List of Western Illinois University people

The following is a list of notable people associated with Western Illinois University, located in the American city of Macomb, Illinois.

Federal government

 * Darwin Gale Schisler, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Illinois's 19th congressional district from 1965 to 1967. He earned his B.A. at Western Illinois University
 * Vincent R. Stewart, LtGen US Marine Corps and 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
 * Tim Walberg, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Michigan's 7th congressional district since 2011. He attended Western Illinois University, but earned his B.A. at Taylor University
 * Harlan Watson, Special Envoy to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

State legislators

 * Tod Bowman, Democratic member of the Iowa Senate for District 29. He earned his M.Ed. at the university.
 * Rich Brauer, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 87th district (2003–2015). He attended Western, but did not graduate
 * Kathie Conway, Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives representing the 104th district since 2011. She graduated with a B.S. in Law Enforcement Administration
 * Kirk Dillard, Republican member of the Illinois Senate (1994–2014) and gubernatorial candidate in 2010 and 2014.
 * Randy Frese, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 94th district (2015–present). He earned B.S. in agriculture from Western
 * Regis Groff, Democratic member of the Colorado Senate from the 33rd district (1974–1994). He was the second African-American elected to the Colorado Senate
 * Norine Hammond, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2010–present). Her district, the 93rd, includes the university's Macomb campus
 * Joe Hutter, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. He earned his B.A. from Western.
 * Kimberly Lightford, Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois Senate. She has represented the 4th district since 1998. She earned a B.A. in communications at Western.
 * Mona Martin, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives for the 43rd district (1993-2001). She earned her B.S. from Western
 * Jerry L. Mitchell, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2012). He represented the 90th district and earned his Ed.S. at Western Illinois University
 * John Millner, Republican member of the Illinois Senate representing the 28th district (2005–2013). Earned his master's degree in criminal justice administration at the university
 * Richard P. Myers, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2010. He earned his B.S. at the university
 * Cynthia Nava, Democratic member of the New Mexico Senate from 1992 to 2012
 * Timothy H. Osmond, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 61st district (1999–2002)
 * James O'Toole, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 1992 to 2002. He attended Western Illinois University, but graduated from University of Missouri at St. Louis
 * Matthew Rinker, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from district 99 (2023–present). He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics.
 * Todd Sieben Republican member of the Illinois Senate (1993–2008). He earned his B.S. in business administration at Western
 * Mike Smiddy, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 71st district (2013–present). He attended Western Illinois University
 * Litesa Wallace, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 67th district (2014–present). She earned her B.A. and M.Ed. from Western
 * Frank B. Wood, Democratic member of the Iowa Senate from the 42nd district.

Local officeholders

 * Matthew Shirk, Public Defender of Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit Court (2008–16). He earned his B.S. at the university in 1997

Activists

 * Mary Matalin, Republican political strategist who worked on the campaigns of Dave O'Neal, George H. W. Bush and served as chief of staff to Lee Atwater
 * Erin Merryn, activist behind Erin’s Law, a law requiring kids be taught personal body safety education, which has been passed in 37 states
 * Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. She is a human rights advocate who has worked for the Anti-Defamation League. She earned her M.S. at Western
 * C. T. Vivian, leader in the Civil Rights Movement who participated in the Freedom Rides

International figures

 * Ahmet Kenan Tanrıkulu – Turkish politician
 * Camilo Osías Filipino politician

Business

 * Robert Nardelli – former chairman and chief executive officer of Chrysler, former president and CEO of Home Depot
 * Jeremy Schoemaker – internet entrepreneur

Media and arts

 * Michael Boatman – actor and author
 * Cisco Cotto - radio host, pastor, and professor
 * Mark Konkol – 2011 Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist (Chicago Sun-Times)
 * John Mahoney – actor, Frasier, taught at Western
 * Warhol.SS — rapper, dropped out after one week

Education

 * David L. Chicoine, 19th president of South Dakota State University (2007–present). He earned his M.A. at Western Illinois University
 * Bob Krause, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Kansas State University (1986–2009). He served as acting Athletic Director from 2008 to 2009
 * Michael Shonrock, 22nd president of Lindenwood University
 * Paul Vallas, education administrator who has served as the chief executive for Chicago Public Schools (1995–2001), School District of Philadelphia (2002–2006) and the Recovery School District of Louisiana (2007–2012)
 * Syed Abul Kalam Azad, treasurer of University of Dhaka

Athletes and coaches

 * Jaelon Acklin - Canadian Football League
 * Don Beebe – National Football League
 * David Bowens – National Football League
 * Fabien Bownes – National Football League
 * Lee Calhoun – Olympic gold medal winner
 * Bryan Cox – National Football League
 * Joe Dykstra - National Basketball Association
 * Booker Edgerson – National Football League
 * Larry Garron – National Football League
 * Don Greco – National Football League
 * Rodney Harrison – National Football League
 * Edgerton Hartwell – National Football League
 * Frisman Jackson – National Football League
 * William James – National Football League
 * Kosuke Kimura – soccer midfielder for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer
 * Gary Lagesse – Hall of Fame Softball Coach
 * Gene Lamont – Major League Baseball
 * Rob Lazeo – Canadian Football League
 * Lamar McGriggs – National Football League
 * Russ Michna – Arena Football League
 * Red Miller – former head coach of the NFL Denver Broncos and USFL Denver Gold
 * Dennis Morgan – National Football League
 * J. R. Niklos – National Football League
 * Terell Parks (born 1991) - basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Paul Reuschel – Major League Baseball
 * Rick Reuschel – Major League Baseball
 * Jimmy Ray Robinson - National Football League
 * Khalen Saunders – Super Bowl champion (LIV) - National Football League
 * Mike Scifres – National Football League
 * Rich Seubert – National Football League
 * Paul Singer - National Football League
 * Rick Short – Major League Baseball
 * Tom Soehn – director of soccer operations for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
 * Aaron Stecker – National Football League
 * John Teerlinck – National Football League
 * Marco Thomas – Canadian Football League
 * Mike Wagner – National Football League
 * Jason Williams – National Football League
 * Frank Winters – National Football league