List of Otterbein University alumni

Last updated May 23, 2025

Otterbein University is a liberal arts college in Westerville, Ohio and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It has a total student enrollment of about 3,100 students. Below is a list of notable alumni:

Athletes

Harold Anderson, NCAA basketball coach and member of the Hall of Fame
Ernest Barnard, President of the American League from 1927–1931; owner of Cleveland Indians
Matt D'Orazio, Pro Football quarterback; offensive player in ArenaBowl XX
Butch Hartman, five-time USAC stock car national champion
Drew Kasper, professional wrestler^[1]
Jim McKee, Major League Baseball player
Paul O'Neill, Major League Baseball player
Steve Traylor, college baseball coach at Florida Atlantic, Duke, and Wofford

Artists

Evelyn Svec Ward, class of 1943, fiber artist^[2]

Composers

Benjamin Hanby, composer of over 80 songs and hymns, including "Darling Nelly Gray" and the Christmas songs "Up on the House Top" and "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas"

Actors, entertainers

Jonathan Bennett, television actor
Jeremy Bobb, actor
Mandy Bruno, soap opera actress
Jordan Donica, stage actor
David Graf, television actor, known for the Police Academy series
Rachael Harris, actress and comedian
Daniel Everidge, actor
Dee Hoty, actress
Sam Jaeger, television actor
Chris Jansing, television anchor and correspondent
Gordon Jump, actor, "Big Guy" Carlson in the television series WKRP in Cincinnati
Cabot Rea, reporter and television news anchorman; current co-anchorman of WCMH in Columbus, Ohio
Cory Michael Smith, actor, plays Edward Nygma (aka the Riddler) in Fox's television series Gotham
Frances Lee Strong ( née Myers) or Grandma Lee, stand-up comedian^[3]
Bryan Thao Worra, writer
Tom P. Cardinal, stage, television, and movie actor/singer. Resident Meta Performer at Shadowbox Live

Politicians

John Karefa-Smart, politician from Sierra Leone; current leader of the United National People's Party
Lance Lord, retired Air Force Four Star General; former Commander, Air Force Space Command
Zeola Hershey Misener, suffragist and one of the first women elected to the Indiana General Assembly
Chalmers Wylie, Republican U.S. Congressman, 1967-1993
Kazuya Shinba, Japanese politician, Member of the House of Councillors (2001–present), Secretary-General of DPFP (2020–present), former State Minister for Foreign Affairs (2012), former State Minister of Defense (2009-2010), Member of Assembly of Kikugawa Town, Shizuoka (1994-1998)

Religion

Judith Craig, a bishop of the United Methodist Church, recipient of Doctor of Divinity Degree

Honorary alumni

Jack Hanna, zoologist

References

↑ Prescott, Adam (February 23, 2021). "Kasper signs developmental contract with WWE". OtterbeinCardinals.com . Retrieved September 15, 2021.
↑ Miniature Fiber Arts: A National Exhibition, Issue 16444. Laurel Reuter, Armory for the Arts (Santa Fe), Textile Workshops, Inc. Textile Workshops, Incorporated. 1980. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-9604110-0-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
↑ Harrington, Jeana (Fall 2009). "This Grandma's Wit and Verve has taken her to the Big Time". Towers. Office of Marketing & Communications of Otterbein College. p. 27. Retrieved April 26, 2020.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Prescott-1] Prescott, Adam (February 23, 2021). "Kasper signs developmental contract with WWE". OtterbeinCardinals.com . Retrieved September 15, 2021.

[2] Miniature Fiber Arts: A National Exhibition, Issue 16444. Laurel Reuter, Armory for the Arts (Santa Fe), Textile Workshops, Inc. Textile Workshops, Incorporated. 1980. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-9604110-0-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)

[harrington-3] Harrington, Jeana (Fall 2009). "This Grandma's Wit and Verve has taken her to the Big Time". Towers. Office of Marketing & Communications of Otterbein College. p. 27. Retrieved April 26, 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]