Notable Alumni of University of Mississippi

Roosevelt Skerrit 1972–

Prime Minister of Dominica

Also attended: New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Jeanne Shaheen 1947–

United States Senator from New Hampshire

Master of Social Science · Class of 1973

Also attended: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Child: Stefany Shaheen (Fairfield University, Harvard University)

Roger Wicker 1951–

Republican U.S. senator from Mississippi

Bachelor of Arts, Juris Doctor · Journalism, Political science · Class of 1975

Trent Lott 1941–

Former US Senator from Mississippi

Bachelor in Business Administration, Juris Doctor · Class of 1967

Medgar Evers 1925–1963

Civil rights activist and NAACP Mississippi field secretary

Also attended: Alcorn State University

Spouse: Myrlie Evers-Williams (Pomona College, Alcorn State University)

Sibling: Charles Evers (Alcorn State University)

Thad Cochran 1937–2019

U.S. Senator from Mississippi

Attended until 1965

Haley Barbour 1947–

63rd Governor of Mississippi

James Meredith 1933–

Civil rights activist, first Black student at Ole Miss

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

Frank Wolf 1939–

U.S. representative from Virginia, 1981–2015

Attended until 1958

Also attended: Georgetown University, The Pennsylvania State University

James Eastland 1904–1986

US Senator from Mississippi

Also attended: The University of Alabama, Vanderbilt University

Ross Barnett 1898–1987

53rd Governor of Mississippi and segregation supporter

Bachelor of Laws · Class of 1929

Also attended: Mississippi College

Ray Mabus 1948–

Politician, lawyer and diplomat

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University

John Fleming 1951–

Louisiana state treasurer, physician and politician

Doctor of Medicine · Class of 1976

Larry Speakes 1939–2014

White House Press Secretary under Reagan

John S. McCain, Sr. 1884–1945

United States Navy admiral

Also attended: United States Naval Academy

Child: John S. McCain, Jr. (United States Naval Academy)

Winfield Dunn 1927–2024

43rd Governor of Tennessee

Also attended: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Luke Edward Wright 1846–1922

Governor-General of the Philippines, Secretary of War

Trent Kelly 1966–

U.S. representative for Mississippi

Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1994

Also attended: East Central Community College

Gregg Harper 1956–

Former U.S. Representative from Mississippi

Juris Doctor · Class of 1981

Also attended: Mississippi College

Brianna Wu 1977–

Video game developer, co-founder of Giant Spacekat

Spouse: Frank Wu (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Dixie Carter 1964–

Businesswoman and former president of TNA wrestling

Rebecca Allison 1946–2024

Cardiologist and transgender activist

James E. Darnell 1930–

Biologist and author of Molecular Cell Biology

Also attended: Washington University in St Louis

William Faulkner 1897–1962

American novelist and short story writer

Master of Science · Class of 1921

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Sibling: John Faulkner (University of Mississippi)

John Grisham 1955–

Writer of best-selling legal thrillers

Juris Doctor · Class of 1981

Also attended: Delta State University, Mississippi State University, Northwest Mississippi Community College

Kate Jackson 1948–

Actress known for Charlie's Angels

Also attended: Birmingham-Southern College, American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York

Tate Taylor 1969–

Filmmaker who directed The Help

William Eggleston 1939–

Photographer who elevated color photography as art

Also attended: Vanderbilt University

Gerald McRaney 1947–

Actor known for Simon & Simon

Mary Ann Mobley 1937–2014

Actress and Miss America 1959

Spouse: Gary Collins (Santa Monica College)

Mose Allison 1927–2016

Jazz and blues pianist and singer

Also attended: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Greg Iles 1960–2025

Novelist who published eighteen novels

Glen Ballard 1953–

Songwriter, lyricist and record producer

Tom Lester 1938–2020

Actor, played Eb Dawson on Green Acres

Also attended: University of Southern Mississippi

Josh Kelley 1980–

Pop rock singer-songwriter

Cynthia Geary 1965–

Actress, known for Northern Exposure

Tate Ellington 1979–

American actor in Remember Me

Bachelor of Arts

Shepard Smith 1964–

Broadcast journalist and former Fox News and CNBC anchor

John Stirratt 1967–

Bassist and multi-instrumentalist for Wilco

Asya Branch 1998–

Miss USA 2020

Mahesh Bhupathi 1974–

Indian tennis player and former doubles world No. 1

Brittney Reese 1986–

Olympic gold medal long jumper, seven-time world champion

Also attended: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Sam Kendricks 1992–

Pole vaulter, two-time world champion and Olympic medalist

Raven Saunders 1996–

Shot putter, 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist

Also attended: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Rafaelle Souza 1991–

Brazilian women's national team footballer

Terence Davis 1997–

Professional basketball player

Jennifer Gillom 1964–

Former WNBA player and coach

Arianne Hartono 1996–

Dutch former professional tennis player

Attended until 2018

Tony Dees 1963–

Hurdler; 1992 Olympic silver medalist

Terrico White 1990–

Basketball player, 36th pick in 2010 NBA draft

Greg Hardy 1988–

Former NFL defensive end and mixed martial artist

Johnny Neumann 1951–2019

Professional basketball player and coach

DK Metcalf 1997–

NFL wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Hospitality management studies

Savanté Stringfellow 1978–

Long jumper on the 2000 US Olympic team

Lance Lynn 1987–

Former Major League Baseball pitcher

Armintie Price 1985–

WNBA player, third pick in 2007 draft

Shakira Austin 2000–

WNBA player for the Washington Mystics

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park

A. J. Brown 1997–

NFL wide receiver for the New England Patriots

Dave Randall 1967–

Former professional tennis player, mainly doubles

Carlos Clark 1960–

Former NBA guard with the Boston Celtics

Physical education