List of Northern Illinois University people

The list of Northern Illinois University people includes notable alumni, non-graduates, faculty and staff, chief executives, and affiliates of the Northern Illinois University.

Notable alumni

Academe

• Ross Alexander (Ph.D. 2002), 5th President of Texas A&M University-Texarkana

• Jerry M. Anderson (M.S. 1959), 9th President of Ball State University
• Gregg Andrews (Ph.D. 1988), labor historian and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Texas State University
• Judith Curry (B.S. 1974, Ph.D. 1982), climatologist
• Jose Manuel Diokno (J.D. 1986), founding Dean of the De La Salle University College of Law in Malate, Manila, Philippines
• John Dunn (B.A. 1967, M.A. 1969), President of Western Michigan University
• Kevin Folta, professor and chairman of the horticultural science department at the University of Florida
• Michael Honey, Guggenheim Fellow and Haley Professor of Humanities at the University of Washington Tacoma
• Louise Huffman (M.S. 1979), teacher and educator on US Antarctic programs
• Thomas Lindsay (B.A. 1977, M.A. 1983), president of Shimer College
• Timothy P. Marshall (B.S. 1978), meteorologist and civil engineer, damage analysis expert
• Professor Thomas J. Near (B.A., B.S., 1993; M.S. 1995), evolutionary biologist, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 18th head of Saybrook College at Yale University
• Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau USN, Retired (Ed.D.), past president of College of DuPage, past President of National Defense University
• Gregg Schlanger (MFA 1989), Professor of Art and Chair of the Department of Art at Central Washington University
• Dr. Christopher J. Schneider (M.A. 2004), professor at Wilfrid Laurier University
• Paul Sereno, paleontologist, University of Chicago, B.S., Biology, 1979
• Bharath Sriraman, academic editor, professor of mathematics at The University of Montana (M.S. 1999, Ph.D. 2002)

Arts and entertainment

• Joan Allen, 1980, actress, Academy Award nominee and Tony Award winner, The Contender, The Bourne Supremacy, Nixon, Face/Off, The Upside of Anger
• Dan Castellaneta, 1979, Emmy Award-winning actor, voice of "Homer Simpson" and others on The Simpsons
• Jimmy Chamberlin, drummer of The Smashing Pumpkins
• Mike Disa, film director, screenwriter, animator (Pocahontas, Hercules, Tarzan and Atlantis: The Lost Empire)
• Charlotte Kate Fox, actress and first non-Japanese heroine of an NHK Asadora: the series Massan broadcast on Japanese television; earned her Master of Fine Arts at NIU
• Brian Godawa, screenwriter and author
• Steve Harris, 1989, actor, Emmy Award nominee, The Practice
• Wood Harris, actor, Remember the Titans and The Wire
• E. E. Knight, 1987, author of Vampire Earth series, Age of Fire series
• Sebastian Maniscalco, stand-up comedian (The Late Late Show, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee)
• Justin Mentell, 2005, actor, Boston Legal
• Joe Minoso, actor, Boss and Chicago Fire
• Nicole Mitchell, musician and composer
• Cindy Morgan, actress, Lacy Underall in Caddyshack, Lora and Yori in TRON
• Matthew Prozialeck, blues musician, harmonica player
• Brian Simpson, smooth jazz pianist and composer
• Jason Matthew Smith, actor who portrays Ensign Hendorff in Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond
• Carrie Snodgress, Oscar-nominated actress (Diary of a Mad Housewife, Pale Rider, The Forsaken, Phantom 2040)
• Peter Sotos, American writer, musician, and child pornography publisher, best known as a member of the band Whitehouse
• Kurt Sutter, actor, writer, producer, Sons of Anarchy and The Shield
• Doug Walker, YouTube personality known for web show Nostalgia Critic
• Matt Walsh, comedian and actor (Old School, Role Models, The Hangover); portrays Mike McLintock on Veep
• Patricia Wood, author of Lottery; attended NIU
• Barbara Alyn Woods, actress, One Tree Hill
• Robert Zemeckis, director, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Forrest Gump; attended NIU before enrolling in film study at University of Southern California

Media

• Terry Boers, 1972, co-host of Boers and Bernstein, 670AM WSCR Chicago; former Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist
• Nicole Briscoe, anchor for ESPN's SportsCenter
• T.J. Simers, former Los Angeles Times sportswriter
• Dalton Tanonaka, journalist and television executive, earned B.Sc. in journalism at NIU in 1977

Business

• Jeff Aronin, founder of Ovation Pharmaceuticals
• Allan Cox, author and business leader
• Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility
• John Sall, co-founder of the SAS Institute and member of the Forbes 400

Athletics

American football

• Chad Beebe, wide receiver for Minnesota Vikings
• Ken Bishop, defensive tackle for Dallas Cowboys
• Christian Blake, wide receiver for Atlanta Falcons
• George Bork, quarterback for NIU 1962-63, first NCAA player to pass for more than 3,000 yards, College Football Hall of Fame
• Joel Bouagnon, running back for Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers
• Larry Brink, NFL defensive lineman, two-time Pro Bowler
• Da'Ron Brown, wide receiver for Kansas City Chiefs
• Brad Cieslak, NFL tight end for Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns
• Ryan Diem, NFL offensive tackle for Indianapolis Colts
• Larry English, NFL defensive end/linebacker for San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; #16 pick in NFL Draft, highest ever by a NIU player
• P. J. Fleck, head football coach at the University of Minnesota, former NFL wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers
• Doug Free, NFL offensive tackle for Dallas Cowboys
• Kenny Golladay, wide receiver for New York Giants
• Thomas Hammock, head football coach at NIU; former assistant coach for Baltimore Ravens (NFL) and Wisconsin Badgers
• Chandler Harnish, NFL quarterback for Indianapolis Colts, MVP of 2010 Humanitarian Bowl victory
• Duane Hawthorne, NFL cornerback for Dallas Cowboys
• Jack Heflin, defensive end for Green Bay Packers
• Darrell Hill, NFL wide receiver for Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans
• Sam Hurd, NFL wide receiver for Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears
• LeShon Johnson, NFL running back, 1994
• Scott Kellar, nose tackle for Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings
• Jerry Kurz, president of Arena Football League
• Tommylee Lewis, wide receiver for New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions
• Jordan Lynch, quarterback for Chicago Bears, Edmonton Eskimos of CFL, 2015 Grey Cup champion, 2015; third in 2013 Heisman Trophy voting (highest ever by NIU player)
• Justin McCareins, NFL wide receiver for Tennessee Titans and New York Jets
• Rashaan Melvin, cornerback for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions
• Jake Nordin, NFL tight end/fullback for Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions
• Patricia Palinkas, first woman to play professional football, placekick holder in Atlantic Coast Football League for Orlando Panthers, attended NIU but did not play football
• Nathan Palmer, NFL wide receiver for Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos
• Todd Peat, NFL guard for St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Raiders
• David Petway, NFL defensive back for Green Bay Packers
• Max Scharping, NFL offensive tackle for Houston Texans
• Chad Spann, NFL running back for Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans
• John Spilis, NFL wide receiver for Green Bay Packers
• Sutton Smith, NFL linebacker for Pittsburgh Steelers
• Hollis Thomas, NFL defensive tackle for Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers
• Michael Turner, NFL running back for Atlanta Falcons
• Tim Tyrrell, NFL running back for Atlanta Falcons, St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers
• Clarence Vaughn, defensive back for Washington Redskins, two-time Super Bowl champion, NIU Hall of Famer
• Jimmie Ward, safety for San Francisco 49ers
• Scott Wedige, NFL center for Arizona Cardinals
• Tom Wittum, NFL punter for San Francisco 49ers
• Garrett Wolfe, NFL running back for Chicago Bears, for Omaha Nighthawks of United Football League and Montreal Alouettes of Canadian Football League

Baseball

• Ned Colletti, former MLB general manager and current analyst for Los Angeles Dodgers
• Davy Jones, MLB player
• Fritz Peterson, MLB pitcher with New York Yankees
• Tom Tennant, MLB player with the St. Louis Browns
• Larry Young, former MLB umpire

Basketball

• Kenny Battle, former NBA player
• Jim Bradley, former ABA player
• Paul Dawkins, former NBA player
• Billy Harris, former ABA player
• Richard Oruche, player for Nigerian national team, 2012 Olympic Games and for NIU until transfer to University of Illinois Springfield
• Xavier Silas, NBA player for Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics
• Donald Whiteside, former NBA player
• Bob Wood, former NBA player

Professional wrestling

• Brad Bradley, wrestler, B.A. History, 2004
• Maria Kanellis, wrestler and valet
• Marty Lurie, professional wrestling manager and announcer, B.A., Political Science, 1995

Other

• Curtis Blaydes (attended), professional mixed martial artist, UFC heavyweight contender
• Aimee Boorman, head coach of U.S. women gymnastics team at 2016 Summer Olympics, attended NIU for a year before leaving to coach
• Farell Duclair, Canadian football player, transferred from Vanier College to play for Northern Illinois Huskies
• Tim Gullikson, professional tennis player
• Tom Gullikson, professional tennis player
• Ken Henry, speed skater and gold medalist at the 1952 Winter Olympics
• Terry Martin, professional MMA fighter; B.A., Psychology, 2004

Politics and government

Federal government

• Don Bacon, Republican Congressman from Nebraska's 2nd congressional district and retired United States Air Force Brigadier General
• Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator from Illinois; previously served as a Congresswoman, representing Illinois's 8th congressional district, 2013–2017; was a Ph.D. candidate at NIU
• Dennis Hastert, Republican U.S. Congressman 1987–2008; longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House; M.S., Education, 1967
• Robin Kelly, Democratic Congresswoman from Illinois's 2nd congressional district, earned Ph.D. at NIU
• Andrew L. Traver, civilian Director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service
• W. Willard Wirtz, United States Secretary of Labor during Kennedy administration and Johnson administration, took classes at NIU (then Northern Illinois State Teachers College), member of Alpha Phi Omega chapter; graduated from Beloit College

State legislators

Colorado

• John Buckner, Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives, representing the 40th district from 2012 until his death in 2015

Florida

• Bill Heller, Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 52nd district 2007–2011

Illinois

• Steven Andersson, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 2015
• Ralph C. Capparelli, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 1971–2004
• Cristina Castro, Democratic member of the Illinois since 2017; earned her Bachelor of Science and master of business administration at NIU
• Annazette Collins, Democratic member of the Illinois State Senate, representing the 5th district, 2011–2013; served in the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 10th District, 2001–2011
• Michael Crawford (politician), Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 2025; earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education at NIU
• John Curran, Republican member of the Illinois Senate since 2017
• Joe Dunn, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 2003–2009
• Roger L. Eddy, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 2003–2012
• Beverly Fawell, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1981–1983) and the Illinois Senate (1983–1999)
• Gene L. Hoffman, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 1967–1991; earned his master's and doctorate degrees from NIU
• Joyce Holmberg, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, 1983–1993
• Toi Hutchinson, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate since 2009
• Christine J. Johnson, Republican member of the Illinois Senate, 2011–2013
• Wendell E. Jones, Republican member of the Illinois Senate, 1998–2007
• Jeremiah E. Joyce, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, 1979–1993; served as a member of the NIU Board of Trustees
• Doris Karpiel, Republican member of the Illinois Senate, 1984–2003; served in the Illinois House of Representatives, 1979–1984; earned her B.A. in political science from NIU
• Nancy Kaszak, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 1993–1997
• Stephanie Kifowit, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 84th district since 2013
• Anna Moeller, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 43rd district since 2014
• Bob Morgan, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 58th district as of 2019
• Ruth Munson, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 2002–2009
• Vincent Persico, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 1991–2002; earned his masters of education at NIU in 1986
• Tom Rooney, Republican member of the Illinois Senate appointed in 2016; earned his M.P.A. from NIU in 2011
• Michael V. Rotello, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives 1991–1995; earned his Bachelor of Arts and did public administration graduate work at NIU
• Kathleen A. Ryg, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 2003–2009
• Jack Schaffer, Republican member of the Illinois Senate, 1973–1999
• George Scully, Jr., Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 1997–2009
• Joe Sosnowski, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 2011
• Litesa Wallace, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 2014
• Pennie Von Bergen Wessels, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 1993–1995
• Lance Yednock, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 2019–present

Indiana

• Lonnie Randolph, Democratic member of the Indiana Senate representing the 2nd district since 2008

Iowa

• Cindy Golding, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives, representing the 83rd district, 2023–present
• David Hartsuch, Republican member of the Iowa Senate, representing the 41st District, 2007–2011

Maryland

• Michael D. Smigiel, Sr., Republican delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates, 2003–2015

Michigan

• John Olumba, Democratic turned Independent member of the Michigan House of Representatives, 2011–2015

Montana

• Tim Furey, Democratic member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing the 91st district, 2007–2011

New Hampshire

• Susan M. Ford, Democratic member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing Grafton's 3rd district since 2013
• Jay Kahn, Democratic member of the New Hampshire Senate since December 2016
• Peter B. Schmidt, Democratic member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing Grafton's 3rd district since 2013

New York

• Patricia Fahy, Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 109th district since 2013
• James E. Powers, Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, 1965–1966, and the New York State Senate, 1967–1972

Oregon

• Ron Maurer, Republican member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 2007–2011; candidate for Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2010

Virginia

• John Miller, Democratic member of the Virginia Senate from January 2008 until his death in April 2016

Wisconsin

• Tim Cullen, Democratic member of the Wisconsin Senate who served two non-consecutive tenures, 1975–1989 and 2011–2015
• Dave Heaton, Republican member of the Wisconsin House of Representatives since 2015
• Jacob Leicht, Progressive member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, 1925–1927
• James A. Wright, Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1905 until his death in 1911; attended the university when it was Northern Illinois State Normal School

Local officeholders

• John Arena, Alderman for Chicago's 45th ward since 2011
• Howard Brookins Jr., Alderman for Chicago's 21st ward since 2003
• Steve Chirico, Mayor of Naperville, Illinois since 2015
• Franco Coladipietro, Mayor of Bloomingdale, Illinois; member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 2005–2013
• Robert Fioretti, former Alderman for the 2nd Ward; candidate for mayor of Chicago in 2015
• Terry Gabinski, member of the Chicago City Council from the 32nd ward, 1969–1998
• James Laski, former City Clerk of Chicago, controversial talk radio host, and author of Fall From Grace — From City Hall to Prison Walls; graduated from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1978
• Bill Morris, Mayor of Waukegan, Illinois, 1977–1985
• Ricardo Muñoz, Chicago 22nd Ward Alderman since 1993
• William E. Peterson, Vernon Township Supervisor, 1977–2017; served in the Illinois General Assembly, 1983–2009

Judiciary

• Sharon J. Coleman, jurist, presidential nominee for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• James Leon Holmes, federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas since 2004
• Thomas W. Murphy, Cook County Circuit Court judge since 2006; Chicago alderman of the 18th ward, 1991–2006

Activists

• Markos Moulitsas, founder of the Daily Kos blog; B.A., Journalism, Political Science, B.A. Philosophy 1996
• James F. Phillips, teacher and environmentalist who led a campaign against water pollution caused by Armour and Company
• Steven Schafersman, President of Texas Citizens for Science (B.S., 1971, Geology and Biology; M.S., 1973, Geology)

International figures

• Anies Baswedan, former Minister of Education and Culture of Indonesia and former Governor of Jakarta Indonesia; earned his Ph.D. in political science from NIU
• Chel Diokno (J.D), former dean of the De La Salle University College of Law, former Philippines senatorial candidate in 2019, 2022 elections
• Andi Mallarangeng, former Minister of Youth and Sports of Indonesia
• Audley Shaw, Minister of Finance and the Public Service of Jamaica and Member of Parliament for Manchester North Eastern
• Panitan Wattanayagorn, former Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister of Thailand, and acting Spokesman of the Royal Thai Government
• Wu Jun, Vice Mayor of Guiyang, the provincial capital of Guizhou, April 2013 to September 2014; studied at NIU

Presidents of Northern Illinois University

• Lisa C. Freeman, 2017–present
• Douglas D. Baker, 2013–2017
• John G. Peters, 2000–2013
• John E. La Tourette, 1986–2000
• Clyde Wingfield, 1985–1986
• William R. Monat, 1978–1984
• Richard J. Nelson, 1971–1978
• Rhoten A. Smith, 1967–1971
• Leslie A. Holmes, 1949–1967
• Karl Langdon Adams, 1929–1948
• Joseph Clifton Brown, 1927–1929
• J. Stanley Brown, 1919–1927
• John Williston Cook, 1899–1919

Notable faculty and staff

Academics

• Michael Bakalis, served as an Assistant Professor of History and later as Assistant Dean prior to his election as Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Josephine Thorndike Berry (1871-1945), Professor of Domestic Science, Northern Illinois State Normal School
• John W. Darrah, judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; served as an adjunct at the Northern Illinois University College of Law
• P. Allan Dionisopoulos, professor of political science; political scientist and legal scholar quoted in multiple Supreme Court of the United States decisions
• Mark Emmert, President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association; professor of political science at NIU, 1983–1985
• Mike Fortner, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 49th district, 2007–2019; currently teaches physics at NIU
• Fareed Haque, Professor of Jazz and Classical Guitar Studies
• Han Kuo-Huang, former professor of music
• Romualdas Kasuba (Ph.D. 1962), engineer, academician, co-founder of the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
• Michael J. Kolb, associate professor of anthropology
• Vernon Lattin (born 1938), president of Brooklyn College
• Lynne M. Thomas, three-time Hugo Award-winning editor; head of rare books and special collections
• George L. Trager, linguist
• Thomas C. Wiegele, professor of political science; founder of Association for Politics and the Life Sciences

Athletics

• Rod Carey, head coach for football (2012–2019)
• Lee Corso, head coach for football (1984)
• Dave Doeren, former head coach for football (2010–2012)
• Lindsey Durlacher, wrestling coach
• Marci Jobson, former head coach for women's soccer
• Jerry Kill, former head coach for football (2008–2010)
• Mark Montgomery, head coach for men's basketball (2011–2021)
• Joe Novak, former head coach for football (1996–2007)
• Ricardo Patton, former head coach for men's basketball (2007–2011)

References