Bucknell University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Bucknell University, an institution with a rich history, has fostered a diverse range of accomplished individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields. This article explores the lives and achievements of some of Bucknell's most notable alumni, showcasing the impact of a Bucknell education on their paths to success.
Arts and Literature
Bucknell University has a strong tradition of nurturing creative talent, with numerous alumni achieving recognition in the arts and literature.
Philip Roth, one of the most awarded American writers of his generation, attended Bucknell University from 1952 to 1954, where he studied English literature. Known for his intensely autobiographical fiction, often set in his birthplace of Newark, New Jersey, Roth explored American identity with a sensual and ingenious style, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. He is best remembered for creating the fictional character Nathan Zuckerman, who featured in many of his novels. Roth's accolades include the 1997 Pulitzer Prize and the inaugural Franz Kafka Prize.
Edward Herrmann, a versatile American actor, director, and writer, graduated from Bucknell in 1965 with an English degree. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Richard Gilmore in the television series Gilmore Girls from 2000 to 2007, as well as portrayals of Franklin D. Roosevelt in Annie and Eleanor and Franklin. Herrmann also narrated numerous shows on The History Channel and PBS, earning him the nickname "History Channel Guy." His interest in theater grew while pursuing an English degree at the University.
Peter Balakian, an accomplished author, poet, and scholar, is the Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the Humanities at Colgate University. He is the author of many books including the 2016 Pulitzer prize winning book of poems Ozone Journal, the memoir Black Dog of Fate, winner of the PEN/Albrand award in 1998 and The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America's Response, winner of the 2005 Raphael Lemkin Prize and a New York Times best seller (October 2003).
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David Nasaw, an author, biographer, and historian specializing in the cultural, social, and business history of early 20th Century America, is the Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. Professor of History at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
Performing Arts
Bucknell alumni have also made their mark in the performing arts, achieving success in film, television, and theater.
Kevin Norwood Bacon is an American actor well-known for his work in the film and TV industry. One of the most versatile and talented actors of his generation, Bacon was named in The Guardian as one of the best actors to have never received an Oscar nomination. Also a philanthropist, Kevin Bacon established a charitable foundation called SixDegrees.org in 2007.
Ralph Waite, best known for his Emmy-nominated roles as John Walton Sr. in The Waltons and Slater in Roots, also appeared in series such as NCIS and Bones, and in movies such as Cliffhanger.
Gbenga Akinnagbe is an actor known in HBO’s The Wire as Chris Partlow.
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Business and Entrepreneurship
Bucknell University has a strong reputation for producing successful business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Ken Langone, a 1957 graduate, is the co-founder of The Home Depot. He received an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. Langone has generously supported Bucknell, with his name adorning the Elaine Langone Center (ELC) and the Kenneth Langone Athletics and Recreation Center (KLARC), thanks to a $30 million endowment donated by the Langone family.
Leslie Moonves was the chairman and CEO of CBS Corporation from 2003 until his resignation in September 2018 following numerous allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault and abuse.
Jessica Livingston is an American investor, writer, and podcaster. She is best known for being a founding partner of the seed stage venture firm Y Combinator.
Jessica Jackley, a 2000 graduate, is an entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of the microfinance organization Kiva. Her book “Clay Water Brick: Finding Inspiration from Entrepreneurs Who Do the Most with the Least” elaborates Jackley’s learned wisdom from years of successful entrepreneurship.
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Bruce Lundvall was an American record company executive, best known for his period as the President and CEO of the Blue Note Label Group, reporting directly to Eric Nicoli, the Chief Executive Officer of EMI Group.
Harold Meij is a Dutch businessman. He was the president of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) from May 2018 until October 2020.
Athletics
Bucknell University has a proud athletic tradition, with many alumni achieving success in professional sports and coaching.
Jay Wright, former head coach of the Villanova University men's basketball team from 2001 to 2022, achieved a record of 520-197, won two NCAA Division I national championships (2016, 2018), and secured eight Big East Conference regular-season titles.
Pat Flannery, a 1980 graduate, served as the head coach of the Bucknell University men's basketball team from 1994 to 2008, compiling a 231-177 record and leading the Bison to seven Patriot League titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a historic first-round upset over third-seeded Kansas in 2005.
Greg Schiano is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Rutgers University, a position he held from 2001 to 2011 and resumed before the 2020 season. Schiano has the most wins in program history as head football coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team. He also served as the head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL) from 2012 to 2013.
Christy Mathewson, nicknamed "Big Six", "the Christian Gentleman", "Matty", and "the Gentleman's Hurler", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants. He was among the most dominant pitchers in baseball history, and ranks in the all-time top 10 in several key pitching categories, including wins, shutouts, and earned run average. In 1936, Mathewson was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its first five members.
Mike Muscala is an American former professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Detroit Pistons. He played college basketball for the Bucknell Bison.
Julién Davenport is an American professional football offensive tackle. He played college football at Bucknell and was selected by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Davenport has also played for the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts.
Cameron Ayers is an American professional basketball player, who last played for Trefl Sopot of PLK. He played college basketball for Bucknell.
Zach Thomas is an American formerly a professional basketball player for Keravnos of the Cypriot League. He played college basketball for Bucknell University. Now a graduate assistant coach at the University of Kentucky.
Nate Sestina is an American professional basketball player for Valencia of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroCup. He played college basketball for Bucknell and Kentucky.
Abdullah Anderson is an American professional football defensive end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Bucknell. Anderson signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and spent three seasons with them before playing with several other NFL teams.
Conor O'Brien is an American soccer player.
Science and Medicine
Bucknell University has produced numerous accomplished scientists and medical professionals who have made significant contributions to their fields.
Janet Woodcock, a 1970 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, is a physician and pharmaceutical executive. She joined the FDA in 1986, and has held a number of senior leadership positions there, including terms as the Director of Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) from 1994 to 2004 and 2007 to 2021.
Christopher A. Walsh, a 1978 graduate, studied chemistry at Bucknell before earning an M.D.-Ph.D.
Marty Makary is a British-American surgeon, professor, author, and medical commentator. He practices surgical oncology and gastrointestinal laparoscopic surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, is Mark Ravitch Chair in Gastrointestinal Surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and is the chief of Islet Transplant Surgery at Johns Hopkins.
Amos B. Smith III earned Bucknell University's inaugural combined B.S.-M.S. degree in chemistry in 1966 before obtaining his Ph.D.
Steven T. Griffith is a cardiothoracic surgeon and innovator in transplant medicine who received a B.S. in biology from Bucknell before earning his M.D.
Eric J. Silberfein (1995), a hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and minimally invasive surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine.
William Westenhofer earned a B.S. and is an Academy Award Winner for Best Visual Effects for his work in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”, “The Golden Compass” and “Life of Pi”. In addition, he has been a part of numerous productions as the visual effects supervisor from Wonder Woman to Elf.
Politics, Law, and Public Service
Bucknell University has a long tradition of producing leaders in politics, law, and public service.
Diane Allen is an American politician and television journalist. A member of the Republican Party, she represented the 7th legislative district in the New Jersey Assembly from 1996 to 1998 and New Jersey Senate from 1998 to 2018.
Neal S. Blaisdell
Benjamin K. Focht was a journalist and newspaper proprietor who edited the Lewisburg Chronicle from 1887 until its merger in 1935 and contributed as a Washington correspondent for outlets including the Philadelphia North American and New York Tribune.
John S. Kolasheski is a retired United States Army officer who was the commanding general of V Corps from 2020 to 2024.
Susan J. Crawford is an American lawyer, who was appointed the Convening Authority for the Guantanamo military commissions, on February 7, 2007.
Thomas Richards is an American lawyer, business executive and politician who served as the 66th and 68th Mayor of Rochester, New York.
Lawrence Wilkerson is a retired Army colonel, former chief of staff to Colin Powell, vocal critic of the Iraq war.
Colby J. Cooper served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Mobile, Alabama, from 2013 onward, managing city operations under Mayor Sandy Stimpson; previously held positions in the White House National Security Council, including Acting Senior Director for Strategic Communications during the George W.
Sunil Gulati is an American sports administrator who presided over the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) from 2006 to 2018. On April 19, 2013, he was elected to a four-year term on the FIFA Council. In March 2014, he was unanimously reelected to a record third four-year term as USSF president, having been elected initially in 2006 and reelected again in 2010. Gulati is also a senior lecturer in the economics department of Columbia University. He is the former president of Kraft Soccer for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.
Other Fields
Timothy J. Keller, a 1972 graduate, was a Presbyterian theologian, apologist, and pastor who founded Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan in 1989, growing it to over 5,000 members through intellectually rigorous preaching that engaged urban professionals. Keller authored over 25 books, including The Reason for God (2008), which defended Christian orthodoxy using philosophical arguments from thinkers like C.S.
David Kahn was an American historian, journalist, and writer. He wrote extensively on the history of cryptography and military intelligence.
Robert Lowry was an American preacher who became a popular writer of gospel music in the mid-to-late 19th century. His best-known hymns include "Shall We Gather at the River", "Christ Arose!", "How Can I Keep from Singing?" and "Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus".
Kristen Henderson is a founding member of the all female popular rock band Antigone Rising. She is also the author of a memoir: Times Two, Two Women in Love and The Happy Family They Made", and a children’s book, All Moms.
Lewis Merrill was a career officer in the United States Army noted for his work in resisting the early Ku Klux Klan organization in several Southern states. During the American Civil War, he combated guerrillas in Missouri.
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