Notable Alumni of East Tennessee State University

Darrell Castle 1948–

Lawyer and 2016 Constitution Party presidential nominee

Also attended: University of Memphis

Diana Harshbarger 1960–

U.S. Representative from Tennessee and pharmacist

Bachelor of Science

Also attended: Mercer University

Ben Chafin 1960–2021

Republican member of the Senate of Virginia

Also attended: University of Richmond

Ric Keller 1964–

Former US representative from Florida

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1986

Also attended: Vanderbilt University

David Davis 1959–

Former U.S. Representative from Tennessee

Also attended: California College San Diego, Milligan University

Ron Ramsey 1955–

49th lieutenant governor of Tennessee

Bill Bain 1937–2018

Co-founder of Bain & Company

Also attended: Vanderbilt University

Nwamaka Nwobi Okoye

Nigerian interior architect and social entrepreneur

Abraham Verghese 1955–

Physician and author, Stanford Medical School professor

Kenny Chesney 1968–

Country singer

Spouse: Renée Zellweger (The University of Texas at Austin)

Timothy Busfield 1957–

Actor and director, known for The West Wing

Eureka O'Hara 1990–

Drag queen from RuPaul's Drag Race

Carmen María Montiel 1964–

Miss Venezuela 1984 and writer

Amythyst Kiah 1986–

Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Sarah Zadrazil 1993–

Austrian women's national team footballer

Physical education

Eleonora Goldoni 1996–

Italian women's footballer and forward

Aaron Schoenfeld 1990–

Former professional soccer forward

Keith Jennings 1968–

Former NBA player and basketball coach

Katrina Seymour 1993–

Bahamian 400m and 400m hurdles athlete

Ray Flynn 1957–

Irish middle-distance runner

Desonta Bradford 1996–

Professional basketball player

Mike Smith 1987–

Former professional basketball player

Besse Cooper 1896–2012

Supercentenarian, world's oldest living person 2011–2012

Steven M. Greer 1955–

Ufologist and retired physician, founded CSETI

Also attended: Appalachian State University