List of Elmhurst University alumni

Following is a list of notable Elmhurst University alumni. The university was Elmhurst Academy from 1871 to 1919, Elmhurst Junior College from 1919 to 1924, and Elmhurst College from 1924 to 2020.

Education

 * Peter M. Blau – (1942) sociologist and professor at the University of Chicago and Columbia University
 * Cathy Davidson – (1970) history of technology scholar
 * Glenn D. Lid – (1979) National Teachers Hall of Fame inductee and Golden Apple Award Teacher of Distinction
 * H. Richard Niebuhr – (1912) sixth president of Elmhurst University, Elmhurst Proseminary graduate, and 20th-century theologian
 * Joe Seger – (1957) archaeologist, Biblical scholar, and chairman of the Humanities Program at the University of Nebraska Omaha
 * Kathleen Willis – (2000) former Elmhurst University librarian and member of the Illinois House of Representatives

Entertainment

 * Shirley Booz – (non-degreed) model and dancer
 * Hannah Pearl Davis – anti-feminist social media commentator
 * Brett Eldredge – country music singer, songwriter and record producer
 * Terri Hemmert – (1970) WXRT-FM radio personality since 1973
 * Bill Holman – (honorary) composer, arranger, conductor, saxophonist, and songwriter
 * John-Paul Kaplan – record producer, composer, and pianist
 * Kris Myers – (1999) musician (drummer) for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee
 * Guy Nardulli – (1997) actor and producer
 * David Rasche – (1966) theater, film, and television actor

Law

 * William J. Bauer – (1949) judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago
 * Michael R. Galasso – (1958) former Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of DuPage County and Illinois Appellate Court judge, second district

Literature and journalism

 * Rane Arroyo – (1976) poet and Chicago Literary Hall of Fame recipient
 * Bill Hillmann – author, storyteller, and journalist
 * Anthony Opal – (2010) poet and editor
 * Jack Stack – (1978) author and founder and CEO of SRC Holdings
 * Joel Whitburn – (non-degreed) author and music historian

Politics and government

 * Anthony DeLuca – (1992) member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 80th district
 * Beverly Fawell – (1952) former member of the Illinois House of Representatives and former member of the Illinois Senate
 * Cindy Golding – member of the Iowa House of Representatives
 * Barbara Kasekende – head of the Advisory Department at Uganda Development Bank
 * Nancy Kaszak – Illinois House of Representatives
 * Jacques Paul Klein – (1961) former Ambassador and retired United States Air Force Major General
 * Arthur C. Lueder – Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts and postmaster of Chicago
 * Eileen Lyons – Illinois House of Representatives
 * George E. Sangmeister – (1957) former member of the United States House of Representatives, Illinois fourth district
 * Kathleen Willis – (2000) former Elmhurst University librarian and member of the Illinois House of Representatives

Religion

 * Paul J. Achtemeier – (1949) theologian
 * Donald G. Bloesch – (1950) theologian
 * Walter Brueggemann – (1955) theologian
 * John Dillenberger – (1940) theologian
 * William R. Johnson – (1968) first openly gay minister to be ordained in a historic Protestant denomination
 * H. Richard Niebuhr – (1912) 20th-century theologian, president of Elmhurst University, and Elmhurst Proseminary graduate
 * Reinhold Niebuhr – (1910) Elmhurst Proseminary graduate and 20th-century theologian
 * James M. Wall – (honorary) Methodist minister and editor of the Christian Advocate

Science and technology

 * Emil Wolfgang Menzel Jr. – (1950) primatologist and psychologist
 * Robert G. Sachs – (1987 Honorary) theoretical physicist

Sports

 * Steve Finch – (1982) former professional American football player who played wide receiver for one season for the Minnesota Vikings
 * Chester "Swede" Johnston (non-degreed) former NFL football player who attended Elmhurst College 1929–1930
 * Mike LaFleur – professional football coach
 * Ricardo Lamas – (2005) All-American wrestler; current mixed martial artist for the UFC's Featherweight Division, formerly with the WEC
 * Matt McNamara – professional soccer player
 * Jeff Quinn – (1984) assistant coach for the Notre Dame football team
 * Joe Rau – (2013) international level Greco-Roman wrestler
 * Audrey Wagner – (1950) All-American Girls Professional Baseball League outfielder
 * Dave Wills – (1989) former Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays radio announcer

Other

 * Jesse Anderson – (1984) convicted murderer