List of Wayne State University people

This is a list of notable alumni and faculty of Wayne State University.

=Alumni=

Academia

* Jay J. Ague, Professor of Geology at Yale University and editor of "The American Journal of Science" [http://earth.geology.yale.edu/~ja5/]
* Jerry Bergman, Young earth creationist
* Arthur Danto, Emeritus Johnsonian Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University
* Emmett Leith, Schlumberger Professor of Engineering at the University of Michigan and recipient of the National Medal of Science.
* B. Peter Pashigian, Professor of Economics, Graduate School of Business, the University of Chicago.
* Sidney Ribeau, Former President of Bowling Green State University, President of Howard University.
*Kevin M. Singer, Professor of Women's Studies at Brandeis University and author of "If I Were The Last Man on Earth...: Eschatological Love Scenarios"
* Stanley E. Zin, Richard M. Cyert and Morris H. DeGroot Professor of Economics and Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University, and Frisch Medal winner.
* Paul M. Fleiss, Pediatrician; father of Heidi Fleiss
* Brian Derowski, Science teacher at Sanilac County Science and Math Center, which is a member of the
National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology
* William N. Olds, J.D., US Navy Veteran, International Baccalaureate History Teacher, Talk Show Host- Treasure Coast Forum WSTU, 1450 AM, Boat Handling Instructor - 50 Ton USCG License, and Political Aspirant.

Broadcasting

* Jonathan Arking, Broadcast journalist, currently serves as News Director for radio station WHMI.
* Bryan Corpolongo, Radio Host, Wreckless media radio
* Hugh Downs, news anchor, ABC's "20/20"
* Ken Kal, Radio play-by-play for the Detroit Red Wings
* Casey Kasem, Radio host
* Elvis Mitchell, New York Times Film critic 1999-2004, entertainment critic for NPR's "Weekend Edition," host of "The Treatment" on KCRW
* Helen Thomas, first lady of the Washington press corps
* Erik Smith, news anchor, WXYZ-TV Detroit
* Wayne Dyer, author, self-help advocate
* Ryan Wright, author, keeping it real while keeping it safe

Business

* Jim Anderson (businessman), president and founder of [http://www.urbanscience.com Urban Science]
* Tom Athans, co-founder and former CEO of the liberal-progressive Democracy Radio
*Howard Birndorf, Biotechnology entrepreneur, founding Director of Neurocrine Biosciences
* Larry Brilliant, Executive Director of Google.org
* Christine Cortez, Senior Vice President, DaimlerChrysler AG
* Bill Davidson, industrialist, billionaire, majority owner of the Detroit Pistons
* Yousif Ghafari, founder and chairman of GHAFARI, Inc, philanthropist, and U.S. Ambassador [Tom Sakely, " [http://www.media.wayne.edu/2008/04/28/wayne-state-university-commencement-ceremonies-set-for Wayne State University commencement ceremonies set for Saturday, May 3, at Tom Adams Field on campus] " Wayne State University press release, April 28, 2008.] [Staff, " [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080503/SCHOOLS/805030417/1409/METRO Thousands graduate from Wayne State and Oakland universities] " "The Detroit News", May 3, 2008]
* Dan Gilbert, President and Founder, Rock Financial and Quicken Loans, majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers
* Alan Johnson, President and CEO of Advanced Accessory Systems.
* Peter Karmanos, Jr., Founder and CEO of Compuware Corporation and owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, Plymouth Whalers, and Florida Everblades hockey franchises.
* Stephen M. Ross, Law School Graduate, Real Estate Developer. Provided $100 Million naming gift for Ross School of Business. Forbes 400 rank: #68 at $4.5 billion
* Dennis Mooradian, Executive Vice President (since November 2003), Comerica Incorporated and Comerica Bank; Executive Vice President (May 1996 to October 2003), Wells Fargo & Company (bank holding company).
* David M. Overton, Founder and CEO, The Cheesecake Factory, Inc.
* Frederick J. Sievert, President of New York Life Insurance Company.
* Michael Sileck Jr., COO of World Wrestling Entertainment
* Sue Unger, CIO and Senior Vice President, DaimlerChrysler AG

Computers, engineering, and technology

* Ali Nasle, founder of EDSA Micro Corporation, wrote the world’s first digital short circuit program.

Fine Art

* Tyree Guyton Artist, created the Heidelberg Project
* Ian Hornak, Painter
* Leonard D. Jungwirth, Sculptor

Government

* John D. Altenburg, Army Major General, authority for military commissions covering detainees at Guantanamo.
* Christine Beatty, Former Detroit Chief of Staff. Involved in the Kilpatrick and Beatty text-messaging scandal.
* Cora Brown, first African American woman to be elected to a state senate
* Scott Boman, Michigan politician
* John Conyers, U.S. Representative, (D-Michigan)
* Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress (D-Minnesota)
* William D. Ford, Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, (D-Michigan).
* Mitch Greenlick, Member of the Oregon House of Representatives.
* Bruce Patterson, Member of the Michigan Senate. Former Wayne County Commissioner.
* Lynn N. Rivers, Former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, (D-Michigan).
* Alma G. Stallworth, former Michigan state legislator

Law

*Shereef Akeel, Lawyer, notable for pursuing human rights and civil liberties cases on the behalf of Arab Americans and Muslim Americans.
*Jerry S. Cohen, Labor and Class-Action Lawyer, Represented Cesar Chavez, lead counsel Exxon Valdez.
*Joan Mahoney, Law scholar, former professor and Dean of the Wayne State University Law School.
*Henry Saad, American Jurist, Michigan Court of Appeals.

Literature

* James Sites, Writer, novelist

Performing arts

* Al Aarons, jazz trumpeter.
* Dorothy Ashby, American jazz harpist and composer.
* Anita Barone (actress), "The War at Home"
* Cherie Bennett, Novelist, actress, director, playwright, newspaper columnist, singer, and television writer on the The Young and the Restless.
* Ben Blackwell (attended), musician.
* Bess Bonnier, Jazz pianist.
* Bob Birch, Bassist for the Elton John Band.
* Kenny Burrell, Jazz guitarist.
* Donald Byrd, Trumpeter.
* Larry Joe Campbell "According to Jim"
* Toi Derricotte, poet
* Chad Everett, Actor, "Medical Center", "Mulholland Drive"
* Garth Fagan choreographer, Tony Award for "The Lion King"
* Curtis Fuller, Trombonist
* Joe Henderson (attended), Jazz Musician
* Sean Hickey, composer
* Ernie Hudson, Actor, "Oz", "Ghostbusters"
* Thorsten Kaye "Port Charles", "One Life to Live", "All My Children"
* Yusef Lateef (attended), Jazz Musician.
* James Lentini, composer and guitarist.
* Philip Levine, Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet, Distinguished Poet in Residence for the Creative Writing Program at New York University.
* Joseph LoDuca, Emmy Award-nominated composer.
* Dave Marsh (attended), music writer, co-founder of Creem magazine.
* Tim Meadows, Actor, Saturday Night Live, Mean Girls
* Barbara Meek, Actress, Archie Bunkers Place
* S. Epatha Merkerson, Actress, "Law & Order", Lackawanna Blues
* Kenya Moore, Miss USA 1993.
* Della Reese, actress, singer, minister.
* Ruben Santiago-Hudson Michael Hayes, Tony Award for Seven Guitars
* Allan von Schenkel, double bassist, performance artist, music promoter, and composer.
* George Shirley, Opera singer.
* Tom Sizemore, actor, "Saving Private Ryan", "Blackhawk Down"
* Darryl Sivad, actor & comedian.
* Avo Sõmer, musicologist, music theorist, and composer
* Jeffrey Tambor, actor, "The Larry Sanders Show", "Arrested Development"
* Barbara Tarbuck, Actress, General Hospital, and Fulbright Scholar.
* Ron Teachworth, educator, artist, writer and filmmaker ("Going Back")
* Lily Tomlin (attended), actress, The West Wing, Murphy Brown, Flirting with Disaster, I Heart Huckabees.
* Jack White(attended), musician.

Journalism

* Tony Brown, Journalist, comedian and businessman.
* Mark Fritz, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter
* Stephen Louis Knoche Jr, Winner, Jackleg of the century

Medicine

*Youssef Aoun, Podiatrist
*Robert Provenzano, Nephrologist
*Daniel S. Stein, M.D., founder of The Stein Medical Institute [ [http://www.steinmed.com/OurFounder/CurriculumVitae/tabid/153/Default.aspx#College Daniel S. Stein, M.D. — Curriculum Vitae] ] [ [http://extenzeforlife.com/extenze-doctor.cfm Meet Dr. Stein] ]

cience

*Werner Emmanuel Bachmann, U.S. chemist. A pioneer in steroid synthesis, and carried out the first total synthesis of a steroidal hormone, equilenin. His name is associated with the Gomberg-Bachmann reaction

ports

* Mike Abdenour, Athletic trainer for the Detroit Pistons
* Tom Abdenour, Athletic trainer for the Golden State Warriors
* Tom E. Beer, Former linebacker for the Detroit Lions
* Gregory Benko, Champion foil fencer
* Ron Berger, Formerly played football for the New England Patriots
* John Doherty, Olympic bronze medalist, decathlon, 1928
* Byron Krieger, a foil, sabre, and epee fencer, NCAA champion, 2-time Pan Am gold medalist, 2-time Olympian, 2-time Maccabiah Games gold medalist
* Allan Kwartler, a sabre and foil fencer, Pan-American sabre champion and 3-time gold medal winner, 3-time Olympian, and 2-time gold medal winner at the Maccabiah Games (attended)
* Visanthe Shiancoe, tight end for the Minnesota Vikings.
* Fred Snowden, Former assistant coach at the University of Michigan, former head coach of the University of Arizona men's basketball teams. First black head coach of a major university's basketball program in America's history.
* Allen Tolmich, Track and Field athlete, established or tied 11 U.S. track & field records in 1938.
* Lorenzo Wright, Track and Field athlete, Gold Medal Winner in the 1948 Olympics (400-meter relay)
* Dan Larson, Major league baseball pitcher from 1976-1982.

Honorary graduates

* Ernie Harwell, sportscaster [Sakely (2008), ibid.] [Staff (2008), ibid.]
* Carl Levin, U.S. Senator
* Jessye Norman, soprano
* James Lipton, actor, television host
* Stephen Yokich, former UAW president

Faculty and staff, past and present

*Norman Allinger, Computational chemist, winner of the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry. Former Professor.
*Jerry Bails, Popular culturist, known as The Father of Comic Book Fandom. Former Assistant Professor of Natural Science.
*John Corvino, Philosopher and author. Professor of philosophy.
*Forest Dodrill, MD, Inventor of the Dodrill-GMR and the first person to perform a successful open heart surgery.
*Douglas Fraser, Adjunct Professor of Labor Relations, Former President of the United Auto Workers.
*Edmund Gettier, Philosopher, Famously Published Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?
*Morris Goodman, Scientist, editor-in-chief of the Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Distinguished Professor at the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
*Carla Harryman, Poet, essayist, and playwright. Professor of Women's Studies and Creative Writing.
*Keith Lehrer, American philosopher. Former professor of philosophy.
*David Mackenzie, Educator and founding dean.
*Alvin Plantinga, Contemporary philosopher, known for his work in epistemology, metaphysics, and the philosophy of religion.
*Ananda Prasad, Biochemist, Distinguished Professor of Medicine.
*Shlomo Sawilowsky, Professor of Educational Statistics and Distinguished Faculty Fellow.
*Brian VanGorder, Defensive Coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. Former football head coach.
*Barrett Watten, Poet and educator. Professor of modernism and cultural studies.
*Joseph Weizenbaum, Professor emeritus of computer science at MIT. Created early computer in 1952 at Wayne State Univerity.

*Frank H. Wu, Lawyer and author. Former Dean of the law school.

References