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Southern Illinois University Carbondale has had a number of notable alumni since it was first founded in 1869.

• Robert Coover, T.B. Stowell Adjunct Professor of Literary Arts at Brown University^[1]
• Algeania Freeman, academic administrator
• Clara E. Hill, professor of psychology at University of Maryland College Park^[2]
• Gertrude Hull - history teacher for 40 years; tutor to Douglas MacArthur
• Louise Huffman - teacher and educator on US Antarctic programs^[3]
• John L. Koprowski, Dean of the Haub School of Environment 7 Natural Resources University of Wyoming, conservation biologist, Aldo Leopold Memorial Award from The Wildlife Society (M.A. Zoology 1985)
• Sir Curtis Price, KBE, current head of New College, Oxford, former President of the Royal Academy of Music^[4] and former president of the Royal Musical Association^[5]
• L. Eudora Pettigrew, former president of SUNY Old Westbury, first African-American president in the SUNY system^[6][7]
• Wilfred Reilly - Kentucky State University professor, author of "Hate Crime Hoax,"^[8] and opponent of the alt-right movement

• Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, artist^[9]
• Shinichi Ishizuka, manga artist^[10]
• Mary Manning, photographer^[11]

• Curt Jones, founder of Dippin' Dots^[12]
• Kenny Troutt, founder of telecommunications company Excel Communications^[13]

• Timothy Krajcir, serial killer^[14]

• James Belushi, actor/comedian^[15]
• Hannibal Buress, stand-up comedian, actor, writer and producer
• Don S. Davis, actor best known for role on Stargate SG-1^[16]
• Bil Dwyer, actor, comedian^[17]
• Dennis Franz, actor best known for his work on NYPD Blue^[12][18]
• Dick Gregory (attended), actor, author, comedian, activist^[19]
• Justin Hartley, actor, best known for role on This is Us
• Steve James, documentary director and producer of Sundance award-winning Hoop Dreams and Stevie^[20]
• Jenny McCarthy (attended), actress and Playmate of the Year, was studying nursing at SIU when she submitted her photo to Playboy^[21]
• Melissa McCarthy, actress, famous for her role in Gilmore Girls and the motion picture Spy
• Gary Miller, ESPN SportsCenter anchor^[22]
• Tom Minton, animation producer, writer, artist
• Bob Odenkirk, actor/writer/comedian^[23]
• Tim O'Malley, actor/comedian, Godshow, Second City alum^[24]
• Randal Mario Poffo, also known as professional wrestler Macho Man Randy Savage; graduated 1971
• Rick Rizzs, broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners^[25]
• Richard Roundtree, actor, Shaft^[26]
• Ken Swofford, film and television actor, best known for Thelma and Louise (1991 film), Murder She Wrote (1984 drama series)
• Robert K. Weiss, producer of The Blues Brothers^[12]
• Walt Willey, actor best known for All My Children

• Hamiet Bluiett, jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer^[27]
• Shawn Colvin, musician, singer^[28]
• Lee England Jr., violinist, vocalist, arranger, and composer
• Open Mike Eagle, rapper^[29]
• Darryl Jones, bassist of The Rolling Stones
• David Lee Murphy, musician, singer
• Jason Ringenberg, musician, singer
• Mathien, singer, producer

• Roland Burris, former U.S. Senator from Illinois (2009–2010); previously served as Illinois Comptroller and Illinois Attorney General^[12]
• Jack Davis, U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 4th Congressional District who served from 1987 to 1989^[30]
• William Enyart, U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 12th Congressional District; served from 2013 to 2013; law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law^[31]
• Julio M. Fuentes, circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit^[32]
• Tim Lee Hall, U.S. Congressman; represented Illinois's 15th Congressional District from 1975 to 1977^[33]
• Donald McHenry, United States ambassador to the United Nations (from 1979 to 1981)^[12]
• Brett James McMullen, Retired Brigadier General, United States Air Force Brett James McMullen
• David D. Phelps, U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 19th congressional district who served from 1999 to 2003^[34]
• Glenn Poshard, former U.S. Congressman, gubernatorial candidate, president of SIU^[12]
• Larry O. Spencer, Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force Larry O. Spencer

• Randy Daniels, former New York Secretary of State^[35]
• Albert E. Mead, former Governor of Washington^[36]

• Carl Bearden, member of the Missouri House of Representatives
• Kenneth Buzbee, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate representing the 58th district (1972–1984)^[37]
• John Cavaletto, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 107th district (2009–present)^[38]
• Jerry Costello II, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 116th district (2011–present)^[39]
• William Davis, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 30th district (2002–present)^[40]
• Chad Hays, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 104th district (2010–present)^[41]
• Jeanette Mott Oxford, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives
• Mary Nichols, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives representing the 72nd district (2010–present)^[42]
• Lena Taylor, Democratic member of the Wisconsin Senate for the 4th district (since 2005)^[43]
• Art Turner, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2010–present)^[44]
• Kathleen Vinehout, Democratic member of the Wisconsin Senate representing the 31st district (since 2007)^[45]
• Grant Wehrli, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 41st district (2015–present)
• Whitney Westerfield, politician

• Howard Brookins, Chicago Alderman for the 21st ward^[46]
• Forrest Claypool, member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners for District 12 (2002–2006), CEO of Chicago Public Schools
• David Coss, Mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico (2006–2014)^[47]
• Jason Ervin, Chicago Alderman for the 28th ward^[48]

• Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq, Pakistani politician and son of former President General Zia-ul-Haq
• Joe Hung (Master's degree in journalism, 1965), Taiwanese journalist (Central News Agency) and diplomat, Representative of Taiwan to Italy (1993–2000)^[49]

• Sam Coonrod, MLB pitcher
• Jim Dwyer, former Major League Baseball outfielder^[50]
• Steve Finley, former Major League Baseball center fielder, 5-time Gold Glove winner, 2-time All-Star^[50]
• Jason Frasor, Major League Baseball pitcher^[50]
• Joe Hall, former Major League Baseball pitcher^[50]
• Jerry Hairston Jr., Major League Baseball second baseman^[50]
• Dan Hartleb, college baseball coach at Illinois
• Duane Kuiper, former Major League Baseball second baseman, announcer, commentator for EA Sports baseball video games^[50]
• Al Levine, Major League Baseball pitcher^[50]
• Skip Pitlock, former Major League pitcher
• Derek Shelton, Major League Baseball manager, Pittsburgh Pirates
• Bill Stein, former Major League Baseball infielder^[50]
• Dave Stieb, former Major League Baseball pitcher, 7-time All Star^[50]
• Taira Uematsu (born 1983), Japanese coach for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball

• Ashraf Amaya, former NBA player^[51]
• Chris Carr, former NBA player^[51]
• Walt Frazier, Basketball Hall of Famer and named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History^[12]
• Mike Glenn, former NBA player^[51]
• Bryan Mullins, current Men's Basketball Head Coach
• Nate Hawthorne, former NBA player Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns
• Troy Hudson, NBA guard^[51]
• Joe Meriweather, NBA center
• Matt Shaw, former European Professional League

• Lionel Antoine, former NFL offensive tackle
• Houston Antwine, former NFL defensive lineman
• Tom Baugh, former NFL player
• Amos Bullocks, former NFL running back
• Jeremy Chinn, current NFL safety for the Carolina Panthers
• Madre Harper, current NFL cornerback for the Carolina Panthers
• Jim Hart, former NFL quarterback, 4-time Pro Bowl selection^[52]
• Kevin House, former NFL player^[53]
• Brandon Jacobs, NFL running back^[54]
• Craig James, current NFL cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles
• Yonel Jourdain, NFL running back for the Buffalo Bills
• Deji Karim, NFL running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars^[55]
• Carl Mauck, former NFL player and NFL coach
• Ryan Neal, current NFL safety for the Seattle Seahawks
• MyCole Pruitt, NFL tight end^[56]
• Marion Rushing, former NFL linebacker
• Bart Scott, NFL linebacker^[57]
• Sam Silas, former NFL lineman
• Russ Smith, former NFL guard
• Sebron Spivey, former NFL wide receiver
• Terry Taylor, former NFL cornerback
• Ernie Wheelwright, former NFL running back
• Adrian White, former NFL safety
• Jan Quarless, former football player and head coach at the SIU Carbondale

• Ron Ballatore, NCAA championship swimming coach, five-time Olympic swimming coach
• Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls, IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Roger Counsil, NCAA championship gymnastics coach
• Mick Haley, USA Olympic volleyball coach
• Frank Schmitz, four time individual NCAA gymnastics champion and silver medalist at the 1965 Trampoline World Championships
• Cameron Wright, retired high jumper; competed at the 1996 Olympic Games; Southern Illinois University Hall of Fame 2011

• Jim Bittermann, CNN European correspondent based in Paris^[58]
• Chris Bury, ABC news anchor^[12]
• Bill Christine, sports writer and author^[59]
• Joan Lovett (Lovelace), CBS four-time Emmy award winner
• Adrian Matejka, poet, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize^[60] and National Book Award^[61] in poetry
• Michael Meyerhofer, poet and fantasy author
• P.S. Mueller, cartoonist for The New Yorker^[18]
• Jason Pargin, fantasy author
• Jared Yates Sexton, author, political commentator, and creative writing professor
• Chad Simpson, Micro Award-winning short and flash fiction author
• Jackie Spinner, writer at the Washington Post and author of Tell Them I Didn't Cry: A Young Journalist's Story of Joy, Loss, and Survival in Iraq^[62]

• Matthew F. Hale (Law School, 1998), white supremacist who solicited the murder of federal judge Joan Lefkow^[63]
• Joan E. Higginbotham, astronaut^[12]
• Rodney P. Kelly, retired Major General, U.S. Air Force
• Thomas McClelland, retired Captain, U.S. Navy
• Johnny R. Miller, Assistant Adjutant General of the Illinois Army National Guard
• Joseph Nechvatal, digital artist and art theoretician
• Dennis E. Spies, Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Diocese of Joliet
• Michael Swango, physician and serial murderer^[64]
• Mallica Vajrathon, United Nations senior staff member

• Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Recreation Center's Distinguished Alumni Wall