Notable Alumni of Missouri State University-Springfield

Roy Blunt 1950–

Former U.S. senator from Missouri

Master of Arts · Class of 1972

Also attended: Southwest Baptist University

Father: Leroy Blunt (University of Missouri-Columbia)

Child: Matt Blunt (United States Naval Academy)

Todd Tiahrt 1951–

Republican U.S. representative from Kansas

Master of Business Administration · Class of 1989

Also attended: Evangel University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Eric Burlison 1976–

US Representative from Missouri

Bob Holden 1949–

53rd Governor of Missouri

Also attended: Harvard University

Melton D. Hancock 1929–2011

US Representative from Missouri and businessman

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1951

Wendell Bailey 1940–

Politician from Missouri

Austin Petersen 1981–

Political commentator, activist and broadcaster

Jolie Justus 1971–

Lawyer and former Missouri Senate Minority Leader

Also attended: University of Missouri--Kansas City

Frank J. Grass 1951–

Retired US Army general, 27th National Guard Bureau chief

Also attended: Metropolitan State University

Marion T. Bennett 1914–2000

Federal circuit judge and former congressman

Also attended: Washington University in St Louis

Sara Lampe 1949–

Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives

Crystal Quade 1985–

Missouri House Minority Leader

Bachelor of Social Work · Social work

Kevin P. Engler 1959–

Republican politician

Spouse: Chris Engler (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities)

Durward Gorham Hall 1910–2001

Former U.S. Representative from Missouri

Also attended: Drury University

Ryan McKenna 1973–

Former Missouri state senator

Farid Elias Khazen 1953–

Lebanese politician and political science professor

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University

David Glass 1935–2020

Former president and CEO of Walmart

Bachelor of Science

Mariam Fardous 1984–

Saudi astronaut and physician

Mini-MBA · Business administration and personnel management · Class of 2010

Lester R. Ford 1886–1967

Mathematician

Attended until 1912

Also attended: Harvard University

Child: L. R. Ford, Jr. (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Pauline Gracia Beery Mack 1891–1974

Chemist, home economist and college administrator

Bachelor's degree · Chemistry · Class of 1913

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

Angelo Segrillo 1958–

Brazilian historian specializing in Russia

Henry C. Boren 1921–2013

Historian and professor emeritus at UNC

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1949

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Stephen K. Sanderson 1945–

Sociologist

Also attended: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

John Goodman 1952–

Film and television actor

Kathleen Turner 1954–

Actress and Golden Globe winner

Also attended: University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Don S. Davis 1942–2008

Actor, General Hammond in Stargate SG-1

Also attended: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Tess Harper 1950–

Actress, Golden Globe and Oscar nominee

Also attended: Arkansas State University

Brent Sexton 1967–

Actor in Bosch, The Killing and Deadwood

Cullen Bunn 1971–

Comics writer and novelist

Kyle Dean Massey 1981–

Broadway actor in Wicked, Next to Normal and Pippin

Bachelor of Fine Arts · Musical theater · Class of 2004

Andrea Bogart 1977–

Actress

Deidre Goodwin 1969–

Actress in Chicago and The Bourne Legacy

Jay Kenneth Johnson 1977–

Actor known for Days of Our Lives

Kendra Kassebaum 1973–

Stage actress known for Wicked

Jim Bohannon 1944–2022

Nationally syndicated talk radio host

Stephen Martines 1975–

Actor and recording artist

Bessie Breuer 1893–1975

Journalist, novelist and playwright

Daya Betty 1996–

Drag performer on RuPaul's Drag Race

Kevin Brockmeier 1972–

Writer, author of The Brief History of the Dead

Ryan Howard 1979–

MLB first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies

Attended until 2001

Blake Ahearn 1984–

Basketball coach, Chicago Bulls assistant

Alize Johnson 1996–

Professional basketball player

Also attended: Frank Phillips College

Kyle Weems 1989–

Basketball player, 2011 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year

Winston Garland 1964–

Former professional point guard

Child: Darius Garland (Vanderbilt University)

Shaun Marcum 1981–

Former MLB pitcher

Also attended: University of Missouri-Columbia

Jackie Stiles 1978–

Basketball player and college coach

Attended until 2001

Lei'D Tapa 1982–

Professional wrestler and mixed martial artist

Jamial Rolle 1980–

Bahamian sprinter specializing in the 200 metres

Bill Mueller 1971–

Former MLB third baseman, played for Red Sox

Michelle Baptiste 1977–

Saint Lucian long jumper, first woman Olympian

Don Anielak 1930–1995

Former New York Knicks player and coach

Pierce Johnson 1991–

Major League Baseball pitcher

Uvis Kalniņš 1993–

Latvian sprint freestyle swimmer

Jonathan Mogbo 2001–

Sacramento Kings NBA basketball player

Administrative management

Also attended: University of San Francisco, Independence Community College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

Fabian Florant 1983–

Dutch triple jumper

Also attended: Lindenwood University

Charles Gaines 1980–

Former professional basketball player

Brad Ziegler 1979–

Former Major League Baseball pitcher

Nia Williams 1990–

Women's soccer defender

Norm Siebern 1933–2015

Former MLB first baseman and left fielder

Zak Cummings 1984–

Former UFC middleweight mixed martial artist