List of University of Rhode Island people

The following is a partial list of notable University of Rhode Island people. It includes alumni, professors, and others associated with the University of Rhode Island.

Notable alumni

Politics and government

• Lincoln Almond (B.Sc. 1959), Governor of Rhode Island from 1995 to 2003 ^[1]
• Sandra Cano (M.P.A. 2012), Member of the Rhode Island Senate from the 8th district ^[2]
• Peter Courtney (B.A. 1965), 55th President of the Oregon State Senate (2003–present), Member of the Oregon Senate (1991–present) ^[3]
• Frank Edelblut (B.Sc. 1983), Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education ^[4]

  

  Jorge Elorza

• Jorge Elorza (B.Sc. 1998), 38th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island ^[5]
• Charles J. Fogarty (M.P.A. 1980), Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island 1999–2006 ^[6]
• J. Joseph Garrahy (1953), Governor of Rhode Island from 1977 to 1985
• William B. Gould IV (B.A. 1958), Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board 1994–1998
• Edwin R. Pacheco (B.A. 2005), Chairman of Rhode Island Democratic Party 2010–2013
• Donna M. Walsh, Former Rhode Island State Representative
• Robert Weygand (B.Sc., B.F.A., M.A, M.P.A.) Lieutenant Governor of RI 1993–1997, U.S. Representative from RI 1997–2001. ^[7]
• Alton W. Wiley (1951), First Black judge to on the Rhode Island District and Superior courts ^[8]
• George Wiley (1953), civil rights leader and chemist

Arts, broadcast and entertainment

• Masta Ace (1988), rapper
• Stevie Aiello, songwriter and musician
• Kim Alexis, model
• Christiane Amanpour (B.A. 1983), journalist and CNN correspondent
• James (Jim) Roberts (B.A.), journalist, special assignment correspondent, documentary producer, special news programs host, executive editor, R/TV news anchor CBS, ABC, PBS, MUTUAL affiliates, UPI, numerous print publications, writer, still photographer, poet, and publisher ^[9]
• Mark Atkinson, (B.A.) actor
• Andrew Burnap (B.F.A. 2013), actor
• Steve Cascione (B.A. 1977), television news anchor
• Angelo Cataldi (B.A. 1972), sports radio personality
• Amanda Clayton, actress
• Vladimir Duthiers (B.A. 1991), journalist
• Benjamin Fine (B.Sc. 1928), journalist ^[10]
• Mat Franco (2010), magician
• Sage Francis (1999), rapper
• Peter Frechette (B.F.A.), actor
• Matt Gallant (B.A. 1987), television host
• John M. Geddes (B.A. 1974), journalist and managing editor of The New York Times from 2003 to 2013 ^[11]
• Leila Goldkuhl, model
• Jose B. Gonzalez (Ph.D. 1998), poet
• Donald M. Grant (1949), publisher
• Ann Hood (B.A. 1978), novelist ^[12]
• Roberta Mudge Humble (B.A.1968; M.A. 1971), author, speaker, and professor, Rhode Island books and games; inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2022
• John King (B.A. 1985), television journalist ^[13]
• Kevin Kelly, magazine editor
• J. Michael Lennon (M.A. 1969, Ph.D. 1975), writer and editor ^[14]
• Aria Mia Loberti, actress
• Tony Longo, actor
• Theo Martins (2009), singer and rapper
• Freddie Scott, singer
• Michael P. Shawver (born 1984/1985), film editor
• J. T. Walsh, actor

Sports

• Lou Abbruzzi (1941) – Former NFL player for the Boston Yanks
• Pat Abbruzzi (1955) – Former CFL player for the Montreal Alouettes
• Jimmy Baron – Played in the NBA Summer League for the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards. He is currently playing basketball for Lagun Aro GBC in Spain's ACB League. He is the all-time three-point shooter in the University of Rhode Island and Atlantic 10 history.
• Tavorris Bell (2001) – Streetball player featured in the AND1 Mixtape Tour Volume 2 video.
• David Bernsley (born 1969) - American-Israeli basketball player
• Parfait Bitee – Former point guard for URI, also played on the Cameroonian men's national basketball team that won the silver medal at the FIBA Africa Championship 2007
• Andy Boss (B.A. 1992) – Former professional racing driver in Indy Lights and IMSA
• Danleigh Borman (2008) – MLS player for Toronto FC
• Geoff Cameron – MLS player for Houston Dynamo, MLS All-Star in 2009 and 2011, member and starter on the 2014 World Cup US Men's National Soccer Team. ^[15]
• Todd Bozeman – Head Coach, Morgan State University men's basketball
• Ernie Calverley – Former NBA player with the Providence Steamrollers, former URI head coach
• Derek Cassidy – Former Arena Football League player
• Jim Christian – Former head coach of Boston College men's basketball
• Steve Chubin – Former NBA player for the Indiana Pacers
• Sean Colson – Former NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets
• Tony DeLuca – Former NFL player for the Green Bay Packers
• Shelagh Donohoe – Olympic athlete, current Women's rowing head coach. ^[16]
• Mike Dwyer – Former NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys
• Johnny Ezersky – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers, the Baltimore Bullets, and the Boston Celtics
• Frank Ferrara – Former NFL defensive end for New York Giants and Hollywood stunt man
• Jason Foster – Former NFL player
• Steve Furness – Former NFL player for Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions
• Tom Garrick – Former NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Clippers ^[17]
• Sasha Gotsmanov – MLS player for the Colorado Rapids
• Virgil Gray – Arena Football League player
• Andy Gresh – Sports analyst, Fox Sports, WSKO, ESPN Radio, Patriots Rock Radio Network
• P. H. Horgan III – PGA Tour golfer
• Chester Jaworski – Basketball player, led the nation in scoring in his senior season, also won national player of the year award in his senior season.
• Frank Keaney – Former URI men's basketball coach, inventor of URI's team color Keaney Blue, and Basketball Hall of Fame member. ^{[18] [19]}
• Cuttino Mobley – Former NBA player for the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, and the New York Knicks
• Rick Moser – Former NFL player
• Xavier Munford (born 1992) - basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Pat Narduzzi – Head football coach for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers

• 

  Lamar Odom

  Lamar Odom (1997–98) – 2 time NBA Champion for the Los Angeles Lakers and recipient of the 6th Man of the Year Award. Drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers ^[20]
• Josh Oppenheimer – Israeli-American professional basketball coach, and former professional basketball player
• Tom Penders – Former college basketball coach
• Stephen Peterson – Rower on the 1996 U.S. Olympic team and Gold Medal winner at the 1990 World Rowing Championships
• Dana Quigley – PGA Tour golfer
• Dawan Robinson – NBA player (point guard) for the Los Angeles Clippers
• Ron Rothstein – Former coach in the NBA for the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons, first coach of the Miami Heat
• Kahiem Seawright – Former forward for URI, currently playing professional basketball for Valladolid in Spain's ACB League
• Bob Shea – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers
• Dave Stenhouse, Former Major League Baseball pitcher with the Washington Senators from 1962 to 1964 and coach of the Brown University baseball team from 1981 to 1990.
• Stanley Stutz – Former NBA player for the New York Knicks
• Jared Terrell (born 1995) - basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Tyson Wheeler – Former NBA player for the Toronto Raptors
• Bob White – Former NFL player
• Andy Williams – MLS player for Real Salt Lake, formerly for Columbus Crew
• Jeff Williams – Former NFL player
• Sly Williams – Former NBA player for New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics

Business

• Robert Crandall (1960), former president and chairman of the board, American Airlines
• Michael D. Fascitelli, former president and current Trustee of Vornado Realty Trust
• Giovanni Feroce (1991), former CEO of Alex and Ani ^[21]
• John Gomes, luxury real estate broker
• Sean Ludwick, real estate developer convicted of vehicular homicide
• Tony Horton (1980), fitness guru and developer of P90X
• Nancy McKinstry (1980), chairman and CEO of Wolters Kluwer
• Olivier Pastré, French economist and banker
• Thomas Ryan (1975), former CEO of CVS Corporation

Science and academia

• Daniel G. Aldrich (1939), founding chancellor of University of California, Irvine
• Kimberly Arcand (1997), data visualizer and science communicator ^[22]
• Robert Ballard (PhD 1975, Hon. 1986), oceanographer, discoverer of the RMS Titanic, Professor and Director of URI's Center for Ocean Exploration, part of URI's Graduate School of Oceanography.
• Martha Banks (M.A. 1978, PhD 1980), clinical psychologist
• Roxanne Johnson (M.S. 1997), chemist working at the United States Environmental Protection Agency
• James W. Carey (B.Sc.), media theorist ^[23]
• Elizabeth A. Craig, professor and chair of biochemistry at University of Wisconsin–Madison and member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Leon Stanislaw Jablecki, (B.Sc. 1938), rocket scientist
• Deneb Karentz, (B.Sc. 1973, PhD 1982), professor and chair of biological sciences at University of San Francisco
• Cornelius M. Kerwin, (M.A. 1973), President of American University (2007–2017)
• Frederick G. Keyes, (B.Sc. 1906), Professor and Lecturer in Physics and Chemistry at MIT
• Jay Maddock, (Ph.D. 1999), Regents Professor at Texas A&M University
• George H. M. Lawrence, (B.Sc. MSc, 1952) was a United States botanist, author and Professor of Botany. Established the Hunt Botanical Library and the Huntia (journal)
• E. Paul Larrat (B.Sc. 1982, MBA 1984, M.S. 1988), pharmacist, epidemiologist, researcher, and dean and professor, URI College of Pharmacy
• Herbert Lovett, (P.h.D) was an American psychologist
• Catalina Martinez, (B.Sc. 1996, MSc. 1999, M.M.A. 2001, M.B.A. 2014), Regional Program Manager for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.
• Janice Merrill-Oldham (M.L.S. 1984), Malloy-Rabinowitz Preservation Librarian at the Harvard Library (1995–2010)
• Robert B. Rheault, Jr., (Ph.D. 1996), marine biologist and aquaculture consultant
• Stuart Vyse, (PhD 1987), psychologist, teacher, speaker and author who specializes in belief in superstitions and critical thinking.
• Sandra Thornton Whitehouse, (Ph.D. 1994), marine biologist and wife of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse ^[24]

Military

• Admiral Jeremy M. "Mike" Boorda (B.A. 1971), 25th Chief of Naval Operations ^[25]
• General Charles A. Flynn (B.Sc. 1985)

• 

  Michael Flynn

  Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn (B.Sc. 1981), Director, Defense Intelligence Agency (former), National Security Advisor for President Donald Trump (former).
• General Leon J. LaPorte, United States Army four-star general
• Rear Admiral Francis D. "Bill" Moran, third director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
• Rear Admiral Sigmund R. Petersen, fourth director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps

Faculty

• Judith A. Boss, writer
• James Cooley, mathematician
• Fritz Eichenberg, illustrator
• Arthur L. Hardge, administrator
• Peniel E. Joseph, historian
• Robert Leuci, former detective with the New York City Police Department

• 

  Margaret Mead

  Margaret Mead, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Anthropology
• Igor Sikorsky, aviation pioneer ^[26]
• Bruce Sundlun, 71st Governor of Rhode Island
• William Wallace Wotherspoon, Chief of Staff of the United States Army
• Gaurav Khanna (physicist), black hole physicist and supercomputing pioneer

Presidents

Further information: List of presidents of the University of Rhode Island

References

1. Wheaton, James Lucas; Vangermeersch, Richard G. J. (September 1, 1999). University of Rhode Island. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN   9780738502144.
2. "State of Rhode Island General Assembly". State of Rhode Island General Assembly. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
3. "Peter Courtney faces challenge for re-election". Statesman Journal. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
4. "About the Commissioner". Department of Education. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
5. Rogerson, Kate. "URI Alum: Jorge Elorza, Mayor of Providence | The Good 5 Cent Cigar" . Retrieved February 22, 2021.
6. Staff, P. B. N. (October 28, 2006). "Fogarty says he'll help small businesses". Providence Business News. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
7. "Robert A. Weygand" . Retrieved February 22, 2021.
8. Mulvaney, Katie. "RI's first Black judge, Alton W. Wiley, dies at 91". The Providence Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
9. University of Rhode Island publications
10. "Benjamin Fine Is Dead in Korea; Was Education Editor of Times (Published 1975)". The New York Times. May 17, 1975. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 22, 2021.
11. "URI alumnus John M. Geddes named a managing editor of The New York Times". today.uri.edu. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
12. Rogerson, Kate. "Alumni Profile: Meet Ann Hood | The Good 5 Cent Cigar" . Retrieved February 22, 2021.
13. "John King, CNN's chief national correspondent, analyzes election results for viewers in front of the "Magic Wall." (Photo courtesy of CNN)". Westerly Sun. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
14. LaRoche, Tony. "Mailer biography grew out of 40-year acquaintance with Westport, Mass., author". providencejournal.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
15. Davis, Noah. "Geoff Cameron's Rise from Unheralded Youngster to USMNT Star". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
16. "Shelagh Donohoe". Rhode Island. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
17. "Rhode Island : Tom Garrick Resigns as Women's Basketball Head Coach". Gorhody.com. March 9, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
18. "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Frank Keaney". www.hoophall.com. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
19. Klein, Maury. "KEANEY INVENTED THE FAST BREAK AND RHODE ISLAND MADE THE BIG TIME". Vault. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
20. Johnson, Richard (March 17, 2017). "Rhode Island hero Lamar Odom watched Rams play Creighton". SBNation.com. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
21. "Alex & Ani: A Vital Force in Rhode Island" . Retrieved February 22, 2021.
22. "Kimberly Kowal Arcand '97" . Retrieved August 10, 2021.
23. Martin, Douglas (May 26, 2006). "James W. Carey, Teacher of Journalists, Dies at 71". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 10, 2021.
24. Michelle R. Smith. "Whitehouse's 'secret weapon'? His wife, Sandra". Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
25. Weiner, Tim (February 16, 1994). "Man in the News: Jeremy Michael Boorda; A 'People's Admiral' With a NATO Burden (Published 1994)". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 22, 2021.
26. Miller, G. Wayne. "URI celebrates its 125-year vision". providencejournal.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.