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Notable alumni

Honors, rankings and facts

ASU has inspired a half-million master learners, alumni who thrive in nearly every country in the world. ASU graduates have generated headlines and helped solve society’s great challenges, in disciplines from the sciences to the arts, from sustainability to entrepreneurship and every category in between.

The alumni list is populated by international government leaders; U.S. governors, congressmen and senators; founders of companies; military-service pioneers; researchers in medicine, technology and sustainability; groundbreaking entrepreneurs, pioneering educators; entertainers and more. Sun Devil student-athletes-turned-pro dot every major league player roster and number in the hundreds.

Notable Alumni - Barbara Barrett

  • Barbara Barrett

  • Businesswoman, philanthrophist, diplomat; former U.S. Ambassador to Finland;
  • BS, political science, 1972; MPA, public administration, 1975; JD, law, 1978
Notable Alumni - Reka Cseresnyes

  • Reka Cseresnyes

  • Founder, SCR Sport in Budapest, Hungary; first four-time All-American in Sun Devil women's tennis history;
  • BS, finance and purchase/logistic management, 1999
Notable Alumni - Matthew Desmond

  • Matthew Desmond

  • MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” recipient; Harvard associate professor of sociology and social studies;
  • BS, communication and justice studies, 2002
Notable Alumni - Doug Ducey

  • Doug Ducey

  • Arizona governor; former Arizona state treasurer; former CEO, Cold Stone Creamery; member, ASU W. P. Carey School of Business Hall of Fame;
  • BS, finance, 1986

Notable Alumni - Mary Lou Fulton

  • Mary Lou Fulton

  • Educator, philanthropist; namesake of ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, BYU's Mary Lou Fulton Chair in College of Family, Home and Social Sciences; with husband Ira, ASU's largest individual donors;
  • BA, education, 1975
Notable Alumni - Temple Grandin

  • Mary Temple Grandin

  • Autism spokesperson, animal behavior expert, author; subject of Emmy Award-winning movie, "Temple Grandin";
  • MS; animal science, 1975; honorary doctorate of humane letters, 2012
Notable Alumni - Jan Henne-Hawkins

  • Jan Henne-Hawkins

  • Two-time Olympic gold medal winner, four overall medals, eight-time U.S. record-holder; International Swimming Hall of Fame;
  • BAE, physical education, 1972
Notable Alumni - Aaron Matos

  • Aaron Matos

  • Founder and CEO, jobing.com; founder, recruiting.com; recognized expert on recruitment technologies; member, ASU W. P. Carey School of Business Dean's Council;
  • BS, management, 1995

Notable Alumni - Al Michaels

  • Al Michaels

  • Sportscaster; five-time Emmy Award winner, five-time national sportscaster of year; TV Academy Hall of Fame; Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism from ASU;
  • BA, broadcasting, 1966
Notable Alumni - Phil Mickelson

  • Phil Mickelson

  • Professional golfer; winner of five major PGA championships, including three Masters titles; member, World Golf Hall of Fame; four-time All-American golfer at ASU
  • BA, psychology, 1992
Notable Alumni - Ed Pastor

  • Ed Pastor

  • U.S. congressman representing Arizona's 7th, 4th and 2nd districts during quarter-century of service on Capitol Hill, 1991-2015; BA, chemistry, 1966; JD, law, 1974
Notable Alumni - Joe Shoen

  • Edward “Joe” Shoen

  • Businessman, philanthropist; president and chairman, Amerco; chairman and CEO, U-Haul; 2017 ASU W. P. Carey School of Business Executive of the Year;
  • JD, law, 1981

Notable Alumni - Kyrsten Sinema

  • Kyrsten Sinema

  • U.S. congresswoman representing Arizona's 9th district; former member of Arizona Senate, Arizona House; three-time Legislator of the Year;
  • MSW, social work, 1999; JD, 2004; PhD, justice studies, 2012
Notable Alumni - Kate Spade

  • Kate Spade

  • Award-winning fashion designer, businesswoman; co-founder, Kate Spade New York; two-time Council of Fashion Designers of America award winner;
  • BA, broadcasting, 1985
Notable Alumni - Brenda Strong

  • Brenda Strong

  • Award-winning actress; "Desperate Housewives" recognition: two-time Screen Actors Guild Award winner, Emmy Award nominee for voice-over performance;
  • BA, music performance, 1982
Notable Alumni - Pat Tillman

  • Pat Tillman

  • Pro football player, decorated Army specialist; left successful NFL career to join Army after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; recipient of 14 military awards and decorations;
  • BS, marketing, 1997

Notable Alumni - Danny White

  • Danny White

  • Former All-Pro Dallas Cowboys quarterback, two-time Arena Football League champion head coach; College Football Hall of fame member; Sun Devil Athletics consultant; BS, Agribusiness, 1995
Notable Alumni - Ryan Wood

  • Ryan Wood

  • Businessman, cowboy; co-founder, Under Armour performance apparel; founder, Sweetwater Cattle Co.; selected by NFL Dallas Cowboys as fullback in 1996 player draft; BA, history, 1996
Notable Alumni - Margaret H. Woodward

  • Margaret H. Woodward

  • Decorated Air Force major general; recipient of 14 military awards and decorations; first woman to oversee U.S. combat air campaign;
  • BS, aerospace engineering, 1982
Notable Alumni - Peterson Zah

  • Peterson Zah

  • First Navajo Nation president, last Navajo Tribal Council chairman; established Navajo Nation Permanent Trust Fund; honorary degrees: ASU, Colorado College, College of Santa Fe; BAE, industrial education, 1963

The ASU Alumni Association connects a half-million alumni around the world who have positively impacted our global community by excelling and achieving after graduation.

ASU Alumni Association