Notable Alumni of University of Southern Mississippi

Cindy Hyde-Smith 1959–

U.S. senator from Mississippi

Also attended: Copiah-Lincoln Community College

Phil Bryant 1954–

64th Governor of Mississippi

Also attended: Hinds Community College, Mississippi College

Steven Palazzo 1970–

Former U.S. Representative from Mississippi

Master in Public Administration, Bachelor of Science · Class of 1996

Gene Taylor 1953–

Former U.S. representative from Mississippi

Also attended: Tulane University of Louisiana

Mike Ezell 1959–

U.S. Representative from Mississippi

Bachelor of Science · Criminal justice · Class of 1997

Evelyn Gandy 1920–2007

Former Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi

Also attended: University of Mississippi

W. Arthur Winstead 1904–1995

U.S. representative from Mississippi, 1943–1965

Also attended: The University of Alabama, Mississippi College

Ronnie Shows 1947–

Democratic U.S. representative from Mississippi

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1971

Jeffery Hammond 1956–

Retired US Army officer, former 4th Infantry Division commander

Thomas Clausen 1939–2002

Last elected Louisiana state superintendent of education

Also attended: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, University of Louisiana--Lafayette

Catherine S. Lutz 1955–2014

Major General in the Mississippi National Guard

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing

Also attended: University of Mississippi

Clyde Evans 1938–2021

Ohio House of Representatives member

Omeria Scott 1956–

Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives

Bob Dearing 1935–2020

Mississippi state senator and educator

Also attended: Delta State University

Scott Armstrong 1966–

Former Canadian Conservative member of Parliament

Also attended: Florida State University

Percy Bland 1970–

Mayor of Meridian, Mississippi

Also attended: Xavier University of Louisiana

Robert L. Stewart 1942–

NASA astronaut and US Army brigadier general

Also attended: University of Texas-Arlington

Robert Hyatt 1948–

Computer scientist, co-author of chess program Crafty

Also attended: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Jimmy Buffett 1946–2023

Singer-songwriter, author and businessman

Also attended: Auburn University, Pearl River Community College

M.C. Gainey 1948–

Character actor, played Tom Friendly in Lost

Also attended: American Conservatory Theater

Tom Lester 1938–2020

Actor, played Eb Dawson on Green Acres

Also attended: University of Mississippi

Cooper Huckabee 1951–

Film and television actor

J. D. Evermore 1968–

Actor in The Walking Dead and True Detective

Tom Malone 1947–

Jazz trombonist, arranger and producer

Also attended: University of North Texas

Eddie Hodges 1947–

Former child actor and recording artist

Lanny Flaherty 1942–2024

American actor

Carolyn Haines 1953–

Mystery author and former journalist

Also attended: University of South Alabama

Greg "Fingers" Taylor 1951–2023

Harmonica player with Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band

Nanette Workman 1945–

American-Canadian singer-songwriter and actress

Lloyd Green 1937–

Pedal steel guitarist and session musician

Jarekus Singleton 1984–

Blues guitarist, singer and songwriter

Cat Cora 1967–

Chef, Iron Chef on Iron Chef America

Also attended: Culinary Institute of America

Richard Waters 1935–2013

Painter, sculptor and musical instrument inventor

Also attended: California College of the Arts

Ben Peters 1933–2005

Country music songwriter

Woody Evans 1971–

Librarian and author of short stories and nonfiction

Ed Hinton 1948–2025

Motorsports columnist for ESPN.com

Also attended: University of Mississippi

Natalie Allen 1961–

Broadcast journalist and former CNN International anchor

Bachelor of Arts

Chuck Scarborough 1943–

Longtime New York television news anchor

Tori Bowie 1990–2023

Sprinter, 2016 Olympic 100m silver medalist

Kelly McCarty 1975–

Former basketball player, Timberwolves coordinator

Brian Dozier 1987–

Former MLB second baseman

Ray Guy 1949–2022

NFL punter for the Raiders

Vítor Benite 1990–

Brazilian professional basketball player

Clarence Weatherspoon 1970–

Former NBA basketball player

Jamierra Faulkner 1992–

Retired Chicago Sky basketball player

D.J. Newbill 1992–

Professional basketball player

Tim Floyd 1954–

Basketball coach, former Chicago Bulls head coach

Nicola Slater 1984–

British former tennis player turned pickleball player

Also attended: Florida State University

Sarah Robson 1987–

Northern Irish professional footballer

Mariam Kromah 1994–

Liberian sprinter

Jamie Collins 1989–

Former linebacker, now football coach

Randolph Keys 1966–

Former NBA basketball player

Brandy Reed 1977–

Retired American professional women's basketball player

Hanna Demydova 1987–

Ukrainian triple jumper

Derrick Hamilton 1966–

Former professional basketball player

Child: Kyle Hamilton (University of Notre Dame)

Austin Davis 1989–

Former NFL quarterback

Anthony Alford 1994–

Former MLB outfielder

Also attended: University of Mississippi

Brooke Hendrix 1993–

Soccer defender for Tampa Bay Sun

George Jung 1942–2021

Major US cocaine trafficker in the 1970s

Russell D. Moore 1971–

Theologian, Editor-in-Chief of Christianity Today

Also attended: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary