Notable Alumni of Ball State University

Richard Mourdock 1951–

Former Indiana treasurer who defeated Richard Lugar

Also attended: Defiance College

Timothy Maude 1947–2001

U.S. Army lieutenant general killed on 9/11

Also attended: Golden Gate University

Mark W. Hannaford 1925–1985

Former U.S. representative from California

Also attended: Yale University

Jeffrey D. Feltman 1959–

Diplomat and former UN Under-Secretary-General

Also attended: Tufts University

John Rarick 1924–2009

Louisiana congressman and lawyer

Also attended: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Amanda Carpenter 1982–

Political advisor, speechwriter and author

Janet Buckner

Former Colorado state senator

Spouse: John Buckner (Northern Illinois University)

Terri Austin 1955–

Indiana state representative and educator

Jack P. Oliver 1931–2020

Member of the Ohio House of Representatives

Jennifer McCormick

Last Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction

Master of Arts · Special education · Class of 1999

Also attended: Indiana State University, Purdue University-Main Campus

Alfred K. Flowers 1947–

Retired Air Force major general, longest-serving airman

Angela Ahrendts 1960–

Former Burberry CEO and Apple retail senior vice president

Bachelor of Arts · Marketing

Stedman Graham 1951–

Businessman and author

Also attended: Hardin-Simmons University, Weatherford College

John Schnatter 1961–

Founder of Papa John's

Dan Towriss 1972–

Founder of Group 1001, CEO of TWG Motorsports

Also attended: Indiana University-Bloomington

Juleen Zierath 1961–

Biologist researching insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes

Michael H. Prosser 1936–2026

University of Virginia professor emeritus, intercultural communication

Shirley Brice Heath 1939–

Linguistic anthropologist, Stanford professor emerita

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

David Letterman 1947–

Late-night talk show host and comedian

Jim Davis 1945–

Cartoonist, creator of Garfield

Doug Jones 1960–

Actor known for playing non-human creatures

Anthony Montgomery 1971–

Actor in Star Trek: Enterprise

Kim Sun-a 1973–

South Korean actress, star of My Lovely Sam Soon

Piano

Joyce DeWitt 1949–

Actress known for sitcom Three's Company

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Scott Halberstadt 1976–

Actor who played Eric on Drake & Josh

Martha De Laurentiis 1954–2021

Film producer of Hannibal and U-571

Tiara Thomas 1989–

R&B singer featured on Wale's Bad

Gloria Gaither 1942–

Christian singer-songwriter and author

Also attended: Anderson University

Spouse: Bill Gaither (Anderson University)

Cynda Williams 1966–

Actress

Spouse: Billy Bob Thornton (Henderson State University)

Corinth Morter Lewis 2000–

Belizean poet, educator and former University of Belize president

Evaline Ness 1911–1986

Illustrator and author of children's books

Spouse: Eliot Ness (University of Chicago)

David Loughery 1953–2024

Screenwriter and film producer

Also attended: University of Iowa

David Michael Schuster 1952–

American spinto tenor and opera singer

Christopher Coake 1971–

Fiction writer and university teacher

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1993

Also attended: Miami University-Oxford, Ohio State University-Main Campus

Claire Buffie 1986–

Photographer and Miss New York 2010

Hal Rayle 1955–

Voice actor

Diana Pharaoh Francis

Fantasy author and professor

Also attended: University of California-Davis, Iowa State University

Eric Butorac 1981–

Retired tennis doubles specialist

Bonzi Wells 1976–

Former NBA player and college basketball coach

LaTasha Jenkins 1977–

Sprinter, 2001 World Championships silver medalist

Rawle Marshall 1982–

Guyanese-American professional basketball player

Also attended: Oakland University

Timothy Brown 1937–2020

NFL running back and actor

Bill Wallace 1945–

Kickboxer nicknamed Superfoot

Bachelor's degree · Physical education · Class of 1971

Also attended: University of Memphis

Jarrod Jones 1990–

American-born Hungarian professional basketball player

John Paul, Sr. 1939–

Former racing driver and fugitive

Also attended: Harvard University

Jennifer Gilbert 1992–

Canadian softball player

Brad Snyder 1982–

Former professional baseball outfielder

Maurice Acker 1987–

Professional basketball player, Marquette standout

Bryan Bullington 1980–

Former MLB pitcher, first overall pick in 2002 draft

Dean Anna 1986–

Former MLB infielder for the New York Yankees

Also attended: John A Logan College

Theron Smith 1980–

Former NBA basketball player

Tayler Persons 1995–

Professional point guard basketball player

Also attended: Northern Kentucky University

Ishmael El-Amin 1998–

Basketball player for Karşıyaka Basket

Father: Khalid El-Amin (University of Connecticut)

Marcus Norris 1974–

Basketball guard who played 17 years in Europe

Also attended: Lansing Community College

Jeremy Hazelbaker 1987–

Former MLB outfielder

Willie Snead 1992–

Former NFL wide receiver and Broncos coach

Brad Maynard 1974–

Former NFL punter

Keith McKenzie 1973–

Former NFL linebacker and defensive end

Terry Schmidt 1952–

NFL cornerback turned dentist