List of Indiana State University people

This is a list of notable current and former faculty members, alumni, and non-graduating attendees of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Presidents

 * William Albert Jones (1869–1879)
 * George Pliny Brown (1879–1885)
 * William Wood Parsons (1885–1921), LL.D., DePauw University
 * Linnaeus Neal Hines (1921–1933), M.A., Cornell University
 * Ralph Noble Tirey (1934–1953), M.A., Indiana University
 * Dr. Raleigh Warren Holmstedt (1953–1965), Ph.D., Columbia Teachers College, Columbia University
 * Dr. Alan Carson Rankin (1965–1975), D.S.Sc., Syracuse University
 * Dr. Richard George Landini (1975–1992), Ph.D., University of Florida
 * Dr. John Moore (1992–2000), Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
 * Dr. Lloyd W. Benjamin III (2000–2008) Ph.D., University of North Carolina
 * Dr. Daniel J. Bradley (2008–2018) Ph.D., Michigan State University
 * Dr. Deborah J. Curtis (2018–present) Ph.D., Indiana State University

Faculty

 * William Ashbrook
 * James Chesebro
 * Robert Clouse
 * Jeffrey S. Harper
 * Kenneth T. Henson
 * Leroy Lamis, sculptor
 * Charles Nicol
 * Edward A. Pease
 * Michael Shelden, biographer
 * Todd Whitaker

Business

 * Gerry Dick, host of Inside INdiana Business
 * Tony George, founder and team owner, Indy Racing League
 * Jim Lewis, president, Disney Vacation Club
 * Bill Lister, senior VP and GM, Roche Diagnostics
 * Will Weng, journalist, New York Times

Medicine

 * H.R. Cox, bacteriologist, discovered Rocky Mountain spotted fever treatment and several typhus vaccines
 * Jill Bolte Taylor, "The Singing Scientist", neuroanatomist, one of 2008 Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People"
 * J. Buzz Von Ornsteiner, forensic psychologist, television personality

Members of Congress (13)

 * Birch Bayh, US Senator, Indiana (1963–1981); authored two Constitutional amendments
 * John S. Benham, US Representative, Indiana 4th District (1919–1923)
 * Thurman C. Crook, US Representative, Indiana 3rd District (1949–1951)
 * Brad Ellsworth, US Representative, Indiana 8th District (2007–2011)
 * Clarence C. Gilhams, US Representative, Indiana 12th District (1906–1909)
 * Brian D. Kerns, US Representative, Indiana 7th District (2001–2003)
 * William Larrabee, US Representative for Indiana 6th and 11th Districts (1931–1943)
 * D. Bailey Merrill, US Representative, Indiana 8th District (1953–1955)
 * John T. Myers, US Representative, Indiana 7th District (1967–1997)
 * Edward A. Pease, US Representative, Indiana 7th District (1997–2001)
 * Everett Sanders, US Representative, Indiana 5th District (1917–1925); secretary to President Calvin Coolidge (1925–1929); chairman, Republican National Committee (1932–1934)
 * Albert Henry Vestal, US Representative, Indiana 8th District (1917–1932); Republican Whip (1923–1931)
 * Fred Wampler, US Representative, Indiana 6th District (1959–1961)

State political leaders

 * John R. Gregg, Indiana House of Representatives, 1986–2002; Speaker of the House 1996–2002, majority leader 1990–1994
 * Bob Heaton, Indiana House of Representatives, 2010–Present
 * Phillip Hinkle, Indiana House of Representatives, 2000–2012
 * Cary D. Landis, Florida Attorney General (1931–1938)
 * Carolene Mays, member of Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission; former state representative, Indiana House, 2002–2008
 * Richard M. Milburn, Indiana Attorney General (January 1915–November 1915)
 * Mike Tryon, Illinois House of Representatives, 2005–2017

Diplomats

 * George Washington Buckner, Ambassador to Liberia (1913–1915)
 * Cynthia Shepard Perry (b. 1928), Ambassador to Sierra Leone (1986–1989), Burundi (1989–1993)

Judges

 * Gene E. Brooks, judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, tenure 1979–1994; Chief Judge 1987–1994
 * Noma Gurich, justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, State of Oklahoma
 * Allen Sharp, Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, tenure 1973–2009; Chief Judge 1981–1996

Other

 * Marvella Bayh, late wife of long-time Indiana senator Birch Bayh; mother of former Indiana senator Birch Evans Bayh III; instrumental in establishing Hoosier Girls State at Indiana State University
 * Willa Brown, aerospace pioneer; first African-American woman commercial pilot in United States; first African-American female officer in Civil Air Patrol
 * P. Pete Chalos, Mayor of Terre Haute, Indiana 1980–1996
 * Dr. Kamlesh "Kam" Lulla, NASA, chief scientist for earth observation, Human Exploration Science Office, Johnson Space Center
 * Jeff Papa, first mayor of Zionsville, Indiana
 * Kenneth L. Peek, Jr., lieutenant general, United States Air Force, former 8 AF commander
 * Chuck Smith, mayor, Woodmere, Ohio, 2009–present

Current

 * Charles "Chuck" Johnson, president, Vincennes University (2015–present)
 * Ronald L. Vaughn, president, University of Tampa (1995–present)

Presidents and chancellors

 * Max P. Allen, president, McKendree College (1960–1964)
 * Isaac K. Beckes, president Vincennes University (1950–1980)
 * Eugene W. Bohannon, president University of Minnesota, Duluth (1902–1937)
 * Isaac M. Burgan, president Paul Quinn College (1883–1891, 1911–1914)
 * Elmer Burritt Bryan, president of Colgate University (1909–1921), Ohio University (1921–1934), Franklin College
 * Lotus Coffman, president of the University of Minnesota (1920–1938)
 * Myron Coulter, chancellor, Western Carolina University (1984–1994)
 * Lewis C. Dowdy, sixth president and first chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (1964–1980)
 * John R. Gregg, 20th president, Vincennes University (2003–2004)
 * Richard E. Helton, president, Vincennes University (2004–2015)
 * Martin David Jenkins, president, Morgan State University (1948–1970)
 * Eldon Johnson, president, University of New Hampshire (1955–1962)
 * John Edward McGilvrey, first president Kent State University (1911–1926)
 * Caleb Mills, second Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction (1854–1857)
 * Walter P. Morgan, president Western Illinois University (1912–1941)
 * Edison E. Oberholtzer, founder and president, University of Houston (1927–1950)
 * M. Victoria Schuller, OSF, president, University of Albuquerque (1966–1983)
 * Lou Anna K. Simon, president, Michigan State University (2003–2018)
 * Phillip Summers, president, Vincennes University (1980–2001)
 * Sandra Westbrooks, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, Chicago State University (2008–2013)
 * Dr. Herbert Wey, president, chancellor Appalachian State University (1969–1979)

Deans and administrators

 * Birch Bayh, professor, coach, athletic director, Indiana State University, director of physical education, 30+ years in the Terre Haute and Washington D.C. school systems
 * Charlotte Schweitzer Burford, dean of women, Indiana State University (1910–1946)
 * Grace DeVaney, first woman to serve as a high school principal in Indiana, at Terre Haute Garfield High School
 * Rupert Evans, dean, College of Education, University of Illinois
 * Barton Evermann, author, educator
 * Fred E. Harris, dean and vice president, Baldwin-Wallace College
 * Robert Jerry, dean, University of Florida, Levin College of Law (2003–present)
 * James F. Kane, dean, College of Business Administration, University of South Carolina
 * William Harrison Mace, educator, author, professor of history
 * Johnny Matson, professor; psychologist at Louisiana State University
 * Andrew C. Porter, president, AERA, professor, Vanderbilt University
 * Fred Albert Shannon, professor and historian, won the 1929 Pulitzer Prize (History)
 * Elizabeth J. Simpson, dean, School of Family Resources and Consumer Sciences, University of Wisconsin
 * Ben F. Small, dean, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Athletics

 * Nevin Ashley, former Major League Baseball player
 * Richard Atha, professional basketball player
 * Robbie Avila, current Sycamores basketball player
 * Clint Barmes, former Major League Baseball player
 * Tim Barrett, former Major League Baseball player
 * Bruce Baumgartner, wrestler, Olympic gold medalist, James E. Sullivan Award
 * Jeff Belskus, president, Indy Eleven Soccer franchise
 * Junius “Rainey” Bibbs, professional baseball player
 * Larry Bird, professional basketball player and administrator
 * Jerry Blemker, junior college baseball coach, Vincennes University 1980–2006; leader in wins, NJCAA; 1,188 wins
 * Cheryl Bridges, women's marathon world record holder, Dec 1971-Dec 1973
 * Jim Brumfield, professional football player
 * Billy Clapper, head coach, men's basketball Penn State Altoona
 * Roger Counsil, NCAA champion gymnastic coach; former head USA Gymnastics
 * Wayne Davis, professional football player
 * Brian Dorsett, former Major League Baseball player
 * David Doster, former Major League Baseball player
 * Steve Englehart, head coach, Presbyterian Blue Hose
 * Stewart “Red” Faught, head coach, football, Franklin College
 * Mike Gardiner, former Major League Baseball player
 * Tom Gilles, former Major League Baseball player
 * Vencie Glenn, professional football player
 * Alex Graman, former Major League Baseball player
 * Rick Grapenthin, former Major League Baseball player
 * Robert Griswold, Paralympic swimmer
 * Terry Hall (1944–1997), women's basketball coach at University of Louisville and University of Kentucky
 * Mitch Hannahs, head coach, Indiana State Sycamores
 * Bill Hayes, former Major League Baseball player & coach
 * John Hazen, professional basketball player
 * Tunch Ilkin, professional football player
 * Blaise Ilsley, former Major League Baseball player
 * Jeff James, Major League Baseball player
 * Tommy John, retired Major League Baseball player
 * Harold Johnson, professional basketball player
 * Wallace Johnson, former Major League Baseball player
 * Doug Kay, professional football coach
 * Beverly Kearney, head coach, University of Texas women's track and field team
 * Duane Klueh, professional basketball player, former head coach of men's basketball, tennis at Indiana State University
 * Danny Lazar, former Major League Baseball player
 * Bryan Leturgez, Olympic bobsledder; bronze medalist - 1993 World Championships
 * Sean Manaea, Major League Baseball player
 * Pancho Martin, professional football player
 * Thad Matta, head coach, Men's Basketball; Ohio State University
 * Carl Nicks, professional basketball player
 * Jake Odum, professional basketball player, European Leagues (2014–present)
 * Brian Omogrosso, former Major League Baseball player
 * Jake Petricka, Major League Baseball player
 * Dr. Ferne E. Price, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player; ISU alumni and coach, women's softball and swimming squads
 * Colin Rea, Major League Baseball player
 * Jerry Reynolds, professional basketball coach, general manager
 * Bob Royer, professional basketball player
 * Micah Shrewsberry, head coach Penn State Nittany Lions
 * Chuck Smith, former Major League Baseball player
 * Steve Smith, silver medalist, high jump, 1995 Pan Am Games
 * Zane Smith, former Major League Baseball player
 * Dan Sparks, professional basketball player; NJCAA champion coach
 * Mitch Stetter, Kansas City Royals, Major League Baseball coach
 * Ryan Strausborger, former Major League Baseball player
 * Ryan Tatusko, professional baseball player
 * Joe Thatcher, former Major League Baseball player
 * Kurt Thomas, Olympic participant, gymnastics; James E. Sullivan Award
 * Robert Tonyan, National Football League player (Green Bay Packers)
 * Bobby Turner, Atlanta Falcons, assistant coach (running backs)
 * Jayson Wells (born 1976), basketball player
 * Paul "Billy" Williams, athletic director, Indiana State Muncee Hoosieroons (1921–1958)
 * John Wooden, college basketball player and Hall of Fame college coach
 * Andy Young, Major League Baseball player

Arts, entertainment and media

 * Michael Evans Behling, model and actor
 * Troy Brownfield, comic book writer and author
 * Bubba the Love Sponge (born Todd Alan Clem), radio talk show host
 * David Darling, Grammy Award-winning cellist, composer
 * Gerry Dick, TV journalist, news anchor, founder Grow Indiana Media
 * EST Gee, rapper
 * Ross Ford, motion picture and television personality
 * Margaret Gisolo, founder, Arizona Arts Alliance
 * James Brian Hellwig, The Ultimate Warrior, WWE wrestler
 * Belford Hendricks, composer, pianist, arranger, conductor and record producer
 * Jamal Khashoggi, B.S. business administration 1983; Saudi dissident, author, activist, editor, Washington Post columnist
 * Margaret Hill McCarter, 1884 A.B., schoolteacher, writer, and first woman to address a Republican National Convention
 * Ami McKay, writer
 * Alvy Moore, movie and television personality
 * Bill Moring, jazz bassist
 * Sister Edith Pfau, S.P., painter, sculptor and art educator
 * Wanda Ramey, pioneer female news anchor
 * Rudy Render, music arranger/director; musician; actor; educator
 * Jared Yates Sexton, author and political commentator
 * Tom Trimble, 1974 Emmy Award-winning art director
 * Stuart Vaughn, better known as Stuart Vaughan, Obie Award-winning director