Famous ASU alumni
From left: James Harden, Dr. John Shufeldt, Reggie Jackson and Michelle Randolph
Editor's note: This story was featured in the fall 2026 issue of ASU Thrive.
Before they were actors, athletes, businesspeople and leaders, they were ASU students. See which stars attended the university before stepping onto larger stages.
Ludwig Ahgren, ’17 BA in English (literature) and journalism — YouTuber with several million subscribers
Roger Allers, ’71 BFA — filmmaker, co-directed “The Lion King”
Eric Anzalone, ’12 BA in film (film and media studies), ’18 MAS in film and media studies — member of disco supergroup The Village People from 1995–2017
Barbara Barrett, ’72 BS in political science, ’75 MPA, ’78 JD — businesswoman, former secretary of the U.S. Air Force
Matt Barrie, ’01 BA in broadcasting — ESPN SportsCenter anchor, college football studio host
Melissa Belote-Ripley, ’79 BA in communication — won three Olympic gold medals in 1972
David Breschel, ’12 BA in film (film and media production) — screenwriter, Oscar winner
Amanda Brown, ’93 BA in political science — wrote “Legally Blonde”
Michael Burns, ’80 BS in political science — vice chair of Lionsgate Studios
Tony Carrillo, ’04 BFA (drawing) — creator of “F Minus” comic strip
Carlota Ciganda — three-time Olympian in golf
Joey Daccord, ’20 BA in business (business administration) — first Sun Devil in NHL, goalie for Seattle Kraken
Desiree Davila-Linden, ’06 BA in religious studies and BS in psychology — won the 2018 Boston Marathon
Christine Devine, ’87 BA in broadcasting — news anchor, winner of 16 Emmys
Josh Doan — pro hockey player now with the Buffalo Sabres
Lu Dort — 2025 NBA champion with Oklahoma City Thunder, now with Atlanta Hawks
Jerry Dumas, ’55 BA in English — cartoonist of “Sam and Silo”
Bridget Everett, ’95 Bachelor of Music Performance (voice) — star and executive producer of HBO series “Somebody Somewhere”
Herman Frazier, ’77 BS in political science — won gold and bronze medals at the 1976 Olympics in sprinting
Mary Temple Grandin, ’75 MS in agriculture — animal behavior expert, autism spokesperson
Derrick Hall, ’91 BA in broadcasting — president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks
James Harden — third overall NBA Draft pick in 2009, enters his 18th NBA season in 2026–27, two-time Olympic gold medalist with the USA Men’s National Team
Jan Henne Hawkins, ’72 BA in education (physical education) — won two gold, one silver and one bronze Olympic medals in swimming
Reggie Jackson — Hall of Fame baseball player and five-time World Series champion
Tayari Jones, ’00 MFA in creative writing — novelist with two books in Oprah's Book Club
Merrill Kelly — helped the Arizona Diamondbacks reach the World Series in 2023
Ashley LeMieux, ’11 BA in English (literature) — best-selling author
Amy LePeilbet, ’04 BA in sociology — won a gold medal in soccer at the 2012 London Olympics
Laurie Leshin, ’87 BS in chemistry — first female head of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Michael Longfellow, ’16 BA in English (literature) — actor and comedian on “Saturday Night Live”
Léon Marchand, ’25 BS in computer science — won four individual gold medals in swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Ruth McGregor, ’74 JD — former chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
Al Michaels, ’66 BA in broadcasting — sportscaster since 1971 and five-time Emmy Award winner
Phil Mickelson, ’92 BA in psychology — five PGA major titles, the World Golf Hall of Fame
Barbara Munk, ’79 BS in chemistry — co-inventor of Fresh Step Kitty Litter, worked to get FDA approvals for several prescription medicines
Dustin Pedroia — 13-year MLB career with the Boston Red Sox
Dwight Phillips, ’01 BS in communication — won a gold medal in men’s long jump at the 2004 Athens Olympics
Jon Rahm, ’16 BA in communication — PGA golfer who won two major championships
Michelle Randolph, ’23 BA in film (film and media studies) — actor in “Landman” and “Yellowstone” spinoff “1923”
Anthony Robles, ’11 BIS — pro wrestler, inspired the 2024 film “Unstoppable,” starring Jennifer Lopez and Don Cheadle
John Shufeldt ’95 MBA, ’05 JD — founder of NextCare Urgent Care and MeMD, entrepreneur, investor and author
Spencer Silver, ’62 BS in chemistry — co-inventor of Post-it Notes
Cam Skattebo, ’24 BA in liberal studies — NFL player, New York Giants
Kate Spade, ’85 BA in broadcasting — co-founder of designer brand Kate Spade New York
Brenda Strong, ’82 Bachelor of Music Performance — actor in “Desperate Housewives” and two-time Emmy Award nominee
Pat Tillman, ’97 BS in marketing — played with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, recipient of Silver Star and Purple Heart medals for his military service
Spencer Torkelson — first overall pick in 2020 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers
Jordyn Tyson, ’26 BA in liberal studies — selected No. 8 in the 2026 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints
Kevin Warren, ’88 MBA — attorney and president and CEO of the Chicago Bears
Danny White, ’95 BS in agribusiness — former All-Pro Dallas Cowboys quarterback, two-time Arena Football League champion head coach
Jeri Williams, ’88 BA in theatre — former police chief of the Phoenix Police Department
Ryan Wood, ’96 BA in history — co-founder of Under Armour
Margaret H. Woodward, ’82 BS in aerospace engineering — retired U.S. Air Force major general, first woman to command a U.S. combat air campaign
Peterson Zah, ’63 BAE in industrial education — first Navajo Nation president
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Léon Marchand
Photo by Samantha Chow
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Anthony Robles (right)
Photo by Samantha Chow
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Dr. John Shufeldt
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald
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Spencer Silver
Photo by Tom Story
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