Notable Alumni of Hanover College

Mike Pence 1959–

48th US Vice President, former Indiana governor

Bachelor's degree · Study of history · Class of 1981

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

Spouse: Karen Pence (Butler University)

Child: Charlotte Pence (DePaul University)

Thomas A. Hendricks 1819–1885

21st Vice President of the United States

Eric Holcomb 1968–

51st Governor of Indiana

William Hayden English 1822–1896

Politician and 1880 Democratic vice presidential nominee

Child: William E. English (Butler University)

Walter L. Fisher 1862–1935

US Secretary of the Interior under President Taft

Child: Howard T. Fisher (Harvard University)

Albert G. Porter 1824–1897

19th Governor of Indiana

Also attended: DePauw University

Ebenezer Dumont 1814–1871

Union Army general and Indiana congressman

Barclay Henley 1843–1914

U.S. Representative from California

George Washington Brackenridge 1832–1920

Philanthropist and longest-serving University of Texas Regent

Also attended: Harvard University

John Merle Coulter 1851–1928

Botanist and educator

Sibling: Stanley Coulter (Hanover College)

Harvey Washington Wiley 1844–1930

First commissioner of the U.S. FDA

Also attended: Harvard University

Charles Reid Barnes 1858–1910

Botanist specializing in bryophytes

Also attended: Harvard University

Walter LaFeber 1933–2021

Cornell University professor of history

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1955

Also attended: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Stanford University

William Abbott Oldfather 1880–1945

Classical scholar at the University of Illinois

Also attended: Harvard University

James Kennedy Patterson 1833–1922

First president of the University of Kentucky

Stanley Coulter 1853–1943

Biologist born in Ningpo to missionary parents

Sibling: John Merle Coulter (Hanover College)

Woody Harrelson 1961–

Actor known for Cheers

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1983

Ginnifer Goodwin 1978–

Actress, voice of Judy Hopps in Zootopia

Theatre · Attended until 1997

Also attended: Boston University

Carol Shields 1935–2003

Novelist, Pulitzer Prize winner for The Stone Diaries

William Ross Wallace 1819–1881

Poet who wrote The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

Judith Moffett 1942–

Author of poetry, nonfiction and science fiction

Also attended: Colorado State University-Fort Collins, University of Pennsylvania, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Stephen Wilson 1948–

Former ABA player with Denver Rockets

Sam Sheppard 1923–1970

Neurosurgeon convicted then cleared in 1954 murder case

Also attended: University of California-Irvine, Case Western Reserve University

Peter Edward Kassig 1988–2014

Aid worker killed by the Islamic State

Also attended: Butler University

William M. Baird 1862–1931

Presbyterian missionary who founded Soongsil University

Also attended: McCormick Theological Seminary