Highlights: Notable Alumni
Arts, Literature & Music
- William Combs, has performed as tenor in chorus at Lyric Opera of Chicago; 1982, music
- Charles Frazier, author; winner of National Book Award for "Cold Mountain" 1986, doctorate, English
- Jim Harrison, artist who has had one-man shows at Hammer Galleries in New York and Conacher Gallery in San Francisco; works have been included in annual shows at the National Academy Gallery in New York; 1958, art and education
- Hootie and the Blowfish (Dean Felber, Mark Bryan, Jim Sonefeld, and Darius Rucker), Grammy award-winning musicians; founders of the philanthropic Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament and Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation
- Larry Lebby, nationally recognized portrait artist and painter in Columbia, whose works hang in galleries from the Smithsonian to the Vatican; 1973, art studio; 1976, master's of fine art, art studio
- Ryan Massaro, aka Amos Lee, has recorded three CDs and compiled numerous performing, TV, and movie credits in his burgeoning career as a singer-songwriter. Rolling Stone magazine designated Lee in March 2005 as one of the Top 10 Artists to Watch. He has opened concerts for Norah Jones, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, John Prine, Merle Haggard, Elvis Costello, and Paul Simon.
- Blue Sky, muralist and painter of national renown; 1964, fine arts
- Rin-Jong Yang, music director, Korean Sinfonietta; conductor, Sungshin Women's University Orchestras; internationally renowned conductor; 1986, 1991, doctorate of musical arts, music performance
Athletics
- Mike Dunleavy, coach of NBA's Los Angeles Clippers and former coach of Lakers, Bucks, and Trail Blazers; former player with 76ers, Rockets, Spurs, and Bucks; 1976, psychology
- Alex English, member of Basketball Hall of Fame; seventh-leading scorer in NBA history; former player with Bucks, Pacers, Nuggets, and Mavericks; 1991, interdisciplinary studies
- Zam Federick, led the nation in scoring in basketball in 1980-81 (28.9 points per game); state championship-winning coach at Calhoun County (S.C.) High School; inducted into USC Athletic Hall of Fame, 2002; 1981, BS, business administration
- Tim Hankinson, former soccer coach at Syracuse University and former coach of Major League Soccer's Tampa Bay Mutiny and Colorado Rapids; 1978, interdisciplinary studies
- Alex Hawkins, former NFL running back and receiver with Baltimore Colts and Atlanta Falcons, 1959-1968; ACC Player of the Year in 1958; inducted into USC's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1970; 1964; BS in business administration
- Shannon Johnson, second all-time leading scorer in women's basketball history (2,230 points); member of gold medal-winning 2004 U.S. Olympic basketball team; four-time WNBA all-star; 1996, bachelor of science
- Kevin Joyce, first-round NBA draft pick in 1973, but played three seasons in the American Basketball Association; member of 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team; inducted into USC's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998; 1977, general studies
- Ed Lynch, former major league (Cubs) general manager and pitcher (Mets and Cubs); former USC baseball and basketball player; 1977, finance
- George Rogers Jr., 1980 Heisman Trophy winner; former NFL No. 1 draft pick; 1981, associate's, commercial education, and 1989, interdisciplinary studies
- Sterling Sharpe, former ESPN analyst; former NFL standout with Green Bay Packers; 1987, interdisciplinary studies
- Terrence Trammel, two-time Olympic silver medalist in 110-meter hurdles (2000, 2004); 2005, bachelor of science
- Charlie Weis, football coach of Notre Dame; former NFL assistant coach who won three Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots and one with the New York Giants; 1989, master of education
- Tonique Williams-Darling, USC's first Olympic gold medalist, as the 400-meter champion for her native Bahamas in the 2004 Games; 1999, BS in business administration
- Brian Winters, coach of WNBA's Indiana Fever; first-round NBA draft pick in 1974; played with Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks; former head coach of Vancouver Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors; 1980, master of education
Business
- James Barrow, investment manager at Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc., which manages the Vanguard Windsor II Fund and Vanguard Selected Value Fund; 1982, finance
- Paula Harper Bethea, director, Bethea, Jordan & Griffin, Hilton Head, S.C.; former chairwoman of the board, United Way of America; former chairwoman and current board member, S.C. Chamber of Commerce; 1975, English
- Catherine Cameron Cooper, chairwoman of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Board of Trustees; former partner with executive search firm Blackshaw, Olmstead, Lynch, & Koenig; former president of the Owners' Association of InterContinental Hotels Group; 1971, business management
- Charles Dallara, international economist and managing director, Institute of International Finance, Washington, D.C.; former assistant secretary, U.S. Treasury for International Affairs; 1970, economics
- John Fain, president of Fain Enterprises in Virginia Beach, Va.; former board of director of Keane Inc.; founder and president of Metro Information Services, which merged with Keane; recently recognized as Distinguished Eagle Scout by Boy Scouts of America; 1970, computer science
- Roosevelt Giles, founder and president, Information Management Systems, Atlanta; 1974, associate's in commercial education, USC Union
- Richard Holcomb, CEO StrikeIron, Web solutions company, Raleigh, N.C.; founder and former chairman, HAHT Commerce, Web applications company; former owner, Q+E Software; 1982, computer science
- W.W. "Hootie" Johnson, chairman of the executive committee of Bank of America Corp.; chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club; 1953, finance
- Larry Kellner, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Continental Airlines; 1981, accounting
- Ellen Knapp, chair and chief information officer for global operations, Pricewaterhouse Coopers; 1974, geography. Details.
- David Lanter, group/practice leader for the information management services of Camp Dresser & McKee; former director of research at Rand McNally; 1989, doctorate, geography
- Peter McCausland, chairman and CEO, Airgas Inc., Radnor, Pa., North America's largest distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and welding equipment; 1971, history. Profile in Spotlight
- Robert McNair, founder, chairman, and CEO of NFL's Houston Texans; chairman of McNair Foundation; founder of McNair Scholar Program; 1958, psychology. Profile in Spotlight
- Darla Moore, financier and partner in Rainwater Inc.; 1975, political science. Profile in Spotlight
- Edna Morris, president of the James Beard Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the culinary arts; former vice president of operations for Red Lobster; 1974, psychology
- Phillip Pearce, former governor, New York Stock Exchange; 1953, business
- Daniel Sanders Sr., former president of ExxonMobil Chemical Co.; 1961, mechanical engineering
- Shigeru Sekine, CEO and president of Nikko Chemicals Co. Ltd., Tokyo; 1977, master's in international business
- Marva Smalls, executive vice president of public affairs and chief of staff, Nickelodeon, New York; founder of USC's first NAACP student chapter; 1977, political science, and 1982, master's public administration
- Don Tomlin, mortgage financing pioneer, real estate developer, and former co-owner of Park Communications; co-chairman of Columbia Chamber of Commerce committee on the city's master-plan development; supports USC Technology Incubator for business development; 1971, business administration
- Glenn Tilton, chairman, president and chief executive officer of UAL Corp. and United Airlines; former senior vice president, Texaco; 1970, international studies
- Charles Way Jr., chair and CEO of Charleston developer the Beach Co.; former South Carolina secretary of commerce; 1959, economics, and 1962, law
- Howard "Humpy" Wheeler Jr., president of Lowe's Motor Speedway, Charlotte, N.C.; 1961, journalism
Communications & Entertainment
- Bernard Addison, actor; Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Broadway debut in 1998 in "Electra"; narrated Emmy-nominated "The Farm: Angola USA," documentary about death-row inmates; 1985, theatre
- Robert Ariail, nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist, The State, Columbia; two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee; 1984, interdisciplinary studies
- Susan Aude, longtime news anchor, WIS-TV, Columbia; retired February 2006; 1978, master's of mass communication
- Don Belt, writer and editor for National Geographic magazine; 1975, English literature
- Kay Spann Byrd, editor and publisher of Women Ministries, Women of Power magazine; 1982, education
- Mike Colter, actor; played Big Willie in Oscar-winning "Million Dollar Baby" appears in 2005 release "Brooklyn Lobster" with Danny Aiello and Jane Curtin; 1998, theater
- Rita Cosby, former Fox News anchor and MSNBC host; three-time Emmy Award winner; 1989, broadcast journalism and Spanish degrees
- Leeza Gibbons, television celebrity and radio personality; three-time Emmy winner for former talk show "Leeza" created the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation to support victims of Alzheimer's disease and their families; 1978, broadcast journalism
- Jim Hoagland, foreign affairs columnist, The Washington Post; two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize; 1961, journalism
- Cliff Hollingsworth, screenwriter for "Cinderella Man," starring Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger; 1977, journalism; 1979, master's in education
- Matt Homan, general manager of Iowa Events Center; former assistant general manager of Colonial Center; named in 2005 as one of Billboard magazine's " 30 Under 30," which honored entertainers and others in the entertainment industry; 2000, sport and entertainment management. Details.
- R. Dean Johnson, author, screenwriter, producer; author of "Life, Be There at Ten 'Til" wrote the screenplay for "Just Pray," directed by actress Tiffani Thiessen and screened at the prestigious Tribecca Film Festival in 2005; 1985, master's in business administration
- Lanier Laney, television writer and producer; former writer, "Saturday Night Live" and former co-producer, "MadTV" wrote screenplay for movie "Shag" 1977, art history
- Tyron McFarlan, ringmaster for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus; former performer with Circa 21, a professional troupe in Illinois; 1996, criminal justice
- Gary Parsons, founder XM Satellite Radio; former executive vice president of MCI; 1978, master's in business administration
- Brenda Pressley, actress; appeared in Tim Robbins' "Cradle Will Rock," TV mini-series "Brewster's Place" with Oprah Winfrey, and guest appearances on various "Law & Order" episodes; cast in Maya Angelou's "And Still I Rise" and a number of off-Broadway productions; 1978, theatre
- Robin Roberts, co-founder and president of National Media Inc., Alexandria, Va..; 1976, advertising/public relations
Education
- Susan Bell, professor of biology, University of South Florida; 1979, doctorate in marine science
- Glenda Curry, rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Ala.; former president of Troy State University in Montgomery, Ala.; 1974, nursing
- Bradley Hamm, dean, Indiana University School of Journalism; 1990, master's in journalism
- John Harvey, professor of psychology, University of Iowa; 1968, psychology
- Charles Joyner, associate professor of history and culture, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, S.C.; author of "Shared Traditions, Southern History and Folk Culture" 1959, master's, history; 1968, doctorate, history
- Joab Lesesne Jr., former president of Wofford College, Spartanburg, S.C.; master's and doctorate, history
- Stephen E. Loflin, founder and executive director of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars in Washington, D.C.; 1985, marketing
- Elisabeth Muhlenfeld, president, Sweet Briar College, Virginia; author and Pulitzer Prize nominee; 1978, doctorate in English
- David Oliver, artist-in-residence, college organist, and assistant professor of music, Morehouse College, Atlanta; 1999, doctorate, musical arts in performance
- Patricia Spakes, chancellor of University of Washington, Tacoma; 1973, master's in social work
- Mary Thornley, president, Trident Technical College, Charleston, S.C.; 1986, doctorate of education, curriculum and instruction
- Duan Wei, professor Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwain; former director general, budget accounting and statistics, government of Taiwain; 1975, master's of mathematics; 1977, doctorate of mathematics
Government & Military
- Andrew Card, White House chief of Staff under President George W. Bush, 2001-2006; served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush; former U.S. Secretary of Transportation; former vice president for government relations, General Motors Corp.; 1971, engineering
- Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator, R-S.C.; colonel, U.S. Air Force Reserves; former U.S. congressman and S.C. legislator; 1976, BA; 1981, law
- Grady Patterson, South Carolina State Treasurer; pilot in Army Air Corps, 1941-45; 1950, law
- Floyd Spence, deceased; former Congressman, Second District, South Carolina; 1952, English, and 1956, law
- James "Spike" Stephenson, veteran of U.S. Agency for International Development; tours of duty in Iraq, Serbia and Montenegro, Egypt, Barbados, Grenada, El Salvador, and Lebanon; 1968, English; 1975, law
- James Hodges, elected 1998; former state legislator; 1979, business administration; 1982, law
- Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, elected governor in 1958; former U.S. Senator (1966-2005); former state legislator; 1947, law
- Dick Riley, two-term govern first elected in 1978; former U.S. Secretary of Education; 1959, law
Thirty-five South Carolina governors hold degrees from Carolina, among them:
Law
- Stephen Benjamin, principal, the Benjamin Law Firm; board member, USC Development Foundation; former director, S.C. Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services; 1999 Young Lawyer of the Year, National Bar Association; 1991, political science; 1994, law
- William Boyd, Lee Coggiola, Michael Colombo, Anne Ellefson, Elaine Fowler, and Reynolds Williams were awarded the Compleat Lawyer Award in 2008 for contributions to the legal profession. The honorees were chosen based on high standards of professional competence, ethics, and integrity.
- Rigdon Hiett Boykin, international attorney and partner, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, New York; 1967, English; 1973, law
- Judy Clarke, federal public defender; past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; has represented such high-profile defendants as Eric Rudolph, Ted Kaczynski, Susan Smith, and alleged Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui; 1977, law
- Cameron Currie, U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina; former U.S. Magistrate Judge; 1970, political science
- Kaye G. Hearn, first woman elected chief judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals; 1977, law
- Reginald Lloyd, South Carolina U.S. Attorney; former S.C. Circuit Court judge; former South Carolina assistant attorney general; former director of research, chief counsel to S.C. House Judiciary Committee; 1993, law
- Casey Manning, judge, Fifth Circuit Court, Columbia; former USC basketball standout; 1973, political science; 1977, law
- Harriet Smith O'Neill, justice, Texas Supreme Court; 1982, law
- Michael L. Thurmond, commissioner of Georgia Department of Labor; won Carolina's Outstanding Black Alumni Award, 2005; former director of Georgia Department of Family and Children Services and former state legislator; author of two histories on African Americans in Georgia; 1978, law
- Jean Hoefer Toal, chief justice, S.C. Supreme Court; former state legislator; 1968, law
- Karen Williams, first woman judge appointed to U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit; 1980, law
Medicine & Science
- Virginia Eddy, director of undergraduate surgical education general/trauma surgery at Maine Medical Center; former trauma critical-care surgeon and associate professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; 1979, psychology; 1980, chemistry; 1984, medicine
- Cathy Forth, laboratory manager of the advanced communications systems laboratory at GE Global Research, Niskayuna, N.Y.; former vice president of communication networks and infrastructure at Lockheed Martin; 1979, master's in biology
- Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States; former CEO of Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C.; 1980, master's of business administration
- David King, director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.; recipient of Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Executives, the highest honor a government employee can receive; former Space Shuttle launch director and director of Shuttle Processing; 1983, mechanical engineering
- Eileen Klimkowski, received Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian award in North Carolina, and the North Carolina Association for Home Care and Hospice Hero Award; founder and former director of EmeraldCare, private home health-care agency; 1994, master's in nursing
- Raphael Lee, professor of plastic surgery and biomedical engineering, University of Chicago; national and international patent holder; MacArthur Prize Fellowship winner; 1971, engineering
- Jacqueline Michel, internationally known expert on oil spills; president of Columbia-based Research Planning Inc.; 1974, 1976, 1980, geology bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees
- Ralph Roe Jr., director of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center in Langley, Va.; recipient of Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Executives, the highest honor a government employee can receive; former manager Space Shuttle Vehicle Engineering; 1983, mechanical engineering
- John Swearingen, retired chairman, Standard Oil Company, Indiana; namesake of USC's engineering center; 1938, chemical engineering
- Henrie Monteith Treadwell, senior social scientist and associate director of development at the National Center for Primary Care Medicine at the Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta; former program director for health at W.K. Kellogg Foundation; first black woman graduate in USC's modern era; 1965, biochemistry. Details.
- Jennifer Walker, cardiothoracic surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital; one of the first 100 women in the United States to be certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgeons;1987, biology, USC Aiken
- Gerald A. Wilson, surgeon; chairman of the S.C. Medical Association; chairman of the South Carolina Health Planning Committee; past president of the Columbia Medical Society; 1971, biology
