List of University of Denver alumni
This University of Denver alumni includes those who have studied at or graduated from the University of Denver.
Scientists
- Henry Otley Beyer, father of anthropology and ethnology in the Philippines.
- Asa Grant Hilliard III, egyptologist and professor of educational psychology.
- Arnold Kramish, nuclear physicist on the Manhattan Project who was almost killed in a radioactive explosion
- Lula Lubchenco, pediatrician who researched the relationships between gestational age and birth weight.
- Henry T. Lynch, cancer researcher, considered one of the "fathers of cancer genetics"
- Valentino Mazzia, forensic anesthesiologist.
- Frances McConnell-Mills, toxicologist.
- Donald Menzel, one of America's first astrophysicists, former director of Harvard College Observatory.
- David Pion-Berlin, political scientist, academic, author and scholar.
- Anne Roe, clinical psychologist and researcher.
- Del Thiessen, psychology theorist.
- Cleo Spurlock Wallace, child speech therapist; founder of Wallace Village.
Politics, government and military
- Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.
- Frank Aguon, Guam Senator.
- Dr. Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Foreign Minister, Saudi Arabia.
- Carl Anderson, former Special Assistant to President Reagan; current Supreme Knight/CEO of the Knights of Columbus.
- Owen Aspinall, 45th Governor of American Samoa.
- Wayne Aspinall, former member, U.S. House of Representatives
- W. Meredith Bacon, political scientist; LGBT rights activist.
- César Vásquez Bazán, former Minister of Economy and Finance of Peru.
- Ann Bedsole, Alabama Republican politician.
- Charles Brannan, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President Truman
- Paula Broadwell, bestselling author; extramarital partner of David Petraeus
- Robyn Brody, associate justice of the Idaho Supreme Court
- Terrance Carroll, Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives.
- George W. Casey, Jr., four-star general and 36th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.
- Oscar Chapman, former U.S. Secretary of Interior under President Truman.
- Mary Cheney, political activist; daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney.
- Cindy Courville, former U.S. Ambassador to the African Union.
- Robert Dieter, U.S. Ambassador to Belize.
- Pete Domenici, former U.S. Senator.
- Byron Dorgan, former U.S. Senator
- Mike Enzi, current U.S. Senator
- Floyd Esquibel, member of the Wyoming Senate; former member of the Wyoming House of Representatives
- William D. Ford, former member, U.S. House of Representatives
- John V. Garza, member, Texas House of Representatives
- Peter Groff, President, Colorado Senate
- John Grubesic, New Mexico State Senator, representing the 25th District as a Democrat
- Millie Hamner, member of the Colorado House of Representatives; former school district superintendent for Summit County, Colorado
- Loy Henderson, former U.S. Ambassador to Iran
- Najma Heptulla, current member of Upper House of the Indian Parliament
- G. Kathleen Hill, current U.S. Ambassador to Malta
- Ahmad Ismail, mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Fred Karger, campaign strategist; 2012 presidential candidate; first ever openly gay candidate
- Michelle Kwan, former U.S. Olympic figure skater; current State Department employee; U.S. Public Diplomacy Envoy
- Paul Laxalt, former Nevada governor and U.S. Senator
- Clarence F. Lea, former member, U.S. House of Representatives
- John Arthur Love, former Governor of Colorado; Director of U.S. Energy Policy under President Nixon
- Fred Mahaffey, DU football all-American and youngest US Army four-star general
- David Malpass, President-Elect, The World Bank
- Azlan Man, Menteri Besar of the Malaysian state of Perlis
- Mike McKevitt, former member, U.S, House of Representatives
- Jami Miscik, former Deputy Director for Intelligence at the CIA; Vice-Chairman of Kissinger Associates, Inc. in New York
- Massouma al-Mubarak, Kuwait's first woman Cabinet Minister.
- Heraldo Muñoz, Current Chilean Foreign Minister, former Chilean Ambassador to the United Nations
- Shahzada Jamal Nazir, former Federal Minister for ministries of National Health Services, Religious Affairs, National Heritage & Integration and National Harmony, Government of Pakistan; former adviser/Minister of State for the Government of Pakistan
- Reynold Nesiba, South Dakota state senator
- James Nicholson, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President G.W. Bush
- Gale Norton, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President G.W. Bush
- Condoleezza Rice, former National Security Advisor and U.S. Secretary of State under President G.W. Bush
- Byron Rogers, former member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Andrew Romanoff, former Colorado House Speaker; 2010 U.S. Senate Candidate
- Ed Schafer, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President G.W. Bush; former Governor of North Dakota
- Richard Stark, current Florida State House member
- Paul Trivelli, former U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua
- Susan Waltz, Chair of International Executive Committee, Amnesty International; professor of public policy at Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan
- Mo Udall, former member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Alvin Wiederspahn, law school graduate; former member of both houses of the Wyoming legislature; prominent Cheyenne attorney and historical preservationist
- Jerre Stockton Williams, expert in labor law; first Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States; professor of law at The University of Iowa College of Law, University of Denver, and The University of Texas School of Law ; President, Association of American Law Schools ; Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- John Patrick Williams, former member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran
Business and industry
- Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman/CEO of Emirates Airlines
- Brad Anderson, former CEO of Best Buy
- Roger Birnbaum, CEO and co-founder of Spyglass Entertainment; current Chairman and CEO of MGM Studios
- Peter Coors, Chairman of Molson Coors Brewing Company
- Debra Crew, former CEO and President of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
- Heidi Ganahl, founder of Camp Bow Wow chain
- Ruth Handler, former President of Mattel, Inc.
- Richard Hilton, chairman of Hilton and Hyland Real Estate
- Ian Ivarson, founder of IVAR, a brand of backpacks and bags
- Elrey Jeppesen, aviation pioneer; founder of Jeppesen and Co., an aviation charting company today owned by Boeing
- Jay Kemmerer, Chairman of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
- James C. Kennedy, former CEO and current Chairman of Cox Enterprises
- Ted J. Kleisner, President and CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company
- Lewis Kornfeld, former CEO of Radio Shack
- Jim Lentz, President and CEO of Toyota North America
- Jeffrey Lorberbaum, Chairman and CEO of Mohawk Industries
- Emmit McHenry, technology entrepreneur; founder of Network Solutions
- Peter Morton, founder of Hard Rock Cafe chain
- Duane D. Pearsall, inventor of the battery-powered home smoke detector
- Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, CEO/Chairman of Platinum Studios; founder of Malibu Comics; screenwriter of Con Air and Men in Black
- Joseph Saunders, Chairman and CEO of Visa Inc.
- Andrew C. Taylor, CEO of Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Carol Tome, CEO of United Parcel Service
- Dale Wolf, CEO, Coventry Health Care
Media
- Alan Berg, former attorney; murdered radio talk show host
- Bob Berkowitz, former CNN White House correspondent, ABC News and NBC's Today Show
- Clarke Canfield, Associated Press reporter and author
- James W. "Jim" Case, program director, KRMA-TV
- James L. Conway, producer and director, Charmed, Smallville, 90210, Star Trek
- Ronnie Cramer, film director
- Edward W. Estlow, former CEO of E.W. Scripps Company
- Peter Funt, President and host of Candid Camera
- Merle Harmon, sports broadcaster, ABC and NBC TV, many MLB and NFL teams
- Aaron Huey, photojournalist and contributing editor, Harper's Weekly
- James C. Kennedy, Chairman, former CEO, Cox Enterprises
- Bill Mercer, sports play-by-play announcer, Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and World Class Championship Wrestling; retired faculty member from University of North Texas
- Mike Rosen, conservative talk radio host
- Andrew Rosenthal, editorial page editor, The New York Times
- Ed Stein, editorial cartoonist, Rocky Mountain News
- Lowell Thomas, radio commentator
- David Von Drehle, Columnist, Washington Post, former editor-at-large for Time'' magazine and author
- Jon Taffer, host and creator, Bar Rescue television show, SpikeTV
Sports
- Bruce Affleck, former NHL player; now Chief Operating Officer of St. Louis Blues
- Glenn Anderson, Hockey Hall of Fame wing and who scored 498 career NHL goals and won six Stanley Cups, 1980 Canadian Olympian
- Erik Andersson, former NHL forward with Calgary Flames
- Bob Balog, former NFL Center/Linebacker with Pittsburgh Steelers
- Trevor Baptiste, PLL All-Star Lacrosse player Atlas Lacrosse Club, Philadelphia Wings
- Byron Beck, ABA and NBA Denver Nuggets basketball star in 1960s and 70s, number 40 retired by team
- Wesley Berg, PLL Lacrosse Player with Redwoods Lacrosse Club, San Diego Seals
- Adam Berkhoel former NHL goaltender with Atlanta Thrashers
- Eddy Beers, former NHL forward with Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues
- Beau Bennett, former NHL forward with Arizona Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Doug Berry, former NHL forward with Colorado Rockies
- Ken Berry, former NHL forward with Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, two-time Canadian Olympian
- Jerome Biffle, 1952 US Olympic gold medalist in the long jump
- Steve Blateric, former MLB Pitcher, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and California Angels
- Ray Boggs, former MLB Pitcher with Boston Braves
- Nat Borchers, former MLS soccer defender with Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, Colorado Rapids and US National Team
- Henrik Borgström, NHL center with Florida Panthers
- Vince Boryla, 1948 US Olympic gold medalist, NBA player with New York Knicks, NBA head coach and long-time NBA executive
- Henry Bostick, former MLB third baseman with Philadelphia Athletics
- Tyler Bozak, NHL forward with St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs
- Lyle Bradley, former NHL player with California Golden Seals and Cleveland Barons
- Rick Bragnalo, former NHL player with Washington Capitals
- Mike Busniuk, former NHL player with Philadelphia Flyers
- Will Butcher, NHL defenseman with New Jersey Devils and 2017 Hobey Baker Award Winner
- Chris Butler, former NHL defenseman with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames and Buffalo Sabres
- Ryan Caldwell former NHL defenseman with New York Islanders and Phoenix Coyotes
- Matt Carle, former NHL defenseman with Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks 2007 NHL all-Rookie team and 2006 Hobey Baker Award winner
- Don Carlsen, former MLB pitcher with Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates
- Suzy Chaffee, former Olympic, World Cup and professional freestyle skier, known as "Suzy Chapstick"
- Mike Christie, former NHL player with Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Barons, Vancouver Canucks and California Golden Seals
- Joe Colborne, former NHL forward with Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins
- Paul Comrie, former NHL forward with Edmonton Oilers
- Ed Cristofoli, former NHL forward with Montreal Canadiens
- Courtney Dauwalter, America's Top-Ranked Ultra-Distance Runner
- Kevin Dineen, former NHL all-star player; former head coach, Florida Panthers, 1984 Canadian Olympian and Gold Medal Coach of Canadian Women's Team at 2014 Sochi Olympics
- Kevin Doell, former NHL forward with Atlanta Thrashers
- Matt Donovan, NHL defenseman with Nashville Predators
- Ferd Dreher, former NFL football player with Chicago Bears
- Wade Dubielewicz, former NHL goaltender with New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild
- Reagan Dunk, former MLS soccer defender, Real Salt Lake
- Sam Etcheverry, NFL QB with St. Louis Cardinals, also Canadian Football League Hall of Fame player and coach
- Kortne Ford, MLS soccer defender with Colorado Rapids
- Dylan Gambrell, NHL forward with San Jose Sharks
- Dallas Gaume, former NHL forward with Hartford Whalers and all-time leading scorer for DU hockey
- Gabe Gauthier, former NHL hockey player with Los Angeles Kings
- Ron Grahame, former NHL goaltender with Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings and Quebec Nordiques
- Mark Grimmette, with Brian Martin, two-time U.S. Olympic medalist luge pair in 1998 and 2002 Olympics
- Gil Hanse, Top Golf Course Architect
- Kristen Hamilton, NWSL Professional Soccer Player, North Carolina Courage and US National Team
- Danton Heinen, NHL Hockey forward with Anaheim Ducks and Boston Bruins
- Keri Herman Free Style Skier with Five X Games silver medals, three World Cup titles and a Grand Prix gold and represented Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympics
- Blake Hillman, former NHL Hockey defenseman with Chicago Blackhawks
- Monty Hoyt, 1964 US Olympic figure skater
- Lex Hudson, former NHL hockey player with Pittsburgh Penguins
- Tommy Hugo, former Canadian Football Hall of Fame football player with Montreal Allouettes
- Connor James, former NHL forward with Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings
- Ray Johnson, NFL football player with Cleveland Rams
- Marshall Johnston, NHL and Canadian Olympic hockey forward, NHL coach and executive
- Chris Kenady, former NHL forward with St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers
- Yoram Kochavy 1984 Olympic swimmer with Israel
- Cliff Koroll, former NHL winger with Chicago Blackhawks and later Blackhawks head coach
- George Konik, former NHL player with Pittsburgh Penguins
- Michelle Kwan, Multiple World Champion figure skater, two-time Olympic medalist in 1998/2002, graduated June 2009
- Antti Laaksonen, former NHL forward with Boston Bruins, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche, 2006 Olympic Silver Medal with Finland
- Mike Lampman, former NHL player with St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals
- Richard Lapchick, noted sports human rights activist
- Jim Leavins, former NHL defenseman with Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers
- Floyd Little, Hall of Fame running back, Denver Broncos
- Jessica López, Venezuelan three-time Olympic gymnast in 2008, 2012 and 2016
- Pete LoPresti, former NHL goaltender with Minnesota North Stars and Edmonton Oilers
- Aaron MacKenzie, former NHL defenseman with Colorado Avalanche
- John MacMillan, former NHL forward and two-time Stanley Cup winner with Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings
- Keith Magnuson, former NHL defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks and later Blackhawks head coach
- Peter Mannino, former NHL goaltender with New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets
- Brian Martin, with Mark Grimmette, two-time U.S. Olympic medalist luge pair, 1998 and 2002
- Tom Martin, former NHL forward with Minnesota North Stars, Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets
- Bill Masterton, former NHL forward with Minnesota North Stars; namesake of the NHL's Bill Masterton Trophy
- Dwight Mathiasen, former NHL forward with Pittsburgh Penguins
- Derek Mayer, former NHL defenseman with Ottawa Senators, 1994 Canadian Olympian
- Scott Mayfield, NHL defenseman with New York Islanders
- Peter McNab, former NHL player with Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils; current color analyst for the Colorado Avalanche
- Dakota Mermis, NHL defenseman with New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes
- Paul Messier, former NHL forward with Colorado Rockies
- Tom Miller, former NHL player with Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders
- Trevor Moore, NHL forward with Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs
- Gavin Morgan, former NHL forward with Dallas Stars
- George Morrison, former NHL forward with St. Louis Blues
- Logan O'Connor, NHL forward with Colorado Avalanche
- Royce O'Neale, NBA forward with Utah Jazz
- Rob Palmer, former NHL forward with Chicago Blackhawks
- Craig Patrick, former NHL player; Stanley-Cup winning NHL Executive and assistant coach for 1980 US Olympic gold medal hockey team
- Matt Pettinger, former NHL forward with Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning
- Ernie Pitts, Canadian Football Hall of Famer with Winnipeg Blue Bombers and British Columbia Lions
- Gregg Popovich, Head Coach, NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs and 2020 U.S. Olympic Team
- Lynn Powis, former NHL forward with Chicago Blackhawks and Kansas City Scouts
- Rich Preston, former NHL forward with Chicago Blackhawks and New Jersey Devils
- Rhett Rakhshani, former NHL forward with New York Islanders
- Craig Redmond, former NHL defenseman with Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers, 1984 Canadian Olympian
- Mark Rycroft, former NHL forward with St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche
- Reggie Rivers, motivational speaker; former Denver Broncos running back
- Willy Schaeffler, former University of Denver Ski Coach 1948–1972; former U.S. Ski Team Alpine Director + Coach 1968–1972
- Andre Shinyashiki, MLS forward with Colorado Rapids, 2019 MLS Rookie-of-the-Year
- Don Stansauk, NFL defensive end with Green Bay Packers, later became pro wrestling legend and actor Hard Boiled Haggerty
- Dan Schatzeder, winning pitcher of Game 6 of the 1987 World Series, Minnesota Twins
- Jim Shires, former NHL player with Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins
- Drew Shore, NHL forward with Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks
- Nick Shore, NHL forward with Winnipeg Jets,Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames
- Brett Skinner, former NHL defenseman with New York Islanders
- Graham Smith, MLS soccer defender with Sporting Kansas City
- Wayne Smith, former NHL player with Chicago Blackhawks
- Craig Stimac, former MLB catcher with San Diego Padres
- Paul Stastny, NHL forward, Las Vegas Golden Knights, Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche and 2010 US Olympic silver medalist
- Troy Terry, NHL forward with Anaheim Ducks, 2018 U.S. Olympic Team
- Sarah Thomas, Ultra Distance Swimmer, first person, male or female, to ever swim English Channel four times non-stop
- Jack Tising, former MLB pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Brock Trotter, former NHL forward with Montreal Canadiens
- Vic Venasky, former NHL forward with Los Angeles Kings
- Michelle Waterson, professional mixed martial artist for the UFC's Strawweight division
- Patrick Wiercioch, former NHL defenseman with Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche
- Joe Willis, MLS Goalkeeper with Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo and Washington D.C. United
- Jim Wiste, former NHL forward with Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks
- John Woudenberg, former NFL player with Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers, 1942 Pro Bowl
- Jason Zucker, NHL forward with Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild
Literature, music, and the arts
- Chris Broderick, heavy metal guitarist
- C.J. Box, novelist
- Charlie Burrell, bassist
- Sandra Dallas, writer and novelist
- Joan Dickinson, artist, writer, and teacher
- Ed Dwight, first African American Astronaut trainee, sculptor
- Peter Gay, historian and educator
- Aaron Gwyn, author and professor
- Mark Harris, author, Bang the Drum Slowly
- Elliot Martin, Broadway producer and director
- Duane Michals, art photographer
- Ken Michelman, TV actor, The White Shadow, Grey's Anatomy, The West Wing
- Isidore Okpewho scholar of African oral literature, novelist
- Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Film Producer, Men in Black, Cowboys and Aliens
- Paul Quinichette, tenor saxophonist
- Ted Shackelford, television actor, Knots Landing
- Paul Sharits, avant-garde/abstract filmmaker
- Ted Shawn, modern dancer
- Neil Simon, playwright and screenwriter
- Sinbad, born David Adkins, comedian and actor
- Rodney Stark, author, professor, and sociologist of religion
- Morton Subotnick, electronic musician
- Hao Jiang Tian, basso cantante opera singer
- Josh Taylor, comedy and dramatic television actor
- Cedar Walton, jazz pianist
- John Edward Williams, author
Other
- Margaret L. Curry, state parole officer
- Sumiko Hennessy, Japanese-American academic, social worker, and activist for the Asian American community in Denver
- Mary Ann Kerwin, J.D. 1986, co-founder of the La Leche League
- Dottie Lamm, former First Lady of Colorado
- Sue Miller, breast cancer activist
- Pauline Short Robinson, first African-American librarian in Denver