juridical Science

Kao Hua-chu 1946–

Former Taiwan defense minister and retired army general

Also attended: St John's University (NY)

Elliott Charng

Taiwan's representative to Australia

George B. Fitch 1948–2014

Former mayor of Warrenton, Virginia

Also attended: College of Wooster

Kang Mun-bong 1923–1988

South Korean military officer and politician

İbrahim Kalın 1971–

Director of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization

Pedro Pierluisi 1959–

Former Governor of Puerto Rico

Also attended: Tulane University of Louisiana

Sandiaga Uno 1969–

Indonesian businessman and former tourism minister

Master of Business Administration

Also attended: Wichita State University

Luhut Binsar Panjaitan 1947–

Chair of Indonesia's National Economic Council, retired general

Also attended: Cornell University

Sibling: Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir (Boston University)

Mercedes Schlapp 1972–

Former White House Director of Strategic Communications

Master in Public Administration

Also attended: Florida International University

Spouse: Matt Schlapp (University of Notre Dame, Wichita State University)

Tom Fitton 1968–

Conservative activist, president of Judicial Watch

Rick Wilson 1963–

Political strategist, media consultant and author

Gaurav Sharma 1987–

Former New Zealand Labour MP and doctor

Also attended: Oakland University

Nguyễn Thanh Nghị 1976–

Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam

Anousheh Ansari 1966–

CEO of XPRIZE Foundation and space tourist

Also attended: George Mason University

Lee Byung-chul 1910–1987

South Korean businessman, founder of Samsung Group

Child: Lee Kun-hee (George Washington University)

Lee Kun-hee 1942–2020

Former chairman of Samsung

Father: Lee Byung-chul (George Washington University)

Child: Lee Yoon-hyung (New York University)

Jeong Ju-yung 1915–2001

Founder of South Korea's Hyundai Group

Child: Chung Mong-joon (George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University)

Linah Mohohlo 1952–2021

First female Governor of the Bank of Botswana

Also attended: Yale University

Aliya Nazarbayeva 1980–

Kazakh businesswoman, daughter of Nursultan Nazarbayev

Marjorie Merriweather Post 1887–1973

General Foods owner, socialite and philanthropist

Spouse: Joseph Edward Davies (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Child: Dina Merrill (George Washington University, American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York)

Jerry Reinsdorf 1936–

Owner of the Chicago Bulls and White Sox

Also attended: Northwestern University, Northwest University

Scott Kirby 1967–

CEO of United Airlines

Master of Science · Operations research

Also attended: United States Air Force Academy

Wissam Al Mana 1975–

Qatari businessman

Julius Axelrod 1912–2004

Biochemist and 1970 Nobel Prize winner

Also attended: CUNY--City College, New York University

Irvin Yalom 1931–

Existential psychiatrist and author, Stanford professor emeritus

Also attended: Boston University

Spouse: Marilyn Yalom (Wellesley College)

George Armitage Miller 1920–2012

Founder of cognitive psychology and cognitive science

Also attended: The University of Alabama, Harvard University

Serena M. Auñón-Chancellor 1976–

NASA astronaut, physician and engineer

Bachelor of Science · Electrical engineering · Class of 1997

Also attended: The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Ralph Asher Alpher 1921–2007

Cosmologist, pioneer of the Big Bang model

Michael D. Griffin 1949–

Physicist and former NASA administrator

Also attended: University of Southern California, Catholic University of America, Johns Hopkins University

Christine Darden 1942–

NASA aeronautical engineer researching supersonic flight

Doctor of Philosophy · Mechanical engineering · Class of 1983

Also attended: Simmons University, Hampton University, Virginia State University

Frederick D. Gregory 1941–

Astronaut and former NASA deputy administrator

Also attended: United States Air Force Academy

Henriette Avram 1919–2006

Developer of the MARC library cataloging format

Also attended: CUNY Hunter College

Elmer Drew Merrill 1876–1956

Botanist and authority on Asia-Pacific flora

Also attended: University of Maine

Lester Frank Ward 1841–1913

Sociologist and paleontologist

Alexander Wetmore 1886–1978

Ornithologist, sixth Secretary of the Smithsonian

Also attended: Kansas State University

Nick Szabo 1964–

Computer scientist known for smart contracts research

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Charles Camarda 1952–

NASA astronaut who flew on STS-114

Also attended: New York University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Mary J. Rathbun 1860–1943

Zoologist specializing in crustaceans

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1917

Also attended: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Sibling: Richard Rathbun (Cornell University)

Harry C. Oberholser 1870–1963

American ornithologist

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Marcus Ward Lyon, Jr. 1875–1942

Mammalogist, bacteriologist and pathologist

Also attended: Brown University

Philip Emeagwali 1954–

Nigerian computer scientist

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Oregon State University

Neal D. Barnard 1953–

Physician and founder of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Judy Mikovits 1958–

Former researcher and anti-vaccine activist

Doctor of Philosophy · Biochemistry, Molecular biology · Class of 1991

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Margaret D. Foster 1895–1970

Chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project

Also attended: American University, Illinois College

Doris Mable Cochran 1898–1968

Herpetologist at the Smithsonian Institution

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park

Preston Cloud 1912–1991

Earth scientist and paleontologist

Also attended: Yale University

Sirisha Bandla 1988–

Aeronautical engineer and commercial astronaut

Master of Business Administration · Class of 2015

Also attended: Purdue University-Main Campus

Robert M. Schoch 1949–

Boston University geologist, Sphinx erosion hypothesis author

Also attended: Yale University

Ya-Qin Zhang 1966–

Tsinghua professor and founding dean of AIR

David Lynch 1946–2025

Filmmaker and artist known for surrealist style

Also attended: American Film Institute Conservatory, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Alec Baldwin 1958–

Actor and film producer

Also attended: New York University

Spouse: Kim Basinger (University of Georgia, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater)

Spouse: Hilaria Baldwin (New York University)

Jared Leto 1971–

Actor and musician, Academy Award winner

Also attended: School of Visual Arts, University of the Arts

Courteney Cox 1964–

Actress who played Monica Geller in Friends

Casey Affleck 1975–

Actor and Academy Award winner

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Spouse: Summer Phoenix (New York University)

Sibling: Ben Affleck (Occidental College, University of Vermont)

Kerry Washington 1977–

Actress and Primetime Emmy Award winner

Sociology, Anthropology · Attended until 1998

Spouse: Nnamdi Asomugha (University of California-Berkeley)

Rooney Mara 1985–

Actress, two-time Oscar nominee

Also attended: New York University

Sibling: Kate Mara (New York University)

Eliza Dushku 1980–

Actress, known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Also attended: Lesley University, Suffolk University

Spouse: Peter Palandjian (Harvard University)

Bob Woodward 1943–

Investigative journalist at The Washington Post

Also attended: Yale University

Father: Alfred Eno Woodward Jr. (Northwestern University, Oberlin College)

Karen Allen 1951–

Actress who debuted in Animal House

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park, Fashion Institute of Technology

Glenn Greenwald 1967–

Journalist, author and former lawyer

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1990

Also attended: New York University

William Peter Blatty 1928–2017

Author of The Exorcist

Also attended: Georgetown University

Haddaway 1965–

Singer known for the hit What Is Love

Thomas Hart Benton 1889–1975

Painter and muralist of the Regionalist movement

Also attended: School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Kansas City Art Institute

Father: Maecenas Eason Benton (Saint Louis University)

Claribel Alegría 1924–2018

Nicaraguan poet, 2006 Neustadt Prize winner

Kevin Peter Hall 1955–1991

Actor who frequently played monster characters

Spouse: Alaina Reed Hall (Kent State University at Kent)

T. J. Miller 1981–

Comedian and actor in Silicon Valley

Alice Bradley Sheldon 1915–1987

Science fiction author, pen name James Tiptree Jr

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: American University, Sarah Lawrence College

Mother: Mary Hastings Bradley (Smith College)

Merce Cunningham 1919–2009

Dancer and choreographer in American modern dance

Also attended: Cornish College of the Arts

Lester del Rey 1915–1993

Science fiction author and editor

Brian Williams 1959–

Former NBC Nightly News anchor

Also attended: Catholic University of America, Brookdale Community College

Child: Allison Williams (Yale University)

Dina Merrill 1923–2017

American film and television actress

Also attended: American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York

Spouse: Cliff Robertson (Antioch University-Los Angeles, Antioch College)

Spouse: Stanley Maddox Rumbough, Jr. (Yale University, New York University)

Edward Elmer Smith 1890–1965

Science fiction author of the Lensman series

Master's degree · Chemistry · Class of 1917

Also attended: University of Idaho

Chris Anderson 1957–

Author, entrepreneur, former editor-in-chief of Wired

Pacita Abad 1946–2004

Filipino-American painter

Also attended: University of San Francisco

Sibling: Florencio Abad (Harvard University)

Dee Brown 1908–2002

Historian and novelist, author of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Also attended: University of Central Arkansas, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Angela Aki 1977–

Japanese singer-songwriter and pianist

Tim Gunn 1953–

TV personality, author and former Parsons chair

Margaret Truman 1924–2008

Writer and daughter of President Harry S. Truman

Father: Harry S. Truman (University of Missouri--Kansas City)

Yvonne Orji 1983–

Nigerian actress known for Insecure

Dana Bash 1971–

CNN anchor and host of Inside Politics

Bachelor of Arts · Political communication · Class of 1993

Spouse: Jeremy Bash (Georgetown University, Harvard University)

Spouse: John King (University of Rhode Island)

Donna Dixon 1957–

Former actress, appeared in Spies Like Us

Eugene J. Martin 1938–2005

African-American visual artist and painter

Ross Martin 1920–1981

Actor known for The Wild Wild West

Also attended: CUNY--City College

Matt Clark 1936–2026

Actor best known for Western films

Manish Dayal 1983–

Actor in 90210 and The Hundred-Foot Journey

Roy Lee 1969–

Film producer, founder of Vertigo Entertainment

Elizabeth Acevedo 1988–

Poet and author; Young People's Poet Laureate

Bachelor of Arts · Performing arts

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park

David Amram 1930–

Composer, arranger, and conductor

Also attended: Manhattan School of Music

Rachel Zoe 1971–

Celebrity fashion stylist and designer

Viktor Arnar Ingólfsson 1955–

Icelandic crime fiction writer

Mrinal Pande 1946–

Indian journalist, author and former Hindustan chief editor

María Montserrat Alvarado 1986–

President of EWTN News, journalist and host

Also attended: Florida International University

Kati Marton 1949–

Author and journalist, former ABC News foreign correspondent

Also attended: Wells College

Spouse: Richard Holbrooke (Princeton University, Brown University)

Ina Garten 1948–

Host of Food Network's Barefoot Contessa, and author

Also attended: Syracuse University

Spouse: Jeffrey Garten (Johns Hopkins University, Dartmouth College)

Richard Artschwager 1923–2013

Painter, illustrator and sculptor

Also attended: Cornell University

Bhaskar Sunkara 1989–

Founding editor of Jacobin and president of The Nation

Chuck Todd 1972–

Former moderator of NBC's Meet the Press

Kate Bolduan 1983–

CNN news anchor

Bachelor's degree · Journalism

Kasie Hunt 1985–

CNN political correspondent and host

Clay Travis 1979–

Political commentator and founder of OutKick

Bachelor of Arts · History · Class of 2001

Also attended: Vanderbilt University

Whitney Sudler-Smith 1968–

Filmmaker, creator of Bravo's Southern Charm

Mother: Patricia Altschul (George Washington University)

Tony Dokoupil 1980–

Anchor of CBS Evening News

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Spouse: Katy Tur (University of California-Santa Barbara)

Red Auerbach 1917–2006

Celtics coach who won eight straight NBA titles

Elana Meyers Taylor 1984–

American Olympic bobsledder

Yuta Watanabe 1994–

First Japanese-born NCAA Division I basketball scholarship athlete

Lubomír Kaválek 1943–2021

Czech-American chess grandmaster

Pops Mensah-Bonsu 1983–

British basketball player who played for five NBA teams

Frank Robinson 1935–2019

Baseball outfielder and MLB's first Black manager

Yinka Dare 1972–2004

Nigerian NBA center

Anna Montañana 1980–

Spanish basketball player and coach

Francis Newton 1874–1946

Amateur golfer at the 1904 Summer Olympics

Walter Szczerbiak 1949–

Former professional basketball player

Child: Wally Szczerbiak (Miami University-Oxford)

Patricio Garino 1993–

Argentine basketball player for Phoenix Hagen

Gene Guarilia 1937–2016

Former Boston Celtics basketball player

Also attended: Potomac State College of West Virginia University

Anthony Adams 1980–

Former NFL defensive tackle, TV host and actor

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

Jonquel Jones 1994–

WNBA player for the New York Liberty

Also attended: Clemson University

L. Ron Hubbard 1911–1986

Founder of Scientology and author

Civil engineering

Spouse: Mary Sue Hubbard (Rice University, The University of Texas at Austin)

Anwar al-Awlaki 1971–2011

American-Yemeni Islamic cleric and propagandist

Also attended: San Diego State University, Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Father: Nasser al-Awlaki (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Yasmine Pahlavi 1968–

Lawyer and wife of Reza Pahlavi

Spouse: Reza Pahlavi (University of Southern California, Williams College)

Child: Noor Pahlavi (Georgetown University, Columbia University in the City of New York)

Vivian Malone Jones 1942–2005

First Black graduate of the University of Alabama

Also attended: The University of Alabama

Princess Sonam Dechen Wangchuck of Bhutan 1981–

Princess of Bhutan, daughter of the Fourth King

Also attended: Georgetown University, Harvard University, Stanford University

George Murry 1948–2020

Jesuit and Catholic bishop of Youngstown

Also attended: University of Detroit Mercy, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia

Frank Joseph Dewane 1950–2026

Catholic Bishop of Venice in Florida

Also attended: Catholic University of America, University of Notre Dame, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jane Briggs Hart 1921–2015

Aviator and one of the Mercury 13 women

Bachelor of Arts · Anthropology · Class of 1970

Also attended: Manhattanville University

Spouse: Philip Hart (Georgetown University, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor)

Patricia Altschul 1941–

Socialite and art collector on Southern Charm

Spouse: Arthur Altschul (Yale University)

Child: Whitney Sudler-Smith (George Washington University)