Notable Alumni of Wichita State University

Mark Parkinson 1957–

45th Governor of Kansas

Also attended: University of Kansas

Sandiaga Uno 1969–

Indonesian businessman and former tourism minister

Bachelor in Business Administration

Also attended: George Washington University

Hadi al-Bahra 1959–

Syrian politician, former opposition coalition president

Jonna Mendez 1945–

Former CIA chief of disguise

Spouse: Tony Mendez (University of Colorado Denver)

John Mills Houston 1890–1975

Kansas congressman and NLRB member

Matt Schlapp 1967–

Chairman of the American Conservative Union, lobbyist

Also attended: University of Notre Dame

Spouse: Mercedes Schlapp (George Washington University, Florida International University)

Lily Wu 1984–

103rd mayor of Wichita, Kansas

Gail Finney 1959–2022

Democratic member of the Kansas House

Also attended: Friends University

Garner E. Shriver 1912–1998

U.S. representative from Kansas

Also attended: University of Southern California

Femi Pedro 1955–

Nigerian politician, former deputy governor of Lagos

Also attended: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Ponka-We Victors 1981–

Former Kansas state representative

Also attended: Newman University

Susan Wagle 1953–

Former president of the Kansas Senate

Michelle De La Isla 1975–

Former mayor of Topeka, Kansas

Also attended: Fort Hays State University

Gary Burrell 1937–2019

Co-founder of Garmin

Also attended: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Verne Harnish 1959–

Business writer, founder of Entrepreneurs' Organization

Omar Khalidi 1952–2010

Indian-born Muslim scholar and MIT librarian

Also attended: Harvard University

Harold Sonny White 1965–

NASA engineer and physicist known for warp drive concepts

Laurea magistrale · Class of 1999

Also attended: University of South Alabama, Rice University

Dale Allison 1955–

New Testament scholar and early Christianity historian

Also attended: Duke University

Mona Nemer 1957–

Lebanese-Canadian molecular genetics scientist

Bachelor of Science

Karen Countryman-Roswurm 1980–

Social work professor at Wichita State University

Jim Bede 1933–2015

Aircraft designer behind the BD-4 and BD-5

Ruth A. David 1953–

Engineer who worked at the CIA

Also attended: Stanford University

Lincoln LaPaz 1897–1985

Astronomer and pioneer of meteor studies

Also attended: University of Chicago, Harvard University

Shirley Knight 1936–2020

Actress, two-time Oscar nominee

Child: Kaitlin Hopkins (Carnegie Mellon University)

Joyce DiDonato 1969–

Opera mezzo-soprano

Also attended: Academy of Vocal Arts

Samuel Ramey 1942–

Operatic bass

Also attended: Kansas State University

Michael McClure 1932–2020

Poet and playwright of the Six Gallery reading

Also attended: University of Arizona, San Francisco State University

Manly Wade Wellman 1903–1986

Science fiction, fantasy and horror writer

Attended until 1926

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Anne Boyer 1973–

Poet and essayist

Bruce Conner 1933–2008

Artist known for assemblage, film and collage

Also attended: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Spouse: Jean Conner (University of Colorado Boulder, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Cynthia Sikes 1954–

Actress and producer known for St. Elsewhere

Also attended: Southern Methodist University

Spouse: Bud Yorkin (Carnegie Mellon University)

Karla Burns 1954–2021

Mezzo-soprano and actress

Attended until 1981

Bob Peak 1927–1992

Illustrator known for modern film poster design

Gary Bender 1940–

Sportscaster who called Phoenix Suns games

Annette Daniels 1961–2004

Mezzo-soprano opera singer

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Paul Wight 1972–

Professional wrestler and actor, Big Show

Also attended: University of Central Oklahoma, Northern Oklahoma College

Ineta Radēviča 1981–

Latvian long jump and triple jump athlete

Also attended: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Fred VanVleet 1994–

NBA player for the Houston Rockets

Attended until 2016

Austin Reaves 1998–

NBA player for the Los Angeles Lakers

Also attended: University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Landry Shamet 1997–

NBA player, 26th pick in the 2018 draft

Father: Ron Davis (Washington State University)

Jack Ragland 1913–1996

Basketball player, 1936 Olympic gold medalist

Francis Johnson 1910–1997

Basketball player at the 1936 Olympics

Ron Baker 1993–

Former professional basketball player

Attended until 2016

Cleanthony Early 1991–

Basketball player, 2014 NBA draft second-round pick

Also attended: Sullivan County Community College

Xavier McDaniel 1963–

Former NBA player nicknamed "X-Man"

Gal Mekel 1988–

Israeli former basketball player

Cliff Levingston 1961–

Former professional basketball player and coach

Warren Jabali 1946–2012

Professional ABA basketball player

Maurice Evans 1978–

Former NBA player and players association vice president

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Jamie Arnold 1975–

Former pro basketball player for Israel's national team

Joe Carter 1960–

MLB outfielder and first baseman

Nate Bowman 1943–1984

Former NBA and ABA center

Dave Stallworth 1941–2017

Former NBA player, 1970 Knicks champion

Joe Ragland 1989–

Professional basketball player

Clevin Hannah 1987–

Former professional point guard

Antoine Carr 1961–

Former NBA power forward

Braden Looper 1974–

Former Major League Baseball pitcher

Craig Porter Jr. 2000–

Basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers

Also attended: Vincennes University

Dennis Rader 1945–

Serial killer known as BTK

Bachelor's degree

Also attended: Butler Community College

Eugene John Gerber 1931–2018

Catholic bishop of Wichita, Kansas

Also attended: Catholic University of America