The University of Massachusetts Amherst alumni number is around 243,628 worldwide, as 2014.
Academy Award winners
Emmy Award winners
Grammy Award winners
Nobel Prize winner
Pulitzer Prize winners
Royalty and nobility
Academia
Presidents
- Nemat Shafik, 20th President of Columbia University
- Winthrop E. Stone 1882, 5th President of Purdue University
- Carlton Brown 1972, 1979G, president of Clark Atlanta University
- Evan Dobelle 1970G, 1987 Ed.D., president of Westfield State College
- Philip R. Day G, former Chancellor of City College of San Francisco and Cape Cod Community College
- Vera King Farris G, former president of Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
- Dennis Hanno, president of Wheaton College
- Zhou Qifeng 1983 PhD, 13th President of Peking University
- Donald P. Zingale 1969G, president of the State University of New York at Cobleskill
Faculty
- David A. Tirrell 1978 PhD, provost at California Institute of Technology
- Janet Abu-Lughod, sociologist, known for contributions to world-systems theory
- Amir Amini (academic), IEEE fellow
- Christy Anderson G, professor of Art and Architecture at University of Toronto
- Maximilian Auffhammer B.S. 1996, George Pardee Jr. Professor of International Sustainable Development, University of California, Berkeley
- Doris E. Abramson, professor and author.
- Dorothy Barresi, professor at California State University at Northridge
- Francis A. Bartlett 1905, eminent dendrologist
- Edwin Bergin 1995 PhD, professor of astronomy at the University of Michigan and recipient of the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics
- Janet Catherine Berlo 1974, art historian
- Ann Bermingham, art historian
- Michael Blakey, National Endowment for the Humanities Professor at the College of William & Mary
- George Ruffin Bridgeforth, 1901, Tuskegee Institute agriculturist and first Black graduate of UMass Amherst
- Lin Chao, professor at University of California, San Diego
- Vicente Cabrera Funes, professor and writer at University of Minnesota Morris
- Gennaro Chierchia, professor and Department Chair of Linguistics at Harvard University
- Michael Dirr, professor of horticulture at University of Georgia
- Larry W. Esposito 1977G, planetary astronomer, professor at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
- Bertram Forer 1936, psychologist, namesake of the Forer effect
- Michael J. Franklin, professor and chair of Computer Science, at University of Chicago
- Mary Lou Heiss, historian and tea connoisseur
- David Helfand, 1977 PhD, Professor of Astronomy at Columbia University
- Sally Hirsh-Dickinson, New Hampshire Public Radio Producer and Host, professor of English at Rivier University.
- Andrew Hoffman, Professor of Business Management and Sustainability at University of Michigan
- Donald F. Hunt, professor of Chemistry and Pathology at University of Virginia
- Leonard Katz, professor of Psychology at University of Connecticut
- Joy Ladin, professor at Yeshiva University
- Paul J. LeBlanc, president of Southern New Hampshire University; former president of Marlboro College
- Guy Livingston, food scientist and founder of Phi Tau Sigma
- Dominic W. Massaro, professor of Psychology and Computer Engineering at the UC Santa Cruz
- Kembrew McLeod, Professor of Communication Studies at University of Iowa
- Dwanna L. McKay, former Associate Professor of Sociology at Colorado College
- Li Minqi, Associate Professor of Economics at University of Utah
- Dana Mohler-Faria, president of Bridgewater State College
- Joseph B. Moore, president of Lesley University
- Ann C. Noble, professor at UC Davis
- Steven Nock, Commonwealth Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia
- William Oakland, former Professor of Economics at Tulane University
- Christopher Ober, PhD 1982, Francis Norwood Bard Professor of Materials Engineering at Cornell University
- Alexey A Petrov, 1997, Professor of Physics at Wayne State University, recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER Award
- Carl Phillips, Professor of English and of African and Afro-American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis
- David Rosner, professor at Columbia University
- Lawrence Solan 1978 PhD, professor of law at Brooklyn Law School
- Roger Stritmatter 2001 PhD, professor of humanities; a leading modern-day advocate of the Oxfordian theory of Shakespeare authorship
- Edwin Lorimer Thomas 1963 B.S., Ernest Dell Butcher Professor of Engineering at Rice University
- Matthew Tirrell 1977 PhD, founding dean of Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago
- Albert E. Waugh 1924 B.S., professor of economics and provost at the University of Connecticut
- Laura Wright, founder of academic field of vegan studies
- Müjde Yüksel, assistant professor at Suffolk University
- Edward N. Zalta, principal editor of the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Zhi-Li Zhang, professor of computer science at University of Minnesota
- Jonathan Wilker, professor of Chemistry at Purdue University
- James C. Cox, professor of economics at Georgia State University
Science and technology
- William P. Brooks 1875, agronomist, foreign advisor to the Japanese government in the Meiji period, president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College
- Catherine Coleman 1991, PhD, astronaut
- Helen Cooke 1965 BS, American medical researcher and academic
- Fernanda Ferreira 1985 MS Psychology;1986, MA Linguistics; 1988 PhD Psychology, Cognitive Psychologist, Professor at University of California, Davis
- Rebecca Hasson, Associate Professor at University of Michigan
- Devang Vipin Khakhar, chemical engineer, academic, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate
- Doina Precup senior fellow at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
- Dan Riccio, 1986, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple
- Cynthia E. Rosenzweig, Senior Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
- Dorion Sagan 1981, author
- Steve Sanghi 1976 MS, president and CEO of Microchip Technology
- Steven Sinofsky 1989, president of Windows Division at Microsoft
- Sarah Stewart, first woman to be awarded an MD Degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine
- Jim Waldo 1980, lead software architect on Jini, CTO of Harvard University
- Rachel Whitmer, 1995, epidemiologist and Alzheimer's researcher
- Sandra Leal, 2013, pharmacist and president of the American Pharmacists Association
Business
- Betsy Atkins, 3-time CEO and serial entrepreneur and founder of Baja Corporation
- Tony Barbee (1993), collegiate basketball coach at Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
- Bruce Berkowitz 1980, Managing director and Morningstar Domestic-Stock Fund Manager of the Decade (2010) of Fairholme Funds
- J. B. Bernstein, CEO of Access Group and chief marketing officer (CMO) of Seven Figures Management
- Wayne Chang, director of product strategy at Twitter
- Ben Cherington (1997), former executive vice president and general manager of the Boston Red Sox
- Douglas Cliggott 1978, former managing director and chief investment strategist of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Chris Daggett, president and CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
- Marc Forgione, owner of restaurant Marc Forgione in New York City
- Arturo Guevara, baseball writer
- Neal Huntington (1992), general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Anshu Jain (1985), president of Cantor Fitzgerald and former global co-CEO of Deutsche Bank
- Dave Jauss, professional baseball coach
- John Legere, former CEO and president of T-Mobile US
- Dave Littlefield (1984), senior vice president and general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Agenor Mafra-Neto, CEO of ISCA Technologies
- Lawrence Mestel (born 1962), music executive and CEO of Primary Wave.
- James Pallotta (1979), president of A.S. Roma and chairman and managing director of Raptor Group
- Vivek Paul, former CEO of Wipro Technologies
- Gil Penchina, CEO of Wikia, Inc.
- Ryan Salame (2015), former CEO of FTX Digital Markets, the FTX subsidiary based in the Bahamas.
- John F. Smith, Jr. (1960), former CEO and chairman of General Motors Corporation
- Earl W. Stafford, founder of the Stafford Foundation
- Mike Tannenbaum (1991), former general manager of the New York Jets
- Jeff Taylor 2001, founder of Monster.com
- Jack Welch 1957, retired CEO of General Electric
- Jill Whalen, CEO of High Rankings; co-founder of Search Engine Marketing New England
- Nick Zhang, CEO of Wuzhen Institute
- Pat Walsh, Co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of Classy
Law and politics
Governors
Congressmen
U.S. government officials
Diplomats
Jurists
State legislators and executives
- Denise Andrews, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (2011âÂÂpresent)
- David M. Bartley 1956, former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1969âÂÂ1973) and 1984 candidate for the United States Senate
- Joan Bray, former member of Missouri State Senate (2003âÂÂ2010) and Missouri House of Representatives (1993âÂÂ2002)
- Stephen Brewer 1971, member of the Massachusetts State Senate (1995âÂÂpresent)
- Linda Dean Campbell member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (2007âÂÂpresent)
- Reuven Carlyle 1987, member of the Washington House of Representatives (2009âÂÂpresent)
- Steven D'Amico, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (2007âÂÂ2011)
- Eileen Donoghue 1976, member of the Massachusetts State Senate (2011âÂÂpresent)
- Lewis G. Evangelidis 1984, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (2003âÂÂpresent)
- Christopher M. Fierro 2002, 2004 MS, former member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (2009âÂÂ2011)
- John J. Finnegan, former Massachusetts State Auditor (1981âÂÂ1987)
- Nancy Flavin 1986, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1993âÂÂ2003)
- Paul K. Frost 1993, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1997 to present), Asst. House Minority Whip
- Thomas N. George, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1997âÂÂ2005)
- Guy Glodis, former member of the Massachusetts State Senate (1999âÂÂ2005) and Massachusetts House of Representatives (1997âÂÂ1999)
- Frederick D. Griggs 1913, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1925âÂÂ1928)
- Christopher Hodgkins, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1983âÂÂ2003)
- Kate Hogan, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (2009âÂÂpresent)
- Philip W. Johnston, former Massachusetts Secretary of Human Services
- Sally Kerans 1982, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1991âÂÂ1997)
- Stephen Kulik, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1993âÂÂpresent)
- Patrick Landers, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1987âÂÂ1999)
- Gary LeBeau, member of the Connecticut State Senate (1997âÂÂpresent)
- Paul Mark, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (2011âÂÂpresent)
- Michael W. Morrissey, District Attorney of Norfolk County, Massachusetts (2011âÂÂpresent)
- Betty Jo Nelsen, former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (1979âÂÂ1990)
- Arthur D. Norcross 1871, former member of the Massachusetts State Senate (1908âÂÂ1909) and Massachusetts House of Representatives (1904âÂÂ1906)
- Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. 1986, former member of the Massachusetts State Senate (1997âÂÂ2007)
- Carmen Hooker Odom, former secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
- David Poisson, former member of the Virginia House of Delegates (2006âÂÂ2010)
- Ruth Provost, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1997âÂÂ2003)
- Stanley C. Rosenberg 1977, openly gay member of the Massachusetts State Senate (1986âÂÂpresent)
- Marie St. Fleur, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1999âÂÂ2011)
- Barry Trahan, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1987âÂÂ1989)
- Joseph Wagner, former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1991âÂÂpresent)
- Rachel Weston 2003, member of the Vermont House of Representatives (2007âÂÂpresent)
International figures
- Hau Lung-pin, 1982 PhD, Mayor of Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Kang Kyung-wha MA, PhD, Foreign Minister of South Korea, former United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Hina Rabbani Khar 2001, Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs (2011âÂÂ2013), the first female to hold this post
- Makaziwe Mandela, daughter of Nelson Mandela
- Mose Penaani Tjitendero 1977 Ed.D., former Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia
- Uttama Savanayana (), 1990 PhD, Minister of Finance, Thailand
- Srettha Thavisin, prime minister of Thailand
- Rudolf Hommes RodrÃÂguez, former Minister of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia
County and municipal officials
Activists
Military
- Frederick Heyliger 1950, officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army during World War II; featured in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers
- Andrew P. Iosue 1951 â General (R) of the United States Air Force; Commander of Air Training Command (COMATC), 1983âÂÂ1986
- Jody Daniels, 34th Chief of Army Reserve
- Robert Miller, 24th Surgeon General of the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force
- L. Fletcher Prouty, Chief of Special Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Brian Beaudreault, Commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force
- Thomas F. Healy, U.S. Army general and former commandant of the Army War College
- William N. Sullivan
- Franklin M. Davis Jr., Major General in the United States Army
- Michael S. Martin, Major General in United States Marine Corps
- Lee E. Payne, Major General in United States Air Force
Film
- Jere Burns, 1980, actor
- Rob Corddry, actor
- Jeffrey Donovan, actor
- Richard Gere, 1971, actor (did not graduate)
- Jonathan Hensleigh, 1981, screenwriter and film director
- Fardeen Khan, Bollywood actor (did not graduate)
- Bridget Moynahan, actress (did not graduate)
- William Monahan, screenwriter, The Departed
- Bill Pullman, 1980 MFA, actor
- Jason Nash, 1995, actor, director, screenwriter, comedian, YouTube personality
Television
- Norm Abram 1972, "America's most famous carpenter"
- Rob Corddry 1993, former writer and correspondent for The Daily Show, actor on television series The Winner
- Bill Cosby 1972G, 1976 Ed.D., actor, comedian, writer, star of The Cosby Show
- Jeff Corwin 2002, Animal Planet's The Jeff Corwin Experience
- Jeffrey Donovan 1991, star of USA original series Burn Notice
- Marc Forgione 2010, competitor on Food Network's Iron Chef America; won season three of "The Next Iron Chef" in 2010; owner of restaurant Marc Forgione in New York City
- Lauren Koslow, actress on Days of Our Lives
- Phil Laak, professional poker player nicknamed "The Unabomber"
- Loretta Long 1973 PhD, long-time Sesame Street actress
- Ken Ober 1980, game show host, comedian, and actor
- Nancy Oliver, writer for the series Six Feet Under
- Mark Preston 1994, CNN Senior Political Analyst and Executive Editor, CNN Politics
- Peter Tolan, television producer, director, and screenwriter
- Mark Wilding 1979, lead writer and executive producer of Grey's Anatomy
- Jean Worthley 1948, naturalist; former host of Hodgepodge Lodge; co-host of On Nature's Trail
Journalism
- Deepak Ananthapadmanabha 1998, web-based technology journalist
- Steve Buckley 1978, sportswriter
- Gerry Callahan, sports writer for the Boston Herald and radio talk show personality for WEEI
- Jill Carroll 1999, journalist for Christian Science Monitor, kidnapped in Iraq on assignment in January 2006
- George Chidi, 2000, journalist for The Guardian, witness in the Georgia election racketeering prosecution of Donald Trump
- Gail Collins 1970 MA, New York Times columnist and former editorial page editor
- Audie Cornish 2001, National Public Radio host of All Things Considered, former host of Weekend Edition Sunday
- Jenny Dell 2008, reporter for CBS Sports
- James Foley 2003, freelance journalist and photojournalist of the Syrian Civil War
- Matt Malone, 1994, Jesuit and journalist; editor in chief of America magazine
- Michael C. Moynihan, senior editor of the libertarian magazine Reason
- Wendi Nix, reporter for ESPN
- David Pakman, host of the internationally syndicated television and radio program The David Pakman Show
- Mark Preston, Executive Editor, CNN Politics and CNN Senior Political Analyst
- Carol Rosenberg, senior journalist with the McClatchy News Service known for her coverage of the operation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camps in Cuba
- Dan Wetzel, national columnist, Yahoo! Sports; Netflix executive producer, New York Times best-selling author
History, literature, art, and music
- Kenny Aronoff 1975, drummer
- Alison Aune, artist
- Phillip Barron, poet and philosopher
- David Berman, poet, musician
- Frank Black, rock singer and guitarist in the Pixies
- Kathryn Burak, novelist
- Vicente Cabrera Funes 1944, writer
- Jack Canfield 1972G, best-selling author
- Gordon Chandler 1975G, sculptor
- Constance Congdon 1982, M.F.A., playwright
- Bill Cosby 1972G, 1976 Ed.D., actor, comedian, writer
- Patrick DeCoste 2000, guitarist, composer
- Stephanie Deshpande 1997, painter
- Jason Donati, animator and artist
- Sadie Dupuis, singer and guitarist for Speedy Ortiz
- Jason K. Fettig, 28th director of the United States Marine Band
- Lily Fitts, singer
- Harvey Goldman, artist, educator
- Dana Gould 1986, comedian
- James Grinwis, poet
- Peter Hargitai, award-winning novelist, poet and translator
- Airline Inthyrath 2006, drag queen known as Jujubee, performer, TV personality
- Raymond Kennedy, novelist
- Fardeen Khan, Bollywood actor
- Beth Krommes 1980G, children's book illustrator
- Peter Laird, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Taj Mahal 1963, composer and singer
- William Manchester 1946, author, biographer, and recipient of the National Humanities Medal
- Valerie Martin 1974, novelist
- J Mascis, rock singer and guitarist in Dinosaur Jr
- Matthew Minicucci, poet
- Jeff Penalty (b. Jeff Alulis), former lead singer of Dead Kennedys
- Joe Pernice, singer in Pernice Brothers, Scud Mountain Boys, Chappaquiddick Skyline
- Terri Priest, artist
- Jesse Richards, Stuckist painter, filmmaker, Remodernist film
- Louis Ross 1917, architect, designed many of the campus buildings
- Larry Ruttman 1952, author and attorney
- Buffy Sainte-Marie 1970, singer
- Joey Santiago, guitarist in the Pixies
- Flo Steinberg, of Marvel Comics
- Susan Straight 1984, writer, novelist, professor at the University of California, Riverside
- Paul Theroux 1963, travel writer and author
- Natasha Trethewey 1995, U.S. poet laureate
- Jane Yolen, author
- Matthew Zapruder, poet
Athletics
Baseball
- Ben Cherington 1998G, executive Vice President and general manager of the Boston Red Sox
- Chick Davies 1914, pitcher and outfielder with the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Giants
- Gary DiSarcina 1995, MLB All-Star, California Angels
- Mike Flanagan 1975, 1979 Cy Young Award winner, Baltimore Orioles
- Nick Gorneault 2001, outfielder, Los Angeles Angels
- Bob Hansen, first baseman, Milwaukee Brewers
- Neal Huntington MA, general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Dave Littlefield 1984, Senior Vice President and general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Chad Paronto, relief pitcher, Houston Astros
- Jeff Reardon 1977, relief pitcher Minnesota Twins, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox
- Mike Stone 1981, Vermont and UMass baseball coach
- Dave Telgheder, starting pitcher, New York Mets
- Ron Villone 1992, relief pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
Basketball
- Tony Barbee 1993, collegiate basketball coach, Central Michigan University
- Bill Bayno (did not graduate), Division 1 collegiate coach and professional assistant coach
- Marcus Camby, 1996 Naismith College Player of the Year and retired professional basketball player
- Julius Erving 1972, Hall of Fame professional basketball player (received earned bachelor's and honorary doctorate simultaneously)
- Gary Forbes 2008, professional basketball player, Toronto Raptors
- Derek Kellogg 1995, collegiate basketball coach University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Stéphane Lasme 2007, professional basketball player, Miami Heat
- Gloria Nevarez 1993, sports administrator and commissioner of the Mountain West Conference (2023âÂÂpresent)
- Rick Pitino 1974, professional and collegiate basketball coach
- Raphiael Putney (born 1990), basketball player for Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli National League
- Lou Roe 1995, professional basketball player, Detroit Pistons and Golden State Warriors
- Al Skinner 1974, basketball coach, Boston College
Football
- Neal Brown, Texas Tech Red Raiders offensive coordinator
- Liam Coen 2008, offensive coordinator, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Victor Cruz 2010, professional football player and 2012 Super Bowl Champion, New York Giants; second-team All-Pro (2011) Pro Bowl (2012)
- Vladimir Ducasse, professional football player, Buffalo Bills
- Tom Gilson, American football player
- Chris Grier, general manager of the Miami Dolphins since 2016
- Jeremy Horne, professional football player, Kansas City Chiefs
- James Ihedigbo professional football player, Buffalo Bills
- Andy Isabella, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
- Greg Landry 1968, quarterback, Detroit Lions
- Brandon London 2006, professional football player, Miami Dolphins
- John McCormick 1961, professional football quarterback/punter, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos
- Jeromy Miles, professional football player, Cincinnati Bengals
- Milt Morin 1966, tight end, All-Pro, Cleveland Browns
- Tajae Sharpe 2016, professional football player, Atlanta Falcons
- Marcel Shipp, running back, Arizona Cardinals (former team), 2009 UFL Champions Las Vegas Locomotives
- Mike Tannenbaum, former general manager of the New York Jets
Hockey
- David Branch, former president of the Canadian Hockey League
- Justin Braun, professional ice hockey player, San Jose Sharks
- Matt Irwin, professional ice hockey player, Nashville Predators
- John Lyons, Olympic ice hockey player, 1924 Olympic silver medalist
- James Marcou, professional ice hockey player, San Jose Sharks
- Brad Norton 1998, professional ice hockey player
- Thomas Pock, professional ice hockey player, New York Islanders
- Jonathan Quick, professional ice hockey player; 2010 Olympic silver medalist; 2012 NHL All-Star; 2012 Conn Smythe winner; 2014 Stanley Cup Champion, Los Angeles Kings
- Conor Sheary, professional ice hockey player, 2016 Stanley Cup Champion, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Frank Vatrano, professional ice hockey player, Florida Panthers
- Casey Wellman, professional ice hockey player, Washington Capitals
- Cale Makar, professional ice hockey player, 2022 Conn Smythe winner, Colorado Avalanche
Lacrosse
Other sports
- Gideon Ariel (born 1939), Israeli Olympic competitor in the shot put and discus throw
- Danielle Henderson 1999, Olympic gold medal winner, softball
- Roxanne Modafferi, professional mixed martial artist
- Chris Sanford, The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 contestant, retired professional MMA fighter
- Briana Scurry 1995, two-time Olympic gold medal winner and women's World Cup champion, soccer
- Serena Williams, tennis player, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist and 23-time Grand Slam winner
Others
- Maura Murray, who disappeared on the evening of February 9, 2004, after a car crash on Route 112 near Woodsville, New Hampshire, a village in the town of Haverhill. A nursing student completing her junior year at the University at the time of her disappearance.
See also
References