Notable Alumni of University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Jeannette Rankin 1880–1973

First woman to hold US federal office

Also attended: The University of Montana

Sibling: Wellington D. Rankin (Harvard University)

Leslie Groves 1896–1970

US Army Corps of Engineers officer

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The United States Military Academy at West Point

Tom Lantos 1928–2008

Hungarian-born U.S. Representative from California

Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1950

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Child: Katrina Swett (University of California College of the Law-San Francisco, Yale University)

Johnson Toribiong 1946–

Former President of Palau, 2009–2013

Jay Inslee 1951–

Governor of Washington from 2013 to 2025

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1972

Also attended: Willamette University, Stanford University

Christine Gregoire 1947–

22nd Governor of Washington

Henry M. Jackson 1912–1983

U.S. senator from Washington state

Juris Doctor · Class of 1935

Also attended: Stanford University

Tom Foley 1929–2013

49th Speaker of the US House of Representatives

Also attended: Gonzaga University

Sally Jewell 1956–

51st US Secretary of the Interior and former REI CEO

Patrick M. Shanahan 1962–

Former acting US Secretary of Defense

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Lou Leon Guerrero 1950–

Ninth governor of Guam, first woman in the role

Also attended: California State University-Los Angeles, University of California-Los Angeles

Cathy McMorris Rodgers 1969–

Former US representative for Washington's 5th district

Master of Business Administration · Class of 2002

Bob Ferguson 1965–

Governor of Washington

Bachelor of Arts · Political science · Class of 1989

Also attended: New York University

Tina Kotek 1966–

39th Governor of Oregon

Master of Arts · Comparative religion, International relations · Class of 1998

Also attended: Georgetown University, University of Oregon

Daniel J. Evans 1925–2024

16th Governor of Washington and US senator

Civil engineering, Master of Science · Class of 1949

Raúl Labrador 1967–

Idaho attorney general and former US representative

Juris Doctor · Class of 1995

Also attended: Brigham Young University-Provo

Shen Fu-hsiung 1939–

Taiwanese physician, politician and commentator

Also attended: University of California-San Francisco

Wang Tso-jung 1919–2013

Taiwanese economist and former Control Yuan president

Arthur D. Levinson 1950–

Calico CEO and Apple director

Also attended: University of California-San Francisco, Princeton University

Bill Gates Sr. 1925–2020

Attorney, philanthropist and law firm founder

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Spouse: Mary Maxwell Gates (University of Washington-Seattle Campus)

Spouse: Mimi Gardner Gates (Yale University, University of Iowa)

Linda B. Buck 1947–

Biologist; 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Bachelor of Science

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

George Stigler 1911–1991

Economist, 1982 Nobel laureate, Chicago school

Also attended: University of Chicago, Northwestern University

Child: Stephen Stigler (University of California-Berkeley)

Robert Mundell 1932–2021

Economist, 1999 Nobel Memorial Prize winner

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mary E. Brunkow 1961–

Molecular biologist and Nobel Prize laureate

Bachelor of Science · Molecular biology · Class of 1983

Also attended: Princeton University

Jeffrey C. Hall 1945–

Geneticist, Professor Emeritus at Brandeis University

Also attended: Amherst College

George H. Hitchings 1905–1998

Biochemist, 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Also attended: Harvard University

Earl Wilbur Sutherland, Jr. 1915–1974

Pharmacologist and biochemist

Also attended: Washburn University, Washington University in St Louis

Martin Rodbell 1925–1998

Biochemist known for discovering G-proteins

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University

Robert A. Dahl 1915–2014

Yale political scientist, pluralist democracy theorist

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1936

Also attended: Yale University

Alice Augusta Ball 1892–1916

Chemist who developed first effective leprosy treatment

Anita Borg 2000–2003

Computer scientist, founded Institute for Women and Technology

Attended until 1969

Also attended: New York University

Richard F. Gordon 1929–2017

NASA astronaut and naval aviator

Also attended: Naval Postgraduate School

Michael P. Anderson 1959–2003

Astronaut killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

Also attended: Creighton University

Gary Kildall 1942–1994

Creator of the CP/M operating system

Child: Scott Kildall (Brown University)

Gita Gopinath 1971–

Economist and Harvard professor

Attended until 1996

Also attended: Princeton University

Bonnie J. Dunbar 1949–

Engineer and retired NASA astronaut

Also attended: University of Houston

Spouse: Ronald M. Sega (University of Colorado Boulder, United States Air Force Academy)

Janet L. Kavandi 1959–

NASA astronaut, former Glenn Research Center director

Also attended: Missouri Southern State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Michael Barratt 1959–

NASA astronaut and physician

Also attended: Northwestern University, Wright State University-Main Campus

Eric Temple Bell 1883–1960

Mathematician and science fiction writer

Attended until 1908

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

Stanley Ann Dunham 1942–1995

Anthropologist and mother of Barack Obama

Also attended: University of Hawaii at Manoa

Spouse: Lolo Soetoro (University of Hawaii at Manoa)

Spouse: Barack Obama Sr. (Harvard University)

Dominic A. Antonelli 1967–

Retired NASA astronaut

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Robert Zubrin 1952–

Aerospace engineer, Mars Direct proponent

Master of Science in Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: University of Rochester

Stanley G. Love 1965–

NASA astronaut and scientist

Also attended: Harvey Mudd College

Gregory C. Johnson 1954–

Retired naval officer and NASA astronaut

Harold Hotelling 1895–1973

Statistician and economist known for Hotelling's law

Attended until 1921

Also attended: Princeton University

Michael Hardt 1960–

Political philosopher, co-author of Empire

Doctor of Philosophy · Comparative literature

Also attended: Swarthmore College

George Nelson 1950–

Retired NASA astronaut and astronomer

Also attended: Harvey Mudd College

James Dutton 1968–

Former NASA astronaut and Air Force test pilot

Also attended: United States Air Force Academy

John M. Fabian 1939–2026

NASA astronaut and Air Force officer

Doctor of Science · Astronautics, Aeronautics · Class of 1974

Also attended: Washington State University

PZ Myers 1957–

Biologist and science blogger

Also attended: University of Oregon

Neal E. Miller 1909–2002

Experimental psychologist

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1931

Also attended: Yale University, Stanford University

Joe Sutter 1921–2016

Boeing engineer, "father of the 747"

Bengt Danielsson 1921–1997

Swedish anthropologist and Kon-Tiki expedition crew member

Lyle Campbell 1942–

Linguist; professor emeritus at University of Hawaii

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Brigham Young University-Provo

Bennet Omalu 1968–

Pathologist who first reported CTE in football players

Also attended: Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Bill Atkinson 1951–2025

Computer engineer who worked at Apple from 1978 to 1990

Also attended: University of California-San Diego

Rita R. Colwell 1934–

Environmental microbiologist and scientific administrator

Also attended: Purdue University-Main Campus

Howard P. Robertson 1903–1961

Mathematical physicist and Caltech professor

Attended until 1923

Also attended: California Institute of Technology

Nick Szabo 1964–

Computer scientist known for smart contracts research

Also attended: George Washington University

Anne Buttimer 1938–2017

Irish geographer and emeritus professor at UCD

Maria Orosa 1893–1945

Filipina food chemist and war heroine

Jane Lubchenco 1947–

Marine ecologist and former NOAA Administrator

Master of Science · Class of 1971

Also attended: Colorado College, Harvard University

Simon Sze 1936–2023

Electrical engineer, co-inventor of floating-gate MOSFET

Also attended: Stanford University

Wei Dai 1976–

Computer scientist and cryptocurrency pioneer

Paul Thompson 1931–2007

British sinologist, Chinese computing pioneer

Also attended: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Chung-ying Cheng 1935–2024

Taiwanese-American philosopher, University of Hawaii professor

Also attended: Harvard University

Bruce Lee 1940–1973

Martial artist and actor, founder of Jeet Kune Do

Attended until 1964

Also attended: Seattle Central College

Spouse: Linda Lee Cadwell (University of Washington-Seattle Campus)

Child: Brandon Lee (Emerson College)

Frank Herbert 1920–1986

Science fiction author of Dune

Child: Brian Herbert (University of California-Berkeley)

Anna Faris 1976–

Actress and producer known for Scary Movie

Spouse: Michael Barrett (University of California-Los Angeles, Columbia University in the City of New York)

Jim Caviezel 1968–

American actor

Kyle MacLachlan 1959–

Actor, known for Twin Peaks

Joel McHale 1971–

Actor and comedian; starred in Community

Kenny G 1956–

Smooth jazz saxophonist and composer

Marilynne Robinson 1943–

Novelist, 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: University of Iowa, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Brown University

Sibling: David Summers (Yale University, Brown University)

Zakir Hussain 1951–2024

Indian tabla player, composer and music producer

Rainn Wilson 1966–

Actor, played Dwight Schrute in The Office

Also attended: Tufts University, New York University

Dyan Cannon 1937–

Actress with three Academy Award nominations

Child: Jennifer Grant (Stanford University)

Jean Smart 1951–

Actress with eight Emmy Awards

Spouse: Richard Gilliland (DePaul University)

Frances Farmer 1913–1970

Film and Broadway actress

Patrick Duffy 1949–

Actor known as Bobby Ewing in Dallas

Attended until 1971

Robert Culp 1930–2010

Actor known for I Spy

Also attended: University of the Pacific, Washington University in St Louis

Garret Dillahunt 1964–

Actor known for Raising Hope

Also attended: New York University

Spouse: Michelle Hurd (Boston University)

Tom Robbins 1932–2025

American novelist

Also attended: Virginia Commonwealth University

Minoru Yamasaki 1912–1986

Architect who designed the original World Trade Center

Also attended: Bates College, New York University

Chuck Close 1940–2021

Photorealist painter and photographer

Also attended: Yale University, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Everett Community College

Spouse: Sienna Shields (Lewis & Clark College)

Tom McGrath 1964–

Director and voice actor of Madagascar

Also attended: California Institute of the Arts

Ann Sothern 1909–2001

Actress in stage, radio, film and television

Spouse: Robert Sterling (University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus)

Mīkhāʼīl Nuʻaymah 1889–1988

Lebanese poet, novelist and philosopher

Alice Babette Toklas 1877–1967

Writer and life partner of Gertrude Stein

Beverly Cleary 1916–2021

Children's and young adult fiction writer

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Jeffrey Combs 1954–

Actor, star of Re-Animator

Bruce Bennett 1906–2007

Actor and 1928 Olympic shot put silver medalist

Lois Smith 1930–

Actress with a career spanning eight decades

Ryan Lewis 1988–

Record producer of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Richelle Mead 1976–

Fantasy author of Vampire Academy

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Western Michigan University

Kristin Hannah 1960–

Novelist, author of The Nightingale

Also attended: University of Puget Sound, Seattle University

Ella Raines 1920–1988

Film and television actress known for film noir

Spouse: Robin Olds (The United States Military Academy at West Point, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology)

Pamela Reed 1949–

Actress in Kindergarten Cop

Dawn Wells 1938–2020

Actress known for Gilligan's Island

Also attended: Stephens College

David Eddings 1931–2009

Fantasy writer, author of The Belgariad

Also attended: Reed College

Imogen Cunningham 1883–1976

Photographer and member of Group f/64

Julia Sweeney 1959–

Actress and comedian, former Saturday Night Live cast member

Robert Armstrong 1890–1973

Actor, played Carl Denham in King Kong (1933)

Jane Adams 1965–

Actress and screenwriter

Also attended: The Juilliard School, Cornish College of the Arts

Dale Chihuly 1941–

Glass artist known for large-scale blown glass sculpture

Also attended: Rhode Island School of Design, University of Puget Sound, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Spouse: Leslie Jackson Chihuly (University of Washington-Seattle Campus)

Steven Holl 1947–

New York-based architect and watercolorist

Vonda N. McIntyre 1948–2019

Science fiction writer and biologist

Mark Deklin 1967–

Actor in Designated Survivor

Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University, The Pennsylvania State University

Lynn Shelton 1965–2020

Filmmaker known for Humpday and Your Sister's Sister

Also attended: Oberlin College

Janet Waldo 1919–2016

Voice actress who voiced Judy Jetson

Spouse: Robert Edwin Lee (Northwestern University, Ohio Wesleyan University)

Sibling: Elisabeth Waldo (Curtis Institute of Music)

Kim Thayil 1960–

Lead guitarist of Soundgarden

Linda Emond 1959–

Stage, film and television actress

Ann Rule 1931–2015

True crime author of The Stranger Beside Me

Also attended: Highline College

William Bolcom 1938–

Composer and pianist, Pulitzer Prize winner

Also attended: Northeastern University Oakland, Stanford University

John Aylward 1946–2022

Actor known for The West Wing

Harry Groener 1951–

Actor and dancer, Mayor Wilkins in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Jed Allan 1935–2019

Actor known for Santa Barbara

Mariana Klaveno 1979–

Actress known for True Blood

Robert Osborne 1932–2017

Film historian and longtime Turner Classic Movies host

Dorothy Provine 1935–2010

American singer, dancer and actress

Christina Chang 1971–

Taiwanese-American television and film actress

Chet Huntley 1911–1974

Co-anchor of NBC's Huntley–Brinkley Report

Also attended: Montana State University, Cornish College of the Arts

Dylan Bruce 1980–

Canadian actor and model

Mark Arm 1962–

Singer of grunge band Mudhoney

Michael Forest 1929–2026

Actor and voice actor, played Apollo on Star Trek

Also attended: San Jose State University

Lowell Lo 1950–

Hong Kong singer-songwriter and film composer

Also attended: Washington State University

David Wu 1966–

Chinese American actor and former MTV Asia VJ

Queenie Chu 1981–

Hong Kong actress and 2004 Miss Hong Kong first runner-up

Freya Lim 1979–

Malaysian Mandopop singer and radio DJ

Tashi Tsering 1929–2014

Tibetan writer and teacher

Wang Chiu-Hwa 1925–2021

Taiwanese architect known for designing libraries

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Hope Solo 1981–

US women's soccer goalkeeper and World Cup champion

Nate Robinson 1984–

Former NBA player, 21st pick in 2005 draft

Brandon Roy 1984–

Basketball coach and former professional player

Cristian Roldan 1995–

Seattle Sounders captain and U.S. national team midfielder

Sibling: Alex Roldan (Seattle University)

Isaiah Thomas 1989–

Former NBA point guard, two-time All-Star

Attended until 2011

Detlef Schrempf 1963–

Former NBA player and businessman

Kelsey Plum 1994–

WNBA player, 2022 All-Star Game MVP

Bachelor of Science · Anthropology · Class of 2017

Spouse: Darren Waller (Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus)

Brad Walker 1981–

Pole vaulter, 2007 world champion

Markelle Fultz 1998–

NBA player, first overall pick in 2017 draft

Bob Sapp 1973–

MMA fighter, professional wrestler and actor

Joseph Rantz 1914–2007

Rower, 1936 Olympic gold medallist in men's eight

Justin Holiday 1989–

Basketball player, formerly with the Guangzhou Loong Lions

Sibling: Aaron Holiday (University of California-Los Angeles)

Sibling: Jrue Holiday (University of California-Los Angeles)

Terrence Ross 1991–

Former NBA player, eighth pick in 2012 draft

Matisse Thybulle 1997–

NBA player, 2019 first-round draft pick

Jack Medica 1914–1985

Olympic champion swimmer

Ralph Bishop 1915–1974

Basketball player, 1936 Olympic gold medalist

Dejounte Murray 1996–

NBA player for the New Orleans Pelicans

Robert Moch 1914–2005

Coxswain, 1936 Olympic gold medalist

Also attended: Harvard University

Spencer Hawes 1988–

Former NBA center drafted by Sacramento Kings in 2007

Ted Nash 1932–2021

Olympic champion rower and rowing coach

Patrick Femerling 1975–

German former professional basketball center

Herbert Morris 1915–2009

Rower, 1936 Olympic gold medalist

James McMillin 1914–2005

Rower, 1936 Olympic gold medalist

John White 1916–1997

Rower, 1936 Olympic gold medallist

Tim Lincecum 1984–

MLB pitcher and two-time Cy Young Award winner

Marquese Chriss 1997–

Basketball player, eighth pick in 2016 NBA draft

Quincy Pondexter 1988–

Former pro basketball player, head coach of Windy City Bulls

Isaiah Stewart 2001–

NBA basketball player

Pan Cheng-tsung 1991–

Taiwanese pro golfer and PGA Tour winner

Venise Chan 1989–

Hong Kong tennis and padel player

Ted Bundy 1946–1989

Serial killer

Bachelor's degree · Psychology · Class of 1972

Also attended: Temple University, University of Utah, University of Puget Sound

Linda Lee Cadwell 1945–

Writer and widow of Bruce Lee

Spouse: Bruce Lee (Seattle Central College, University of Washington-Seattle Campus)

Child: Brandon Lee (Emerson College)

Amanda Knox 1987–

Author exonerated of murder conviction in Italy

Doris Brougham 1926–2024

Missionary and founder of Studio Classroom