List of University of Rhode Island people

The following is a partial list of notable University of Rhode Island people. It includes alumni, professors, and others associated with the University of Rhode Island.

Notable alumni

Politics and government

• Lincoln Almond (B.Sc. 1959), Governor of Rhode Island from 1995 to 2003^[1]
• Sandra Cano (M.P.A. 2012), Member of the Rhode Island Senate from the 8th district^[2]
• Peter Courtney (B.A. 1965), 55th President of the Oregon State Senate (2003–present), Member of the Oregon Senate (1991–present)^[3]
• Frank Edelblut (B.Sc. 1983), Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education^[4]

  

  Jorge Elorza

• Jorge Elorza (B.Sc. 1998), 38th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island^[5]
• Charles J. Fogarty (M.P.A. 1980), Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island 1999–2006^[6]
• J. Joseph Garrahy (1953), Governor of Rhode Island from 1977 to 1985
• William B. Gould IV (B.A. 1958), Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board 1994–1998

• 

  Candace Owens

  Candace Owens, conservative commentator and political activist (did not graduate)^[7]
• Edwin R. Pacheco (B.A. 2005), Chairman of Rhode Island Democratic Party 2010–2013
• Donna M. Walsh, Former Rhode Island State Representative
• Robert Weygand (B.Sc., B.F.A., M.A, M.P.A.) Lieutenant Governor of RI 1993–1997, U.S. Representative from RI 1997–2001.^[8]
• Alton W. Wiley (1951), First Black judge to on the Rhode Island District and Superior courts^[9]
• George Wiley (1953), civil rights leader and chemist

Arts, broadcast and entertainment

• Masta Ace (1988), rapper
• Stevie Aiello, songwriter and musician
• Kim Alexis, model
• Christiane Amanpour (B.A. 1983), journalist and CNN correspondent
• Mark Atkinson, (B.A.) actor
• Andrew Burnap (B.F.A. 2013), actor
• Steve Cascione (B.A. 1977), television news anchor
• Angelo Cataldi (B.A. 1972), sports radio personality
• Amanda Clayton, actress
• Vladimir Duthiers (B.A. 1991), journalist
• Benjamin Fine (B.Sc. 1928), journalist^[10]
• Mat Franco (2010), magician
• Sage Francis (1999), rapper
• Peter Frechette (B.F.A.), actor
• Matt Gallant (B.A. 1987), television host
• John M. Geddes (B.A. 1974), journalist and managing editor of The New York Times from 2003 to 2013^[11]
• Leila Goldkuhl, model
• Jose B. Gonzalez (Ph.D. 1998), poet
• Donald M. Grant (1949), publisher
• Ann Hood (B.A. 1978), novelist^[12]
• Roberta Mudge Humble (B.A.1968; M.A. 1971), author, speaker, and professor, Rhode Island books and games; inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2022
• John King (B.A. 1985), television journalist^[13]
• Kevin Kelly, magazine editor
• J. Michael Lennon (M.A. 1969, Ph.D. 1975), writer and editor^[14]
• Aria Mia Loberti, actress
• Tony Longo, actor
• Theo Martins (2009), singer and rapper
• Freddie Scott, singer
• Michael P. Shawver (born 1984/1985), film editor
• J. T. Walsh, actor

Sports

• Lou Abbruzzi (1941) – Former NFL player for the Boston Yanks
• Pat Abbruzzi (1955) – Former CFL player for the Montreal Alouettes
• Jimmy Baron – Played in the NBA Summer League for the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards. He is currently playing basketball for Lagun Aro GBC in Spain's ACB League. He is the all-time three-point shooter in the University of Rhode Island and Atlantic 10 history.
• Tavorris Bell (2001) – Streetball player featured in the AND1 Mixtape Tour Volume 2 video.
• David Bernsley (born 1969) - American-Israeli basketball player
• Parfait Bitee – Former point guard for URI, also played on the Cameroonian men's national basketball team that won the silver medal at the FIBA Africa Championship 2007
• Andy Boss (B.A. 1992) – Former professional racing driver in Indy Lights and IMSA
• Danleigh Borman (2008) – MLS player for Toronto FC
• Geoff Cameron – MLS player for Houston Dynamo, MLS All-Star in 2009 and 2011, member and starter on the 2014 World Cup US Men's National Soccer Team.^[15]
• Todd Bozeman – Head Coach, Morgan State University men's basketball
• Ernie Calverley – Former NBA player with the Providence Steamrollers, former URI head coach
• Derek Cassidy – Former Arena Football League player
• Jim Christian – Former head coach of Boston College men's basketball
• Steve Chubin – Former NBA player for the Indiana Pacers
• Sean Colson – Former NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets
• Tony DeLuca – Former NFL player for the Green Bay Packers
• Shelagh Donohoe – Olympic athlete, current Women's rowing head coach.^[16]
• Mike Dwyer – Former NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys
• Johnny Ezersky – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers, the Baltimore Bullets, and the Boston Celtics
• Frank Ferrara – Former NFL defensive end for New York Giants and Hollywood stunt man
• Jason Foster – Former NFL player
• Steve Furness – Former NFL player for Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions
• Tom Garrick – Former NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Clippers^[17]
• Sasha Gotsmanov – MLS player for the Colorado Rapids
• Virgil Gray – Arena Football League player
• Andy Gresh – Sports analyst, Fox Sports, WSKO, ESPN Radio, Patriots Rock Radio Network
• P. H. Horgan III – PGA Tour golfer
• Chester Jaworski – Basketball player, led the nation in scoring in his senior season, also won national player of the year award in his senior season.
• Frank Keaney – Former URI men's basketball coach, inventor of URI's team color Keaney Blue, and Basketball Hall of Fame member.^[18][19]
• Cuttino Mobley – Former NBA player for the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, and the New York Knicks
• Rick Moser – Former NFL player
• Xavier Munford (born 1992) - basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Pat Narduzzi – Head football coach for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers

• 

  Lamar Odom

  Lamar Odom (1997–98) – 2 time NBA Champion for the Los Angeles Lakers and recipient of the 6th Man of the Year Award. Drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers^[20]
• Josh Oppenheimer – Israeli-American professional basketball coach, and former professional basketball player
• Tom Penders – Former college basketball coach
• Stephen Peterson – Rower on the 1996 U.S. Olympic team and Gold Medal winner at the 1990 World Rowing Championships
• Dana Quigley – PGA Tour golfer
• Dawan Robinson – NBA player (point guard) for the Los Angeles Clippers
• Ron Rothstein – Former coach in the NBA for the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons, first coach of the Miami Heat
• Kahiem Seawright – Former forward for URI, currently playing professional basketball for Valladolid in Spain's ACB League
• Bob Shea – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers
• Dave Stenhouse, Former Major League Baseball pitcher with the Washington Senators from 1962 to 1964 and coach of the Brown University baseball team from 1981 to 1990.
• Stanley Stutz – Former NBA player for the New York Knicks
• Jared Terrell (born 1995) - basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Tyson Wheeler – Former NBA player for the Toronto Raptors
• Bob White – Former NFL player
• Andy Williams – MLS player for Real Salt Lake, formerly for Columbus Crew
• Jeff Williams – Former NFL player
• Sly Williams – Former NBA player for New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics

Business

• Robert Crandall (1960), former president and chairman of the board, American Airlines
• Michael D. Fascitelli, former president and current Trustee of Vornado Realty Trust
• Giovanni Feroce (1991), former CEO of Alex and Ani^[21]
• John Gomes, luxury real estate broker
• Sean Ludwick, real estate developer convicted of vehicular homicide
• Tony Horton (1980), fitness guru and developer of P90X
• Nancy McKinstry (1980), chairman and CEO of Wolters Kluwer
• Olivier Pastré, French economist and banker
• Thomas Ryan (1975), former CEO of CVS Corporation

Science and academia

• Daniel G. Aldrich (1939), founding chancellor of University of California, Irvine
• Kimberly Arcand (1997), data visualizer and science communicator^[22]
• Robert Ballard (PhD 1975, Hon. 1986), oceanographer, discoverer of the RMS Titanic, Professor and Director of URI's Center for Ocean Exploration, part of URI's Graduate School of Oceanography.
• Martha Banks (M.A. 1978, PhD 1980), clinical psychologist
• Roxanne Johnson (M.S. 1997), chemist working at the United States Environmental Protection Agency
• James W. Carey (B.Sc.), media theorist^[23]
• Elizabeth A. Craig, professor and chair of biochemistry at University of Wisconsin–Madison and member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Leon Stanislaw Jablecki, (B.Sc. 1938), rocket scientist
• Deneb Karentz, (B.Sc. 1973, PhD 1982), professor and chair of biological sciences at University of San Francisco
• Cornelius M. Kerwin, (M.A. 1973), President of American University (2007–2017)
• Frederick G. Keyes, (B.Sc. 1906), Professor and Lecturer in Physics and Chemistry at MIT
• Jay Maddock, (Ph.D. 1999), Regents Professor at Texas A&M University
• George H. M. Lawrence, (B.Sc. MSc, 1952) was a United States botanist, author and Professor of Botany. Established the Hunt Botanical Library and the Huntia (journal)
• E. Paul Larrat (B.Sc. 1982, MBA 1984, M.S. 1988), pharmacist, epidemiologist, researcher, and dean and professor, URI College of Pharmacy
• Herbert Lovett, (P.h.D) was an American psychologist
• Catalina Martinez, (B.Sc. 1996, MSc. 1999, M.M.A. 2001, M.B.A. 2014), Regional Program Manager for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.
• Janice Merrill-Oldham (M.L.S. 1984), Malloy-Rabinowitz Preservation Librarian at the Harvard Library (1995–2010)
• Robert B. Rheault, Jr., (Ph.D. 1996), marine biologist and aquaculture consultant
• Stuart Vyse, (PhD 1987), psychologist, teacher, speaker and author who specializes in belief in superstitions and critical thinking.
• Sandra Thornton Whitehouse, (Ph.D. 1994), marine biologist and wife of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse^[24]

Military

• Admiral Jeremy M. "Mike" Boorda (B.A. 1971), 25th Chief of Naval Operations^[25]
• General Charles A. Flynn (B.Sc. 1985)

• 

  Michael Flynn

  Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn (B.Sc. 1981), Director, Defense Intelligence Agency (former), National Security Advisor for President Donald Trump (former).
• General Leon J. LaPorte, United States Army four-star general
• Rear Admiral Francis D. "Bill" Moran, third director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
• Rear Admiral Sigmund R. Petersen, fourth director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps

Faculty

• Judith A. Boss, writer
• James Cooley, mathematician
• Fritz Eichenberg, illustrator
• Arthur L. Hardge, administrator
• Peniel E. Joseph, historian
• Robert Leuci, former detective with the New York City Police Department

• 

  Margaret Mead

  Margaret Mead, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Anthropology
• Igor Sikorsky, aviation pioneer^[26]
• Bruce Sundlun, 71st Governor of Rhode Island
• William Wallace Wotherspoon, Chief of Staff of the United States Army
• Gaurav Khanna (physicist), black hole physicist and supercomputing pioneer

Presidents

Further information: List of presidents of the University of Rhode Island

References

1. Wheaton, James Lucas; Vangermeersch, Richard G. J. (1999-09-01). University of Rhode Island. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738502144.
2. "State of Rhode Island General Assembly". State of Rhode Island General Assembly. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
3. "Peter Courtney faces challenge for re-election". Statesman Journal. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
4. "About the Commissioner". Department of Education. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
5. Rogerson, Kate. "URI Alum: Jorge Elorza, Mayor of Providence | The Good 5 Cent Cigar". Retrieved 2021-02-22.
6. Staff, P. B. N. (2006-10-28). "Fogarty says he'll help small businesses". Providence Business News. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
7. Staff, Journal. "Conservative activist Candace Owens to speak in Rhode Island". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
8. "Robert A. Weygand". Retrieved 2021-02-22.
9. Mulvaney, Katie. "RI's first Black judge, Alton W. Wiley, dies at 91". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
10. "Benjamin Fine Is Dead in Korea; Was Education Editor of Times (Published 1975)". The New York Times. 1975-05-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
11. "URI alumnus John M. Geddes named a managing editor of The New York Times". today.uri.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
12. Rogerson, Kate. "Alumni Profile: Meet Ann Hood | The Good 5 Cent Cigar". Retrieved 2021-02-22.
13. "John King, CNN's chief national correspondent, analyzes election results for viewers in front of the "Magic Wall." (Photo courtesy of CNN)". Westerly Sun. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
14. LaRoche, Tony. "Mailer biography grew out of 40-year acquaintance with Westport, Mass., author". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
15. Davis, Noah. "Geoff Cameron's Rise from Unheralded Youngster to USMNT Star". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
16. "Shelagh Donohoe". Rhode Island. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
17. "Rhode Island : Tom Garrick Resigns as Women's Basketball Head Coach". Gorhody.com. March 9, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
18. "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Frank Keaney". www.hoophall.com. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
19. Klein, Maury. "KEANEY INVENTED THE FAST BREAK AND RHODE ISLAND MADE THE BIG TIME". Vault. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
20. Johnson, Richard (2017-03-17). "Rhode Island hero Lamar Odom watched Rams play Creighton". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
21. "Alex & Ani: A Vital Force in Rhode Island". Retrieved 2021-02-22.
22. "Kimberly Kowal Arcand '97". Retrieved 2021-08-10.
23. Martin, Douglas (2006-05-26). "James W. Carey, Teacher of Journalists, Dies at 71". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
24. Michelle R. Smith. "Whitehouse's 'secret weapon'? His wife, Sandra". Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
25. Weiner, Tim (1994-02-16). "Man in the News: Jeremy Michael Boorda; A 'People's Admiral' With a NATO Burden (Published 1994)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
26. Miller, G. Wayne. "URI celebrates its 125-year vision". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.