List of Cornell University alumni

Cornell's 2008 commencement ceremony at Schoellkopf Field

This list of Cornell University alumni includes notable graduates, non-graduate former students, and current students of Cornell University, an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York. Cornell counted 245,027 living alumni as of August 2008. Its alumni constitute 23 recipients of National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation combined, 30 MacArthur Fellows, 31 Marshall Scholars and 29 Rhodes Scholars, and Cornell is the only university with three female winners (Pearl S. Buck, Barbara McClintock, and Toni Morrison) of unshared Nobel Prizes among its graduates. Many alumni maintain university ties through Homecoming's reunion weekend, through Cornell Magazine, and through the Cornell Club of New York. In 2005, Cornell ranked #3 nationwide for gifts and bequests from alumni. Alumni are known as Cornellians.

Cornellians are noted for their accomplishments in public, professional, and corporate life. Lee Teng-hui was president of Taiwan, Mario García Menocal was president of Cuba, Jamshid Amuzegar ('50) was prime minister of Iran, Hu Shih ('14) was a Chinese reformer and representative to the United Nations, Janet Reno ('60) was the first female United States Attorney General, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg ('54) serves on the Supreme Court. Alumnus David Starr Jordan (1872) was the founding president of Stanford University, and M. Carey Thomas (1877) founded Bryn Mawr College. Additionally, alumnus Matt Urban ('41) holds the distinction as the most decorated serviceman in United States history.

Cornellians in business include: Citigroup CEO Sanford Weill ('55), Goldman Sachs Group Chairman Stephen Friedman ('59), Kraft Foods CEO Irene Rosenfeld ('75, '77, '80), Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini ('84), S.C. Johnson & Son CEO Fisk Johnson ('79, '80, '82, '84, '86), Cargill Chairman Warren Staley ('67), Chevron Chairman Kenneth T. Derr ('59), Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse ('77), Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam ('76), Mastercard CEO Robert Selander ('72), Coors Brewing Company CEO Adolph Coors ('37), Burger King founder James McLamore ('47), Loews Corporation Chairman Andrew Tisch ('71), New York Private Bank & Trust Chairman Howard Milstein ('73), Baupost Group founder Seth Klarman ('79), Hotels.com founder David Litman ('79), Palm founder Jeff Hawkins ('79), PeopleSoft founder David Duffield ('62), Priceline.com founder Jay Walker ('77), Staples founder Myra Hart ('62), Qualcomm founder Irwin M. Jacobs ('56), Atlantic Philanthropies founder Chuck Feeney ('56), Lubna Olayan CEO Olayan Financing Company, the holding entity for Olayan Group ('77), and Tata Group CEO Ratan Tata ('62).

In medicine, alumnus Robert Atkins ('55) developed the Atkins Diet, Henry Heimlich ('47) developed the Heimlich maneuver, Wilson Greatbatch ('50) invented the pacemaker, James Maas ('66; also a faculty member) coined the term "power nap", and C. Everett Koop ('41) served as Surgeon General of the United States.

A number of Cornellians have been prominent innovators. Thomas Midgley, Jr. ('11) invented Freon, Jon Rubinstein ('78) is credited with the development of the iPod, and Robert Tappan Morris developed the first computer worm on the Internet. Eight Cornellians have served as NASA astronauts, Steve Squyres ('81) is the principal investigator on the Mars Exploration Rover Mission, and Bill Nye ('77) is well known as "The Science Guy".

File:Cornellclubnyc.jpg

The Cornell Club in New York City is a focal point for alumni.

In literature, Toni Morrison ('55; Nobel laureate) is well known for her novel Beloved, Pearl S. Buck ('25; Nobel laureate) authored The Good Earth, and E. B. White ('21) authored Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. Thomas Pynchon ('59) won the National Book Award for Gravity's Rainbow. Kurt Vonnegut, author of Slaughterhouse-Five and Cat's Cradle, attended Cornell from 1940-1944 and was Assistant Managing Editor of the Cornell Daily Sun. Media personalities who have graduated from Cornell include conservative Ann Coulter ('84) and liberals Bill Maher ('78) and Keith Olbermann ('79).

Several Cornellians have also achieved critical acclaim in entertainment. Christopher Reeve ('74) played Superman, Frank Morgan was The Wizard of Oz, Jimmy Smits ('82) was in Star Wars, and Ronald D. Moore created the 2004 remake of Battlestar Galactica. On the architectural front, alumnus Richmond Shreve (1902) designed the Empire State Building, and Raymond M. Kennedy ('15) designed Hollywood's famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

In athletics, Cornell graduates include football legend Glenn "Pop" Warner (1894), former head coach of the United States men's national soccer team Bruce Arena ('73), National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman ('74), Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, six-time Stanley Cup winning hockey goalie Ken Dryden ('69), William Larned who was one of the "Big Three of the U.S. men's (tennis) championship" and won the title seven times, and Toronto Raptors president Bryan Colangelo ('87). Alumni also include Super Bowl champions Kevin Boothe and Ed Marinaro ('71). Cornellians had won numerous Olympic medals.

Fictional alumni have been portrayed in several films, television shows, and books. Characters include Andy Bernard of The Office, Natalie Keener of Up in the Air, and Christina Pagniacci (portrayed by Cameron Diaz) in Any Given Sunday.

Nobel laureates

Steven Weinberg

Toni Morrison

Chemistry

• Eric Betzig (M.S. 1985; Ph.D. 1988, Applied and Engineering Physics) - Chemistry, 2014
• William Moerner (Ph.D. 1982, Experimental Physics) - Chemistry, 2014

Physics

• Isidor Isaac Rabi (B.Chem. 1919; graduate study 1921–23, transferred) – Physics 1944
• Sheldon Lee Glashow (B.A. 1954 Physics) – Physics 1979
• Steven Weinberg (B.A. 1954 Physics) – Physics 1979, National Medal of Science (1991)
• Russell Hulse (conducted the award-winning research at Cornell's affiliated Arecibo Observatory 1974) – Physics 1993
• Douglas D. Osheroff (M.S. 1971 Physics, Ph.D. 1973 Physics) – Physics 1996; MacArthur Fellow (1981)

Peace, literature, or economics

• John Mott (B.S. 1888 Philosophy) – Peace 1946
• Pearl S. Buck (M.A. 1925 English Literature) – Literature 1938
• Toni Morrison (M.A. 1955 English, A.D. White Professor-at-Large, 1997–2003) – Literature 1993; National Humanities Medal (2000), Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1988)
• Robert Fogel (B.A. 1948 History, Minor in Economics) – Economics 1993
• Robert F. Engle (M.S. 1966 Physics, Ph.D. 1969 Economics) – Economics 2003

Physiology or medicine

• Hermann Joseph Muller (graduate study 1911–12) – Physiology or Medicine 1946
• George Wells Beadle (Ph.D. 1930 Genetics) – Physiology or Medicine 1958
• Robert W. Holley (Ph.D. 1947 Organic Chemistry; Professor and Department Chair in Biochemistry, 1948–64) – Physiology or Medicine 1968
• Barbara McClintock (B.S. 1923 Botany, M.A. 1925 Botany, Ph.D. 1927 Cytology; Instructor in Botany, 1927–31; A.D. White Professor-at-Large, 1965–74) – Physiology or Medicine 1983; National Medal of Science (1970); MacArthur Fellow (1981)
• Jack W. Szostak (Ph.D. 1977 Biochemistry) – Physiology or Medicine 2009

Government

Heads of State

Mario García Menocal

Lee Teng-Hui

• Jamshid Amuzegar (B.S. 1945 Engineering, Ph.D. 1951) – Prime Minister of Iran, 1977–78
• Václav Klaus (1969, no degree) – President of the Czech Republic, (2003–present), Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, (1992–1997).
• Mario García Menocal (B.S. 1888 Engineering) – President of Cuba, 1913–21
• Lee Teng-hui (Ph.D. 1968 Agricultural Economics) – President of Taiwan, 1988–2000

U.S. Supreme Court Justices

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (B.A. 1954 Government) – U.S. Supreme Court associate justice

U.S. Cabinet and cabinet-level ranks

File:Janet Reno-us-Portrait.jpg

Janet Reno

Paul Wolfowitz

• Sandy Berger (B.A. 1967 Government) – National Security Advisor to President Bill Clinton, 1997–2001
• Samuel W. Bodman (B.S. 1961 Chemical Engineering) – Deputy Secretary of Commerce, 2001–03; Secretary of Energy, 2005–2009
• Lincoln D. Faurer (attended, did not graduate) – Director, National Security Agency 1981–85
• W. Scott Gould (A.B.) – United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs (April 9, 2009 – May 17, 2013)
• Stephen Hadley (B.A. 1969 Government) – National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush, 2005–2009
• Seth Harris (B.S. 1983 IRL) – Deputy Secretary of Labor (2009–2014) and Acting Secretary of Labor (January 22, 2013 – July 23, 2013)
• Eugene K. Jones – (M.A. 1908 Social Science) Member of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Black Cabinet, Executive Secretary of the National Urban League, Founder of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
• C. Everett Koop (M.D. 1941) – Surgeon General of the United States under president Ronald Reagan, 1982–89
• Henry Morgenthau, Jr. (undergrad 1909–10, 1912–13, dropped out) – Secretary of the Treasury, 1934–45
• Edmund Muskie (LL.B. 1939) – Governor of Maine, 1955–59; Senator from Maine, 1959–80; Vice Presidential Candidate, 1968; Secretary of State, 1980–81
• Samuel Pierce (B.A. 1947, J.D. 1949; Trustee, 1972–77, 1978–82) – Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Ronald Reagan, 1981–89
• Thomas C. Reed (B.S. 1956 Mechanical Engineering) – Secretary of the Air Force under Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, 1976–77
• Janet Reno (B.A. 1960 Chemistry; Professor) – Attorney General under Bill Clinton, 1993–2001
• William P. Rogers (LL.B. 1937) – Attorney General, 1957–61, Secretary of State, (1969–73), Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, 1973
• Louis Wade Sullivan (Medical College Resident) – Founder and Dean of Morehouse School of Medicine, 1975, Secretary of Health and Human Services under George H. W. Bush, 1989–93
• Nancy Sutley (B.A.) – Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality under Barack Obama (2009–2014)
• John P. White (B.S. 1959 ILR) – United States Deputy Secretary of Defense (1995–1997)
• Paul Wolfowitz (B.A. 1965 Mathematics and Chemistry) – Deputy Secretary of Defense under George W. Bush, 2001–05, President of the World Bank, 2005–2007

U.S. Governors

Joseph B. Foraker

• John Alden Dix (Attended 1879–1882) – 38th Governor of New York, 1911–1912
• Joseph B. Foraker (B.A. 1869) – Governor of Ohio, (1886–90). Senator, Ohio, (1897–1909). One of eight members of Cornell's first graduating class.
• James Benton Grant (Attended 1873-1874) – Governor of Colorado 1883–1885
• Herbert James Hagerman (Class of 1890) – 17th Governor of the New Mexico Territory (1906 – 1907)
• Philip H. Hoff (J.D. 1951) – Governor of Vermont, (1963–69). First Democrat to serve in that position since the Civil War.
• Goodwin Knight (graduate study 1919–20) – Governor of California, 1953–1959
• John T. Morrison (LL.B. degree 1890) - sixth Governor of Idaho 1903-1905
• Edmund Muskie (LL.B. 1939) – Governor of Maine, 1955–59; Senator from Maine, 1959–80; Vice Presidential Candidate, 1968; Secretary of State, 1980–81
• Horace White (Class of 1887) – Member of New York State Senate, 1896–1908; Lieutenant Governor of New York, 1909–1910; 37th Governor of New York

U.S. Senators

• Joseph B. Foraker (B.A. 1869) – Governor of Ohio, (1886–90). Senator, Ohio, (1897–1909). One of eight members of Cornell's first graduating class.
• Thomas C. Hennings, Jr. (1924) – Representative, Missouri 11th District, (1935–40). Senator, Missouri, (1951–60).
• Mark Kirk (B.A. 1981 History) – Illinois 10th District, 2001–2011; Senator, 2011–present
• Edmund Muskie (LL.B. 1939) – Governor of Maine, 1955–59; Senator from Maine, 1959–80; Vice Presidential Candidate, 1968; Secretary of State, 1980–81
• Chuck Robb (undergrad 1957–58, transferred) – Senator, Virginia, 1989–2001

U.S. Congressmen

Gabrielle Giffords

• John G. Alexander (J.D. 1916) – Minnesota 3rd District, 1939–41
• Rob Andrews (J.D. 1982) – New Jersey 1st District, 1990–present
• Andrew Biemiller (B.A. 1926) – Wisconsin, 1945–47, 1949–51
• Frederick Van Ness Bradley (1921) – Michigan, 1939–47
• Abraham Lincoln Brick (undergrad) – Indiana, 1899–1908
• Katherine Clark (J.D.) - Massachusetts 2013–present
• Hansen Clarke (B.F.A.) - Michigan 13th District, 2010–2013
• Barber Conable (B.A. 1942 Medieval History, LL.B. 1948) – New York 37th District, 1965–73; 35th District, 1973–83; 30th District, 1983–85; President of the World Bank, 1986–91
• Maurice Connolly (1897) – Iowa, 1913–15
• Thomas Joseph Downey (B.S. 1970) – New York 2nd District, 1975–93
• Bob Filner (B.A. 1963 Chemistry, Ph.D. 1973 History of Science) – California 50th District, 1993–2003, 51st District, 2003–2012; San Diego mayor, 21/3/12-present
• Chris Gibson (MPA 1995, M.A. 1996, Ph.D. 1998) – New York 20th District (2011–2013), 19th District (2013–)
• Gabrielle Giffords (M.R.P. 1996) – Arizona, 8th District, 2007–2012
• Norman Judd Gould (M.E. 1899) – New York, 1915–23
• Gilbert Gude (B.S. 1948) – Maryland 8th District, 1967–77
• Edwin Arthur Hall – New York, 1939–53
• Nan Hayworth (M.D. 1985) – New York 19th district, 2011 – present
• Joseph Clifford Hendrix (studies 1870–73; Trustee) – New York, 1893–95
• Frank Horton (L.L.B. 1947) – New York 36th District, (1963–73), 34th District, (1973–83), 29th District, 1983–93
• Charles Samuel Joelson (B.A. 1937, L.L.B. 1939) – New Jersey, 1961–69
• Clarence Evans Kilburn (1916) – New York, 1940–65
• Mark Kirk (B.A. 1981 History) – Illinois 10th District, 2001–2011; Senator, 2011–present
• Gary Alcide Lee (graduate study 1963) – New York, 1979–83
• Norman F. Lent (L.L.B. 1957) – New York 5th District, (1971–73), 4th District, 1973–93
• Lewis Henry, (1909) – New York, 1922–23
• Richard Dean McCarthy (graduate study) – New York, 1965–71
• Clement Woodnutt Miller, (1946 Industrial & Labor Relations) – California, 1959–62
• Robert J. Mrazek (B.A. 1967 Government) – New York 3rd District, 1983–93
• James R. Olin (B.E.E. 1943) – Virginia, 1983–93
• Richard Ottinger (B.A. 1950) – New York, (1965–71, 1975–85); Founder and second staff member of the Peace Corps, (1961–64); Dean of Pace Law School, 1994–99
• Edward Worthington Pattison (B.A. 1953, L.L.B. 1957) – New York, 1975–79
• James Parker (1887) – New York 29th District, 1913–33
• John Raymond Pillion (L.L.B. 1927) – New York, 1953–65
• Alexander Pirnie (1924, J.D. 1926) – New York 34th District, (1959–63), 32nd District, 1963–73
• Daniel A. Reed (1898) – New York 43rd District, (1919–45, 1953–59), 45th District, 1945–53
• Henry Schoellkopf Reuss (B.A. 1933) – Wisconsin, 1955–83
• Howard Winfield Robison (1937, law 1939) – New York, 1958–75
• James A. Roe (School of Military Aeronautics 1917) – New York, 1945–47
• Kurt Schrader (B.A. 1973) - Oregon 5th District, 2009–present
• George Shiras III (1881) – Pennsylvania, 1903–05
• Henry P. Smith III (law 1936) – New York, 1965–75
• James H. Southard (law 1874) – Ohio, 1895–1907
• Sam Steiger – (Arizona), 1946–47, attended two years
• Elmer E. Studley (1894) – New York, 1933–35
• Frank Sundstrom (1924) – New Jersey 11th District, 1943–49
• Paul Harold Todd, Jr. (B.S. 1942) – Michigan, (1965–67), CEO of Planned Parenthood, 1967–70
• William Edgar Tuttle, Jr. (undergrad 1887–89) – New Jersey, 1911–15
• George Ernest Waldo (undergrad 1868–70) – New York, 1905–09
• John De Witt Warner (1872) – New York, 1891–95
• John S. Wold (M.S. 1939) – Wyoming, 1969–71

Diplomats

Alan Keyes

• William Brownfield (1974) – U.S. ambassador to Chile (2002–2004), Venezuela (2004–2007), and Colombia (2007–2010)
• Richard Burt (B.A. 1969) – United States Ambassador to Germany (1985–1989); chief negotiator of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (rank of Ambassador); Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs (1983–1985)
• Henry A. Byroade (M.S. 1940 Civil Engineering) – Career diplomat serving as U.S. ambassador to Egypt (1955–1956), South Africa (1956–1959), Afghanistan (1959–1962), Burma (1963–1968), Philippines (1969–1973), Pakistan (1973–1977)
• Timothy M. Carney (1975–1976 Southeast Asian Studies) – United States Ambassador to Sudan (1995–1997), United States Ambassador to Haiti (1998–1999)
• Chan Heng Chee (M.A. 1967 Government) – Singapore's ambassador to the U.S., 1996–present
• Arthur Hobson Dean (B.A. 1921, L.L.B. 1923) – international law expert, chief U.S. negotiator at Panmunjeom, assisted with negotiations for Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, delegate to the United Nations
• Eric S. Edelman (B.A. 1972 History) – United States Ambassador to Finland (1998–2001), United States Ambassador to Turkey (2003–2005)
• Glenn W. Ferguson (B.A. 1950 Economics, MBA 1951) – United States Ambassador to Kenya, 1966–1969, Academic administrator
• Robert Ford (M.A. 1940 History) – Canadian Ambassador to Colombia (1957–1959), Yugoslavia (1959–1961), Egypt and Sudan (1961–1964), the USSR (1964–1980) and Mongolia (1974–1980); a Companion of the Order of Canada
• Daniel Fried (B.A. 1974) – Career diplomat; United States Ambassador to Poland (1997–2000)
• Alan Keyes (undergrad 1968–69, transferred) – Diplomat, U.S. Presidential candidate, 1996, 2000; U.S. Senate candidate from Maryland (1988, 1992) and Illinois (2004)
• William vanden Heuvel (Bachelor and Law, editor-in-chief of Cornell Law Review) – U.S. Ambassador to the European office of the United Nations (1977–79) and United States Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations (1979–1981)
• John H. Holdridge (1948–1950 Chinese language) – United States Ambassador to Singapore (1975–1978), United States Ambassador to Indonesia (1982–1986)
• Jerome H. Holland (B.S. 1939, M.S. 1941) – First black member of the New York Stock Exchange; President of Delaware State University (1953–60) and Hampton University (1960–70); United States ambassador to Sweden, 1970–73; chairman of the American Red Cross, 1979–85
• Edwin Jackson Kyle (M.S. 1902) – United States Ambassador to Guatemala, 1945–48; namesake of Kyle Field
• Sol Linowitz (J.D. 1938, Trustee, 1966–95) – Diplomat, Ambassador, Chairman of Xerox, 1960–66; Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, 1998
• Simon Mbilinyi (B.Sc.) – Tanzanian ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, 1985–1989; Minister of Finance (1995–1996)
• C. Steven McGann (1975–1978 Graduate studies) – United States Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu (2008–2011)
• Cameron Munter (B.A. 1976) – United States Ambassador to Serbia (2007–2009), United States Ambassador to Pakistan (2010–2012)
• G. Frederick Reinhardt (M.A. 1935) – Career diplomat, U.S. ambassador to South Vietnam (1955–1957),to the United Arab Republic and North Yemen (1960–1961) and to Italy (1961–1968)
• Hu Shih (B.A. 1914) – China's ambassador to the U.S., 1938–42; philosopher; poet
• Sao-Ke Alfred Sze (B.A. 1901) – China's ambassador to the U.S. and later UK, founding member of World Bank; First Chinese student to attend Cornell
• Willard Straight (B.Arch. 1901) – American diplomat, investment banker, publisher, World War I veteran, namesake of Willard Straight Hall
• Sandra Louise Vogelgesang – United States Ambassador to Nepal (1994–1997)

Judges and lawyers

Douglas H. Ginsburg

• Floyd Abrams (B.A. 1956) – Co-Counsel, The New York Times "Pentagon Papers" case
• Ronnie Abrams (B.A. 1990) – Federal Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (2012–)
• Simon L. Adler (B.L. 1889) – United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York and New York State lawmaker
• Barry T. Albin (Law 1976) – Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court (2002–)
• Mary Donlon Alger (LLB 1920) – U.S. Customs Court Judge and first female editor-in-chief of the Cornell Law Quarterly and of a US law review
• Mark J. Bennett (J.D. 1979) – Attorney General of Hawaii
• Richard M. Berman (B.S. 1964) – Judge (1998–2012), Senior Judge (2012–) of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
• Boris Bittker (B.A. 1938) – Prominent professor
• Frederic Block (LL.B. 1959) – Judge (1994–2005), Senior Judge (2005–) of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
• Robert Boochever (B.A. 1939, J.D. 1941) – Judge (1980–1986), Senior Judge (1986–2011) of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Justice (1972-1980) and Chief Justice (1975-1978) of the Alaska Supreme Court
• Leonie Brinkema (J.D. 1976) – U.S. District Court Judge
• George B. Clementson (B.L. 1892) – Author of The Road Rights and Liabilities of Wheelmen, the first treatise on bicycle law
• Brian Cogan (J.D. 1979) – Federal judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (2006–)
• Christopher C. Conner (B.A. 1979) – Federal judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (2002–)
• Honorable Paul A. Crotty (LL. B 1967) - Federal Judge, Southern District of New York
• Leonard C. Crouch (Ph.B. 1889) – the New York Supreme Court Justice; New York Court of Appeals Judge
• William H. Cuddeback (B.A. 1874) – New York Court of Appeals Judge (1912–1919)
• Henry White Edgerton (A.B. 1910) – Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (1937–1963)
• Nancy Garlock Edmunds (B.A. 1969) – Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (1992–)
• Harry T. Edwards (B.A. 1962 Industrial & Labor Relations) – Chief justice, U.S. Court of Appeals
• Amy J. St. Eve (B.S. 1987, J.D. 1990) – Federal Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2002–)
• Dana Fabe (B.A. 1973) – Justice (1996–), Chief Justice (2000–2003, 2006–2009, 2012–2015) of Alaska Supreme Court
• Thomas E. Fairchild (B.A. 1934) – Judge (1966–1975), Chief Judge (1975–1981), Senior Judge (1981–2007) of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• Peter T. Farrell (B.A. 1922), Queens County Court judge who presided over the trial of bank robber Willie Sutton.
• Phillip S. Figa (J.D. 1976) – Federal Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado (2003–2008)
• Paul L. Friedman (B.A. 1965) – Judge (1994–2009), Senior Judge (2009–) of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
• Charles Garside (J.D. 1923) – New York City municipal judge, active in New York State Government
• Nina Gershon (B.A. 1962 English) – United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (1976–1996), Judge (1996–2008) and Senior Judge (2008–) of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
• Hon. Douglas H. Ginsburg (B.A. 1970) – Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
• Peter W. Hall (J.D. 1977) – Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2004–)
• David N. Hurd (B.S. 1959) – Federal judge for the U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
• Michael Goldsmith (B.S 1972, J.D. 1975) – leading Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) expert and ALS Advocate.
• William E. Grauer (B.A. 1971, J.D. 1974) – Partner, Cooley LLP
• Emily C. Hewitt (A.B. 1966) – Judge and Chief Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims
• Judge Frank H. Hiscock (A.B. 1875) – Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals (1916–1926), Chairman of Cornell Board of Trustees, and decided the Chester Gillette murder case.
• Edith Jones (B.A. 1971 Economics) – Judge, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Barbara Milano Keenan (B.A. 1971) – Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2010–), Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia (1991–2010) and Judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals (1985–1991)
• Gladys Kessler (B.A. 1959) – Federal judge (1994–2007), Senior Judge (2007–) for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
• Theodore W. Kheel (B.A. 1935, Law 1937) – American attorney and labor mediator
• H. David Kotz (J.D. 1990) – Inspector General of the SEC
• John A. Kronstadt (B.A. 1973) – Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court (2002–2011),Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California (2011–)
• Frederick Bernard Lacey (LL.B. 1948) – Federal judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
• Andrew J. McDonald (B.A.) – Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, Member of the Connecticut Senate (2003–2011)
• Alison J. Nathan (B.A. 1994, J.D. 2000) – Editor-in-Chief of the Cornell Law Review; Federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (2011–)
• Edward Nottingham (B.A. 1969) – United States federal judge in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado
• Walter Chadwick Noyes (1888) – Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Philip Perry (J.D. 1990) – General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security
• Edward R. O'Malley (LL.B. 1891) – former New York Attorney General and justice of the New York Supreme Court
• Marsha J. Pechman (B.A. 1973) – Federal judge (1999–2011), Chief Federal judge (2011–) of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
• Pamela Pepper (J.D. 1989) – Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (2014–)
• Cuthbert W. Pound (Class of 1884; Law Professor) – member of New York State Senate (1894–1895), Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals (1932–1934)
• Sharon Prost (B.S. 1973) – Federal Judge (2001–2014), Chief Judge (2014–present) of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• Leonardo Quisumbing (Master of Laws) – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines (1998–2009)
• Aubrey Eugene Robinson, Jr. (B.A. 1943, LL.B. 1947) – Judge (1966–1982), Chief Judge (1982–1992) and Senior Judge (1992–2000) of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
• Robin S. Rosenbaum (B.A. 1988) - Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
• Barbara Jacobs Rothstein (B.A. 1960) – Judge (February 20, 1980 – September 1, 2011), Chief Judge (1987–1994) of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington; Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (September 1, 2011–)
• Max Rosenn (B.A. 1929) – Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Sang-Hyun Song (J.S.D. 1970) – Judge (2003–2015) and President (2009–2015) of the International Criminal Court
• Jan Schlichtmann (J.D. 1977) – Civil action lawyer whose story was made into the film A Civil Action, in which Schlichtmann is played by John Travolta
• Leah Ward Sears (B.S. 1976) – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia
• Joseph L. Tauro (LL.B. 1956) – Federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
• Elbert Tuttle (B.A. 1918, LL.B. 1923) – Chief judge, U.S. Court of Appeals; ruled on many fundamental 1954 civil-rights cases
• Barbara Ellen Waxman (B.A. 1953) – lawyer and architect
• Richard C. Wesley (J.D. 1974) – Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2003–)

Medal of Honor recipients

• Alan Louis Eggers – Sergeant, United States Army, World War I. Awarded for heroic actions near Le Catelet, France.
• Webb Hayes (attended 1873–1875)
• Matt Urban (Matty L. Urbanowitz, B.A. 1941, History, Government) – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army (1941–46), 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, World War II. Awarded for valorous actions in France and Belgium.

Other government

Major General John Paxton Jr.

• Patrice M. Arent ( J.D. 1981) – Member of the Utah House of Representatives (January 1, 1997 – December 31, 2002, January 1, 2011–) and the Utah State Senate (January 1, 2003 – December 31, 2006)
• Bob Bastian (Veterinary Medicine 1963) – Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1999–2008)
• George Bell, Jr. (LL.B., 1894), United States Army Major General who commanded the 33rd Infantry Division in World War I and later the United States VI Corps.
• William B. Broydrick, Wisconsin politician
• David Carlucci (B.S. 2002, ILR) – Member of the New York Senate (January 1, 2011–)
• Nelson W. Cheney (B.A. 1899) – Member of the New York State Assembly (1916–1929) and of the New York State Senate (1930–1938)
• Derek Chollet (B.A. 1993) – Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (2012–2014)
• Parley Parker Christensen, Utah and California politician, Esperantist
• Ernest E. Cole (B.S. 1895) – Commissioner of Education of the State of New York, 1940–1942
• Edwin L. Crawford, first county executive of Broome County, New York
• Clifford W. Crouch (AAS 1965, Dairy Science) – Member of the New York State Assembly
• Harriet Drummond (B.S. 1974) – Member of the Alaska House of Representatives (2013– )
• Robert Flanagan (J.D. 1974) – Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (2003–2007) and member of the Maryland House of Delegates (1987–2003)
• Stephen Friedman (B.A. 1959; Trustee, 1993–) – Chairman of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (2005–), former assistant for economic policy to President George W. Bush (2002–04) and director of the United States National Economic Council, 2003–04; former chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group, 1990–94.
• Vincent J. Gentile (B.A.) – Member of the New York State Senate (1997–2002) and of the New York City Council (2003–2017)
• Armando Samper Gnecco (B.S. 1943 Agricultural Economy) – Minister of Agriculture of Colombia
• Richard N. Gottfried (B.A. 1968)– Member of the New York State Assembly since 1971 for more than 40 years
• Jesse Root Grant (undergrad 1874–77, dropped out) – Son of U.S. President Ulysses S Grant
• Geoffrey Gratwick (Post-Doctoral Fellowship) – Physician and member of the Maine Senate (2012–)
• Mark J. Green (B.A. 1967) – Government consumer-affairs activist, New York Public Advocate (1994–2001)
• Jo Handelsman (B.S. 1979) - Associate Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (2014- )
• Howard Hart – Central Intelligence Agency officer
• Isaac Herzog, Israeli politician
• John Hillen (MBA) – 15th Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs (2005–2007)
• Dennis Hollingsworth (Dairy Science) – Member of California State Legislature (2000–2010)
• Edward M. House (undergrad 1877–80, dropped out) – Foreign policy advisor for Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt
• Alyson Huber (B.S.) – Member of the California State Assembly (2008–2012); judge of the Superior Court of Sacramento County in California (2012–)
• Phyllis Kahn (A.B. 1957 Physics) – Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for more than 40 years (1973–)
• Florence Kelley (B.A. 1882) – Political and social reformer
• Donald Kerr (B.S. 1963) – Assistant Director of the F.B.I., former Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai (Ph.D. 1950) – Governor of Bihar (1979–85, 1993–98), West Bengal (1998-1999), and Haryana (2004–2009), India
• Stephen D. Krasner (B.A. 1963) – Director of Policy Planning at the U.S. State Department, professor of political science at Stanford University
• Celso Lafer (Ph.D. 1970) – Foreign Minister (1992–1992, 2001–2002) and Commerce Minister (1999–1999) of Brazil
• Gail Lavielle (B.A. English) – Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives (2011–)
• Harold O. Levy (B.A. 1974, J.D. 1977) – Chancellor of New York City Schools 2000–2002
• David R. Macdonald (B.S. 1952) – United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Enforcement, Operations, and Tariff Affairs) (1974–1976), Under Secretary of the Navy (1976–1977), Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (1981–1983)
• William Magee (Bachelor's 1961, Agricultural Economics) – Democratic member of the New York State Assembly
• Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol (LL.M. 2002, J.S.D. 2005) – Princess of Thailand
• Stanley Makowski (Attended with a certificate from ILR) – Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York (1973–1977)
• Kyle E. McSlarrow – Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy
• Daneek Miller – Member of the New York City Council from the 27th District (January 1, 2014–)
• Wheeler Milmoe (A.B. 1917) – Member of the New York State Assembly 1934–1952 and New York State Senate 1953–1958
• E. Blackburn Moore – Member (1933–1967), Speaker (1950–1967) of the Virginia House of Delegates
• Becky Morgan (B.S. 1960) – California State Senator (1984–1993)
• Sherman Moreland (B.Litt. 1892, LL.B. 1894) – Member of the New York State Assembly (1903–1907) and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
• Michael F. Nozzolio (Bachelors ILR, Masters in Public Administration and Agricultural Economics) – Former member of the New York State Assembly (1983–1992) and the New York State Senate (1993–)
• Benjamin Nichols (B.S. 1946, M.S. 1949) – Cornell professor of electrical and computer engineering and Socialist mayor of Ithaca (1989–1995).
• Bill O'Neill – Member of the New Mexico Legislature (2009–)
• Shih-wei Pan (M.A. Ph.D. ILR) – Former Minister of Labor of the Republic of China
• John M. Paxton, Jr. (B.S. 1973, M.Eng. 1974) - Major General United States Marine Corps, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
• Ralph Perlman (Bachelor's) - Louisiana state budget director, 1967-1988
• Charles Gilbert Peterson Mayor of Lockport, NY and contractor
• Juan Carlos Esguerra Portocarrero (LL.M. 1973) – Minister of National Defence of Colombia (1995–1997) and Justice and Law of Colombia (2011–2012); Ambassador of Colombia to the United States (1997–1998)
• Roberto Prats (B.A. 1990 Public Political Analysis and Economics) – Senator of Puerto Rico
• Samuel Rabin – Member of the New York State Assembly (1945–1954); New York Supreme Court Justice
• Charlie Rodríguez (B.A. 1976 in Government and History) – 11th President of the Senate of Puerto Rico (1997–2000)
• Martin Romualdez (B.A. 1985 Government) – Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines (2007–)
• Anna E. Roosevelt (did not graduate) – Daughter of U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt
• Joseph D. Scholtz (B.A. 1912) – Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky (1937–1941)
• Martha Schrader (B.A.) – Member of the Oregon Senate (2009–2011); Clackamas County, Oregon Commissioner (2003–2009, 2012–)
• José Serra (M.A., Ph.D. Economics) – Brazilian politician who served as a Brazil Congressman, Senator, Minister of Planning and Minister of Health, Mayor of São Paulo and Governor of São Paulo state
• William T. Smith (1938) – Member of the New York State Senate (1963–1986)
• Robert Sopuck (M.S. 1975) – Member of Canadian Parliament (2010–)
• Ellen Spiegel (B.S. 1984, Consumer Economics and Public Policy) – Member of the Nevada Assembly (2008–)
• Karen Spilka (B.A.) – Massachusetts State Senator (2005–); Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (2001–2005)
• Gaye Symington (M.B.A. 1983) – Member (1996–2009), Speaker (January 5, 2005 – January 8, 2009) of the Vermont House of Representatives
• David William Thomas (B.A. in classical studies prior to 1900) – Louisiana journalist, attorney, professor, politician
• Martín Travieso (Law 1903) – Member of the Puerto Rico Senate (1917–1921), Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico (1921–1923), 4th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico (1944–1948)
• James S. Truman (Ph.B. 1896, LL.B. 1898) – Member of the New York State Senate (1925–1928)
• Ing-wen Tsai (LL.M. 1980) – Chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan and former Vice Premier
• Ting-kuei Tsay (Ph.D. 1982) – Vice-Chairman of Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration, 2002–2004
• William Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire (Ph.D.) – scholar and Liberal Democrat peer
• Andrew C. Weber - Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs; Obama administration
• Roy P. Wilcox (LL.B. 1897) – Wisconsin politician
• Henry D. Williams – Member of the New York State Assembly (1918) and of the New York State Senate (1925 – 1930)

Business

Founders

Sanford Weill

File:Dave1.JPG

David Duffield

• Richard Baker (B.S. 1988, Hotel Administration) – Founder, President, and CEO of NRDC Equity Partners and Hudson's Bay Company, the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue, Gilt Groupe, Lord & Taylor, The Bay, Home Outfitters, Zellers, and Fields
• Leo V. Berger (LL.B. 1956) - Founder of Apex Marine Corporation.
• Amit Bhatia (B.S. 2001) – Founder of Swordfish Investments; Vice Chairman of Queen's Park Rangers
• Wendell Brown (B.S. 1982) – Co-founder of Teleo, eVoice, LiveOps, and Nularis.
• Willis Carrier (M.E. 1901) – Founder of Carrier Corporation; inventor of air conditioning
• Peter A. Carruthers (Ph.D. 1961) – Co-founder of Santa Fe Institute, physicist
• Justin DuPratt White (Class of 1890) – Co-founder of White & Case law firm; trustee of the Cornell University Board of Trustees (1928–1939)
• Stirling Colgate (B.S. 1948, Ph.D. 1951) – Co-founder of Santa Fe Institute, physicist
• Joseph Coors (B.Chem. 1939, Chem. E. 1940) – Co-founder of Heritage Foundation
• Mac Cummings (B.A. 2001) Co-founder of Terakeet Corporation; Director of Internet Finance
• Ira Drukier, hotelier and philanthropist.
• David Duffield (B.E.E. 1962, M.B.A. 1964) – Co-founder of PeopleSoft and Workday
• David Edgerton (B.A. 1947, Hotel Administration) – Co-founder of Burger King Corporation
• David Einhorn (B.A. 1991) – Founder and President of Greenlight Capital, a noted hedge fund manager
• Herman LeRoy Fairchild (B.S. 1874) – Co-founder of Geological Society of America (GSA), Secretary (1891–1906) and President (1912) of GSA.
• Chuck Feeney (B.S. 1956 Hotel Administration) – Founder of Duty Free Shoppers Group, Founder & Director of Atlantic Philanthropies, Founder of General Atlantic
• Frank Gannett (B.A. 1898) – Founder of Gannett, the largest U.S. newspaper publisher; namesake of Gannett Health Center
• Paul Graham (B.A.) – Co-founder of Viaweb, sold for $46.6 million to Yahoo! and became Yahoo! Stores; Lisp programmer, author
• Leroy Grumman (M.E. 1916) – Founder of Grumman Aerospace Corporation
• Myra Hart (B.A. 1962, M.B.A. 1981, Trustee, 1999–) – One of four founders of Staples, Inc., Professor at Harvard Business School
• Jeff Hawkins (B.S. 1979 Electrical Engineering) – Founder of Palm, Inc. and Handspring; inventor of the Palm Pilot
• Christopher Hemmeter (B.S. 1962, Hotel Administration) – Founder and Chairman of Hemmeter Companies
• Irwin M. Jacobs (B.E.E. 1956) – Co-founder and Chairman of Qualcomm; UCSD and MIT engineering professor, pioneer of CDMA wireless technology, philanthropist; recipient of numerous awards including National Medal of Technology and Innovation (1994)
• Stephen A. Jarislowsky (B.S 1946 Mechanical Engineering) – Businessman and philanthropist; Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Jarislowsky Fraser Limited
• Seth Klarman (B.A. 1979) – Founder and Chairman of the Baupost Group, a noted hedge fund manager
• Jules B. Kroll (B.A. 1963) - Founder of Kroll Inc. and the modern investigations, intelligence, and security industry; responsible for tracking the assets of Jean-Claude Duvalier, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, and Saddam Hussein
• David Litman (1979, 1982) – Founder and CEO of Hotels.com
• James McLamore (B.A. 1947, Hotel Administration) – Co-founder of Burger King Corporation
• Gary Mendell (B.S. 1979 Hotel Administration) – Founder, Chairman, and CEO of HEI Hotels & Resorts
• Howard Milstein (B.A. 1973) – an American real estate developer, financier, and philanthropist; Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of New York Private Bank & Trust
• Jeff Morgan (B.S. City and Regional Planning) – Founder of Global Heritage Fund
• Edward Leamington Nichols (B.S. 1875, Professor) – Founder of the Physical Review, member of the National Academy of Sciences, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1907) and the American Physical Society (1907–08)
• Drew Nieporent (B.S. 1977 Hotel Administration) – Founder of Myriad Restaurant Group
• Perley G. Nutting (Ph.D. 1903) – Founder of Optical Society of America and its first president (1916–1917)
• Franklin W. Olin (B.C.E. 1886) – Founder of Olin Corporation; gave gift to build Olin Hall in memory of his son Franklin W. Olin, Jr.
• John M. Olin (B.S. 1913 Chemistry) – Founder of John M. Olin Foundation, President, Olin Corporation; namesake of Olin Library
• Nathaniel A. Owings – Founding partner of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
• Harris Rosen (B.S. 1961 Hotel Administration) – Founder of Rosen Hotels and Resorts. Founder of Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• Rob Ryan (B.A. 1969) – Founder and Chairman of Ascend Communications
• William Sanders (B.S. 1964) – Founder of LaSalle Partners (later merged to form Jones Lang LaSalle), Founder and Chairman of Security Capital Group Incorporated, Former Chairman of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT)
• Leonard Schleifer (B.S. 1970) Founder and CEO Regeneron
• Seth M. Siegel (B.S. 1974, J. D. 1978) Founder, The Beanstalk Group
• Elmer Ambrose Sperry – Founder of Sperry Corporation, known for his invention of Gyrostabilizer and the Gyrocompass; recipient of John Fritz Medal (1927) and Elliott Cresson Medal from the Franklin Institute (1929)
• Clarence W. Spicer (Engineering student) – Founder of what is now Dana Holding Corporation; engineer, inventor, known for invention of Universal joint; inductee to the Automotive Hall of Fame
• Michael Tien (B.S. 1972 Electrical Engineering) - Founder and Chairman of the apparel retail company G2000.
• Robert V. Tishman (1937): Founder of Tishman Speyer Properties
• Robert I. Toll (B.A. 1966) – Co-founder of Toll Brothers
• Deena Varshavskaya - Founder and CEO of Wanelo
• Jay Walker (B.S. 1977 Industrial Relations) – Founder of Priceline.com; founder and chairman, Walker Digital
• Colston Warne (Bachelor's 1920, Master's 1921 Economics) – Co-founded the Consumers Union and its Consumer Reports monthly magazine and served as its president for 43 years. Professor of Economics at Amherst College (1930–1969)
• Sanford I. Weill (B.A. 1955 Government) – Former Chairman and CEO of Citigroup; founder of Shearson Loeb Rhoades, sold for $930 million to American Express; namesake of Weill Cornell Medical College
• Robin Wolaner (B.S. 1975 Industrial and Labor Relations) – Founder of Parenting Magazine
• John Zimmer (B.S. 2006 Hotel Administration) – Co-Founder and COO of Zimride; Co-Founder and President of Lyft

Chairpersons, CEOs, executives

Myron Charles Taylor

Ratan Tata

• Lou Abin (B.S. 1992, School of Hotel Administration) - Owner at TAO Group
• Al Bernardin (1952) – Creator of the McDonald's Quarter Pounder. Former Vice President of Product Development for McDonald's
• Mark Bertolini (MBA 1984) – CEO and President of Aetna
• Jeffrey Bleustein (B.S. 1960, B.M.E 1961) – Chairman and former CEO of Harley Davidson
• Val A. Browning (B.S. 1917) – President of Browning Arms Company
• Walter S. Carpenter, Jr. (undergrad 1906–09, dropped out) – President (1940–48) and Chairman (1948–62) of DuPont
• Abby Joseph Cohen (B.A. 1973 Economics and Computer Science, Trustee) – Partner and Senior Investment Strategist of Goldman Sachs. President of Global Markets Institute (GMI) Goldman Sachs
• Jennie Chua (B.S. 1971, Hotel Administration) – CEO of Capitaland Residential, Former CEO of Raffles Holdings
• Heather Cho (B.S. 1999, Hotel) - former VP of Korean Air, fired after Nut Rage incident
• Adolph Coors II (B.A. 1907) – 2nd President of Coors Brewing Company
• Pete Coors (B.S. 1969 Industrial Engineering) – Executive of Coors Brewing Company, Senatorial candidate, 2004
• Kenneth T. Derr (B.S. 1959 Mechanical Engineering, M.B.A. 1960, Trustee) – Chairman and CEO of Chevron, 1989–99
• Dave Dombrowski (undergrad 1974–75, transferred) – President, CEO, and General Manager of the Detroit Tigers
• Leon Kraig Eskenazi (M.Sc. 1980) - Partner and Managing Director of IGNIA Partners L.L.C. and Former President of Mars Inc. in Latin America.
• Reggie Fils-Aimé (B.S. 1983 Applied Economics) – President and COO of Nintendo of America (2006–)
• Stephen Friedman (B.A. 1959; Trustee, 1993–) – Chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group, 1990–94; Chairman of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (2005–), former assistant for economic policy to President George W. Bush (2002–04) and director of the United States National Economic Council, 2003–04.
• Harvey Golub (Attended 1956–1958) – President (1991–1993), Chairman and CEO (1993-2001) of American Express, Chairman of the Board at the Campbell Soup Company (2004–2009), Chairman of the American International Group (AIG) (2009–2010), Chairman of the Board of Advisors of Miller Buckfire (2011–)
• Byron Grote (Ph.D. 1981 Quantitative Analysis) – Chief Financial Officer of BP
• Raj Gupta (M.S. 1969 Operations Research) – CEO and president of Rohm and Haas
• Dan Hesse (MBA 1977) – CEO of Sprint Nextel
• Matthew Hiltzik (B.S. 1994, ILR) - President and CEO of Hiltzik Strategies, a strategic consulting and communications firm
• Robert D. Kennedy (B.S. 1954 Mechanical Engineering) – Chairman, president and chief executive officer of Union Carbide (1986–1995)
• Shaygan Kheradpir (Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate 1979–1987 Electrical Engineering) – CEO of Juniper Networks
• Ken Jautz (B.A.) – Executive vice president of CNN; former foreign correspondent for the Associated Press and former CNN's bureau chief in Germany
• Herbert Fisk Johnson, Jr. (B.A. 1922 Chemistry) – President of S. C. Johnson & Son; benefactor and namesake of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art on campus
• Herbert Fisk Johnson III – 5 Cornell degrees 1979–86 – CEO of S. C. Johnson & Son; benefactor and Trustee Emeritus of Cornell
• Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr. (B.A. 1950 Economics) – Chairman of S. C. Johnson & Son; benefactor and co-namesake of the S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management
• Thomas W. Jones (B.A. 1969, M.R.P. 1972, Trustee) – Principal of TWJ Capital LLC
• Paul L. Joskow (B.A. 1968) – President of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation since 2008, economist
• Charles F. Knight (1957, MBA 1959) - Chairman of Emerson Electric Company
• Helen Johnson-Leipold (B.A. 1978 Psychology) – American billionaire businesswoman; Chairman of Johnson Financial Group, Chairman and CEO of Johnson Outdoors
• Winnie Johnson-Marquart (B.S.) – President of the Johnson Family Foundation
• Oscar G. Mayer, Jr. (1934)- Chairman of the Oscar Mayer
• Lowell McAdam (M.E. 1976) – Chairman & CEO – Verizon
• Peter C. Meinig (B.M.E 1962) –Chairman and CEO of HM International, LLC
• Jon R. Moeller (B.S. 1986, MBA 1988) – CFO of Procter & Gamble
• James C. Morgan (B.M.E., M.B.A) – CEO (1977–2003), Chairman (1987–2009) of Applied Materials; recipient of IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal (2010), Semiconductor Industry Association's Robert N. Noyce Award (2006); National Medal of Technology and Innovation (1996)
• Thomas Murphy (B.S. 1945) – Former Chairman and CEO of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc.; Television Hall of Fame, NATPE Lifetime Achievement Award (1996)
• Lubna Olayan (B.S. 1977) – CEO of the Olayan Financing Company, the holding entity for the Olayan Group's operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East
• William D. Perez (B.A. 1969 Government) – CEO of Wm. Wrigley, Jr. Company, CEO of Nike, Inc., 2004–06
• Joseph N. Pew, Jr. (M.E. 1908) – Vice President (1912–1947) and Chairman (1947–1963) of Sun Oil Company; founder of The Pew Charitable Trusts; namesake of Pew Engineering Quad
• Georges Plassat – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Carrefour
• Lewis Platt (B.S. 1964 Mechanical Engineering) – CEO of Hewlett-Packard, (1992–99), Chairman of Boeing, 2003–05
• Robert Purcell – Chairman of Cornell Board of Trustees (1968–1978)
• Justin Rattner (B.S. 1970 Electrical Engineering, M.S. 1972 Computer Science) – Chief Technology Officer of Intel, ABC News Person of the Week for his work on the ASCI Red system (fastest computer in the world, 1996–2000), R&D Magazine's "Scientist of the Year", 1989
• Bruce S. Raynor (B.S. 1972 Industrial & Labor Relations) – President of UNITE HERE
• Kevin Reilly (B.A. 1984) – President of NBC Entertainment, 2004–present
• Irene Rosenfeld (B.S.'75, M.S. '77, Ph.D '80) – CEO and Chairwoman of Kraft Foods
• Frank Rosenfelt (LL.B. 1950) – Former CEO of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studio
• Jon Rubinstein (B.S. 1978, M.Eng 1979) – CEO of Palm, Inc., Apple SVP 1997–2006; member of the National Academy of Engineering
• Joe Saddi (MBA 1983) - Chairman of Booz & Company
• Robert Selander (B.S. 1972) - President and CEO of Mastercard (1997–2010)
• Nancy M. Schlichting (M.B.A. ) – President & CEO of Henry Ford Health System (2003–)
• Steven Sinofsky (B.A. 1987) – President, Windows and Windows Live Engineering at Microsoft
• Charles E. Sporck (B.M.E. 1950) – Microelectronics pioneer, Co-founded the Semiconductor Industry Association; CEO and President of National Semiconductor (1967–1991)
• Warren Staley (M.B.A. 1967) – Chairman and CEO of Cargill, America's largest private company; member of President's Export Council under George W. Bush
• Kyung-Bae Suh (M.B.A. 1987) – Chairman, CEO and Owner of AmorePacific Corporation
• Larry Tanenbaum (B.S. 1968) – Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
• Ratan Tata (B.Arch. 1962) – Chairman of Tata Group, India's wealthiest business group, 1991–2012
• Walter C. Teagle (B.S. 1899, Trustee, 1924–54) – President and Chairman of Standard Oil of New Jersey (now ExxonMobil); namesake of Teagle Hall
• Myron Charles Taylor (LL.B. 1894) – Chairman and CEO of U.S. Steel (1932–38); namesake of Taylor Hall; Medal for Merit recipient
• Andrew Tisch (B.S. 1971, Hotel Administration) – Chairman of Loews Corporation
• James S. Tisch (B.A. 1975) – CEO of Loews Corporation
• Fred Tomczyk (B.S. 1977) – CEO of TD Ameritrade and former president and chief executive officer of London Life Insurance Company
• Arnold Tremere, Executive Director, Government Official (Canadian International Grains Institute)
• Rick Tsai (Ph.D 1981) – CEO of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
• Harold Uris (B.S. 1925, Trustee 1967–1972) – Real estate investor and builder; namesake of Uris Hall
• Barry Weiss – Chairman & CEO of Island Def Jam and Universal Motown Republic
• Mark Whitacre, COO of Cypress Systems (Ph.D. Nutritional Biochemistry)
• Lynton Wilson ( M.A. Economics) – President and CEO of Redpath Industries Ltd. (1981-1988); Vice-Chairman of the Bank of Nova Scotia; President & COO, BCE Inc. (1990-1992); President & CEO, BCE Inc. (1992-1993); Chairman, President & CEO, BCE Inc. (1993-1996); Chairman and CEO, BCE Inc. (1996-1998); and Chairman of the Board, BCE Inc. (1998-2000); Chairman, Nortel Networks (2000-2005); Chairman, CAE Inc.; Chancellor of McMaster University (2007-2013); Officer of the Order of Canada; Recipient of honorary degrees from six Canadian universities.
• Dennis Woodside (B.S. 1991) – CEO of Motorola Mobility. President of Google America
• Robert D. Ziff (J.D. 1992) – co-CEO of Ziff Brothers Investments.

Natural sciences and related fields

Mathematics and Statistics

William F. Friedman

• James O. Berger (Ph.D. 1974) – Statistician, Professor of Statistics at Duke University and Director of the Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute since 2002; Fellow of the American Statistical Association and member of the National Academy of Sciences; recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, the COPSS Presidents' Award (1985) and the R. A. Fisher Lectureship
• Lawrence D. Brown (Ph.D. 1964; Professor) – Statistician, Miers Busch Professor of Statistics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; member of National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, president of Institute of Mathematical Statistics (1992–1993)
• T. Tony Cai (Ph.D. 1996) – Statistician, Dorothy Silberberg Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Fellow of Institute of Mathematical Statistics (2006), recipient of COPSS Presidents' Award (2008)
• George F. Carrier (M.A. 1939, Ph.D. 1944) – Mathematician, known for the modeling of Fluid Mechanics, Combustion, and Tsunamis, T. Jefferson Coolidge Professor of Applied Mathematics Emeritus at Harvard University, recipient of the National Medal of Science (1990), Otto Laporte Award (1976), Theodore von Karman Medal (1977), Timoshenko Medal (1978), Fluid Dynamics Prize (APS) (1984)
• Chia-Kun Chu (M.M.E. 1950) – Applied mathematician, Fu Foundation Professor Emeritus of Applied Mathematics at Columbia University
• Gérard Cornuéjols (Ph.D. 1978) – IBM University Professor of Operations Research at the Carnegie Mellon University and former editor-in-chief of Mathematics of Operations Research; recipient of Frederick W. Lanchester Prize (1977)， the Fulkerson Prize (2000), the George B. Dantzig Prize (2009) and the John von Neumann Theory Prize (2011)
• Elbert Frank Cox (Ph.D. 1925 Mathematics) – First black person in the world to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics; professor and department head at Howard University
• William F. Friedman (B.S. 1914 Genetics) – Cryptologist, member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
• Stephen Gelbart (B.A. 1967, Professor) – American-Israeli mathematician; Nicki and J. Ira Harris Professorship at the Weizmann Institute of Science, President of the Israel Mathematical Union (1994–1996), fellow of the American Mathematical Society (2013)
• Alston Scott Householder (M.A. 1927) – American mathematician and inventor of the Householder transformation and of Householder's method; president of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
• Iain M. Johnstone (Ph.D. 1981) – Statistician, Stanford University Statistics Professor and president of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, recipient of Guy Medal(Silver 2010, Bronze 1995) and COPSS Presidents' Award (1995), member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences
• Nancy Kopell (A.B. 1960) – Studies dynamics of the nervous system; MacArthur Fellow (1990), Guggenheim Fellowship (1984); member of the National Academy of Sciences and fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Lee Lorch (B.A. 1935) - Mathematician, contributed to fields of summability theory and Fourier analysis; early civil rights activist
• Henry Louis Rietz (Ph.D. 1902) – American mathematician, actuarial scientist, and statistician who served as the President of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics and of the Mathematical Association of America
• Neil Sloane (Ph.D. 1967) – Mathematician; creator and maintainer of the On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences; AT&T Fellow (1998), IEEE Fellow, American Mathematical Society Fellow; member of the National Academy of Engineering; recipient of Lester R. Ford Award (1978), the Chauvenet Prize (1979), the IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal (2005), the Mathematical Association of America's David P. Robbins award (2008)
• Robert J. Vanderbei (Ph.D. 1981 Applied Mathematics) – Mathematician and Professor of Operations Research and Financial Engineering at Princeton University; fellow of the American Mathematical Society (2013)
• Samuel S. Wagstaff, Jr. (Ph.D. 1970) – American mathematician and computer scientist known for the Wagstaff prime, a professor of computer science and mathematics at Purdue University
• Ward Whitt (Ph.D. 1969 Operations Research) – Wai T. Chang Professor of IEOR at Columbia University and was on the faculty of Stanford University and Yale University; member of the National Academy of Engineering, recipient of John von Neumann Theory Prize (2001) and Frederick W. Lanchester Prize (2003)
• Norbert Wiener (graduate study 1910–1911, transferred) – Mathematician, founder of the study of cybernetics, recipient of Bôcher Memorial Prize (1933) and National Medal of Science (1963)

Physics

See also: List of Cornell Manhattan Project people

• Andreas J. Albrecht (B.A. 1979) – Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Physics Department at the University of California, Davis; Fellow of the American Physical Society, of the Institute of Physics (UK), and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• David Awschalom (Ph.D. 1982) – Condensed matter experimental physicist known for his work in spintronics in semiconductors, Liew Family Professor in Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago; member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize (2005) and Agilent Europhysics Prize by the European Physical Society (2005)
• Samuel Jackson Barnett (Ph.D. 1898) – Physicist, known for Barnett effect in Electromagnetism; professor of physics and department chairman at University of California at Los Angeles; repeated nominee of the Nobel Prize in Physics, fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Malcolm Beasley (B.E.P. 1962, Ph.D. 1968) – Physicist
• Kenneth Bowles (PhD 1955) – Jicamarca Radio Observatory, UCSD Pascal
• Peter A. Carruthers (Ph.D. 1961; Professor) – Physicist, leader of the theoretical division of Los Alamos National Laboratory (1973 – 1980), professor of physics and department chairman at the University of Arizona, co-founder of Santa Fe Institute
• Mandar Madhukar Deshmukh (Ph.D. 2002) – An Indian physicist specialising in nanoscale and mesoscopic physics who received the India's highest science and technology award Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology in 2015
• Herbert Grove Dorsey Ph.D. 1908; Professor - Physicist, invented the first practical fathometer, a water depth measuring instrument for ships.
• Mildred Dresselhaus (postdoc) – Applied physicist, Institute professor and professor of physics and electrical engineering (emerita) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, recipient of National Medal of Science (1990), Enrico Fermi Award (2012), Kavli Prize in Nanoscience (2012), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2014), Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize (2008) etc.
• Helen T. Edwards (B.S. 1957, M.S., Ph.D. 1966 Physics) – Leading scientist for the design and construction of the Tevatron at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory; member of the National Academy of Engineering; recipient of the USPAS Prize for Achievement in Accelerator Physics and Technology (1985), E. O. Lawrence Award (1986), MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (1988), the National Medal of Technology and Innovation (1989)
• Roswell Clifton Gibbs (B.A. 1906, M.A. 1908, Ph.D. 1910, Chairman of the Department of Physics 1934–1946) – President of the Optical Society of America (1937–1938) and Fellow of the American Physical Society
• Kenneth Greisen (Ph.D. 1942; Professor Emeritus of Physics) – Pioneer in the study of Cosmic Rays and Manhattan Project participant; first chair of High Energy Astrophysics Division of the American Astronomical Society; member of the National Academy of Sciences (1974)
• Roman Jackiw (Ph.D. 1966) – Professor at the MIT Center for Theoretical Physics, known for Adler–Bell–Jackiw anomaly and Jackiw–Teitelboim gravity; member of the National Academy of Sciences, Guggenheim Fellow and Fellow of the American Physical Society; Dirac Medallist
• Harry Kroger (Ph.D. 1962) – Physicist and electrical engineer
• James A. Krumhansl (Ph.D. 1943; Professor) – Physicist, President of the American Physical Society (1989–1990)
• Harry J. Lipkin (Class of 1942) – An Israeli theoretical physicist specializing in nuclear physics and elementary particle physics who received the Wigner Medal in 2002
• Robert E. Marshak(Ph.D. 1939) – Physicist, known for his contributions in Weak Interaction. He and his student George Sudarshan were the first ones who proposed the V-A theory of Weak Interactions; served as chairperson of Physics Department at Rochester University, president of City College of New York, and the University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech; president of American Physical Society (1982–1983); fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and member of the National Academy of Sciences;recipient of numerous awards including three Guggenheim Fellowships, the Humboldt Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Prize, and so on.
• Ernest Merritt (B.S. Mechanical Engineering, M.A. Physics; Professor, Dean of Graduate School 1909–1914, Chair of the Physics Department 1919–1935) – Physicist, co-founder (1893) and co-editor (1893–1913) of the journal Physical Review, first Secretary, then President (1914–1916) of the American Physical Society, member of the National Academy of Sciences (1914)
• David Robert Nelson (A.B., 1972, M.S., 1974, Ph.D., 1975, Physics) – Arthur K. Solomon Professor of Biophysics and Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Harvard University; MacArthur Fellow (1984), recipient of Guggenheim Fellowship and Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize (2004), member of the National Academy of Sciences, fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Gerard K. O'Neill (Ph.D. 1954) – Physicist and space activist
• John Perdew (M.S., Ph.D.) – Theoretical condensed matter physicist; member of National Academy of Sciences (2011)
• Michael Peskin (Ph.D. 1978) – Theoretical physicist and Professor in the theory group at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, known for Peskin–Takeuchi parameter; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Hubert Reeves (Ph.D. 1960) – Astrophysicist
• Floyd K. Richtmyer (A.B. in 1904, Ph.D. 1910; Professor of Physics) – President of Optical Society of America (1920); recipient of the Louis E. Levy Medal of the Franklin Institute for the study of X-rays (1929)
• Albert Rose (A.B. 1931, Ph.D. 1935) – Physicist, known for his contributions to TV video camera tubes and originating the concept of Detective quantum efficiency; Fellow of IEEE and the American Physical Society; recipient of SMPTE's David Sarnoff Gold Medal(1958), IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Award (1946), IEEE Edison Medal (1979)
• Michael Roukes (Ph.D. 1985) – American experimental physicist, nanoscientist, and the Robert M. Abbey Professor of Physics, Applied Physics, and Bioengineering at the California Institute of Technology
• Stephen Shenker (Ph.D. 1980) – Theoretical physicist on string theory and a professor at Stanford University, former director of the Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics; MacArthur Fellow (1987), Fellow of American Physical Society (2003), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2006), recipient of Lars Onsager Prize (2010)
• Ernest J. Sternglass (B.S. 1944, Ph.D. 1948) – Physicist, alerted the world to dangers of nuclear war
• Leonard Susskind (Ph.D. 1965) – Theoretical physicist, Felix Bloch professor of Theoretical physics at Stanford University, and director of the Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics; Father of String Theory; member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; recipient of Sakurai Prize (1998), Pomeranchuk Prize (2008)
• Ted Taylor (Ph.D. 1956 Theoretical Physics) – Director of Project Orion and designer of many small nuclear weapons
• C. Bruce Tarter (Ph.D.) – Theoretical physicist; Director Emeritus of the University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory who led the Laboratory between 1994–2002; fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, recipient of the Roosevelts Gold Medal Award for Science (1998), National Nuclear Security Administration Gold Medal for Distinguished Service (2002), the U.S. Department of Energy Secretary's Gold Award (2004)
• Ralph Walter Graystone Wyckoff (Ph.D. 1919) – Crystallographer, pioneer of X-ray crystallography; member of the National Academy of Sciences and foreign member of Royal Society

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Physics

Steve Squyres

• Joseph A. Burns (Ph.D. 1966, Professor) – Planetary scientist; fellow of the AGU and the AAAS
• Christopher Chyba (Ph.D. 1991) – Professor of Astrophysical Sciences and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University; MacArthur Fellow (2001)
• Frank Drake (B.A. 1952 Engineering Physics; Professor of Astronomy, 1964–84) – SETI researcher, known for the Drake equation
• William E. Gordon (Ph.D. 1953 EE; faculty member, 1953–1965) – Father of the Arecibo Observatory, physicist and astronomer, Member of National Academy of Sciences (1968) and National Academy of Engineering (1975), Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1986), recipient of Arctowski Medal from the National Academy of Sciences, Dean of Science and Engineering, Dean of Natural Sciences, and Provost and Vice President of Rice University
• Peter Goldreich (B.S. 1960, Ph.D. 1963) – Astrophysicist, Lee A. DuBridge Professor of Astrophysics & Planetary Physics at Caltech; member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; numerous awards and honors including Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1993), National Medal of Science (1995), Grande Médaille (2006), Shaw Prize (2007), etc.; Asteroid 3805 Goldreich is named after him
• Isabel Martin Lewis (A.B. 1903, A.M. 1905) – Eclipse expert, popularizer of astronomy; first woman hired by the United States Naval Observatory.
• Gerald Neugebauer (B.A. 1954 Physics) – Astronomer, one of the founders of the infrared astronomy, co-discoverer of the Becklin-Neugebauer Object; Robert Andrews Millikan Professor of Physics, Emeritus at Caltech; director of the Palomar Observatory (1980–1994); member of National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, California Scientist of the Year (1986); recipient of the Rumford Prize (1986), Henry Norris Russell Lectureship (1996), the Herschel Medal (1998), the Bruce Medal (2010)
• Marcia Neugebauer (B.A. 1954 Physics) – Space physicist, Senior Research Scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), known for direct measurements of the solar wind; president of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and Editor-in-Chief of its journal Reviews of Geophysics; fellow of American Geophysical Union, recipient of Arctowski Medal (2010)
• Judith Pipher (Ph.D. 1971) – American astrophysicist and observational astronomer known for her contributions in infrared astronomy for the development of infrared detector arrays in space telescopes; an inductee of the National Women's Hall of Fame (2007)
• Vera Rubin (M.A. 1951) – Astronomer known for contributions to the study of dark matter; member of the National Academy of Sciences, recipient of numerous of awards and honorary D.Sc. degrees for her achievements, including National Medal of Science etc.
• Irwin I. Shapiro (B.A. Mathematics) – Astrophysicist, known for Shapiro time delay and 3832 Shapiro; Timken University Professor at Harvard University, director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (1982–2004); member of the National Academy of Sciences and Guggenheim Fellow; recipient of numerous awards including Albert Einstein Medal from the Albert Einstein Society (1994) etc.
• Paul L. Schechter (B.A. 1968) – Astrophysicist and observational cosmologist, known for Schechter Luminosity Function and Press–Schechter formalism; William A. M. Burden Professor of Astrophysics at MIT; member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Steven Squyres (B.A. 1978 Geology, Ph.D. 1981 Planetary Science; Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy) – Astronomer, principal science investigator for the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of Harold C. Urey Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the Benjamin Franklin Medal, Carl Sagan Memorial Award, the Wernher von Braun Award from National Space Society, the Space Science Award from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• David J. Stevenson (M.S. 1972, Ph.D. 1976) – Marvin L. Goldberger Professor of Planetary Science at Caltech; fellow of the Royal Society and a member of the National Academy of Sciences; recipient of H. C. Urey Prize (1984)

Chemistry

• John D. Baldeschwieler (B.S. 1956 Chemical Engineering) – Chemist, known for Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy. J. Stanley Johnson Professor and Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus at Caltech; member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society; recipient of National Medal of Science (2000)
• Stephen J. Benkovic (Ph.D. 1963) – Chemist, notably for the discovery of enzyme inhibitors, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1984), member of the National Academy of Sciences (1985) and the American Philosophical Society (2002), recipient of Christian B. Anfinsen Award (2000), Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science (2009), Ralph F. Hirschmann Award in Peptide Chemistry(2010), National Medal of Science (2010), NAS Award in Chemical Sciences (2011)
• Eric Betzig ( M.S. 1985; Ph.D. Applied and Engineering Physics 1988) - 2014 Nobel Prize in chemistry
• Harry Coover (M.S. 1943, Ph.D. 1944) – Prolific product inventor, notably cyanoacrylate adhesives (Super Glue); member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame; recipient of National Medal of Technology and Innovation (2010)
• Neil L. Kelleher (M.S., Ph.D. 1997) – Biochemist, known for Mass spectrometry, Top-down proteomics and the development of the fragmentation technique of Electron-capture dissociation, Walter and Mary Elizabeth Glass Professor of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and Medicine at Northwestern University
• Martha L. Ludwig (B.A, Ph.D.) – Biochemist, recipient of Garvan-Olin Medal of the American Chemical Society (1984) and Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award from the University of Michigan (1986), Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2001), Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2003) and the Institute of Medicine (2006), J. Lawrence Oncley Distinguished University Professor of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan
• Walter McCrone (B.S. 1938 Chemistry, Ph.D. 1942 Organic Chemistry) – Leading expert in microscopy, best known for work on the Shroud of Turin and the Vinland map
• Fred McLafferty (Ph.D. 1950; Peter J. W. Debye Professor of Chemistry) – Chemist, known for McLafferty rearrangement reaction observed with mass spectrometry; member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Alexander Dounce (Ph.D. 1935) – Biochemist, inventor of the Dounce homogenizer
• Thomas Midgley, Jr. (M.E. 1911) – Inventor of Freon and tetraethyllead
• Samuel Wilson Parr(M.S. 1895) – Chemist, known for his discovery of alloy illium; President of the American Chemical Society (1928); Founder of Parr Instrument Company
• Eugene G. Rochow (B.S. 1931, Ph.D. 1935) – Inorganic chemist award the Perkin Medal
• Edward C. Taylor (B.A. 1946, Ph.D. 1949) – Chemist and author of over 450 scientific papers and 52 U.S. patents; A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Organic Chemistry and department chairman at Princeton University; inventor of the most successful new and broadly effective anticancer drug pemetrexed (brand name Alimta); recipient of numerous awards including the 2006 Heroes of Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society for his work on the discovery and development of Alimta "that has led to the welfare and progress of humanity"
• Benjamin Widom (Ph.D. 1953; Goldwin Smith Professor of Chemistry 1954–) – Physical chemist awarded the Boltzmann Medal; member of the National Academy of Sciences and fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Computer Science and Computer Engineering

• Scott Aaronson (B.S. 2000 Computer Scienc) – Theoretical computer scientist and faculty member in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; recipient of Alan T. Waterman Award (2012) and PECASE (2010)
• Allan Borodin (Ph.D. 1969 Computer Science) – Canadian-American computer scientist who has been on faculty since 1969, served as department chair from 1980 to 1985, and became University Professor in 2011 at the University of Toronto; member of the Royal Society of Canada, recipient of CRM-Fields-PIMS prize; fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2011) and ACM (2014)
• Edmund M. Clarke (M.S. 1974, Ph.D. 1976) – winner of the 2007 Association for Computing Machinery A.M. Turing Award, winner of the IEEE Computer Society Harry H. Goode Memorial Award
• Robert L. Cook (M.S. 1981 Computer Graphics) – Academy Award for creation of RenderMan rendering software
• Tom DeMarco (B.E.E.) – Software Engineer and early developer of structured analysis in the 1970s; member of the ACM and fellow of the IEEE; recipient of the Warnier Prize for Lifetime Contribution to the Field of Computing (1986), and the Stevens Award for Contribution to the Methods of Software Development (1999); Author of over nine books and 100 papers on project management and software development
• Cynthia Dwork (Ph.D.1983 Computer Science) – Distinguished Computer Scientist at Microsoft Research; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, member of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences; recipient of Dijkstra Prize (2007), the PET Award for Outstanding Research in Privacy Enhancing Technologies (2009)
• Lauren Elliott (Attended 3 years, transferred) – Video game designer, internet entrepreneur, publisher and inventor; co-designer for the Carmen Sandiego game series which remains the best-selling edutainment game in history.
• Zvi Galil (Ph.D. 1975) – Computer scientist, specialized in design and analysis of algorithms, graph algorithms and string matching; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and ACM, member of the National Academy of Engineering; honorary Doctor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo
• Andrew C. Greenberg (B.S. 1979) – Co-creator of the massively successful early computer game Wizardry
• Donald P. Greenberg (B.C.E. 1958, Ph.D. 1968) – Computer graphics pioneer and educator
• Morton Heilig (1943) – Early virtual reality pioneer, inventor
• William Higinbotham (graduate study) – Developer of Tennis for Two, 1958, one of the earliest video games
• Neil Immerman (Ph.D. 1980) – Theoretical Computer Scientist, recipient of Gödel Prize for Immerman–Szelepcsényi theorem (1995), ACM Fellow and Guggenheim Fellow
• Ravindran Kannan (Ph.D.) – Computer scientist, principal researcher at Microsoft Research India; William K. Lanman Jr. Professor of Computer Science and Professor of Applied Mathematics at Yale University; recipient of Knuth Prize (2011)
• Randy Katz (B.A. 1976) – Computer scientist, developed the redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) concept for computer storage; distinguished professor of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at University of California, Berkeley; fellow of the ACM and the IEEE, member of National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; recipient of IEEE James H. Mulligan, Jr. Education Medal (2010)
• Dan Klein (B.A. 1998 Math, CS, Linguistics) – Computer scientist at the University of California, Berkeley; recipient of the Grace Murray Hopper Award (2006)
• Jon Kleinberg (B.S. 1993, Professor of Computer Science) – MacArthur Fellow (2005), researcher of combinatorial network structure
• Dexter Kozen (Ph.D. 1977 Computer Science; Joseph Newton Pew, Jr. Professor in Engineering) – Theoretical computer scientist who was elected the ACM fellow (2003) and Guggenheim Fellow (1991)
• Jai Menon (M.S. 1989, Ph.D. 1992) – Winner of InformationWeek Global CIO 50 (USA, 2009), NASSCOMM IT Innovation Award 2006, Director of Technology, Bharti Enterprises, 30+ patents (Rich Media), Implemented innovative S1 contract with IBM for Bharti Airtel
• Marc Levoy (B.Arch. 1976, M.S. 1978 Architecture) – Developed technology and algorithms for digitizing 3D objects that led to the Digital Michelangelo Project
• Douglas McIlroy (B.E.P. 1954) – Inventor of the pipes and filters architecture of Unix and the concept of software componentry
• Kurt Mehlhorn (Ph.D. 1974) – Theoretical computer scientist; vice president of the Max Planck Society and director of the Max Planck Institute for Computer Science; foreign member of the National Academy of Engineering, ACM Fellow; recipient of numerous other awards and honors including Leibniz Prize (1987), Konrad Zuse Medal (1995), EATCS Award (2010), Paris Kanellakis Award (2010), and so on
• Christopher Ré (B.S. 2001) – Computer scientist on the faculty of Stanford University; MacArthur Fellow (2015)
• Edward Reingold (Ph.D.) – Computer scientist in the fields of algorithms, data structures, and calendrical calculations who was elected a Fellow of the ACM (1996)
• Jason Rohrer (B.S. 2000) - Independent video game designer
• Tim Roughgarden (Ph.D. 2002) – Computer scientist at Stanford University; recipient of the Grace Murray Hopper Award (2009) and the Gödel Prize (2012)
• Daniela L. Rus (Ph.D.) – Andrew and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, former Professor of the Computer Science at Dartmouth College; MacArthur Fellow (2002), Fellow of the ACM (2014), IEEE (2009), and AAAI (2009), member of the National Academy of Engineering
• Raimund Seidel (Ph.D. 1987) – A German and Austrian theoretical computer scientist known for the Kirkpatrick–Seidel algorithm, who is serving as the Director of Leibniz Center for Informatics at Schloss Dagstuhl (2014–)
• Amit Singhal (Ph.D. 1996) – Google search guru who heads Google's core ranking team and is a senior vice president at Google Inc.; Google Fellow, Fellow of the ACM; member of the National Academy of Engineering
• Steven Sinofsky (B.S. 1987) -Microsoft computer engineer, president of Windows division, 2009-2012.
• George Stibitz (Ph.D. 1930 Mathematical Physics) – One of the fathers of the modern first digital computer; member of the National Academy of Engineering, inductee to the National Inventors Hall of Fame; recipient of Harry H. Goode Memorial Award (1965), IEEE Emanuel R. Piore Award (1977), IEEE's Computer Pioneer Award for First Remote Computation (1982)
• John A. Swanson (B.S. 1962, M.S. 1963) – founder of ANSYS and John Fritz Medal winner
• Robert Woodhead – Co-creator of the massively successful early computer game Wizardry and co-founder of AnimEigo
• Padmasree Warrior (M.S., Chemical Engineering) – Chief Technical Officer at Cisco

Engineering, Material Science

• Manson Benedict (B.S. Chemistry) – Nuclear engineering pioneer and chemist on Manhattan Project and MIT Professor, recipient of William H. Walker Award (1947), Perkin Medal (1966), Robert E. Wilson Award (1968), Enrico Fermi Award (1972), National Medal of Science (1975), John Fritz Medal (1975), fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1952), member of National Academy of Engineering
• Joel S. Birnbaum (B.S. Engineering Physics) – Member of the National Academy of Engineering (1989) and the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the IEEE, and the ACM
• Ralph Bown (M.E., M.M.E., Ph.D.) – Electrical engineer, radar expert; recipient of IEEE Medal of Honor (1949) and IEEE Founders Medal (1961)
• Oliver Ellsworth Buckley (Ph.D. 1914) – American electrical engineer known for his contributions to the field of submarine telephony, President (1940–1951) and Chairman (1951–1952) of Bell Labs; member of the National Academy of Sciences and fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers; recipient of IEEE Edison Medal (1954); The Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize is named in his honor
• Walker Lee Cisler (Class of 1922, Mechanical Engineering) – President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1960–1961), founding member of the National Academy of Engineering; fellow of the IEEE; recipient of Hoover Medal (1962), IEEE Edison Medal (1965) and John Fritz Medal (1967)
• William Littell Everitt (E.E. 1922) – American electrical engineer and radar pioneer; fellow and president (1945) of Institute of Radio Engineers, fellow of AIEE, founding member of the National Academy of Engineering, member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society for Engineering Education, the Acoustical Society of America; recipient of IEEE Medal of Honor (1954), IEEE James H. Mulligan, Jr. Education Medal (1957)
• Bancroft Gherardi, Jr. (M.E. 1893, M.M.E 1894) – Electrical engineer, known for pioneering work in developing the early telephone systems in the United States; member of National Academy of Sciences, fellow of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and served as its president from (1927 – 1928); recipient of IEEE Edison Medal (1932)
• Meredith Gourdine (B.S. 1953) – Olympic Silver medalist (1952), engineer and physicist, known for Air Pollution Control, Non-Contact Printing; member of the National Academy of Engineering (1991), inductee to Engineering and Science Hall of Fame (1994)
• David A. Hodges (B.E.E. 1960) – Professor, Department Chair, and Dean, Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, Member of the National Academy of Engineering, IEEE Fellow, recipient of ASEE's Benjamin Garver Lamme Award (1999), IEEE's James H. Mulligan, Jr. Education Medal (1997), IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Award (1983)
• Dugald C. Jackson (Postgraduate student and instructor in Electrical Engineering 1885–1887) – Professor and department chair of Electrical Engineering of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1907–1935; recipient of IEEE Edison Medal (1938)
• Robert S. Langer (B.S. 1970 Chemical Engineering) – Leading figure in biochemical engineering and science, David H. Koch Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; author of over 1060 granted or pending patents and 1,300 scientific papers; founder of multiple technology companies; member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine, recipient of more than 220 major awards including National Medal of Science (2006), National Medal of Technology and Innovation (2011), Kyoto Prize (2014), Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (2015), Wolf Prize in Chemistry (2013), $3 million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2014) etc.
• George W. Lewis (B.S. 1908, M.S. 1910 Mechanical Engineering) – Director of Aeronautical Research at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA); member of the National Academy of Sciences; recipient of Daniel Guggenheim Medal (1936), ASME Spirit of St. Louis Medal (1944); Medal for Merit (1948)
• Shu-tian Li (Ph.D. 1928) – Studied hydaulic issues in China, grandfather of Steven Chu
• Edwin N. Lightfoot (B.S., Ph.D. Chemical Engineering) – known for his research in Transport Phenomena, member of the National Academy of Engineering (1979), E. V. Murphree Award (1994), recipient of the National Medal of Science (2004)
• Richard Moore(Ph.D. 1951) – Remote sensing pioneer, Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (1993), Life Fellow of IEEE, Member of National Academy of Engineering (1989), recipient of Australia Prize for Remote Sensing (1995), Remote Sensing Award from Italian Center (1995), IEEE Centennial Medal (1984), Distinguished Achievement Award of IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (1982) and Outstanding Technical Achievement Award of IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (1978)
• Priscilla Nelson (Ph.D. 1983 Geotechnical Engineering) – Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (2005–2008) of New Jersey Institute of Technology; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• John Ochsendorf (B.S. 1996) – Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MacArthur Fellow (2008)
• Thomas D. O'Rourke (B.S. 1970 Civil Engineering; Thomas R. Biggs Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering) – Geotechnical engineer; President of Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (2002–2004); fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, member of the National Academy of Engineering
• John Prausnitz (B.S. 1950) – Applied physical chemist, known for developed molecular thermodynamics; chemical engineering professor at UC Berkeley since 1955; member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; recipient of the National Medal of Science
• Paul V. Roberts (Ph.D. 1966 Chemical Engineering) – Environmental Engineer, former C.L. Peck, Class of 1906 Professor in the School of Engineering at Stanford University; member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Swiss Academy of Sciences
• Harris J. Ryan (Class of 1887) – Electrical engineer and a professor first at Cornell University (1888–1905) and later at Stanford University (1905–1931), known for his contributions to high voltage power transmission; President of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (1923–1924); member of the National Academy of Sciences and recipient of IEEE Edison Medal (1925)
• Al Seckel – Creator of the Darwin Fish
• David H. Shepard (B.E.E. 1945) – Inventor, known for the first optical character recognition device, first voice recognition system and the Farrington B numeric font used on credit cards
• Peter Swerling (A.B. 1949 Economics) – Radar theoreticians known for Swerling Target Models; member of the National Academy of Engineering and fellow of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• William J. Wilgus (correspondence student, 1883-1885) - designer and chief engineer for the building of Grand Central Terminal, 1902-1913
• Jerry Woodall (Ph.D. 1982) – Inventor and scientist, best known for his invention of the first commercially viable heterojunction material GaAlAs for red LEDs used in automobile brake lights and traffic lights, CD and DVD players, TV remote controls and computer networks; recipient of National Medal of Technology and Innovation (2001)

Industrial and Labor Relations

• Francine D. Blau (B.S. 1966 Industrial and Labor Relations) – Cornell University economics professor and affiliate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, first woman to receive the IZA Prize in Labor Economics
• Sara Horowitz (B.A. 1984 ILR) – Labor Lawyer; MacArthur Fellow (1999)
• Randi Weingarten (B.S. 1980 Labor Relations) – President of the United Federation of Teachers

Biological Sciences (Biology, Ecology, Botany, Nutrition, Biophysics, Biochemistry)

• Nathan Banks (B.S. 1889, M.S. 1890) – Entomologist noted for his work on neuroptera, megaloptera, hymenoptera, and acarina; Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1922)
• Margaret Altmann - Biologist
• Bruce Ames (B.A. 1950 Chemistry/Biochemistry) – Biochemist, professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley; inventor of Ames test; member of National Academy of Sciences, fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences; recipient of Charles S. Mott Prize (1983), Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (1985), AIC Gold Medal (1981), Japan Prize (1997), National Medal of Science (1998), Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal (2004)
• George W. Archibald (Ph.D. 1975) – Ornithologist, co–founder of the International Crane Foundation; MacArthur Fellow (1984)
• George Francis Atkinson (B.A. 1885) – American botanist and mycologist, President of the Botanical Society of America (1907) and member of the National Academy of Sciences (1918)
• Fred Baker (B.S. 1870, Civil Engineering) - Macalologist, founder of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• Robert C. Baker (B.S. 1943; Professor) – inventor of the chicken nugget
• Stephen Moulton Babcock, developed the "single-grain experiment" (in 1907–11) that would lead to the development of nutrition as a science.
• May Berenbaum (Ph.D. 1980) – Entomologist, fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of the National Medal of Science (2014)
• Frank E. Buck, Canadian horticulturalist.
• Ralph Vary Chamberlin (Ph.D 1905) – Prolific taxonomist, fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Vera Charles, (B.A. 1903) - pioneer USDA mycologist
• Clem S. Clarke (two years, Geology) - oilman and Republican politician from Shreveport, Louisiana
• Kenneth Stewart Cole (Ph.D. 1926) – Biophysicist who was a pioneer in the application of physical science to biology, recipient of National Medal of Science (1967)
• John Henry Comstock (B.S. 1874; Professor) – Pioneer in entomology research and education
• Robert Corey (Ph.D. 1924) – Biochemist known for his role in discovery of the α-helix and the β-sheet, professor of structural chemistry at Caltech (1949–1968); recipient of Guggenheim Fellowship, member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Raymond B. Cowles (Ph.D. 1928) - Herpetologist who studied thermal ecology of reptiles
• Roy Curtiss (B.S. 1956) – Professor of Genomics, Evolution, & Bioinformatics at Arizona State University; member of National Academy of Sciences
• Milislav Demerec (Ph.D. 1923 Genetics) – Geneticist and long serving director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
• Keith Downey (Ph.D. 1961) – Inventor of canola oil
• Arthur Rose Eldred (B.S. 1916 Agriculture) – America's first Eagle Scout, (1912), agriculturalist
• Alfred E. Emerson (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.) – Biologist who was Professor of Zoology at the University of Chicago (1929–1962) and served as President of the Ecological Society of America (1941) and of the Society of Systematic Zoology (1958); member of the National Academy of Sciences (1962)
• Erwin Engst (B.S. 1941) – Agricultural specialist who assisted in developing China's agriculture and social economy
• W. Hardy Eshbaugh (B.A.) – Botanist, known for his research on chili peppers and the discovery and description of a new species, Capsicum tovarii; Professor Emeritus of Botany at Miami University; Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Alice Catherine Evans (B.S. 1909, Bacteriology) – Microbiologist, known for demonstrating that bacillus abortus caused Brucellosis; first female president of the Society of American Bacteriologists; Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame, 1993
• Howard Ensign Evans (M.S., Ph.D.) – Entomologist; fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, recipient of the William J. Walker Prize of the Boston Museum of Science (1967) and the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal from the National Academy of Sciences (1976)
• Louis Agassiz Fuertes (B.A 1897; Lecturer 1923–?) – Ornithologist and illustrator
• Douglas J. Futuyma (B.S. 1963) – Evolutionary biologist and a distinguished professor of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University; fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1985) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, member of the National Academy of Sciences (2006)
• Arthur Galston (B.S. 1940 Botany) – American botanist and bioethicist; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Irwin Gunsalus (B.A. 1933, M.A. 1937, Ph.D. 1940) – American biochemist Known for discovery of lipoic acid; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Academy of Microbiology, member of the National Academy of Sciences, recipient of the Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology
• Jo Handelsman (B.S. 1979) - Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor and Frederick Phineas Rose Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale and pioneer in metagenomics (a term she coined).
• Richard L. Hoffman (M.S. entomology, 1959) - Internationally recognized expert of millipedes and Appalachian natural history
• John Hopfield (Ph.D. 1958) – Biophysicist and Neuroscientist, known for his invention of Hopfield network; faculty member at University of California, Berkeley (physics), Princeton University (physics), California Institute of Technology (Chemistry and Biology), Howard A. Prior Professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton, President of the American Physical Society (2006); member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; recipient of the Oliver Buckley Prize (1969), Harold Pender Award (2002), Dirac Medal (2002), Albert Einstein World Award of Science (2005); MacArthur Fellow (1983)
• Romeyn Beck Hough – botanist famous for his specimens of American trees
• Otto Frederick Hunziker (B.S 1900, M.S. 1901 Agriculture) – Pioneer in the American and international dairy science and industry, as both an educator and a technical innovator
• Alison Jolly (B.A. 1955) - Primatologist, pioneer in study of the lemur
• Fotis Kafatos (B.A. 1961 Zoology) – Biologist who was the founding president of the European Research Council; recipient of Robert Koch Prize (Gold, 2010), member of the National Academy of Sciences (1982) and of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (2007), fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1980) and of the Royal Society of London (2003) etc.
• William Tinsley Keeton (Ph.D 1958) - Zoologist who became a well-known and popular professor at Cornell, namesake of William Keeton House
• Peter S. Kim (A.B. 1979 Chemistry) – Professor of Biochemistry at Stanford University (2014–present); President of Merck Research Laboratories (2003–2013); member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Microbiology, the Biophysical Society
• Veranus Alva Moore (B.S. 1887; Professor of Veterinary Medicine 1896–1908, Dean of Vet School, 1908–29) – Bacteriologist and pathologist, President of the American Society for Microbiology (1910)
• Roger Morse (B.S. 1950, M.S. 1953, Ph.D. 1955; Professor) – Apiculture author, teacher, researcher
• Roger Payne (Ph.D. 1961) – Biologist and environmentalist, known for the discovery of whale song among humpback whales; Founder and president of Ocean Alliance; MacArthur Fellow (1984)
• Ronald L. Phillips (Post-Doctoral Fellow) – American biologist and Regents Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota; recipient of the Wolf Prize in Agriculture (2006/2007)
• Pedro A. Sanchez (B.S. 1962, M.S. 1964, Ph.D. 1968 Soil Science) – Recipient of World Food Prize (2002), MacArthur Fellow (2003), fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and member of the National Academy of Sciences, etc.
• William H. Schlesinger (Ph.D. 1976 Ecology and Systematics) – Biogeochemist, President of Cary Institute; Dean of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University; President of the Ecological Society of America (2003–2004); member of the National Academy of Sciences, fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Geophysical Union, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Ecological Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America
• Karl Patterson Schmidt (B.A. 1916) – American herpetologist; Guggenheim Fellowship recipient (1932) and member of the National Academy of Sciences (1956)
• Theobald Smith (B.Phil 1881) – microbiologist and pathologist who discovered the causes of several infectious and parasitic diseases, and anaphylaxis
• Philip Edward Smith (Ph. D. 1912, Anatomy) – Endocrinologist who demonstrated function of pituitary gland by performing hypophysectomies in rats.
• George F. Sprague (Ph.D. 1930 Genetics) – American geneticist who served as president of the American Society of Agronomy (1960) and was inducted into the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Science Hall of Fame (1990); Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and member of the National Academy of Sciences, recipient of the Wolf Prize in Agriculture (1978)
• George Streisinger (B.S. 1950) – Molecular biologist known as first person to clone a vertebrate(zebra fish); Guggenheim Fellowship recipient and member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Stanley Temple (B.S. 1968, M.S. 1970, Ph.D. 1972) - Avian ecologist
• William Trelease (B.S. 1880) – American botanist, entomologist, explorer, writer and educator who served as the founding President of the Botanical Society of America (1894) and as President for a second time (1918)
• Robley C. Williams (B.S. 1931, Ph.D. 1935 Physics) – Biophysicist and Virologist, known for his work in Tobacco mosaic virus; first President of the Biophysical Society; member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Arthur Winfree (Bachelor of Engineering Physics 1965) – Theoretical biologist at the University of Arizona; MacArthur Fellow (1984), recipient of Norbert Wiener Prize in Applied Mathematics (2000)
• Albert Hazen Wright (B.A., Ph.D. 1908; Professor) - Herpetologist, honorary member of the International Ornithological Congress, recipient of the Eminent Ecologist Award (1955)

Medicine

• Carol Remmer Angle, American pediatrician, nephrologist, and toxicologist
• Robert Atkins (M.D. 1955) – Creator of the Atkins Diet and an author on health and nutrition
• Emily Dunning Barringer (B.S. 1897) – First female ambulance surgeon in the U.S.
• Joshua B. Bederson (B.A. 1979) – Chief of Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City and author of Treatment of Carotid Disease: A Practitioner's Manual
• Lewis C. Cantley (Ph.D.) – Cell biologist and biochemist, known for discovery and study of the enzyme PI-3-kinase, now known to be important to understanding cancer and diabetes mellitus, and the discovery of Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate; former professor of Systems Biology and Medicine at Harvard Medical School, currently director of the Cancer Center, Professor of Cancer Biology at Weill Cornell Medical College; member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; recipient of numerous awards and honors including $3 million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2013) etc.
• Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH - Chief Medical Officer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Carlos Cordon-Cardo (Ph.D. 1985) – physician and scientist known for his pioneering research in experimental pathology and molecular oncology
• Park Dietz (A.B. 1970) – Forensic psychiatrist and criminologist known for consulting or testifying in many of the highest profile US criminal cases including Jeffrey Dahmer, The Unabomber, the Beltway sniper attacks, and Jared Lee Loughner
• Dean Edell (B.A. 1963 Zoology, M.D. 1967) – Physician and media personality
• Anthony S. Fauci (M.D. 1966) – Immunologist, known for HIV and the progression to AIDS; member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Institute of Medicine (Council Member), the American Philosophical Society, and the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters; recipient of Maxwell Finland Award (1989), Ernst Jung Prize (1995), National Medal of Science (2005), Lasker Award (2007), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2008), Robert Koch Prize (Gold, 2013)
• Gerald Fischbach (M.D. 1965) – Neuroscientist; professor at Harvard University Medical School (1973–1981, 1990–1998) and the Washington University School of Medicine (1981–1990), Vice President and Dean of the Health and Biomedical Sciences, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Columbia University (2001–2006), director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (1998–2001); member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine
• Alfred Freedman (B.S. 1937) – Psychiatrist who led move to destigmatize same sex orientation; former president of American Psychiatry Association
• Wilson Greatbatch (B.E.E. 1950) – Engineer and inventor who advanced the development of early implantable pacemakers and lithium ion batteries and held more than 350 patents; member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame; recipient of Lemelson–MIT Prize and National Medal of Technology and Innovation (1990)
• Henry Heimlich (B.A. 1941, M.D. 1943) – Inventor of the Heimlich maneuver
• Dr. Mark Hyman, MD, chairman of the Functional Medicine Institute and founder of the UltraWellness Center
• Arthur H. Hayes Jr. (M.D. 1964) – Pharmacologist; Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (1981–1983); Dean and provost of New York Medical College
• Philip Levine (M.D. 1923) – Immunohematologist; discovered the Rh factor in blood in 1939.
• Pamela Lipkin-Physician, early proponent of cosmetic Botox
• Richard Lower (M.D. 1955) – American pioneer of cardiac surgery; known for Organ transplantation (particularly in the field of heart transplantation) and Ciclosporin
• Robert Millman (undergrad; Saul P. Steinberg Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Public Health, Medical College) – Drug abuse expert, former Medical Director for Major League Baseball
• Cecilia Mettler (Ph.D. 1938)- medical historian
• Maria New (B.A. 1950) – American pediatrician; member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Lt. Gen. James Peake, US Army (ret) (M.D. 1972) – former Surgeon General of the United States Army and the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
• Gregory Goodwin Pincus (B.S. 1924) – Co-inventor of the combined oral contraceptive pill.
• Alvin F. Poussaint (M.D. 1960) – Child-rearing expert
• Arnold S. Relman (B.A.) – American physicians, editor of the New England Journal of Medicine (1977–1991) and professor at Boston University School of Medicine, then Frank Wister Thomas professor of medicine and chair of the department of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and finally a professor at Harvard School of Medicine
• Daniel Elmer Salmon (B.S. 1872, D.V.M. 1872) – Namesake of salmonella; first D.V.M. in the United States
• Benjamin Spock (medical residency; Professor of Pediatrics, Medical College, 1933–47) – Author of The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, one of the best selling books of all time
• Ida S. Scudder (M.D. 1899, Medical Missionary in India; Founder of Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, Tamilandu)
• Kevin J. Tracey (neurosurgery residency, 1992) – President, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, neurosurgeon and immunologist who discovered the Inflammatory Reflex
• Robert J. Winchester (M.D. 1963) – Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Pathology at Columbia University; recipient of Crafoord Prize (2013)

NASA Astronauts

Mae Jemison

• Ellen S. Baker (M.D. 1978) – Lead Astronaut for Medical Issues, Johnson Space Center
• Daniel T. Barry (B.S.E.E. 1975) – Astronaut, contestant on CBS reality program Survivor: Exile Island
• Jay C. Buckey, Jr. (B.S.E.E. 1977, M.D. 1981) – Astronaut
• Martin J. Fettman (B.S. 1976 Animal Nutrition, M.S. 1970 Nutrition, D.V.M 1970; Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Lecturer 1994) – Payload specialist
• Mae Jemison (M.D. 1981; A.D. White Professor-at-Large 1999–2005) – First African-American woman to travel in space; member of National Women's Hall of Fame; chemical engineer, physician, teacher
• G. David Low (B.S.M.E. 1980) – Astronaut
• Edward T. Lu (B.S.E.E. 1984) – Astronaut and physicist
• Donald A. Thomas (M.S. 1980 Materials Science, Ph.D. 1982 Materials Science) – Astronaut

Social sciences

Anthropology and Sociology

• Edward Bernays (B.S. 1912 Agriculture) – Public relations practitioner, author of Propaganda
• Ken Blanchard (B.A. 1961, Ph.D. 1967) – Management consultant, co-author of The One Minute Manager
• Alfred Blumstein (B.A., Ph.D.) – Criminologist and former dean of the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University
• Kimberle Crenshaw: Founder of Critical Race Theory, highly influential black feminist and race theorist
• Harry Edwards (Ph.D. 1970) – sociologist noted for work on race and sports, Professor Emeritus at University of California, Berkeley
• Shelly Errington (M.A., Ph.D.) – Cultural anthropologist and a professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz; MacArthur Fellow (1981)
• Daniel A. Foss (B.A.) – Sociologist, author of Beyond Revolution: A New Theory of Social Movements (1986), Freak Culture: Life Style and Politics (1972)
• Erik Mueggler (B.A.) – Anthropologist, and Professor at the University of Michigan; MacArthur Fellow (2002)
• John Naisbitt (graduate study) – Best-selling writer in the area of futures studies
• Tom Peters (B.C.E. 1965, M.C.E. 1966) – Business management motivational guru
• David M. Schneider (B.S. 1940, M.S. 1941) – Cultural anthropologist known for his studies of kinship; former William B. Ogden Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Anthropology, and Chairman of Anthropology (1963–1966) at the University of Chicago
• G. William Skinner (B.A. 1948, Ph.D. 1954) - Anthropologist and sinologist best known for his delineation of the physiographic macroregions of China
• Julian Steward (B.A. 1925 Zoology and Biology) – Anthropologist best known for his development of a scientific theory of cultural evolution
• Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah (Ph.D. 1954) – Social anthropologist and Esther and Sidney Rabb Professor (Emeritus) of Anthropology at Harvard University; recipient of Balzan Prize (1997) and Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize (1998)
• Brackette Williams (B.S. 1973) – Anthropologist; MacArthur Fellow (1997)

Economics

Alan B. Krueger

• Hugh E. Conway – Labor economist, college professor, and construction industry expert
• Robert Gilpin (M.S. 1954) – A scholar of international political economy, professor emeritus of Politics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Claudia Goldin (B.A. magna cum laude 1968) – Economist
• Ricardo Hausmann (Ph.D. 1981) – a former Venezuelan Minister and ex-Chairman of the IMF – World Bank Development Committee
• Paul L. Joskow (B.A. 1968) – Economist, distinguished fellow of the American Economic Association, fellow of the Econometric Society and Industrial Organization Society and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Elizabeth and James Killian Professor of Economics, Emeritus at MIT, past department chair of MIT Department of Economics; current president of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation since 2008
• Ehud Kalai (M.S. 1971, Ph.D. 1972) – American game theorist and mathematical economist and James J. O’Connor Distinguished Professor of Decision and Game Sciences at Northwestern University; Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Econometric Society
• Frank H. Knight (Ph.D. 1916) – Influential scholar-economist, one of the original leaders of the "Chicago School" of economic theory
• Alan Krueger (B.S. 1983) – Noted labor economist and former Chief Economist for the US Department of Labor
• Sendhil Mullainathan (B.A. 1993) – Behavioral economist at Harvard, co-founder of MIT Poverty Action Lab, MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" recipient (2002)
• Edwin Griswold Nourse (Class of 1906) – Agricultural economist. First chairman of the US Council of Economic Advisers (1946–49), President of the American Economic Association (1942) and vice president of the Brookings Institution; Guggenheim Fellows, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1934)
• George Rea (1915) – First paid president of the New York Curb Exchange
• Thorstein Veblen (graduate study 1891–92, transferred) – Economist, author of The Theory of the Leisure Class

Government

John Mearsheimer

• Benedict Anderson (Ph.D. 1967) – Aaron L. Binenkorb Professor Emeritus of International Studies, Government & Asian Studies at Cornell University, and is best known for his book Imagined Communities
• Gordon G. Chang (B.A. 1973, J.D. 1976) – Author of The Coming Collapse of China and Nuclear Showdown : North Korea Takes On the World, one of the original set of Student Trustees
• George Friedman (Ph.D. 1976) - Director of the political analysis and forecasting think tank "Stratfor", Author of The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century (2009).
• Everett Carll Ladd (Ph.D.) – Political scientist, Director of the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of Connecticut
• John Mearsheimer (Ph.D. 1980) – International Relations theorist and Professor of Political Science at University of Chicago. Known for his book on offensive realism, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics and his New York Times best-seller The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy.
• Stephen Skowronek (Ph.D. 1979) – Pelatiah Perit Professor of political and social science at Yale
• William Irwin Thompson (Ph.D. 1966; Professor) – Cultural historian, social critic, poet, philosopher of science
• James Weinstein (B.A. 1949 Government) – Author and publisher of In These Times

Psychology

• Edwin G. Boring (1908, Ph.D. 1915 Psychology; Instructor of Psychology 1913–18) – Historian of psychology
• Urie Bronfenbrenner (B.A. 1938 Psychology and Music; Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Human Development and Psychology) – Psychologist, pioneer in developmental psychology (Ecological Systems Theory), founder of field Human Ecology, co-founder of national Head Start program
• Joyce Brothers (B.S. 1947) – Author, psychologist, and television personality
• James Maas (M.A., Ph.D.; Professor of Psychology) – Psychologist, coined the term "power nap"
• Abraham Maslow (undergrad 1928–29, transferred) – Psychologist best known for his Hierarchy of Human Needs
• Frank Parsons (B.S. Civil Engineering) Founder of the field of vocational psychology.
• Elizabeth Spelke (Ph.D.) – Cognitive psychologist, psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, MIT and Harvard University; fellow of the Society of Experimental Psychologists, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, member of the National Academy of Sciences, recipient of the 2009 Jean Nicod Prize
• Louis Leon Thurstone (Master of Mechanic Engineering 1912) – Pioneer in the fields of psychometrics and psychophysics; He conceived the approach to measurement known as the law of comparative judgment, and is well known for his contributions to factor analysis; President of American Psychological Association (1933); co-founder and first President of the Psychometric Society (1936); Fellow of the American Statistical Association
• Margaret Floy Washburn (Ph.D. 1894) – Psychologist, first female PhD in psychology; President of the American Psychological Association (1921–1922); members of the National Academy of Sciences

Humanities

Philosophy

• Marilyn McCord Adams (Ph.D. 1967) – American philosopher and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (2015)
• Francis Fukuyama (B.A.) – an American philosopher, political economist, and professor at Johns Hopkins University
• Edmund Gettier – American philosopher and Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; owes his reputation to a single three-page paper published in 1963 called "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?"
• Sterling Harwood (J.D. 1983, M.A. 1986 & Ph.D. 1992) – American lawyer, professor and philosopher, author of "Eleven Objections to Utilitarianism"
• Matthew Kramer (B.A. 1981, Philosophy) – American philosopher, professor of Legal and Political Philosophy at the University of Cambridge; Fellow of the British Academy (2014); Guggenheim Fellow (2001–2002)
• Jessica Wilson (Ph.D. 2001) - professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto
• John Warwick Montgomery (A.B. 1952) – American lawyer, professor, theologian and academic known for his work in the field of Christian Apologetics.
• Thomas Nagel (B.A. 1958) – Philosopher, author of What is it like to be a bat?
• George Ashton Oldham (A.B. 1902) – Episcopal Bishop, peace activist, and writer
• David H. Sanford (Ph.D. 1966) – Professor of philosophy at Duke University
• J. B. Schneewind (B.A.) – Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh and former Provost of Hunter College CUNY; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• May Gorslin Preston Slosson (Ph.D. 1880) - Suffragist, first woman in the United States to get her Ph.D. in philosophy
• Samuel Weber (Ph.D. 1960) – Avalon Foundation Professor of Humanities at Northwestern University, as well as a professor at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland
• Paul Ziff (B.F.A. 1949, Ph.D. 1951) – American artist and philosopher specializing in semantics and aesthetics

Literature

E.B. White

• Diane Ackerman (M.F.A. 1973 Poetry, M.A. 1976, Ph.D. 1978) – Author, poet, and naturalist
• Gerald Taiaiake Alfred (M.S. 1992, Ph.D. 1994) – Scholar, author, and adviser to indigenous nations
• Melissa Bank (M.F.A. 1998) – Best-selling author. The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, a bestseller in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and The Wonder Spot, a novel, have been translated into over thirty languages
• Morris Bishop (B.A. 1913, M.A. 1914, Ph.D. 1926; Professor of Romance Literature) – Biographer, author, humorist, wrote the preeminent history of the university, A History of Cornell
• Harold Bloom (B.A. 1951) – Literary and cultural scholar-critic; Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University; MacArthur Fellow (1985)
• Susan Brownmiller (B.A. 1956) – Feminist author and activist
• Louis Bromfield (1914–1916 Agriculture) – Pulitzer Prize winner for best novel for Early Autumn (1927) and pioneer of innovative scientific farming concepts
• Pearl S. Buck (M.F.A. 1924) - Author, novelist, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1932 and Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938
• Murray Burnett (B.A. 1931) – Author of the play Everybody Comes to Rick's, which was turned into the film Casablanca
• George Lincoln Burr (B.A. 1881; John Stambaugh Professor of History 1888–?) – U.S. historian, diplomat, author, and educator
• George Cockcroft (B.A. 1954) – Author, The Dice Man, uses the pen name Luke Rhinehart
• Junot Díaz (M.F.A. 1995) – Critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize–winning short-story writer; MacArthur Fellowship (2012)
• Alice Dunbar-Nelson (attended 1907–1908) – Poet, journalist, political activist, Harlem Renaissance influence
• Jane Duran – Cuban-born poet, recipient Forward Poetry Prize (1995) of Cholmondeley Award (2005)
• Barry Eisler (J.D. 1989) – Author, novelist
• Roger Evans (B.A. 1974) – Author, Old Buck: Sexuality, Secrets and the Civil War
• Richard Fariña (B.A. 1962 English) – Author, Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me, folk singer
• Jessie Redmon Fauset (B.A. 1905) – author from the Harlem Renaissance
• Alice Fulton (M.F.A. 1982; Ann S. Bowers Distinguished Professor of English) – Poet, author, feminist, MacArthur Fellow (1991)
• William H. Gass (Ph.D. 1954 Philosophy) – Author, essayist
• C. S. Giscombe – American poet and professor of English at University of California, Berkeley; recipient of American Book Award for Prairie Style (2008)
• Martin Hägglund (Ph.D. 2009 Comparative Literature) – Literary theorist, philosopher
• Lynne Hanley (B.A. English) – Literary critic
• E. D. Hirsch (B.A., 1950) literary critic and educational theorist
• Laura Howes (B.A. English) - Scholar of Middle English literature
• Minfong Ho (B.A. Economics) – Chinese-American author
• Laura Z. Hobson – Author, Gentleman's Agreement
• Clifford Irving (B.A. 1951) – Author of the Howard Hughes biography hoax
• Anne LaBastille (B.A. 1955, Ph.D. 1969) – Author and award-winning conservationist
• James H. Morey (M.A. 1987, Ph.D. 1990) – Medievalist and professor of English at Emory University
• Lorrie Moore (M.F.A. 1982) – Prize-winning short-story writer and novelist
• Manuel Muñoz (M.F.A. 1998) - Award-winning author and professor of creative writing
• Ira B. Nadel (Ph.D. 1970) - Prize-winning biographer and literary critic
• George Jean Nathan (1904) – Author, critic
• Nicholas Nicastro (B.A. 1985 English, M.A. 1991 Archaeology, Ph.D. 2003 Psychology) – Historical novelist
• Téa Obreht (MFA 2009) – novelist, The Tiger's Wife
• Stewart O'Nan (MFA 1992) – Novelist, Drue Heinz Literature Prize winning author for his In the Walled City in 1993, author of Snow Angels
• Julie Orringer (B.A. 1994 English) - short-story writer and novelist
• Thomas Perry (B.A. 1969) – Novelist, Edgar Award winner.
• Thomas Pynchon (B.A. 1959 English) – Author, Gravity's Rainbow and The Crying of Lot 49; MacArthur Fellow (1988)
• Kenneth Roberts (B.A. 1908) – Novelist, Northwest Passage
• Laura Riding (attended 1918–21) – Poet, novelist, essayist, short story writer, leader in modernism.
• Matt Ruff (B.A. 1988) – Author, Fool on the Hill
• Joanna Russ (B.A. 1957 English; Professor) – Feminist author, The Female Man
• Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick (undergrad) – Critical theorist, literature professor
• Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (Ph.D. 1967 Comparative Literature) – Post-colonialist theorist, Can the Subaltern Speak? Winner of Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy; University Professor at Columbia University
• William Stokoe (B.A. 1941, Ph.D. 1946 English) – Pioneered research on American Sign Language. Co-authored A Dictionary of American Sign Language on Linguistic Principles (1965), the first attempt to systematically represent and characterize ASL phonology, Stokoe notation creator.
• William Strunk Jr. (Ph.D. 1896; Professor) – Author of The Elements of Style
• Hendrik Willem van Loon (1905; Professor of History 1915–17) – Author of the first book to be awarded the Newbery Medal for an outstanding contribution to children's literature
• William T. Vollmann (B.A., Comparative Literature, 1977) - Novelist, journalist, war correspondent, short story writer, and essayist.
• Kurt Vonnegut (undergrad 1941–1944) – Author, Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat's Cradle, and Breakfast of Champions.
• Lauren Weisberger (B.A. 1999 English) – Author, The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing
• E. B. White (B.A. 1921) – Author, Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little; Co-author, The Elements of Style
• Seksan Prasertkul (M.A., Ph.D. 1989 Political Science) – Notable Thai author, National Artist of Thailand (Literature)

History

• Glenn C. Altschuler (Ph.D. 1976) – Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies and Vice President for University Relations at Cornell University
• Barbara Watson Andaya (Ph.D. 1975) – Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii and Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies
• Leonard Andaya (Ph.D. 1972) – Professor of Southeast Asian History at the University of Hawaii
• Nancy F. Cott (B.A. 1967) – Historian, Sterling Professor of History and American Studies at Yale University and Jonathan Trumbull Professor of American History at Harvard University; member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Charlotte J. Erickson (M.A. 1947, Ph.D. 1951) – Historian, the Paul Mellon Professor of American History at the University of Cambridge (1983–1990); MacArthur Fellow (1990) and Guggenheim Fellow (1966–1967)
• Louis R. Gottschalk (A.B. 1919, A.M. 1920, Ph.D. 1921) – Professor of history (1927–1965), department chair (1937–1942), Gustavus F. and Ann M. Swift Distinguished Service Professor of History (1959–1965) at the University of Chicago
• Henry Guerlac (B.A. 1932 Chemistry, M.A. 1933 Biochemistry) – Historian of science considered among the pioneers in the development of the academic field of the history of science; president of the History of Science Society (1957–1960)
• Charnvit Kasetsiri (Ph.D. 1972) – Thai historian and former President of Thammasat University
• Frederic C. Lane (B.A. 1921) – Historian in Medieval history, professor emeritus of history at Johns Hopkins University; President of the American Historical Association (1964–1965); fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Medieval Academy of America
• Melvyn P. Leffler (B.S. 1966) – American historian and educator, Edward Stettinius Professor, former Chairman of the Department of History, Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia; recipient of the George Louis Beer Prize (2008) and Bancroft Prize (1993)
• William Leuchtenburg (B.A. 1943) – Historian, William Rand Kenan Jr. professor emeritus of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; recipient of Bancroft Prize and North Carolina Award for Literature
• William McNeill (Ph.D. 1947) – Historian, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Chicago; author of The Rise of the West: A History of the Human Community; recipient of the National Humanities Medal (2010)
• Anthony Milner (Ph.D.) – Basham Professor of Asian History, School of Culture, History & Language, Australian National University
• David Oshinsky (B.S. 1965, M.S. 1967) – Historian, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History in 2006 for his book Polio: An American Story, Jack S. Blanton, Sr. Chair Emeritus in History at The University of Texas at Austin, Distinguished Scholar in Residence, New York University
• Milton Osborne (Ph.D.) – Australian historian, author, and consultant specializing in Southeast Asia.
• Laura Otis (Ph.D. 1991 Comparative Literature) – Historian of science and Professor of English at Emory University; MacArthur Fellow (2000)
• Richard Pipes (graduate of 1945) – Historian in Russian history, fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of National Humanities Medal (2007)
• Merle Calvin Ricklefs (Ph.D.) – Scholar of the history and current affairs of Indonesia
• Clinton Rossiter (Class of 1939, Professor 1947–1970) – Historian and political scientist; recipient of the Bancroft Prize (1954) and the Woodrow Wilson Foundation Award (1953)
• Kazys Varnelis (M.A. 1990, Ph.D. 1994) – historian and theorist of architecture, specializing in network culture
• David K. Wyatt (Ph.D. 1966) – John Stambaugh Professor of History and Asian Studies, Emeritus, Cornell University

Music

• Robert Alexander Anderson (1916) – Composer, wrote Christmas song Mele Kalikimaka
• Russ Barenberg – Grammy–nominated American bluegrass musician.
• Herbert Barrett (B.A. 1930) – Talent manager for hundreds of famous artists from the 1930s up into the 2000s
• Harry Chapin (dropped out) – Folk musician, Cat's in the Cradle
• Henrique de Curitiba (M.F.A. 1981) – Polish-Brazilian composer
• Mack David – Eight-time Academy Award nominee for songs including Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo
• Jeremy Dussolliet (B.S. 2009) – Grammy nominated singer/songwriter and member of the duo Kinetics & One Love
• Jared Emerson-Johnson (B.A. 2003) – Video Game Composer
• Joscelyn Godwin (Ph.D. 1969 Musicology) – Musicologist, translator, historian of the esoteric
• Greg Graffin (Ph.D. 1991 Evolutionary Biology) – Lead singer and co-founder of Bad Religion
• Laurens Hammond (B.S. 1916 Mechanical Engineering) – Inventor of the Hammond organ
• Jesse Harris (B.A.) – Grammy-award winning songwriter who wrote "Don't Know Why" and "Come Away with Me", songs popularized by the artist Norah Jones
• John S. Hilliard (D.M.A. 1983) – Classical Composer
• Barry Kernfeld (M.A. 1978, Ph.D. 1981) – Musicologist, jazz saxophonist, known for the largest jazz dictionary ever published The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz
• Huey Lewis (undergrad 1967–69, dropped out) – Rock musician, Huey Lewis and the News
• Robert Moog (Ph.D. 1965) – Inventor of the Moog synthesizer
• Charles Previn (B.A. 1910) – Academy Award–winning film composer, seven-time Academy Award nominee
• Steve Reich (B.A. 1957) – Pulitzer Prize–winning composer, and one of the pioneers of minimal music
• Cary Sherman (1968) – Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America
• Christopher Rouse (D.M.A. 1977) – Classical composer, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Music
• Tim Sommers (B.S. 2010) – Grammy nominated producer/songwriter and member of the duo Kinetics & One Love
• Oliver Strunk (Attended from 1917 to 1919 and in 1927) – American musicologist who was on the faculty of Princeton University from 1937 to 1966; founding member and president (1959–1960) of the American Musicological Society
• Steven Stucky (D.M.A. 1978; Professor of Music Composition) – Pulitzer Prize–winning composer
• Paul Francis Webster (undergrad 1927–28, transferred) – Academy and Grammy Award-winning lyricist
• Peter Yarrow (B.A. 1959) – Folksinger, Peter, Paul and Mary

Architecture and design

• Robert Alexander - Architect of a Clarence Stein Garden City in LA: Baldwin Hills Village 1941 [aka the Village Green]
• Edmund Bacon (B.Arch. 1932) – Urban planner, reshaped Philadelphia, 1949–70
• Pietro Belluschi (Civil engineering grad) – Architect, leader of the Modern Movement in architecture who was responsible for the design of over 1,000 buildings; Dean of the architecture and planning school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1951–1965); Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Institute of Architects, member of the National Academy of Design; recipient of AIA Gold Medal (1972), National Medal of Arts (1991)
• Albert Cassell (B.Arch. 1919) – Designed buildings for Howard University, Morgan State University, and Virginia Union University
• Gilmore David Clarke (B.S. 1913 Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering) – Designed the Central Park Zoo and the Unisphere
• Peter Eisenman (B.Arch. 1955) – A foremost practitioner of deconstructivism in American architecture
• M. Arthur Gensler Jr. (B. Arch 1956) - founder of M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates, Inc.
• Lawrence Halprin (B.A.) – Influential American landscape architect, designer and teacher; recipient of National Medal of Arts (2002)
• Lee S Jablin (B.Arch. 1971) – Founding Partner of Harman Jablin Architects
• Robert Trent Jones, (1931) – Designer of about 500 golf courses
• Raymond M. Kennedy (B.Arch. 1915) – Designed Grauman's Chinese Theatre
• Rem Koolhaas (M.Arch.) – Dutch architect, journalist, and screenwriter, Pritzker Architecture Prize winner
• David Macpherson (Civil Engineering) – City planner for San Antonio, Texas, designed Santa Fe Railroad
• Tomás Mapúa (B.Arch. 1911) – Founded the Mapúa Institute of Technology. First Filipino to earn a degree in Architecture.
• Richard Meier (B.Arch. 1957, Professor) – Pritzker Architecture Prize, AIA Gold Medal winner
• Charles Morse Stotz (B.Arch. 1921, Master's) - Architect, historian, and preservationist of Western Pennsylvania.
• William Henry Miller (B.Arch 1872) – Designed many iconic buildings on Cornell's Ithaca campus
• Enrique Norten (M.Arch. 1980) – Mexican architect, professor, 2003 World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition jury member
• Nathaniel A. Owings (B.Arch. 1927) – founding partner of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill which popularized the International style after World War II
• Richmond Shreve (B.Arch.) – Partner of architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon that designed the Empire State Building
• Vertner Tandy (M.Arch.) – Architect whose most famous commission was probably Villa Lewaro, the mansion of Harlem millionairess Madam C.J. Walker, Founder of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
• Jan V. White (B.Arch. 1951) – Communication designer, educator and writer
• E. Stewart Williams (B.Arch.) – Palm Springs, California-based architect with a distinctive modernist style
• Helen Binkerd Young (B.Arch. 1900) - architect and lecturer

Fine arts and photography

• Elfriede Abbe (1940) - Sculptor
• James De La Vega (B.F.A 1994)– Muralist, street artist in Harlem, NY
• Pat Lipsky (B.F.A. 1963) – Painter
• Jill Magid (B.F.A 1995) – Performance Artist
• Enrique Martinez Celaya (B.S Applied & Engineering Physics, 1986) - Artist
• John Rosenbaum (M.E.P. 1957) – Kinetic Artist, Educator
• Susan Rothenberg (B.F.A. 1967) – Painter
• Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1948–1951) – Contemporary Iranian artist
• Frederick Sommer (M.A. 1927 Landscape Architecture) – Photographer
• Hugh Troy (undergrad 1922–1927, did not graduate) – Artist, famous prankster

Media

Journalism

Keith Olbermann

Kate Snow

• Eric Alterman (B.A. 1982 History and Government) – Author and columnist
• Jim Axelrod (B.A. 1985 History) – National Correspondent and reporter for CBS News
• Margaret Bourke-White (B.A. 1927) – Photojournalist
• Rodney A. Brooks (B.S. 1975 – Personal Finance Editor, USA TODAY
• Julius Chambers (B.A. 1870) – author, editor, journalist, travel writer, and activist against psychiatric abuse.
• C.J. Chivers (B.A. 1987) – Foreign correspondent, The New York Times
• Charles Collingwood (B.A. 1939) – Broadcast journalist and foreign correspondent
• Ann Coulter (B.A. 1984 History) – Book author and columnist
• S.E. Cupp (B.A. 2000 Art History) – Co-host of MSNBC's The Cycle
• Michael Dirda (M.A. 1974, Ph.D. 1977, Comparative Literature) – Pulitzer Prize–winning book critic for the Washington Post
• Jessica Ettinger (B.S. 1997) – News Anchor, CBS 1010 WINS New York, Anchor, Today Show Radio, SiriusXM/NBC
• Jeffrey Gettleman (B.A. 1994) – Foreign correspondent, The New York Times; Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting (2012)
• Philip Gourevitch (B.A. 1986) – Editor, The Paris Review
• Carolyn Gusoff (B.A. 1984) – reporter and anchor with WNBC in New York City
• Austin H. Kiplinger (B.A. 1939) – Journalist, editor of The Kiplinger Letter, founder of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, winner of the Peabody Award
• John S. Knight – Major newspaper publisher and editor, Pulitzer Prize winner
• Steven Lagerfeld (B.A. 1977) – Editor, The Wilson Quarterly
• Eric Lichtblau (B.A. 1987 English and Political Science) – Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist for national reporting with The New York Times
• Roger Lowenstein (B.A. 1973) – Financial journalist and author of When Genius Failed (2000)
• James C. McKinley, Jr. (B.A. 1984) – foreign correspondent, The New York Times
• Farhad Manjoo (class of 2000) – Journalist and author, columnist for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times
• Philip Merrill (B.A. 1955 Government, Trustee) – Owner and publisher of The Capital Daily Newspaper in Annapolis, MD and Washingtonian magazine; international statesman; adviser to U.S. Presidents
• China Okasi (B.A. 2001 English) – Editor, journalist and political commentator
• Keith Olbermann (B.S. 1979 Communication) – Sportscaster, news anchor and political commentator; hosted Countdown with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC.
• John Andrew Rea (B.A. 1869) – Editor of The Olympian, Minneapolis Tribune, Bismarck Tribune and the Dakota edition of the St. Paul Pioneer Press
• Dave Ross – talk show host on KIRO-FM
• Dick Schaap (B.S. 1955) – Sports newscaster on ABC and ESPN, two Emmy Awards, author and co-author of 33 books
• Jeremy Schaap (class of 1991) – Author, Sports journalist, eight Emmy Awards
• Kate Snow (B.S. 1991 Communication) – Journalist, correspondent, NBC News
• Andrew Ross Sorkin (B.S. 1999 Communication) – Journalist, co-anchor of Squawk Box, Author of Too Big to Fail
• Gerald Stone (1957 Political Science) – American-born Australian television and radio journalist, television executive, and author.
• Howard Taubman (B.A. 1929) – Chief Music Critic and Chief Theater Critic for The New York Times in the 1950s and 1960s
• William T. Vollmann (B.A. 1981 Comparative Literature) – Journalist, Author of numerous books on war, including a seven volume treatise on violence
• Whit Watson, (B.A., English, 1993) – Announcer on Golf Channel, formerly at ESPN and Sun Sports, winner of 4 Emmy Awards and former Sports Director at WVBR
• Pete van Wieren – Sportscaster and sport reporter, best known for 33 years long career calling play-by-play for Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves
• Sheryl WuDunn (B.A. 1981 European History) – Journalist at The New York Times, co-winner in 1990 of the Pulitzer Prize for her coverage on the Tienanmen Square protests of 1989, winner of the George Polk Award in 1989, and winner of the Overseas Press Club in 1990.
• Robert Zelnick (B.S.) – Award winning journalist, winner of two Emmy Awards and two Gavel Awards; formerly ABC News correspondent for more than 20 years, and professor of journalism at the Boston University College of Communication

Film, radio, television and theatre

Christopher Reeve

Frank Morgan

• Ted Berkman (1933) – Screenwriter, authored Bedtime for Bonzo
• Josh Bernstein (B.A. 1993 Anthropology and Psychology) – Host of Digging for the Truth on the History Channel
• Murray Burnett, co–wrote the play, Everybody Comes to Rick's which was adapted into the film Casablanca
• Arun Chaudhary, (B.A. 1997) - White House official videographer
• Dane Clark (bachelors 1930s) – Actor, Moonrise
• Jordan Clarke (B.A. 1973 Philosophy, M.F.A. 1973 Acting) – Actor, starred in Guiding Light, winner of a Daytime Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• Bob Clendenin (B.Sc. 1986) – Actor, starred in Cougar Town, 10 Items or Less
• Gordon Davidson (Class of 1956) – Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director and Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play winning stage and film director; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Ellen Albertini Dow (B.A. 1935 Theater, M.A. 1938 Theater) – Actress, Wedding Crashers and The Wedding Singer
• Dan Duryea (B.A. English) – Actor
• Art Fleming – Original Jeopardy! host, 1964–75
• David Folkenflik – (B.A. 1991 Arts and Sciences) – media correspondent for NPR.
• Steven Franken – (B.A. 1950) actor, best known for his role in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
• Robert N. Fried (M.S.) – American film producer, screenwriter, studio executive and media entrepreneur; Academy Award recipient in 1992 for his short film, Session Man
• David F. Friedman (1942, Electrical Engineering) film maker
• Allen Funt (B.A. 1934 Fine Arts) – Producer, created Candid Camera
• Eric Garcia (transferred 1992) – Writer, author of Matchstick Men
• Joel Gertner (1993–1996, dropped out) – Former ECW personality
• Meta Golding (Theatre Arts and International Relations) – Haitian-American actress
• Harold Gould (M.A. 1948 Theater, Ph.D. 1953 Dramatic Speech and Literature; Professor of Speech and Drama) – Stage, screen, and television actor
• Paul Eliot Green – Playwright, known for Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play, In Abraham's Bosom (1927)
• Kovid Gupta (M.B.A. 2015) – Screenwriter, author, Kingdom of The Soap Queen: The Story of Balaji Telefilms
• Brian Hallisay (degree in Economics and History) – Actor from the television show Privileged
• Howard Hawks (eMechanical Engineering) – Noted American film director, producer and writer of the classic Hollywood era; directed Scarface, His Girl Friday, The Big Sleep, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, among others
• Catherine Hicks (M.F.A. 1976?) – Annie Camden on 7th Heaven
• Frederick Johnson (B.A. 1978 English) -- Emmy Award winning television writer; credits include All My Children, The Young and the Restless, Days Of Our Lives, As The World Turns, One Life To Live, Guiding Light
• Sidney Kingsley (B.A. 1928) – Playwright, screenwriter, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1934 for the drama Men in White
• Jamie Kovac (B.S. 2001, M.Eng. 2002) – "Fury" on American Gladiators
• Arthur Laurents (B.A. 1937 English) – Playwright, screenwriter, director, author, credits include West Side Story, Rope, and Gypsy
• Jane Lynch (M.F.A 1984 Theater) – Actress, best known for Glee
• Bill Maher (B.A. 1978 English) – Comedian and satirist, best known for hosting the television series Politically Incorrect and Real Time with Bill Maher
• Rob Marciano – American journalist and meteorologist
• Louis Massiah (B.A. Astrophysics) – documentary filmmaker; MacArthur Fellow (1996), Tribeca Film Institute Fellow (1990, 1996), Fleisher Founder's Award (2009)
• Maureen McCann - (B.S. Atmospheric Science 2002) Broadcast Meteorologist, News 13, Orlando, FL
• Carol Mendelsohn (B.A. 1973) – Television producer, credits include C.S.I.
• Adolphe Menjou (B.S. Engineering) – Actor, famous for his roles in The Sheik, The Three Musketeers, and Paths of Glory
• Ronald D. Moore (failed out 1985) – Writer/Producer of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica; two–time Hugo Award winner, nominated for Emmy Award
• Frank Morgan (undergrad 1908–09, dropped out) – Actor, played The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz, Academy Award recipient
• Bill Nye (B.S. 1977 Mechanical Engineering, M.Eng. 1977, Frank H.T. Rhodes Class of '56 University Professor, 2001–06) – Star of Bill Nye the Science Guy; science education advocate
• Adepero Oduye (1999) – Actress in 12 Years a Slave and Pariah
• Keith Olbermann (B.S. 1979 Communication Arts) – Sports commentator, MSNBC news anchor, co-host of Football Night in America of NBC
• Peter Ostrum (D.V.M. 1984) – Charlie Bucket from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
• Richard Price (B.S. 1971) – Author, The Wanderers and 6 other novels; Academy Award nominated screenwriter for The Color of Money and Clockers
• Keith Raywood (B.A. Architecture, 1980) – Emmy Award winning Production Designer.
• Christopher Reeve (B.A. 1974 Theater Arts and English) – Actor, best known for starring in Superman and its sequels
• Jason Reich (B.S. Communication 1998) – Emmy Award winning writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
• Christopher Rich (M.A. Theater Arts) – Miller Redfield on Murphy Brown
• William Sadler (M.F.A. 1974) – Actor, known for various films including The Shawshank Redemption
• Gene Saks (B.A. 1943) – Stage and film director, an inductee of the American Theater Hall of Fame; seven-time nominee and three-time winner of Tony Award; four-time nominee of Drama Desk Award
• Andrea Savage (B.A. Political Science and Spanish, minor in Law Studies) – Actress, Dog Bites Man
• Robert Frederic Schenkkan, Jr. (M.F.A 1977) – Award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and actor; the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1992) for his work The Kentucky Cycle, and the Tony Award for Best Play (2014) for his drama All the Way earned
• Bert Schneider – Film and television producer, Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for producing Hearts and Minds (1975)
• Vivian Schiller (B.A. Russian)-former CEO NPR
• Thelma Schoonmaker (B.A. 1961) – Film editor, received the Academy Award for Raging Bull, The Aviator, and The Departed
• David Seidler (1959) – Screenwriter, won 83rd Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Kings Speech (2010)
• Robert Smigel (undergrad 1978–80, transferred) – Puppeteer behind Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog; first head writer of Late Night with Conan O'Brien; author of "TV Funhouse" animations on Saturday Night Live
• Jimmy Smits (M.F.A. 1982) – Actor
• Sarah Spain - ESPN sports journalist
• Tim Squyres (B.A. 1981) – Academy Award nominated film editor, best known for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• Yale Summers (Bachelor's Business with honors, 1955) – Actor and governing member of the Screen Actors Guild
• Ken Sunshine (1970) – Publicist
• Jennifer Tipton (B.A. 1958) – Award-winning theatre and dance lighting designer; MacArthur Fellowship (2008)
• Franchot Tone (B.A. 1927) – Actor, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for Mutiny on the Bounty
• Ming Tsai (Hotel Administration) – Celebrity Chef; Ming's Quest, a cooking show featured on the Fine Living Network, and Simply Ming on American Public Television
• Andrew Weinberg (B.A. 1998) – American television writer and co-winner of Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (2007)
• David Wild – Writer and critic in the music and television industries, nominated for Emmy Award for his work on America: A Tribute to Heroes
• Sheri Wilner – American playwright
• Mary Woronov (did not graduate) – Actress, member of Andy Warhol's The Factory
• Paula Vogel (1976, M.A) – Playwright, known for Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play, How I Learned to Drive (1998)
• Dante Dahabrehl - Star of "That's So Raven"

Education

Founders and leaders of academic institutions

• John Cranford Adams (B.A. 1926, Ph.D. 1935) – 2nd President of Hofstra University (1944–1964)
• Ilesanmi Adesida (Postdoctoral researcher 1979–1984) – Dean of College of Engineering (2005–2012) and Provost (2012–present) at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; member of National Academy of Engineering and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• John Agresto (Ph.D. 1974) – President of St. John's College in Santa Fe (1989–2000)
• Joseph A. Alutto (Ph.D. 1968 Organizational Behavior) – Dean of the SUNY-Buffalo School of Management (1976–1990) and of Ohio State University’s Max M. Fisher College of Business (1991–2007); Executive Vice President and Provost of Ohio State University (2007–2013); Interim President of Ohio State (2007, 2013–2014)
• Elam Jonathan Anderson (M.A. 1915) – President of Linfield College (1932–1938) and the University of Redlands (1938–1944)
• James A. Anderson (Ph.D. 1980) – Chancellor and professor of psychology at Fayetteville State University (2008–)
• Alfred Atkinson (M.S. 1912) – 4th President of Montana State University (1919–1937) and 12th President of University of Arizona (1937–1947)
• Joel D. Baines (Ph.D. 1988) – Dean of Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (2014–)
• James Francis Barker (Mechanical Engineering graduate 1893) – 2nd President of Rochester Institute of Technology (1916–1919)
• George Wells Beadle (Ph.D. 1930 Genetics) – President of University of Chicago, 1961–1968
• Steven D. Bennion (MPA) – President of Brigham Young University–Idaho (then Ricks College) (1989–1997) and Southern Utah University (1997–2006)
• Sherwood Berg (M.A. 1948) – President of South Dakota State University (1975–1984)
• Jamshed Bharucha (Research Associate 1982–1983) – 12th President of Cooper Union (2011–2015)
• Henry Bienen (B.S. 1960) – President of Northwestern University, 1995–2009
• Claude Bissell (Ph.D. English Literature) – President of Carleton University (1956–1958) and the University of Toronto (1958–1971); Companion of the Order of Canada
• William Fremont Blackman (Ph.D. 1893) – 4th President of Rollins College (1902–1915)
• Edward J. Bloustein (Ph.D. 1954, LL.B. 1959) – President of Bennington College (1965–1971) and Rutgers University (1971–1989)
• John C. Bliss (A.B. 1889) – President of what is now State University of New York at New Paltz (1908–1923)
• Karen Boroff (B.S. ILR) – Dean of Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University
• John Casper Branner (B.S. 1882) – President of Stanford University, 1913–15); geologist
• Hilton Marshall Briggs (Ph.D.) – 13th President of South Dakota State University (1958–1975)
• Victor L. Butterfield (B.A. 1927, M.A. 1928) – Eleventh President of Wesleyan University (1943–1967)
• Colin G. Campbell (B.A.) – Thirteenth President of Wesleyan University (1970–1988)
• J. Richard Chase (Ph.D.) – President of Biola University (1970–1982) and Wheaton College (Illinois) (1982–1993)
• Stanley Chodorow (B.A. 1964 Government, Ph.D. 1968 History) – Provost of the University of Pennsylvania (1994–1997) and Dean of Arts and Humanities at the University of California, San Diego
• Lisa Staiano-Coico (Ph.D. 1981 Microbiology and Immunology) – Dean of the College of Human Ecology (2004–2007); Provost of Temple University (2007–2010); President of City College of New York (2010–present)
• Stirling Colgate (B.S. 1948, Ph.D. 1951) – President of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (1965–1974) and Co-founder of Santa Fe Institute; member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Elizabeth Coleman (M.A.) – President of Bennington College (1987–2013)
• Theodore B. Comstock (B.S. 1870, D.Sc. 1886) – First President of the University of Arizona (1894–1895)
• Roger B. Corbett (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.) – President of New Mexico State University (1955–1970)
• Edmund Cranch (B.A. 1945. Ph.D. 1951) – Dean of Cornell University College of Engineering (1972–1978), President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (1978–1985)
• Paul D'Anieri (M.A., Ph.D. 1991) – Dean of University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (2008–2014); Executive Vice President & Provost of University of California, Riverside (2014–)
• Thomas B. Day (Ph.D. 1957 Physics) – Sixth President of San Diego State University (1978–1996)
• William W. Destler (Ph.D. 1972 Applied physics) – President of Rochester Institute of Technology, 2007–present
• Cathy Dove (MBA) – Former Vice President of Cornell Tech, 10th President of Paul Smith's College 2014–present
• Clyde A. Duniway (A.B. 1892) – President of the University of Montana (1908–1912), the University of Wyoming (1913–1917) and Colorado College (1917–1924)
• Edward D. Eddy (B.A. 1944, Ph.D. 1956) – Provost of the University of New Hampshire (1955–1960) and Pennsylvania State University (1977–1983); President of Chatham University (1960–1977) and University of Rhode Island (1983–1991)
• Henry Turner Eddy (Ph.D. 1872) – President of the University of Cincinnati (1874–1875, 1884, 1889–1891)
• Kristin Esterberg (M.A. 1988, Ph.D. 1991 Sociology) – Provost and academic vice president at Salem State University (2009–2014); President of the State University of New York at Potsdam (2014–)
• Gregory L. Fenves (B.S. 1979) – Dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering (2008–2013), executive vice president and provost (2013–2015) and the 29th president of the University of Texas at Austin (2015–); member of National Academy of Engineering
• Glenn W. Ferguson (B.A. Economics 1950, MBA 1951) – Chancellor of Long Island University (1969–1970), President of Clark University (1970–1973), the University of Connecticut (1973–1978), the American University of Paris (1992–1995) and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City (1983), U.S. diplomat
• Daniel Fischel (B.A. 1972) – Former Dean of the University of Chicago Law School (1999–2001) and Lee and Brena Freeman Professor of Law and Business, Emeritus at the University of Chicago
• Daniel Mark Fogel (B.A. 1969 English, M.F.A 1974 Creative Writing, Ph.D. 1976 English) – President of the University of Vermont, 2002–present
• Sharon Gaber (Ph.D.) – Provost of the University of Arkansas (2009–2015), President of the University of Toledo (2015–)
• Zvi Galil (Ph.D. 1975) – President of Tel Aviv University (2007–2009); Dean of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science at Columbia University (1995–2007) and of Georgia Tech's College of Computing since April 9, 2010
• James C. Garland (Ph.D. 1968 Physics) – 20th President of Miami University (1996–2006)
• Charles Garside (Law School Graduate, 1923) – former President of the State University of New York (1951–1952)
• John W. Gilmore (B.S. 1898, MSA 1906) – Presidents of the University of Hawaii, 1908–1913
• Milton Glick (postdoctoral fellow 1965–1967) – President of the University of Nevada, Reno (2006–2011)
• Joseph Glover (B.A. 1974 Mathematics) – Provost of the University of Florida 2008–present
• Jeffery P. Gold (B.S.E 1974, M.D. 1978) – Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (2014–) and the University of Toledo Health Sciences Campus (2010–2014)
• Carl A. Hanson (Ph.D. 1948 ILR) – President of the Gettysburg College (1961–1977)
• Fred Harvey Harrington (B.A. 1933) – President of the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1962–1970)
• Franklin S. Harris (Ph.D.) – President of Brigham Young University (1921–1945) and Utah State University (1945–1950)
• William Williams Henderson (M.A. 1905) – President of what is now Weber State University (1910–1914)
• Carl Mcclellan Hill (M.S., Ph.D.) – President of Kentucky State University (1962–1975) and Hampton University (1976–1978)
• Albert Ross Hill (Ph.D. 1896 Philosophy) – President of the University of Missouri (1908–1921)
• Linnaeus N. Hines (Attended Graduate School, 1899) – President of Indiana State University (1921–1934) and Ball State University (1921–1924)
• Jerome H. Holland (B.S. 1939, M.S. 1941) – President of Delaware State University (1953–60) and Hampton University (1960–70); U.S. Diplomat
• Julia Irvine – Fourth President of Wellesley College (1894–1899)
• Emil Q. Javier (Ph.D. 1969) – President of the University of the Philippines, 1993–99
• David Starr Jordan (M.S. 1872, honorary LL.D. 1886) – Founding President of Stanford University, (1891–1913), President of Indiana University, (1885–91), Smithsonian Institution associate
• Leslie Jacobs (B.A. 1981) – Founder of Educate Now, Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Instrumental in transforming the moribund Orleans Parish School System after Hurricane Katrina
• Jonathan Jansen (M.S.) – Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State, South Africa (2009–)
• A.R. Jewitt (Ph.D.) – 10th Principal of Bishop's University (1948–1960)
• Walter H. Johns (Ph.D. 1934 Classics and Ancient History) – President of the University of Alberta, 1959–1969; Officer of the Order of Canada
• Horace A. Judson (Ph.D.) – President of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh (1994–2003), Grambling State University, Louisiana (2004–2009) and Knoxville College (2010–2013)
• Stephen Kahne (B.E.E.) – Professor Emeritus of Engineering and former Chancellor of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ
• Charnvit Kasetsiri (Ph.D. 1972) – President of Thammasat University, 1994–95
• Dexter Keezer (M.A. 1923) – President of Reed College (1934–1942)
• William Jasper Kerr – President of Utah State University (1900–1907) and Oregon State University (1907–1932)
• Shellamiah OKoth Keya (M.Sc. 1970, Ph.D. 1974 Soil Science) – Founding Chancellor of Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (2012–)
• Rakesh Khurana (B.S. 1990) – Dean of Harvard College (2014–)
• Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai (Ph.D. 1950) – Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (1983–1992)
• Lawrence A. Kimpton (Ph.D. 1935 Philosophy) – President of University of Chicago, 1951–1960
• John E. King (Ph.D. 1941) – Provost of the University of Minnesota Duluth, President of what is now Emporia State University (1953–1966) and the University of Wyoming (1966–1967)
• P.C. King (Class of 1913) – President of what is now China Agricultural University (1917–1920) and Tsinghua University (1920–1922)
• Joseph T. Kingsbury – President of the University of Utah (1892–1894, 1897–1916)
• Steven Knapp (M.S. 1977, Ph.D. 1981) – Provost of Johns Hopkins University (1996–2007); current President of The George Washington University
• Frank Lazarus (M.A. 1968, Ph.D. 1972 ) – President of the University of Dallas (2004–2009)
• Patrick F. Leahy (Masters in Business Administration and Labor Relations) – 6th President of Wilkes University (2012–)
• Robert C. T. Lee (Ph.D. Veterinary Medicine) – President of National Chung Hsing University (1981–1984)
• Jeffrey S. Lehman (A.B. 1977) – President of Cornell University, 2003–2005; Dean of the University of Michigan Law School, 1994–2003; Founding Vice Chancellor and CEO of NYU Shanghai, 2012–present
• Charles A. LeMaistre (M.D. 1947) – Chancellor of the University of Texas System (1971–1978), President of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (1978–1996)
• Wendy B. Libby (B.A. 1972, MBA 1977) – President of Stephens College (2003–2009) and Stetson University (2009–)
• Winthrop C. Libby – President of the University of Maine, 1969–1973
• Jay O. Light (B.S.E. 1963) – Dean of Harvard Business School, 2006–2010
• Franklin M. Loew (B.S., V.M.D.) – Dean of the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine (1982–1995) and of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (1995–1997); President of Becker College (1998–2003)
• Wallace Loh (M.A.) – President of the University of Maryland, 2010–present
• Richard P. Longaker (Ph.D.) – Provost and vice president of academic affairs of Johns Hopkins University (1976–1986)
• Katharine Culbert Lyall (B.A. 1963, Ph.D. 1969) – President of the University of Wisconsin System (1992–2004)
• Louis L. Madsen (Ph.D. 1934) – President of Utah State University (1950–1953)
• C. Peter Magrath (Ph.D.) – President of Binghamton University (1972–1974, 2010–2012); President of the University of Minnesota (1974–1984); President of the University of Missouri System(1985–1991); President of West Virginia University(2008–2010)
• Tomas Mapua (B.Arch. 1911) – Founder of the Mapúa Institute of Technology and accomplished architect
• Robert Marshak (Ph.D.1939) – President of City College of New York (1970–1979); Fourteen Year Chairmanship of Physics Department at Rochester University
• Dale Rogers Marshall (B.A. 1959 Government) – 6th President of Wheaton College (Massachusetts) (1992–2004)
• Burton Clare Matthews (Ph.D. 1952) – President of the University of Waterloo (1970–1981) and the University of Guelph (1983–1988), Chairman of the Ontario Council of University Affairs (1982–1984)
• Michael C. McFarland (B.A. 1969 Physics) – President of College of the Holy Cross, 2000–present
• Alexander Meiklejohn (Ph.D. 1897) – President of Amherst College (1912–1924); Dean of Brown University (1901–1912)
• Thomas Noel Mitchell (Ph.D.) – Provost(President) of Trinity College Dublin (1991–2001)
• Fred Tom Mitchell (Ph.D.) – President of Mississippi State University (1945–1953)
• Don Moon (B.A. 1957) – President of Shimer College, 1979–2006
• Harcourt A. Morgan – Thirteenth President of the University of Tennessee (1919–1934)
• Keith Murray (Ph.D.) – Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford (1944–1953) and Chancellor of University of Southampton (1964–1974)
• Steven Muller – President of Johns Hopkins University, 1972 to 1990
• Ernest Fox Nichols (M.S. 1893, Ph.D. 1897) – President of MIT, (1921–22) and Dartmouth, (1909–16), Professor of physics at Colgate, (1892–98), Dartmouth, (1898–1903), Columbia, (1903–09), and Yale; recipient of Rumford Prize for his proof that light exerts pressure using Nichols radiometer
• S. Georgia Nugent (Ph.D.) – 18th President of Kenyon College (2003–2013); Interim President of the College of Wooster (2015–2016)
• Archie Palmer (A.B. 1920) – 8th President of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1938–1942)
• Frederick D. Patterson (Ph.D. 1933) – President of what is now Tuskegee University, (1935–53); Founder of the United Negro College Fund; 1987 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
• Raymond A. Pearson (B.S. 1894, M.S. 1899) – President of Iowa State University (1912–1926) and the University of Maryland, College Park (1926–1935)
• Joseph B. Platt (Ph.D. 1942) – Founding President of Harvey Mudd College (1956–1976), Eighth President of Claremont Graduate University (1976–1981)
• Jennifer Raab – President of Hunter College
• Charles H. Rammelkamp (B.A. 1896, Ph.D. 1900) – President of Illinois College (1905–1932)
• George Rea (1915) – President of what is now Drexel University (1942–1944)
• Michelle Rhee (B.S. 1992 Government) – founder of and President of The New Teacher Project, appointed Superintendent of Washington, DC Public Schools in 2007.
• Melody Rose (M.A., Ph.D.) – 15th President of Marylhurst University, (2014–present); Former chancellor of the Oregon University System (OUS)
• Brian C. Rosenberg (B.A.)–16th president of the Macalester College (2003–)
• Neil Albert Salonen (attended, transferred) – President of the University of Bridgeport (2000–)
• Eugene G. Sander (M.S. 1959, Ph.D. 1965 Biology) – President of the University of Arizona (2011–2012)
• Carlos E. Santiago (Ph.D. 1982 Economics) – Chancellor, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
• Charles Madison Sarratt (Bachelor's 1911) – Chair of the Department of Mathematics (1924–1946), Dean of Students (1939–1945) and Vice-Chancellor (1946-1958) at Vanderbilt University
• Earl Rogers Sayers (M.A. 1961, Ph.D. 1964) – President of the University of Alabama (1988–1996)
• Robert A. Scott (Ph.D.) – Former president of Ramapo College (1985–2000), Ninth President of Adelphi University (2000–2015)
• Hu Shih (B.A. 1914) – Chancellor of Peking University (1946–1948)
• Arthur K. Smith (Ph.D. 1970) – President of the University of Utah (1991–1997) and the University of Houston(1997–2003); Chancellor of the University of Houston System (1997–2003); Provost/Executive Vice President/Interim President of the University of South Carolina(1988–1991); Vice President for administration at the State University of New York at Binghamton
• David R. Smith (B.A. 1976) – President of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (1996–2001) and Chancellor of Texas Tech University (2001–2006), President of Upstate Medical University (2006–2013)
• Robert L. Sproull (B.A. 1940 English, Ph.D. 1943 Physics) – President and CEO of University of Rochester, 1975–1984
• Harvey G. Stenger (B.S. 1979 Chemical Engineering) – 7th President of Binghamton University (2012–)
• Kathleen Sullivan (B.A. 1976) – Dean of Stanford Law School (1999–2004), Professor at Harvard Law School (1984–93), Professor at Stanford Law School (2004–present)
• Samuel O. Thier – President of Brandeis University (1991–1994), of Massachusetts General Hospital (1994–1996) and of the Institute of Medicine (1985-1991); CEO of Massachusetts General Hospital (1996–2002); Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• M. Carey Thomas (B.A. 1877) – Founder and second President of Bryn Mawr College (1894–1922); suffragist
• George R. Throop (Ph.D. 1905) – Chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis (1927–1944)
• W. Clarke Wescoe (M.D. 1944) – Dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine (1952–1960) and 10th chancellor of the University of Kansas (1960–1969)
• Warren Elvin Wilson (M.C.E.) – President of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1948–1953)
• Kenneth E. Wing (B.A., M.A., Ph.D) – Former president of the State University of New York at Cobleskill (1992–2002)
• Lynton Wilson ( M.A. Economics) – Chancellor of McMaster University (2007–2013)
• George T. Winston (B.A. 1874 Literature, Professor) – President of University of North Carolina, (1891–1896), the University of Texas at Austin (1896–1899), and North Carolina State University (1899–1908)
• Randy Woodson (M.S. and Ph.D. Horticulture) – Former Provost of Purdue University; 14th Chancellor of North Carolina State University (2010–)
• Carl R. Woodward (Ph.D. 1926)– President of the University of Rhode Island (1941–1958)
• Harry Woolf (Ph.D. 1955) – Provost of Johns Hopkins University (1972–1976), fifth Director of Institute for Advanced Study (1976–1987)
• Henry T. Yang (Ph.D.) – President of University of California, Santa Barbara (1994–)
• Mao Yisheng (M.S. 1917) – Former President of Southwest Jiaotong University and other Chinese universities; Structural engineer
• E.T. York (Ph.D. 1955) – President of the University of Florida (1973–1974); Chancellor of the State University System of Florida (1974–1980)
• H. C. Zen (B.S. 1916) – Chinese politician, academic who served as President of National Sichuan University (1935–1937)

Educators and scholars

• Rawi Abdelal (M.A. 1997, Ph.D. 1999 Government) – Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School
• David A. Moss (B.A.) – John G. McLean Professor of Business Administration at Harvard University
• William Bagley (Ph.D. 1900 Psychology and Education) – American educator and editor
• Jacques Bailly (Ph.D. 1997 Classics and Philosophy) – Winner of Scripps National Spelling Bee (1980) and the Bee's chief pronouncer (2003–); recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship (1988–1990) and associate professor of classics at the University of Vermont (2004–)
• Jessica Berg (J.D. 1994) – Tom and Bette Lou Walker Professor of Law and Dean of the Law School at Case Western Reserve University School of Law
• Hannah Buxbaum (J.D. 1992) – John E. Schiller Chair in Legal Ethics at Indiana University Maurer School of Law
• Yuen Ren Chao (B.A. 1914) – Notable Chinese-American linguist, educator, scholar, poet, and composer; president of Linguistic Society of America (1945)
• Gregory Chow (B.A. 1951) – Notable Chinese American economist, Class of 1913 Professor of Political Economy at Princeton University, known for Chow test
• Dan T. Coenen (J.D. 1978) – University Professor and Harmon W. Caldwell Chair in Constitutional Law at the University of Georgia Law School
• Alan Deardorff (M.A. 1969, Ph.D. 1971 Economics) – John W. Sweetland Professor of International Economics and Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan
• Theodore Drange (Ph.D. 1963) – A philosopher of religion and Professor Emeritus at West Virginia University
• Marc A. Franklin (LL.B. 1956) – Frederick I. Richman Professor of Law at Stanford Law School
• Paul Horwich (Ph.D. 1974) – Professor of Philosophy at New York University, best known for his work Truth (1990); on faculties of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1973–1995), University College London (1995–2000), and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (2000–2005)
• Jane Humphries (Ph.D. 1973) – Professor of Economic History and Fellow of All Souls College at the University of Oxford
• Bruce Jentleson (B.A., Ph.D.) – Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University
• Lilian Wyckoff Johnson (Ph.D., 1902) − Professor of History at the University of Tennessee; President of the Western College for Women (1904−1906)
• Emil Martinec (Ph.D. 1984) – Professor at the Enrico Fermi Institute at the University of Chicago, a specialist in string theory
• David S. Moore (Ph.D.) – Shanti S. Gupta Distinguished Professor of Statistics, Emeritus at Purdue University known for his leadership in statistics education; president of the American Statistical Association (1998)
• Paul M. O'Leary (Ph.D. 1929, Faculty 1924–1967) – American economist and educator, and the first Dean of the S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management
• Julie O'Sullivan (J.D. 1984) – Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center
• Daniel Simons (Ph.D. 1997) – Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois, known for Gorillas in Our Midst; Ig Nobel Prize winner (2004) for demonstrating that even gorillas can become invisible when people are attending to something else
• Serge Rudaz (Ph.D. 1979) – Theoretical physicist, Professor of Physics and Director of Undergraduate Honors at the University of Minnesota; Fellow of the American Physical Society, recipient of the Canadian Association of Physicists Herzberg Medal
• Richard H. Weisberg (Ph.D. 1970) – Walter Floersheimer Professor of Constitutional Law at Cardozo School of Law, founding director at Cardozo of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Program and the Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy, and a recipient of France's Legion of Honour (2008)
• Eric W. Weisstein (B.A. 1990 Physics, minor Astronomy) – Encyclopedist, created and maintains MathWorld, ScienceWorld, and other encyclopedias
• John W. Wells (Ph.D. 1933, Professor 1948–1973) – American paleontologist, biologist and geologist; President of Paleontological Society (1961–1962), member of the National Academy of Sciences (1968)
• Eliot Wigginton (B.A. 1965) – High school teacher, founder and editor of the Foxfire books; MacArthur Fellow (1989)
• E-An Zen (B.A. 1951) – Geologist; Roebling Medal recipient, fellow of the Geological Society of America (President, 1991–1992); the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Mineralogical Society of America, member of the Geological Society of Washington (President 1973) and the National Academy of Sciences

Athletics

See also: Category:Cornell Big Red athletes

Ben Scrivens

Bryan Walters

American football

• Greg Bloedorn (1995) – former NFL offensive lineman and long snapper for the Seattle Seahawks.
• Kevin Boothe (B.S. 2005 Hotel Administration) – Oakland Raiders, 2006, New York Giants, 2007–present
• Al Dekdebrun - Buffalo Bisons, 1946, Chicago Rockets, 1947, Boston Yanks, 1948, New York Yankees, 1948
• Pete Gogolak (1964) – Buffalo Bills 1964–1965, New York Giants, 1966–1975 First "soccer style" kicker in professional "American" football.
• Derrick Harmon (1984) – San Francisco 49ers 1984–1986
• Bill Lazor (1994) - NFL assistant coach
• Chad Levitt (1997) – Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams
• Jeff Mathews (2014) - Atlanta Falcons
• Ed Marinaro (B.S. 1972) – Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, and Seattle Seahawks; runner-up for the 1971 Heisman Trophy Award, actor on Hill Street Blues
• Lou Molinet (1928) – Frankford Yellow Jackets, 1927 First Hispanic-American player in the National Football League
• Seth Payne (1997) – Jacksonville Jaguars, 1997–2001, Houston Texans, 2001–2007
• Lee Reherman (1988) – Miami Dolphins, actor on American Gladiators and X-Files
• Glenn "Pop" Warner (LL.B. 1894, Football Coach) – Football player and coach, founder of Pop Warner Little Scholars
• J. C. Tretter (2012) - offensive guard for the Green Bay Packers (2013–present)
• Gary Wood (1964) – New York Giants 1964–1966, 1968–1969, New Orleans Saints, 1967
• Bryan Walters (2010) – San Diego Chargers 2010–2011, Minnesota Vikings 2012, Seattle Seahawks 2013

Baseball

• Joe Birmingham – Baseball player, Cleveland Naps, 1906–14
• Jon Daniels (B.S. 1999) – General Manager of the Texas Rangers, youngest GM ever in Major League Baseball
• Robert A. DuPuy (J.D. 1973) – Former President and Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball (MLB)
• Joseph Iglehart (1914) – Chairman of the Board, Baltimore Orioles, 1955–65.
• Hughie Jennings (J.D. study 1901–04, dropped out; Baseball Coach, 1899–?) – Baseball Hall of Fame-inducted shortstop; Louisville Colonels, (1891–93), Baltimore Orioles, (1893–99), Brooklyn Superbas, (1899–1900, 1903), Philadelphia Phillies, (1901–02), Detroit Tigers, (1907, 1909, 1912, 1918)
• Rob Manfred (B.S. 1980) - chief operating officer of Major League Baseball; 10th Commissioner of Major League Baseball
• A. J. Preller (B.S. 1999) – General Manager of the Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres 2014–
• Bill Walkenbach (B.A. 1998) - Cornell head baseball coach

Basketball

• Bryan Colangelo (B.S. 1987) – President and General Manager of the Toronto Raptors, 2005, 2007 NBA Executive of the Year
• Jon Jaques — professional basketball player for Ironi Ashkelon
• Nat Militzok (1923–2009) – New York Knicks basketball player

Ice hockey

• Gary Bettman (B.S. 1974) – Commissioner of the NHL
• Byron Bitz (2007) – Forward for the Boston Bruins 2008–2010, Florida Panthers 2010–2011, Vancouver Canucks 2011–present
• Ken Dryden (B.A. 1969) – NHL Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender, 6-time Stanley Cup Winner, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Calder Trophy winner, Canadian Member of Parliament
• Colin Greening (2010) – Centre for the Ottawa Senators 2011–Present
• Ned Harkness (Lacrosse and Hockey head coach) – Coach of Cornell NCAA hockey champions in 1967 and 1970, and previously RPI coach of 1954 national champs. Also head coach and then General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings
• David LeNeveu- NHL Goalie previously for the Phoenix Coyotes
• Matt Moulson (2006) – Left Wing for the Buffalo Sabres, and previously New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild.
• Douglas Murray (2003) – Defenseman for Montreal Canadiens and previously San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins, 2010 Olympian
• Riley Nash (2007-2010) – Centre for the Carolina Hurricanes 2011–Present
• Lance Nethery – NHL player, executive in the German Elite League
• Joe Nieuwendyk (1988) – NHL player, 3-time Stanley Cup champion, 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist
• Ryan O'Byrne (2007) – former NHL defensemen for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche
• Ben Scrivens (2010) – Goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens and previously Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers
• Ryan Vesce (2004) – Right Wing for the San Jose Sharks 2008–2010

Olympics

See also: Cornell Olympians

• Jon Anderson (1971) – 1972 Olympian, track; winner of 1973 Boston Marathon
• Edward Tiffin Cook, Jr.(Class of 1910) – Men's Pole Vault Olympic gold medalist in 1908 Summer Olympics
• Darren Eliot (1983) – NHL player, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres; 1984 Olympian
• Jamie Greubel (2006) - bronze medalist in two-woman bobsleigh at the 2014 Sochi games
• Al Hall (1956) – Four-time Olympian (1956, 1960, 1964, 1968), hammer throw
• Rebecca Johnston (2012) – hockey player, 2010 and 2014 Olympic gold medalist with Team Canada
• Robert J. Kane (1934, Director of Athletics) – U.S. Olympic Committee president, 1976–80; inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, 1986
• Kent Manderville (1993) – NHL player, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins; 1992 Olympic silver medalist with Team Canada
• Edith Master (born 1932) – Olympic bronze medalist equestrian
• Travis Mayer (undergrad 2000–01, on leave) – Olympic freestyle skiing silver medalist
• Charles Moore (1951, Director of Athletics, 1994–99) – 1952 Olympic gold medalist (hurdles) and silver medalist (1600-meter relay); honored as Golden Olympian, 1996
• Pablo Morales (J.D. 1994) – Three-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, 1984 and 1992
• David Munson (Class of 1906) – 4 mile team Olympic gold medalist in 1904 Summer Olympics, Inducted into the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988
• Richard Pew (1956) – 1956 Summer Olympics, épée fencing
• Alma Richards (1917) – 1912 Summer Olympics high jump gold medalist
• Bo Roberson (1958) – Black athlete with the distinction of being the only person to earn an Ivy League degree, an Olympic medal, a doctorate, and have a career in the N.F.L.
• Jamie Silverstein (undergrad 2002–04, 2006–) – Olympic figure skater

Other

• Bruce Arena (B.S. 1971) – 5-time NCAA Championship coach at the University of Virginia, coach of Major League Soccer's D.C. United, coach of the U.S. national team, coach of MLS's New York Red Bulls. Present coach of MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy.
• Clarence C. Combs, Jr., polo player, twice winner of the Monty Waterbury Cup.
• Kyle Dake (B.A. 2013) – One of only three wrestlers to win four NCAA Division I individual national titles (2010–2013), and the only one to do so in four different weight classes.
• Michael "Mike" G. French (1976) – All-American lacrosse player at Cornell University from 1974 to 1976, leading the "Big Red" to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 1976.
• Bill Jenkins – dragracer, ranked eighth on NHRA's Top 50 drivers in 2001
• Alexander Kevitz (1923) – American chess master.
• William Larned, seven-time U.S. Tennis championships winner
• Daniel R. Mackesey (1977) – Received NCAA Top Five Award in 1978 for lacrosse and soccer; inducted in National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2006
• Teddy Mayer (J.D.) – Motor racing team manager
• Eamon McEneaney (1977) – All-American lacrosse player at Cornell University from 1975 to 1977, leading the "Big Red" to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 1976 and 1977. Eamon died in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center
• John Nickles (1986) – Triathlete, winner of the World Champion Title in the 1999 Hawaii Ultraman World Championship; he set an Ultra Marathon Cycling Association world record in 1994
• Peter Revson – racecar driver
• Dave Sarachan – Head coach of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire (2002–2007)
• Dick Savitt – tennis player, ranked # 2 in the world.
• Doug J. Smylie (attended and played football for Cornell) – Canadian football player from 1945–1953 who played for the Toronto Argonauts, Montreal Alouettes and Ottawa Rough Riders, Grey Cup championships with Toronto in 1945 and 1952
• Donald Spero – rower
• Carl F. Ullrich (B.S. 1950) – Athletic Director at West Point 1980–1990. Executive Director of the Patriot League 1989–1993.
• Dan Wood (Ph.D. 1977), Five year Cornell golf and soccer (52–20–6) coach. Later coached professional teams Tacoma Tides, Colorado Caribous and Atlanta Chiefs. Turned professional golfer in 1980.

Crime

• Nick Berg (undergrad 1996–98, transferred) – Businessman beheaded by Islamic militants on May 7, 2004 during the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq
• David G. Friehling (B.S. 1981) - accountant to Bernard Madoff
• Leo Frank (B.S. 1906 Engineering) – Factory manager. Lynched in 1915 for the murder of a 13-year-old girl; subject of the musical Parade
• Mark Gerard, (D.V.M., 1962) Perpetuated horse racing fraud, switching horses identities
• Katrina Leung (B.S. 1976) – Accused spy, case dismissed then later sentenced to terms of plea agreement
• Robert Tappan Morris (graduate study 1988–89, suspended) – Author of the Morris Worm, which crippled the Internet in 1988
• Michael Ross (B.S. 1981 Agricultural Economics) – Convicted serial killer executed in Connecticut on May 13, 2005
• Michael Schwerner (B.A. 1961 Sociology) – Murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in the 1964 Mississippi civil rights worker murders
• Mark Whitacre (Ph.D. 1983 Nutritional Biochemistry) – Highest ranked executive in U.S. history of a Fortune 500 company to turn whistleblower and FBI informant; he pled guilty to fraud

Fictional Cornellians

• In 30 Rock, Fat Balls, a potential addition to Tracy Jordan's entourage is studying hotel administration at Cornell University.
• In Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart, a hotel manager attended the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
• In Ally McBeal, Ling Woo was editor of the Cornell Law Journal.
• In Altered States, Dr. Eddie Jessup, played by William Hurt, is a research scientist at Cornell Medical College.
• In Annie Hall, Herschel Kominsky has a chair in philosophy at Cornell.
• In Any Given Sunday, Christina Pagniacci, played by Cameron Diaz, graduated with an M.B.A. in 1996.
• In American Pie and other films in the series, Vicky Lathum, played by Tara Reid, attends Cornell.
• In Avenue Q, Princeton had a B.A. in English from Cornell in early drafts of the play, according to creator Jeff Marx.
• In The Big Bang Theory, Arthur Jeffries (a.k.a. Professor Proton), the former host of a children's science show, received a Ph.D. from Cornell.
• In The Broker by John Grisham, Arthur Morgan, President of the United States, attended Cornell.
• In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Joseph Allen is an Ithaca, NY native and holds a B.A. in international relations.
• In Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, Newt Hoenikker is a Cornell pre-med student drop-out.
• In Citizen Kane, Charles Foster Kane, the film's title character played by Orson Welles, was expelled.
• In The Counterlife by Philip Roth, Henry Zuckerman, the novel's central character, graduated from Cornell.
• In Dark City (1950), Danny Haley, played by Charlton Heston, was an undergraduate from 1937 to 1941.
• In Deception Point by Dan Brown, Gabrielle Ashe has a B.A. in Government.
• In Dirty Dancing, Neil attends the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
• In Goats, many of the main characters attended Cornell.
• In House of Cards, U.S. presidential chief of staff Linda Vasquez and journalist Tom Hammerschmidt are Cornell graduates.
• In "How I Met Your Mother", Barney Stinson is seen wearing a Cornell T-shirt, implying he attended Cornell. He also claims to have attended MIT, but this is later revealed to be the Magicians Institute of Teaneck.
• In Just Cause, Bobby Earl, played by Blair Underwood, attended but did not graduate.
• In Kingdom of Shadows by Alan Furst, Prince Hrubal of Northern Transylvania.
• In The Lost Weekend, Don Birnam, played by Ray Milland, attended but did not graduate.
• In Me, Myself and Irene, Irene Waters, the film's title character played by Renée Zellweger, claims her major at Cornell was "Turf Management."
• In Made of Honor, Tom and Hannah meet at Cornell where Hannah studied fine arts.
• In Megan McCafferty's novels, Len Levy has an M.D from Cornell.
• In Modern Family, Mitchell Pritchett is a graduate of Cornell.
• In New Moon, Carlisle Cullen teaches at Cornell and Jasper Cullen studies philosophy.
• In Numb3rs, Agent Sinclair is a graduate of Cornell.
• In The Office, Andy Bernard attended Cornell, was in an a cappella group named "Here Comes Treble", started a frisbee golf team, drank heavily, never studied and still graduated, on time. He minored in History and was a member of the Class of 1995.
• In Over There, Pvt. Frank "Dim" Dumphy, played by Luke Macfarlane, is nicknamed "Dim" for being highly intelligent and earning a B.S. from Cornell, but ending up in the Army.
• In Palace Council by Stephen L. Carter, the female protagonist, Aurelia (Aurie) Treene Garland, is a member of the English faculty at Cornell University who resides on Fall Creek Drive. Her colleagues Megan and Tristan Handley also teach at Cornell, where a clandestine meeting in Olin library is recounted.
• In "The Perfect Score", the main character, Kyle, wishes to study architecture at Cornell University.
• In The Prince of Tides, Dr. Susan Lowenstein, played by Barbra Streisand.
• In Say Anything..., Sheila, played by Kim Walker, was admitted to Cornell and plans to attend.
• In The Secret in Their Eyes, Judge Irene Menéndez Hastings is a Cornell alumna.
• In Sex and the City, Velma Rudin, psychologist in the show's second season, holds two Cornell degrees.
• In The Simpsons, Sideshow Mel attended Cornell.
• In The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the character Diana attends Cornell.
• In Spriggan, Rie Yamabishi has a B.A. in Linguistics.
• In Starman, National Security Agency scientist Mark Shermin wears a Cornell sweatshirt.
• In Step Up, Nora's mother wants her to apply to Cornell if her dancing career fails
• In Ugly Betty, Alexis Meade's assistant, Nick, is a Cornell graduate.
• In Up in the Air, Natalie Keener is a Cornell graduate.
• In Water for Elephants, Jacob Jankowski, the narrator, attended Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine.

See also

• List of Cornell University faculty
• List of Nobel laureates by university affiliation
• List of Quill and Dagger members
• Notable alumni of the Sphinx Head Society

External links

• Cornell in Professional Sports