List of Albion College people

This is a list of notable alumni and faculty, people who attended and graduated from Albion College in Albion, Michigan, and people who received honorary degrees.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Alumni

Academia

• Ella H. Brockway Avann, 1871, educator (1853–1899)
• David P. Baker, 1974, sociologist (1952-)
• Robert Bartlett, surgeon (1939–)
• Bob Bemer, 1940, computer scientist (1920–2004)
• Bruce C. Berndt, 1961, mathematician (1939–)
• J Harlen Bretz, 1906, geologist (1882–1981)
• Mark W. Chase, 1973, botanist (1951–)
• Harriet Gertrude Eddy, 1890s, educator and librarian (1876–1966)
• Britt Halvorson, professor, writer, anthropologist ^[1]
• Robert E. Horton, 1897, hydrology (1875–1945)
• Melvin H. Knisely, 1927, anatomist specializing in microcirculation (1904–1975)
• Forest Ray Moulton, 1894, astronomer (1872–1952)
• John W. Porter, 1953, former president of Eastern Michigan University; first African-American State Superintendent since Reconstruction ^[2]
• Dwight B. Waldo, first president of Western Michigan University (1864–1939)
• Mary Chawner Woody, minister, teacher, and temperance leader (1846–1928)

Arts and entertainment

• Philip Campbell Curtis, 1930, surrealist-inspired painter (1907–2000)
• Allie Luse Dick, music teacher
• Cornelia Moore Chillson Moots, 1882, missionary, temperance evangelist (1843–1929)
• Jon Scieszka, 1976, children's book author (1954–)
• John Sinclair, poet and '60s counterculture icon (1941–2024)
• F. Dudleigh Vernor, 1914, organist, composer ^[3]

Business

• William C. Ferguson, 1952, chairman of NYNEX NKA Verizon Communications (1930–2015)
• Steve Grigorian, President and CEO, Detroit Economic Club
• Joel Manby, 1981, former CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment
• Geoffery Merszei, CFO of Dow Chemical Company (1951–)
• Martin Nesbitt, 1985, businessman, Barack Obama friend and campaign treasurer (1962–)
• Doug Parker, 1984, chairman and chief executive officer of American Airlines (1962–)
• Moose Scheib, founder and CEO of LoanMod.com (1980–)
• Richard Mills Smith, 1968, chairman and editor-in-chief, Newsweek (1946–)
• Paul "Skip" Ungrodt, 1952, former chairman and president of Ideation, Inc. ^[4]

Government and politics

• Florence Riddick Boys, 1896, Indiana suffragist, journalist, state official ^[5]
• Prentiss M. Brown, 1911, U.S. Senator from Michigan ^[6]
• David L. Camp, 1975, U.S. Representative from Michigan ^[7]
• Barbara Ann Crancer, 1960, Missouri state circuit court judge and daughter of former Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa
• Homer Folks, 1887, a pioneer of mental and public health reform in New York ^[8]
• Bates Gill, Chinese foreign policy expert and director of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
• Matthew Gillard, politician, member of the Michigan House of Representatives
• George Heartwell, 1971, mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Matt Heinz, politician, member of Arizona House of Representatives
• Charles Tisdale Howard, 1880, Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives
• Thomas Ludington, 1976, judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and Albion College trustee
• Lyle H. Miller, 1914, brigadier general in the Marine Corps
• Arnold R. Pinkney, 1952, campaign manager for Jesse Jackson 1984 Democratic presidential nomination ^[9]
• Carl W. Riddick, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the Second District of Montana ^[10]
• Mark Schauer, 1984, U.S. Representative from Michigan
• Anna Howard Shaw, attended 1872–1875, civil rights leader, first female Methodist minister in the U.S.
• Robert M. Teeter, 1961, Republican pollster
• Edwin B. Winans, attended in 1840s, U.S. Representative and Governor of Michigan

Other

• Josh A. Cassada, 1995, physicist, NASA astronaut
• Cedric Dempsey, 1954, former president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
• Chris Greenwood, 2012, former National Football League player for Detroit Lions
• Phyllis Harrison-Ross, 1956, psychiatrist working with developmentally disabled and mentally ill children ^[11]
• Mary Catherine Judd (1852–1930s), educator, author, and peace activist
• Mary Beecher Longyear, philanthropist and founder of Longyear Foundation
• J. Fred “Pop” McKale, 1910, former University of Arizona basketball coach; 1998 Albion Hall of Fame inductee
• Forest Ray Moulton, 1894, astronomer
• Will Carl Rufus, 1902, astronomer, mathematician
• Leonard F. "Fritz" Shurmur, 1956, former college and National Football League football coach
• Madelon Stockwell, first woman to graduate from the University of Michigan
• Hazen Graff Werner, 1920, bishop of the United Methodist Church
• Nicolle Zellner, 2007, astronomer, planetary scientist, astrobiologist, professor, public outreach in space science and racial and gender minority recognition in STEM

Honorary degrees

• Barbara Bush, 2005, former First Lady of the United States ^[12]

Faculty

• Henrietta Ash Bancroft (1843-1929), professor of English and dean of women (1892-98) ^[13]

Presidents of Albion College

1. Charles Franklin Stockwell (1843–1845)
2. Clark T. Hinman (1846–1853)
3. Ira Mayhew (1853–1864)
4. Thomas H. Sinex (1854–1864)
5. George Beiners Jocelyn (1864–1869 and 1871–1877), J.L.G. McKown (1869–1870; interim), William B. Silber (1870–1871)
6. Lewis R. Fiske (1877–1898)
7. John Ashley (1898–1901)
8. Samuel F. Dickie (1901–1921)
9. John Wesley Laird (1921–1924) ^[14]
10. John Lawrence Seaton (1924–1945)
11. William W. Whitehouse (1945–1960)
12. Louis W. Norris (1960–1970)
13. Bernard T. Lomas (1970–1983)
14. Melvin L. Vulgamore (1983–1997), William C. Ferguson (1997; interim)
15. Peter T. Mitchell (1997–2007) ^[15]
16. Donna M. Randall (2007–2013), ^[16] Michael L. Frandsen (2013–2014; interim)
17. Mauri A. Ditzler (2014–2020) ^{[17] [18]}
18. Mathew B. Johnson (2020–2021), ^{[19] [20]} Joe Calvaruso (2021–2023; interim) ^[21]
19. Wayne P. Webster (2023–present) ^[22]

Athletics

See List of Albion Britons head football coaches

• Dustin Beurer, 2005, head football coach for Albion
• Morley Fraser, head football coach
• Walter S. Kennedy, head football coach and all-American quarterback at for the University of Chicago Maroons
• Dale R. Sprankle, head football coach at Albion and also at Adrian College
• Gina Warlick, women’s volleyball and basketball

References

1. "Colby College". Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
2. Marks, Alexis Braun. "Research Guides: University Presidents: 1974-2000". guides.emich.edu. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
3. "Dr. Vernor, Bay View Musician, Dies at 81; Composed 'Sweetheart of Sigma Chi'". Petoskey News Review. April 23, 1974. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
4. "Albion Interactive History". www.placepromo.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017.
5. Ida Chipman (January 16, 2007). "A Passion for Writing: Florence Boys Spent Early Years as a Typical Housewife" ''The South Bend Tribune'' pages E1, E3. via Newspapers.com
6. "BROWN, Prentiss Marsh (1889 - 1973)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
7. "CAMP, David Lee (1953 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
8. "Homer Folks (1867-1963)". NASW Social Work Pioneers. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
9. Martin, Douglas (January 18, 2014). "Arnold R. Pinkney Dies at 83; Steered 1984 Jesse Jackson Run" . Retrieved June 7, 2019– via NYTimes.com.
10. "RIDDICK, Carl Wood (1872 - 1960)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
11. Wayne, Tiffany K. (2011). American women of science since 1900. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. pp. 490–491. ISBN   9781598841589.
12. Albion College (April 18, 2018), Barbara Bush Convocation Speech at Albion College | August 25, 2005 , retrieved April 19, 2018
13. "Passes away. Henrietta Ash Bancroft". The Pasadena Post. February 11, 1929. p. 11. Retrieved February 23, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
14. "ALBION COLLEGE PRESIDENT JOHN W. LAIRD". www.albionmich.com. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
15. "Io Triumphe! A magazine for alumni and friends of Albion College". Issuu. November 2, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
16. "Albion Interactive History / People / Donna Randall". Isaac Kremer. December 9, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
17. "Albion College President Mauri Ditzler to retire in June". Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
18. "Albion College President Dr. Mauri A. Ditzler Announces Retirement, Board Begins National Search – Albion College" . Retrieved June 29, 2025.
19. "New president Mathew Johnson takes over Albion College during tough times". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
20. "Albion Plans May 7 Inauguration for Its 17th President, Dr. Mathew B. Johnson – Albion College" . Retrieved June 29, 2025.
21. "A Letter from Joe Calvaruso, '78 – Albion College" . Retrieved June 29, 2025.
22. "Wayne Webster, Ed.D. – Albion College" . Retrieved June 29, 2025.