Notable Alumni of Clemson University

Nikki Haley 1972–

Former US ambassador to the UN and South Carolina governor

Bachelor of Science · Accounting and finance · Class of 1994

Spouse: Michael Haley (University of North Carolina at Charlotte)

John Edwards 1953–

Former senator, 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee

Also attended: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Spouse: Elizabeth Edwards (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Mary Washington)

Child: Cate Edwards (Harvard University, Princeton University)

James F. Byrnes 1882–1972

49th US Secretary of State and Supreme Court justice

Strom Thurmond 1902–2003

U.S. Senator from South Carolina, 1954 to 2003

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1923

Child: Essie Mae Washington-Williams (University of Southern California, New York University)

Child: James Strom Thurmond Jr. (University of South Carolina-Columbia)

Jo Jorgensen 1957–

2020 Libertarian Party presidential nominee

Doctor of Philosophy · Industrial and organizational psychology · Class of 2002

Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia, Baylor University, Southern Methodist University

Jim DeMint 1951–

Former US Senator and Heritage Foundation president

Master of Business Administration · Class of 1981

Also attended: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

David Beasley 1957–

Former South Carolina governor and head of UN World Food Programme

Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia

John W. Raymond 1962–

First chief of space operations of the Space Force

Bachelor of Science · Management

Also attended: Central Michigan University

Jeff Duncan 1966–

Former U.S. Representative from South Carolina

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1988

Rudolf Anderson 1927–1962

Air Force pilot killed in Cuban Missile Crisis

Jaw Shaw-kong 1950–

Taiwanese politician and media personality

Master's degree

Kristie Kenney 1955–

Former diplomat and State Department Counselor

Spouse: William Brownfield (Cornell University, The University of Texas at Austin)

James Prioleau Richards 1894–1979

U.S. representative from South Carolina

Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia

Edward Lunn Young 1920–2017

Former South Carolina state representative

Mawine G. Diggs 1982–

Liberia's Minister of Commerce and Industry

Also attended: Roanoke College

David Wilkins 1946–

Former US Ambassador to Canada and lawyer

Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia

Harvey Gantt 1943–

Architect and politician; first Black student at Clemson

Bachelor of Architecture · Class of 1965

Also attended: Iowa State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Vincent Sheheen 1971–

Attorney and South Carolina state senator

Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia

Mohnish Pabrai 1964–

Indian-American investor and philanthropist

Vanessa E. Wyche 1964–

Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center

Bachelor's degree, Master's degree

Dolph Lundgren 1957–

Actor who played Ivan Drago in Rocky IV

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Washington State University

James Michael Tyler 1962–2021

Actor best known as Gunther on Friends

Also attended: University of Georgia, Anderson University

Shawn Weatherly 1959–

Miss Universe 1980 and actress

James Dickey 1923–1997

Poet and novelist, 18th US Poet Laureate

Also attended: Vanderbilt University

Rob Huebel 1969–

Comedian and actor in Human Giant

Krystal Ball 1981–

Political commentator and Breaking Points co-host

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Spouse: Kyle Kulinski (Iona University)

Nancy O'Dell 1966–

Television host and entertainment journalist

O'Neal Compton 1951–2019

Character actor and director

Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia

Lee Brice 1980–

Country singer and songwriter

Ron Rash 1953–

Poet, short story writer and novelist

Maggie Rose 1988–

Soul and country music singer

Matt William Knowles 1985–

Actor known for Chinese-language film and television

Octavus Roy Cohen 1891–1959

Writer known for ethnic dialect comedy stories

Harry Ashmore 1916–1998

Journalist and editor, 1957 Pulitzer Prize winner

Also attended: Harvard University

Alex Reid 1965–

Television screenwriter and producer

Oguchi Onyewu 1982–

Former soccer player, US Soccer vice president of sporting

Kendra Harrison 1992–

Hurdler and former 100m hurdles world record holder

Also attended: University of Kentucky

Gigi Fernández 1964–

Tennis player, two-time Olympic gold medalist

Also attended: Rollins College

Stuart Holden 1985–

Former soccer player and Fox Sports analyst

Sibling: Euan Holden (University of Connecticut, University of New Mexico-Main Campus)

Shawn Crawford 1978–

Retired sprinter in 100m and 200m events

Patrícia Mamona 1988–

Portuguese triple jumper, European champion

Horace Grant 1965–

Former professional basketball player

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

Brianna Rollins-McNeal 1991–

2016 Olympic 100m hurdles champion

Julie Coin 1982–

Retired French tennis player

Mark McKoy 1961–

1992 Olympic 110m hurdles gold medalist

Trevor Booker 1987–

Former NBA player over eight seasons

Sibling: Devin Booker (Clemson University)

Kailen Sheridan 1995–

Canadian national team goalkeeper

Rojé Stona 1999–

Jamaican discus thrower, 2024 Olympic champion

Also attended: University of Arkansas

Cydonie Mothersille 1978–

Cayman Islands sprinter

Also attended: George Mason University

Dale Davis 1969–

Former professional basketball center

Child: Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana University-Bloomington)

Elden Campbell 1968–2025

NBA player, mainly with the Los Angeles Lakers

Dwight Thomas 1980–

Jamaican sprinter and hurdler

Kim Graham 1971–

Sprinter, 1996 Olympic 4×400m relay gold medalist

Dutch Mantel 1949–

Professional wrestler and manager

Lucas Glover 1979–

Professional golfer, 2009 U.S. Open winner

Michelle Burgher 1977–

Jamaican sprinter

Also attended: George Mason University

K. C. Rivers 1987–

Former American professional basketball player

Sandy MacIver 1998–

Goalkeeper for Scotland women's national team

Attended until 2019

William Perry 1962–

Former NFL defensive tackle nicknamed "the Refrigerator"

Also attended: Syracuse University

Hans Koeleman 1957–

Dutch steeplechase runner and Olympian

Jonquel Jones 1994–

WNBA player for the New York Liberty

Also attended: George Washington University