Notable Alumni of Syracuse University

Joe Biden 1942–

46th President of the United States

Juris Doctor · Law · Class of 1968

Also attended: University of Delaware

Spouse: Neilia Hunter (Syracuse University)

Spouse: Jill Biden (University of Delaware, Villanova University)

Beau Biden 1969–2015

Former Delaware attorney general, eldest son of Joe Biden

Juris Doctor

Also attended: University of Pennsylvania

Father: Joe Biden (University of Delaware, Syracuse University)

Mother: Neilia Hunter (Syracuse University)

Kathy Hochul 1958–

Governor of New York

Bachelor of Arts · Political science · Class of 1980

Also attended: Catholic University of America

Spouse: William J. Hochul, Jr. (University of Notre Dame)

Sultan bin Salman Al Saud 1956–

Saudi prince, first Arab to fly in space

Also attended: University of Denver

Sibling: Ahmed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (University of California-Irvine)

Sibling: Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (University of California-Berkeley)

Arun Shourie 1941–

Indian journalist and former communications minister

Frederick Ballantyne 1936–2020

Former Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Also attended: Howard University, Upstate Medical University

Donna Shalala 1941–

Former US Secretary of Health and Human Services

Also attended: American University, Miami University-Oxford

Steve Israel 1958–

Former U.S. Representative from New York

Attended until 1979

Also attended: George Washington University, Nassau Community College

Al D'Amato 1937–

Former US Senator from New York

Attended until 1961

Salvador del Solar 1970–

Peruvian actor, director and former prime minister

International relations

Asma Mohamed Abdalla 1946–

Sudan's first female Minister of Foreign Affairs

Willy De Clercq 1927–2011

Belgian liberal politician

Ali Khalif Galaydh 1941–2020

First Prime Minister of Somalia's transitional administration

Master in Public Administration · Class of 1969

Also attended: Boston University, Harvard University

John Katko 1962–

Former U.S. Representative from New York

Juris Doctor · Class of 1988

Also attended: Niagara University

Sean O'Keefe 1956–

Former Secretary of the Navy and NASA administrator

Master in Public Administration · Class of 1978

Also attended: Loyola University New Orleans

Gary Chan 1976–

Hong Kong legislator and chairperson of the DAB

Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 1955–

Saudi billionaire investor and royal

Master of Science · Social science · Class of 1985

Also attended: Menlo College

Spouse: Ameera al-Taweel (University of New Haven)

Child: Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud (University of New Haven)

Franz von Holzhausen 1968–

Chief designer at Tesla

Attended until 1988

Also attended: Art Center College of Design

Eileen Collins 1956–

First woman to pilot and command a Space Shuttle

Also attended: Webster University, SUNY Corning Community College, Stanford University

Story Musgrave 1935–

Physician and NASA astronaut

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, University of Kentucky, Columbia University in the City of New York

Robert Jarvik 1946–2025

Developer of the Jarvik-7 artificial heart

Also attended: New York University

Spouse: Marilyn vos Savant (Washington University in St Louis)

Joan Feynman 1927–2020

Astrophysicist and space physicist

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, Oberlin College

Sibling: Richard Feynman (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University)

Moses I. Finley 1912–1986

Classical scholar, master of Darwin College, Cambridge

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Edith M. Flanigen 1929–2026

Chemist known for zeolites and molecular sieves work

Master of Science · Chemistry · Class of 1952

Also attended: D'Youville University

Gabriela González 1965–

Argentine physicist, former LIGO spokesperson

Attended until 1995

Ernest Becker 1924–1974

Cultural anthropologist, author of The Denial of Death

Edward Soja 1940–2015

Urban theorist and political geographer

Ezra T. Newman 1929–2021

Theoretical physicist known for general relativity work

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1956

Also attended: New York University

Andreas Acrivos 1928–2025

Physicist and fluid dynamicist at City College of New York

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1950

Also attended: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Michael J. Flynn 1934–2025

Stanford professor emeritus and computer scientist

Also attended: Manhattan University, Purdue University-Main Campus

Pao Ming Pu 1910–1988

Chinese-born mathematician, pioneer of systolic geometry

Lou Reed 1942–2013

Velvet Underground frontman and songwriter

Attended until 2013

Spouse: Laurie Anderson (Northeastern University Oakland, Barnard College)

Vera Farmiga 1973–

American actress and singer

Spouse: Renn Hawkey (Sarah Lawrence College)

Sibling: Molly Hawkey (Cornell University)

Billy Joel 1949–

Singer, songwriter and pianist

Child: Alexa Ray Joel (New York University)

Peter Falk 1927–2011

Actor best known as Lieutenant Columbo

Also attended: Hamilton College, The New School

Stephen Crane 1871–1900

Novelist, poet and short story writer

Joyce Carol Oates 1938–

Writer

English studies · Attended until 1960

Also attended: University of Detroit Mercy, Rice University, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Spouse: Raymond J. Smith (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Vanessa Williams 1963–

Singer and actress, first Black Miss America

Child: Jillian Hervey (The New School)

Sibling: Chris Williams (Georgetown University)

Suzanne Pleshette 1937–2008

Actress with three Emmy nominations

Also attended: Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater

Spouse: Troy Donahue (Columbia University in the City of New York)

Spouse: Tom Poston (American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater)

Aaron Sorkin 1961–

Screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker

Bachelor of Fine Arts · Music theatre · Class of 1983

Kevin Michael Richardson 1964–

Actor known for voicing villains in animation and games

Edie McClurg 1945–

Actress and comedian in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Also attended: University of Missouri--Kansas City

Grace Jones 1948–

Jamaican singer, model and actress

Also attended: Onondaga Community College

Frank Langella 1938–

Actor

Shirley Jackson 1916–1965

Writer of horror and mystery fiction

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1940

Also attended: University of Rochester

Spouse: Stanley Edgar Hyman (Syracuse University)

Jerry Stiller 1927–2020

Comedian and actor, one half of Stiller and Meara

Bachelor's degree · Language, Dramatic theatre · Class of 1950

Spouse: Anne Meara (The New School)

Child: Ben Stiller (University of California-Los Angeles)

Peter Weller 1947–

Actor who starred in RoboCop

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York, University of North Texas

John C. McGinley 1959–

Actor who played Perry Cox in Scrubs

Also attended: Circle in the Square Theatre School, New York University

George Saunders 1958–

Writer, author of Lincoln in the Bardo

Also attended: Colorado School of Mines

Neal McDonough 1966–

Actor known for Band of Brothers

Elizabeth Strout 1956–

Novelist

Also attended: Bates College

Spouse: James Tierney (University of Maine)

Joanna Cassidy 1944–

Actress and former model

Nick Cassavetes 1959–

Director and actor of The Notebook

Also attended: American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York

Spouse: Heather Wahlquist (University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus)

Father: John Cassavetes (American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York, Colgate University)

Megyn Kelly 1970–

Journalist and talk show host

Undergraduate degree · Political science

Also attended: Albany Law School

Spouse: Douglas Brunt (Duke University)

Maya Deren 1917–1961

Avant-garde experimental filmmaker

Also attended: Smith College, New York University

Clement Greenberg 1909–1994

Art critic associated with abstract expressionism

Dick Clark 1929–2012

Host of American Bandstand and TV producer

Child: Duane Clark (University of California-Los Angeles)

Sol LeWitt 1928–2007

Artist linked to conceptual art and minimalism

John D. MacDonald 1916–1986

Crime and suspense novelist

Also attended: Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania

Brian Stepanek 1971–

Actor and comedian, known for The Suite Life of Zack & Cody

Clairo 1998–

Singer-songwriter known for "Pretty Girl"

Henry Selick 1952–

Filmmaker and animator

Also attended: California Institute of the Arts, Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Riki Lindhome 1979–

Actress, comedian and Garfunkel and Oates member

Tom Everett Scott 1970–

Actor, appeared in La La Land

Bill Viola 1951–2024

Video and installation artist

Attended until 1973

Barbara Kruger 1945–

Conceptual artist and collagist

Also attended: The New School

Dorothy Thompson 1893–1961

Journalist and radio broadcaster

Also attended: Illinois Institute of Technology

Spouse: Sinclair Lewis (Yale University, Oberlin College)

Taye Diggs 1971–

Actor and singer known for Broadway's Rent

Spouse: Idina Menzel (Circle in the Square Theatre School, New York University)

Cheryl Strayed 1968–

Writer, author of Wild

Also attended: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Alice Sebold 1963–

Author of The Lovely Bones

Bachelor's degree

Also attended: University of California-Irvine, University of Houston

Spouse: Glen David Gold (University of California-Irvine, Wesleyan University)

Reid Scott 1977–

Actor known for Veep

Julia Alvarez 1950–

Poet, novelist and essayist

Also attended: Connecticut College, Middlebury College

Peter Hyams 1943–

Film director and screenwriter, directed Timecop

Also attended: CUNY Hunter College

Child: John Hyams (Syracuse University)

Kate Siegel 1982–

Actress and writer known for horror films

Spouse: Mike Flanagan (Towson University)

Debra Wilson 1962–

Actress and comedian, longtime Mad TV cast member

Scott McCloud 1960–

Cartoonist and author of Understanding Comics

Betsey Johnson 1942–

Fashion designer

Also attended: Pratt Institute-Main

William Safire 1929–2009

New York Times columnist and presidential speechwriter

Michael Cole 1966–

WWE commentator and journalist

Bachelor of Arts · Broadcast journalism · Class of 1988

Sam Lloyd 1963–2020

Actor and singer who played Ted Buckland in Scrubs

William Smith 1933–2021

Actor and stunt performer

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Larry Hankin 1937–

Character actor in Escape from Alcatraz and Billy Madison

Zach Tyler Eisen 1993–

Actor who voiced Aang in Avatar: The Last Airbender

Mark Murphy 1932–2015

Jazz singer known for vocal improvisation

Jimmy Van Heusen 1913–1990

Composer; four-time Oscar winner for Best Original Song

Also attended: Cazenovia College

Jay Harrington 1971–

Actor, star of Better Off Ted

Sheldon Leonard 1907–1997

Actor, producer, director and writer

Aleš Debeljak 1961–2016

Slovenian poet and cultural critic

Chris Renaud 1966–

Animation director of Despicable Me and The Secret Life of Pets

Jim Hutton 1934–1979

Actor best known as Ellery Queen

Also attended: Niagara University

Pete Yorn 1974–

Singer-songwriter and musician

Lisa Lampanelli 1961–

Stand-up comedian and actress

Also attended: Boston College, Harvard University

Jessica DiCicco 1980–

Voice actress known for animation and video games

Reiner Knizia 1957–

German board game designer

Master of Science

Ted Koppel 1940–

Broadcast journalist and longtime Nightline anchor

Bachelor's degree, Bachelor of Science · Class of 1958

Also attended: Stanford University

Child: Andrea Koppel (Middlebury College)

Kurt Busiek 1960–

Comic book writer of Astro City and Avengers

Bob Costas 1952–

Sportscaster for NBC Sports and MLB Network

Lisa Tuttle 1952–

Science fiction, fantasy and horror author

Rajiv Malhotra 1950–

Indian-American author, founder of Infinity Foundation

George Wyner 1945–

Actor known for Spaceballs

Gilbert Cates 1934–2011

Director who produced the Academy Awards telecast 14 times

Carl Gottlieb 1938–

Screenwriter and actor, co-writer of Jaws

Carlisle Floyd 1926–2021

Composer known primarily for his operas

Also attended: Converse University

Paul Taylor 1930–2018

Choreographer and dancer

Also attended: University of Nevada--Las Vegas, The Juilliard School

Meg LeFauve 1969–

Screenwriter of Pixar's Inside Out films

Tom Perrotta 1961–

Novelist and screenwriter, author of Election

Also attended: Yale University

Dan Curtis 1927–2006

Creator of Dark Shadows and film director

Ina Garten 1948–

Host of Food Network's Barefoot Contessa, and author

Also attended: George Washington University

Spouse: Jeffrey Garten (Johns Hopkins University, Dartmouth College)

Priscilla Chan 1965–

Hong Kong pop singer

Weijia Jiang 1983–

Senior White House Correspondent for CBS News

Master's degree · Broadcast journalism · Class of 2006

Also attended: College of William and Mary

Ho Ping 1957–

Taiwanese film director

Edgar Stanton Maclay 1863–1919

Journalist and historian

Father: Robert Samuel Maclay (Dickinson College)

Marv Albert 1941–

Sportscaster known as the voice of basketball

Also attended: New York University

Child: Kenny Albert (New York University)

Jennifer Meyer 1977–

Jewelry designer

Mike Tirico 1966–

NBC sportscaster

Nick Wright 1984–

Sports television personality and podcaster

Shaquille O'Neal 1972–

Former NBA center and sports analyst

Also attended: Barry University, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, New York Film Academy

Child: Shareef O'Neal (University of California-Los Angeles, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College)

Carmelo Anthony 1984–

NBA player, ten-time All-Star

Bachelor's degree

Spouse: La La Anthony (Howard University)

Jim Brown 1936–2023

Cleveland Browns fullback, civil rights activist and actor

Bachelor's degree

Kathrine Switzer 1947–

First woman to officially run the Boston Marathon

Tajon Buchanan 1999–

Canada national team soccer player

Bachelor's degree · Class of 2018

Dave Bing 1943–

Former NBA player and mayor of Detroit

Myer Prinstein 1878–1925

Track athlete and Olympic jump champion

Miles Robinson 1997–

US national team soccer center-back

Bachelor's degree · Class of 2016

Jerami Grant 1994–

NBA basketball player

Bachelor's degree

Father: Harvey Grant (Independence Community College, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus)

Sibling: Jerian Grant (University of Notre Dame)

Dion Waiters 1991–

Former NBA basketball player

Bachelor's degree

Michael Carter Williams 1991–

Former NBA player, 11th pick in 2013 draft

Bachelor's degree

Kamal Miller 1997–

Canadian soccer centre-back

Bachelor's degree · Class of 2018

Charles Reidpath 1889–1975

Sprinter, two-time 1912 Olympic gold medalist

Ray Barbuti 1905–1988

Sprinter and two-time 1928 Olympic gold medalist

Wesley Johnson 1987–

Basketball coach and former professional player

Bachelor's degree

Also attended: Iowa State University

Derrick Coleman 1967–

Former NBA player, first overall pick in 1990

Patrice Bernier 1979–

Canadian retired professional soccer player

Bachelor's degree · Class of 1999

Tyler Ennis 1994–

Canadian basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv

Bachelor's degree · Class of 2014

Sibling: Dylan Ennis (Rice University)

Mike Rotunda 1958–

Retired professional wrestler

Child: Bray Wyatt (College of the Sequoias)

Child: Bo Dallas (Webber International University)

Fab Melo 1990–2017

Brazilian basketball player, formerly Boston Celtics

Bachelor's degree

Jonny Flynn 1989–

Former NBA player, played for Syracuse

Bachelor's degree

Ernie Davis 1939–1963

1961 Heisman Trophy winner, its first black recipient

Rony Seikaly 1965–

Former NBA center, first draft pick in Miami Heat history

Hakim Warrick 1982–

Former professional basketball power forward

Bachelor's degree

Wendell Alexis 1964–

Basketball player, four-time German league MVP

Mark Kerr 1968–

Former wrestler and two-time UFC heavyweight tournament champion

Bachelor's degree · Class of 1992

Katie Zaferes 1989–

Triathlete, Tokyo Olympics silver and bronze medalist

Bachelor's degree

Anthony Washington 1966–

Discus thrower, 1999 World Champion

Child: Turner Washington (Arizona State University-Tempe)

Anna Goodale 1983–

Rower, 2008 Olympic women's eight gold medallist

Bachelor's degree · Class of 2005

Andy Rautins 1986–

Former basketball player drafted by the Knicks

Bachelor's degree

Father: Leo Rautins (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Syracuse University)

Moose 1984–

Professional wrestler and former football player

Bachelor's degree · Class of 2005

Helen Tanger 1978–

Dutch rower

Bachelor's degree · Class of 2001

Chris McCullough 1995–

Basketball player, played at Syracuse

Bachelor's degree

Bill Horr 1880–1955

Discus thrower and college football coach

Donte' Greene 1988–

Basketball player, 28th pick in the 2008 NBA draft

Bachelor's degree

Billy Owens 1969–

Former NBA player and Syracuse All-American

Donovan McNabb 1976–

Former NFL quarterback, mainly with the Eagles

Matt Orr 1997–

Hong Kong footballer playing for Shanghai Port

Bachelor's degree · Class of 2019

Al Davis 1929–2011

Longtime owner of the Oakland Raiders

Also attended: Wittenberg University

Child: Mark Davis (California State University-Chico, University of California-Davis)

Marvin Harrison 1972–

NFL wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts

Child: Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State University-Main Campus)

Tom Coughlin 1946–

Former New York Giants head coach

Gary Anderson 1959–

NFL placekicker for 23 seasons

Bachelor's degree · Class of 1981

Jim Boeheim 1944–

Former college basketball coach at Syracuse University

Child: Buddy Boeheim (Syracuse University)

Child: Jimmy Boeheim (Cornell University, Syracuse University)

Neilia Hunter 1942–1972

Teacher and first wife of Joe Biden

Spouse: Joe Biden (University of Delaware, Syracuse University)

Child: Hunter Biden (Yale University, Georgetown University)

Lexington Steele 1969–

Adult film actor, director and producer

Also attended: Morehouse College

Princess Rajwa Al Hussein 1994–

Wife of Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan

Spouse: Hussein bin Abdullah, Crown Prince of Jordan (Georgetown University)

Joanna Macy 1929–2025

Environmental activist, author and deep ecology scholar

Doctor of Philosophy · Religious studies · Class of 1978

Also attended: Wellesley College

Michael Yeung Ming-cheung 1946–2019

Eighth Roman Catholic bishop of Hong Kong

Also attended: Harvard University

Borys Gudziak 1960–

Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan-Archbishop of Philadelphia

Also attended: Harvard University

Hilarion Kapral 1948–2022

First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia