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
Candace Owens
Candace Owens, conservative commentator and political activist (did not graduate)^[7]
Edwin R. Pacheco (B.A. 2005), Chairman of Rhode Island Democratic Party 2010–2013
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.^[8]
(1951), First Black judge to on the Rhode Island District and Superior courts^[9]
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
Steve Cascione (B.A. 1977), television news anchor
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]
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]
Tony Longo, actor
Theo Martins (2009), singer and rapper
Jim O'Connor (1987), television personality and Food Network host
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 – Point Guard for the Memphis Grizzlies
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
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, President and Trustee of Vornado Realty Trust
Giovanni Feroce (1991), former CEO of Alex and Ani^[21]
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
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
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
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)
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
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

Presidents[]

References[]

^ Wheaton, James Lucas; Vangermeersch, Richard G. J. (1999-09-01). University of Rhode Island. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738502144.
^ "State of Rhode Island General Assembly". State of Rhode Island General Assembly. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
^ "Peter Courtney faces challenge for re-election". Statesman Journal. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
^ "About the Commissioner". Department of Education. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
^ Rogerson, Kate. "URI Alum: Jorge Elorza, Mayor of Providence | The Good 5 Cent Cigar". Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^ Staff, P. B. N. (2006-10-28). "Fogarty says he'll help small businesses". Providence Business News. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^ Staff, Journal. "Conservative activist Candace Owens to speak in Rhode Island". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^ "Robert A. Weygand". Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^ Mulvaney, Katie. "RI's first Black judge, Alton W. Wiley, dies at 91". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^ "Benjamin Fine Is Dead in Korea; Was Education Editor of Times (Published 1975)". The New York Times. 1975-05-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^ "URI alumnus John M. Geddes named a managing editor of The New York Times". today.uri.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^ Rogerson, Kate. "Alumni Profile: Meet Ann Hood | The Good 5 Cent Cigar". Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^ "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 2021-02-22.
^ LaRoche, Tony. "Mailer biography grew out of 40-year acquaintance with Westport, Mass., author". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^ Davis, Noah. "Geoff Cameron's Rise from Unheralded Youngster to USMNT Star". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
^ "Shelagh Donohoe". Rhode Island. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
^ "Rhode Island : Tom Garrick Resigns as Women's Basketball Head Coach". Gorhody.com. March 9, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
^ "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Frank Keaney". www.hoophall.com. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
^ Klein, Maury. "KEANEY INVENTED THE FAST BREAK AND RHODE ISLAND MADE THE BIG TIME". Vault. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
^ Johnson, Richard (2017-03-17). "Rhode Island hero Lamar Odom watched Rams play Creighton". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
^ "Alex & Ani: A Vital Force in Rhode Island". Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^ "Kimberly Kowal Arcand '97". Retrieved 2021-08-10.
^ Martin, Douglas (2006-05-26). "James W. Carey, Teacher of Journalists, Dies at 71". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
^ Michelle R. Smith. "Whitehouse's 'secret weapon'? His wife, Sandra". Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
^ Weiner, Tim (1994-02-16). "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 2021-02-22.
^ Miller, G. Wayne. "URI celebrates its 125-year vision". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[1] Wheaton, James Lucas; Vangermeersch, Richard G. J. (1999-09-01). University of Rhode Island. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738502144.

[2] "State of Rhode Island General Assembly". State of Rhode Island General Assembly. Retrieved 2021-08-10.

[3] "Peter Courtney faces challenge for re-election". Statesman Journal. Retrieved 2018-09-25.

[4] "About the Commissioner". Department of Education. Retrieved 2021-08-10.

[5] Rogerson, Kate. "URI Alum: Jorge Elorza, Mayor of Providence | The Good 5 Cent Cigar". Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[6] Staff, P. B. N. (2006-10-28). "Fogarty says he'll help small businesses". Providence Business News. Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[7] Staff, Journal. "Conservative activist Candace Owens to speak in Rhode Island". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[8] "Robert A. Weygand". Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[9] Mulvaney, Katie. "RI's first Black judge, Alton W. Wiley, dies at 91". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[10] "Benjamin Fine Is Dead in Korea; Was Education Editor of Times (Published 1975)". The New York Times. 1975-05-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[11] "URI alumnus John M. Geddes named a managing editor of The New York Times". today.uri.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[12] Rogerson, Kate. "Alumni Profile: Meet Ann Hood | The Good 5 Cent Cigar". Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[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 2021-02-22.

[14] LaRoche, Tony. "Mailer biography grew out of 40-year acquaintance with Westport, Mass., author". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[15] Davis, Noah. "Geoff Cameron's Rise from Unheralded Youngster to USMNT Star". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2019-05-07.

[16] "Shelagh Donohoe". Rhode Island. Retrieved 2019-05-07.

[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 2019-05-07.

[19] Klein, Maury. "KEANEY INVENTED THE FAST BREAK AND RHODE ISLAND MADE THE BIG TIME". Vault. Retrieved 2019-05-07.

[20] Johnson, Richard (2017-03-17). "Rhode Island hero Lamar Odom watched Rams play Creighton". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2019-05-07.

[21] "Alex & Ani: A Vital Force in Rhode Island". Retrieved 2021-02-22.

[22] "Kimberly Kowal Arcand '97". Retrieved 2021-08-10.

[23] Martin, Douglas (2006-05-26). "James W. Carey, Teacher of Journalists, Dies at 71". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-10.

[24] Michelle R. Smith. "Whitehouse's 'secret weapon'? His wife, Sandra". Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved June 16, 2012.

[25] Weiner, Tim (1994-02-16). "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 2021-02-22.

[26] Miller, G. Wayne. "URI celebrates its 125-year vision". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.

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