Notable Alumni of Indiana State University

Birch Bayh 1928–2019

Former U.S. Senator from Indiana

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

Spouse: Marvella Bayh (Indiana State University, Indiana University-Bloomington)

Child: Evan Bayh (Indiana University-Bloomington, University of Virginia-Main Campus)

Brad Ellsworth 1958–

Former US Representative from Indiana

Also attended: University of Southern Indiana

John T. Myers 1927–2015

Republican congressman from Indiana

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1951

Also attended: Eastern Illinois University

Grace Folashade Bent 1960–

Nigerian senator

Ed Pease 1951–

Indiana politician and lawyer

Attended until 1984

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

William M. Dunn 1814–1887

U.S. Representative from Indiana and Army Judge Advocate General

Also attended: Yale University, Hanover College

Albert Henry Vestal 1875–1932

Republican US representative from Indiana

Also attended: Valparaiso University

Brian D. Kerns 1957–

Former Republican U.S. Representative from Indiana

Bachelor of Science, Master in Public Administration · Class of 1992

Phillip Hinkle 1946–

Former Republican member of the Indiana House

John Richard Gregg 1954–

Former speaker of the Indiana House

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

D. Bailey Merrill 1912–1993

U.S. Representative from Indiana

William Larrabee 1870–1960

Physician and U.S. Representative from Indiana

Hasan Zaglam 1945–

Libyan politician and former finance minister

Thurman C. Crook 1891–1981

Former US representative from Indiana

Also attended: Valparaiso University, Purdue University-Main Campus

Edward Hernandez 1957–

Former California state senator

Also attended: California State University-Fullerton

John S. Benham 1863–1935

Educator and U.S. representative from Indiana

Tony George 1959–

Former CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Mother: Mari Hulman George (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College)

Jill Bolte Taylor 1959–

Neuroanatomist, author and public speaker

Also attended: Harvard University

Barton Warren Evermann 1853–1932

American ichthyologist

Fred Albert Shannon 1893–1963

Historian, 1929 Pulitzer Prize for History winner

Also attended: University of Iowa

Child: Frederick A. Shannon (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

H. R. Cox 1907–1986

Bacteriologist, namesake of the genus Coxiella

Nicola Di Cosmo 1957–

Historian, Luce Foundation Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study

Samuel F. Hildebrand 1883–1949

American ichthyologist

Ruth Gentry 1862–1917

Mathematician, first Indiana-born woman to earn a math PhD

Attended until 1880

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Bryn Mawr College

Jamal Khashoggi 1958–2018

Saudi journalist and dissident, assassinated in 2018

Bachelor in Business Administration · Business management · Class of 1982

Burl Ives 1909–1995

Singer and actor

Also attended: Eastern Illinois University

David Darling 1941–2021

Cellist and composer, Grammy winner

Michael Evans Behling 1996–

Actor known for All American

Russell Collins 1897–1965

Stage, film and television actor

Alvy Moore 1921–1997

Actor known for Green Acres

Bernard Glasser 1924–2014

Film director and producer

Greg Land 1956–

Comic book artist known for Uncanny X-Men

Jared Yates Sexton 1981–

Author and political commentator

Also attended: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Gilbert Brown Wilson 1907–1991

Painter known for large-scale murals

Also attended: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

James B. Leong 1889–1967

Chinese-American Hollywood actor and filmmaker

Larry Bird 1956–

NBA legend, former player, coach and executive

Attended until 1979

Also attended: Indiana University-Bloomington

John Wooden 1910–2010

UCLA basketball coach with ten NCAA titles

Also attended: Purdue University-Main Campus

Bruce Baumgartner 1960–

Freestyle wrestler and President of USA Wrestling

Kurt Thomas 1956–2020

Gymnast, first American man to win Worlds gold

Jake Laravia 2001–

Basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers

Ken Bannister 1960–

Former professional basketball player

Erica Moore 1988–

Middle-distance runner

Sean Manaea 1992–

Major League Baseball pitcher

David Moss 1983–

Basketball coach and former professional player

Cheryl Bridges 1947–

Marathoner who once held the women's marathon world record

Child: Shalane Flanagan (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Jake Odum 1991–

Basketball player and Indiana State assistant coach

Greggmar Swift 1991–

Barbadian sprint hurdler

Chloë Farro 2003–

Aruban swimmer and 2024 Olympic flag bearer

Duane Klueh 1926–2024

Basketball player and coach

Clint Barmes 1979–

Former MLB second baseman and shortstop

Joe Thatcher 1981–

College baseball coach and former MLB pitcher

Harold Johnson 1920–1999

Basketball player for the Detroit Falcons

Dan Sparks 1945–

Former ABA player and college basketball coach

Also attended: Weber State University

Tunç İlkin 1957–2021

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle and broadcaster

Nevin Ashley 1984–

Former MLB catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers

Kylie Hutson 1987–

Pole vaulter and 2011 national champion

Erin Reese 1995–

Hammer thrower

Winfred King 1961–

Retired professional basketball player

Nate Green 1977–

NBA referee and former professional basketball player

Isiah Thomas 1961–

Former Detroit Pistons player, coach and executive

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, Indiana University-Bloomington

Willa Brown 1906–1992

First African American woman to earn a US pilot's license

Brother Jed 1943–2022

Evangelist known for preaching on college campuses