Notable Alumni of DePaul University: From Arts to Business and Beyond
DePaul University, a private Roman Catholic institution in Chicago, Illinois, boasts a diverse and accomplished alumni network. Founded in 1898, the university has grown to become the largest Catholic university, with a focus on serving underprivileged students. Its alumni have made significant contributions across various fields, from business and law to arts and entertainment. The DePaul business alumni network is nearly 74,000 strong, with members in all 50 United States and more than 60 countries. This article highlights some of the most notable graduates who have left their mark on the world.
Business Leaders and Legal Minds
The Driehaus College of Business takes pride in its alumni who have become leaders in the business world. The College of Business alumni Stay Connected, with the DePaul University Office of Alumni Relations offering ways to maintain the business alumni network. DePaul Law alumni are leading change from courtrooms to boardrooms to Capitol Hill. They've argued before the nation’s highest courts, run billion-dollar companies, shaped public policy and redefined justice in their communities.
Here are some notable alumni who have excelled in business and law:
- Frank Clark (BUS ’72, JD ’76, LLD ’04): Former Chairman & CEO of ComEd and Life Trustee of DePaul University.
- Robert A. Clifford (BUS ’73, JD ’76, LLD ’03): Founder & Senior Partner at Clifford Law Offices and Life Trustee of DePaul University.
- Michael Jaharis (JD ’58): Founder & Former Chairman of Kos Pharmaceuticals.
- Timothy P. Knight (JD ’90): President & CEO of the Robert McCormick Foundation and Former CEO of Tribune Publishing Company.
- Andrew McKenna, Sr. (JD ‘54): Former Chairman of McDonald’s Corporation.
- Stephen V. D’Amore (JD ’94): Chairman of Winston & Strawn LLP and Member of the DePaul University Board of Trustees.
- Carla Michelotti (LAS ’72, JD ’75, DHL ’08): Former Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide and Member of the DePaul University Board of Trustees.
- Justin Dearborn (JD ’94): Former CEO of Tribune Publishing Company.
- Jack M. Greenberg (BUS ’64, JD ’68, DHL ’99): Former Chairman & CEO of McDonald’s Corporation and Life Trustee of DePaul University.
- Chaz Ebert (JD ’77): CEO & Publisher of Ebert Digital (RogerEbert.com).
- Richard Rosenfield (LLB ’69): Co-Founder of California Pizza Kitchen.
These individuals exemplify the impact of a DePaul education in shaping leaders who serve and inspire.
Celebrated Figures in Arts and Entertainment
DePaul University has also produced a remarkable array of talent in the arts and entertainment industry. These alumni have achieved prominence in film, television, music, and theater, captivating audiences worldwide.
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- Gillian Anderson: An accomplished actress, writer, and activist, best known for her role as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in The X-Files. She has earned numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. Anderson enrolled in DePaul University from 1986 to 1990, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
- John C. Reilly: A versatile character actor known for his roles in both independent dramas and studio comedies. He received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in the musical film Chicago.
- Linda Hunt: An Academy Award-winning actress, recognized for her portrayal of Billy Kwan in The Year of Living Dangerously. She is the first person to win an Oscar for playing a character of the opposite sex.
- Elizabeth Perkins: A celebrated actress known for her roles in films such as Big and The Flintstones, as well as her role as Celia Hodes in the television series Weeds, for which she received multiple Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
- Harvey Korman: A television and film actor and comedian, best known as a main cast member on The Carol Burnett Show, for which he won four Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
- Tom Bosley: An actor and television personality, best known for portraying Howard Cunningham on the sitcom Happy Days, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
- Geraldine Page: An actress with a career spanning film, stage, and television, she received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards.
- Joe Keery: Known for playing Steve Harrington in the science fiction series Stranger Things, and has since starred in the comedy film Free Guy and in the fifth season of the crime drama series Fargo.
- Judy Greer: A character actress who has appeared in a wide variety of films, known for her supporting roles in films like Jawbreaker, What Women Want, and 13 Going on 30.
- Stana Katic: A Canadian actress and producer, best known for playing Kate Beckett on the ABC television romantic crime series Castle and FBI Special Agent Emily Byrne in the psychological thriller series Absentia.
- Michael Rooker: An actor known for playing antagonists, rising to prominence for his role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and starring as Merle Dixon in The Walking Dead and as Yondu Udonta in Guardians of the Galaxy.
- Sean Gunn: An actor known for his roles as Kirk Gleason on Gilmore Girls and Kraglin Obfonteri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- John Barrowman: A Scottish-American actor, author, presenter, singer, and comic book writer, known for his roles as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and Torchwood, and as Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrowverse.
- Pete Wentz: The bassist and lyricist for the rock band Fall Out Boy, also the founder of the record label DCD2 Records.
- David Dastmalchian: An actor, writer, and producer with supporting roles in superhero franchises such as The Dark Knight, Ant-Man, and The Suicide Squad.
- Lauren Lapkus: An actress and comedian, known for portraying Susan Fischer in Orange Is the New Black and Jess in Crashing.
- Lili Taylor: An actress who came to prominence with supporting roles in films like Mystic Pizza and Say Anything…, establishing herself in 1990s independent cinema.
- Ray Manzarek: A keyboardist and co-founder of the rock band The Doors, known for his innovative playing on organ-style keyboard instruments.
These alumni have captivated audiences and made lasting contributions to the entertainment industry.
Leaders in Sports
DePaul University's athletic programs have produced several notable figures who have made significant contributions to the world of sports.
- George Mikan: Nicknamed "Mr. Basketball", Mikan was a dominant force in the early years of professional basketball. The 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), 245 lb (111 kg) Mikan was one of the pioneers of professional basketball. Through his size and play, he redefined basketball as a game dominated in his day by "big men".
- Jerry Sloan: A former professional basketball player and coach, Sloan spent 23 years as the head coach of the Utah Jazz. NBA commissioner David Stern referred to Sloan as "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history". Sloan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Other Notable Alumni
DePaul University has also produced alumni who have excelled in various other fields, including:
- Philip Kotler: An American marketing author, consultant, and professor emeritus at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, known for popularizing the definition of the marketing mix and authoring over 80 books.
- Ashton Sanders: Best known for his portrayal of teenage Chiron in the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight.
- Ann Dowd: An actress who has appeared in numerous films and television series, including Compliance and Mass, earning nominations for a British Academy Film Award and a Critics' Choice Award for Mass.
- Richard Gilliland: Best known as JD Shackleford in Designing Women.
- Gloria Foster: An actress.
School of Cinematic Arts Alumni
Since graduating our first class in 2005, we've seen our School of Cinematic Arts alumni become experienced professionals in the film and television industry. Their time spent at DePaul prepared them well for successful and rewarding careers.
- Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan (BFA '19): Director - The Headhunter's Daughter (Sundance Film Festival Short Film Grand Jury Prize winner).
- Brittani Ward (BA '10): Casting Director - Ride, Back Fork; Casting Associate - The First, Mindhunter, Daredevil.
- Keith O'Hara (BA '11): Associate Producer - Universal Pictures (Wicked parts 1 and 2), VFX (Avatar: The Way of Water, Godzilla: King of the Monsters).
- Roberto Larios (MFA ’17): TV Literary Agent - Verve Talent and Literary Agency.
- Adam Banicki (BA ’08): Head of Video - Fortune.
- Abby Plante (BA '13): member of the Emmy-nominated writing team for Netflix's Bill Nye Saves the World; Associate Producer - Netflix, NBCUniversal, Logo Network, E! International, SyFy Network.
- Charia Rose (BFA ’17): Executive Story Editor, Warner Bros.
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