Famous Alumni

Emory alumni have included one U.S. vice president, several U.S. senators and representatives, four governors, three ambassadors, one Supreme Court justice, several university presidents, five Pulitzer Prize winners and an astronaut.

Graduate school alumnus William Kelso, director of archaeology at Historic Jamestowne, was awarded an Honorary Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2012.

Tiya Miles, who earned her master's degree in women's studies at Emory, was named one of 22 MacArthur Fellows for 2011.

Law school alumnus Carte Goodwin, appointed to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the death of Robert Byrd, was named to Time magazine's 2010 "40 under 40" list of civic leaders.

Emory College graduate Kristian Bush of the band Sugarland won a Grammy in 2008 (with Jennifer Nettles) for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group for the song Stay. Sugarland was a repeat winner (2007, 2008 and 2009) of the Country Music Association's (CMA) Vocal Duo of the Year award.

Former U.S. Senator Max Cleland, a Laney Graduate School alumnus and honorary degree recipient, released a memoir, Heart of a Patriot. He was appointed secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission by President Obama in 2009.

Emory School of Medicine alumnus Arnell Patz received the Congressional Medal of Freedom in 2001 for his discovery of the association between high concentrations of oxygen in incubators and infant blindness. He also developed one of the first lasers to treat eye disease.

Terrence Adamson, a graduate of Emory College and Emory's School of Law, is executive vice president of the National Geographic Society.

Kenneth Cole, an Emory College graduate, is a leading American fashion designer.

Emory College alumnus Newt Gingrich is former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Law school alumna Glenda Hatchett is the star of the Judge Hatchett television show.

Emory College of Arts and Sciences alumni Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are Grammy-winning singer/songwriters. They formed the Indigo Girls while still Emory students.

Ralph Reed, who received a doctorate from Emory, is the former head of the Christian Coalition.

Adam Richman, an Emory College graduate, hosts the Travel Channel show Man vs. Food.

Kai Ryssdal, an Emory College graduate, hosts Marketplace on National Public Radio.

Goizueta Business School counts among its distinctive alumni John Chidsey, CEO of Burger King and also an Emory law school graduate; Duncan Niederauer, CEO of NYSE Euronext; and Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of the United Way of America.