Notable Alumni of Virginia Commonwealth University

Rob Wittman 1959–

U.S. representative from Virginia

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 2002

Also attended: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Alan Gross 1949–

USAID contractor arrested in Cuba in 2009

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park

Thomas Nyarko Ampem 1978–

Ghanaian member of parliament

Master of Science · Class of 2010

Yasonna Laoly 1953–

Former Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights

Also attended: North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Norman Sisisky 1927–2001

US Representative from Virginia and businessman

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1949

Christopher Poole 1989–

Founder of the imageboard 4chan

Baruj Benacerraf 1920–2011

Immunologist, 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Child: Beryl Benacerraf (Harvard University, Barnard College)

Sibling: Paul Benacerraf (Princeton University)

Patch Adams 1945–

Physician, social activist, clown and author

Marcus Rediker 1951–

Historian and professor

Also attended: University of Pennsylvania

Alice Tangerini 1949–

Botanical illustrator at the National Museum of Natural History

Bachelor of Fine Arts · Class of 1972

Tom Robbins 1932–2025

American novelist

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

David Baldacci 1960–

Novelist of suspense and legal thrillers

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Chad Coleman 1974–

Actor in The Wire and The Walking Dead

Boris Kodjoe 1973–

Actor and model, star of Soul Food

Spouse: Nicole Ari Parker (Circle in the Square Theatre School, New York University)

Stephen Furst 1954–2017

Actor known for National Lampoon's Animal House

Rama Duwaji 1997–

Artist and wife of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Also attended: School of Visual Arts

Spouse: Zohran Mamdani (Bowdoin College, Bank Street College of Education)

Chris Adler 1972–

Drummer and founding member of Lamb of God

César Manrique 1919–1992

Spanish artist, architect and nature activist

Zachary Knighton 1978–

Actor in Happy Endings and Magnum P.I

Jason Butler Harner 1970–

Actor known for Ozark

Also attended: New York University

Jay Pharoah 1987–

Comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member

Also attended: Tidewater Community College

Mark Morton 1972–

Lead guitarist of metal band Lamb of God

John Campbell 1972–

Bassist and founding member of Lamb of God

Unoma Azuah 1969–

Nigerian writer, activist and professor

Also attended: Cleveland State University

Charles Vess 1951–

Fantasy artist and comics artist

Kevin Powers 1980–

Novelist, poet and Iraq War veteran

Nell Blaine 1922–1996

Landscape painter and watercolorist

Cocoa Brown 1972–

Actress, writer and comedian

Art Porter, Jr. 1961–1996

Jazz saxophonist

Also attended: Northeastern Illinois University, Roosevelt University, Berklee College of Music

Father: Art Porter, Sr. (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Henderson State University)

Mike Wieringo 1963–2007

Comics artist known for The Flash and Spider-Man

Tara Donovan 1969–

Sculptor making large installations from everyday objects

Also attended: George Washington University, School of Visual Arts

Tuck Tucker 1961–2020

Animator who worked on Hey Arnold! and SpongeBob

Matthew E. White 1982–

American singer-songwriter and music producer

Caressa Cameron 1987–

Miss America 2010

Diana al-Hadid 1981–

Syrian-born contemporary artist and sculptor

Sam Bass 1961–2019

NASCAR's first officially licensed artist

Michael Kaluta 1947–

Comics artist and writer

McKinley Dixon 1995–

Rapper and singer-songwriter from Richmond, Virginia

Eric Maynor 1987–

Former NBA player and Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach

Larry Sanders 1988–

Former basketball player, 15th pick in 2010 NBA draft

Yann Bonato 1972–

French basketball player, 2000 Olympic silver medalist

Bones Hyland 2000–

Basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves

Siri Mullinix 1978–

Soccer goalkeeper, 2000 Olympic silver medalist

Also attended: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Gerald Henderson 1956–

Former professional basketball player

Child: Gerald Henderson Jr. (Duke University)

Treveon Graham 1993–

Basketball player for Taoyuan Pauian Pilots

Troy Daniels 1991–

Former professional basketball player

Marc Jackson 1975–

Former NBA player and 76ers television analyst

Also attended: Temple University

Briante Weber 1992–

Professional basketball player for Karşıyaka Basket

Jamal Shuler 1986–

Former professional basketball player

Sherman Hamilton 1972–

Canadian basketball player, national team member

Fedor Likholitov 1980–

Former Russian professional basketball player

Hayley Bowden 1984–

New Zealand women's international footballer

Bernard Hopkins 1973–

Retired professional basketball player

Sherron Mills 1971–2016

Basketball player

Martina Šamadan 1993–

Croatian volleyball player

Also attended: Seattle University

Evgeni Kisurin 1969–

Russian former basketball player and coach

Vince Williams Jr. 2000–

Basketball player, last with the Utah Jazz

Svetlana Pankratova 1971–

Russian former basketball player and model

JeQuan Lewis 1994–

Basketball player for Cholet Basket

Simon Diamond 1968–

Professional wrestler