Fairleigh Dickinson University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), a private institution founded in 1942, stands as the largest private university in New Jersey. With its primary base in New Jersey, FDU extends its reach globally through international campuses and partnerships with leading colleges and universities. In the realm of intercollegiate athletics, the Metropolitan Campus competes in NCAA Division I, while the College at Florham participates in Division III, distinguishing FDU as one of the few universities in the United States with both Division I and Division III teams. Beyond its academic and athletic endeavors, FDU boasts a remarkable network of over 140,000 graduates worldwide. This article explores the lives and achievements of some of Fairleigh Dickinson University's most notable alumni, individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields.
Notable Alumni
Arts and Entertainment
- Peggy Noonan: A Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist for The Wall Street Journal, as well as a contributor to NBC News and ABC News. Noonan served as a primary speechwriter and Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan from 1984 to 1986 and has remained right-leaning in her writings since leaving the Reagan administration. Five of her books have achieved New York Times bestseller status. Noonan was also nominated for an Emmy Award for her contribution to "America: A Tribute to Heroes."
- Bob Mankoff: A cartoonist and editor for The New Yorker.
- Marko Costanzo: An Emmy Award-winning foley artist.
- D. C. Fontana: A screenwriter and story editor, best known for her work on the original Star Trek series. She graduated with an associate degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus.
- Reinaldo Marcus Green: An American director, producer, and writer known for films such as "Monsters and Men" (2018), "Joe Bell" (2020), and "Bob Marley: One Love" (2024). His 2021 film, "King Richard," received a nomination for Best Picture at the 94th Academy Awards.
- Vito Russo: An American LGBT activist, film historian, and author, best remembered for his book "The Celluloid Closet" (1981, revised edition 1987), considered "an essential reference book" on homosexuality in the US film industry. He co-founded the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) in 1985.
- Garry Kitchen: A video game designer, programmer, and executive, renowned for his work at Activision during its early years. He developed games for various platforms, including the Atari 2600 and Commodore 64. His port of Donkey Kong for the Atari 2600 was a major hit for Coleco, selling over 4 million copies.
Business and Entrepreneurship
- John Legere: The former chief executive officer (CEO) and president of T-Mobile US. He previously held positions at AT&T, Dell, and Global Crossing. Legere resigned as CEO following the approval of the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint.
- Zygmunt "Zygi" Wilf: An American billionaire businessman and real estate developer. He is the chairman and co-owner of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the majority owner of Major League Soccer's Orlando City SC. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics.
- Lester Owens: Senior Executive VP, Head of Operations, Wells Fargo & Company.
- George Tenedios: Founder of Fresh&Co.
- Adenah Bayoh: An entrepreneur and real estate developer.
- Majid Ghassemi: An Iranian banker, business magnate, and investor who served as the governor of Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1986 to 1989.
- Vince Naimoli: An American businessman and the first owner of the Major League Baseball team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
- Janeen Uzzell: An American global technology executive and CEO of the National Society of Black Engineers.
Politics and Government
- Richard Codey: Served as the 53rd governor of New Jersey from 2004 to 2006. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the New Jersey Senate from 1982 to 2024 and as the President of the Senate from 2002 to 2010. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in education.
- Jeff Van Drew: The U.S. representative for New Jersey's 2nd congressional district since 2019. Formerly a Democrat, he has been a member of the Republican Party since 2020.
- Lisa Blunt Rochester: Served since 2025 as the junior United States senator from Delaware. representative for Delaware's at-large congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the first woman and first African American to represent Delaware in both chambers of Congress. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in international relations.
- Tom Marino: Served as a United States Representative from Pennsylvania from 2011 to 2019. He graduated with Juris Doctor.
- Michael C. Stenger: Served as the 41st Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate from April 16, 2018, to January 7, 2021. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.
- Bobby Dyer: The mayor of Virginia Beach, Virginia since 2018. A Republican, he served as a member of the city council for 14 years prior to his election as mayor.
- Steve Lonegan: Served as mayor of Bogota, New Jersey, from 1996 to 2007. He was also the Republican Party's nominee in the 2013 Special Senate election in New Jersey.
- Loretta Weinberg: Served as a member of the New Jersey Senate from 2005-2022, representing the 37th Legislative District. She also served as Senate Majority Leader. She graduated with a Master in Public Administration.
- Shavonda E. Sumter: Has represented the 35th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since taking office in January 2012. She graduated with a Master of Business Administration.
- Eric Jackson: The 48th mayor of Trenton, the capital of New Jersey, having assumed office on July 1, 2014 for a four-year term.
- John Kefalas: An educator and lobbyist who won election to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2006.
- John W. Douglass: A retired Brigadier General, United States Air Force. He served as the United States Navy's Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions) from 1995 to 1998.
Science and Technology
- Gregory Olsen: An entrepreneur, engineer, and scientist who, in October 2005, became the third private citizen to make a self-funded trip to the International Space Station.
- Balanda Atis: A scientist at L’Oréal.
Sports
- Seth Greenberg: An American college basketball broadcaster who works as an analyst for ESPN.
- Alejandro Bedoya: An American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer, and serves as their captain.
- Katlyn Chookagian: An American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
- Ron Blomberg: An American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. He played in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees (1969, 1971-1976) and Chicago White Sox (1978), and was the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball history.
- Marques Townes: A Dominican-American basketball player who played college basketball for the Loyola Ramblers, after beginning his career with Fairleigh Dickinson.
- Andrea Crosariol: A former Italian professional basketball player who last played for Pistoia Basket of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). In the years 2003-2006 he played for the Fairleigh Dickinson University in the NCAA's Northeast Conference.
- Tomer Chencinski: An Israeli-Canadian soccer player who plays the position of goalkeeper. He played college soccer at Robert Morris University, and at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He also played one match for the Canada men's national soccer team.
- Desi Wilson: An American former professional baseball player who played part of one season in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants in 1996.
Other Fields
- John Gottman: An American psychologist and professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Washington, whose research focuses on divorce prediction and marital stability through relationship analyses.
- Christine O'Donnell: An American conservative activist in the Tea Party movement, best known for her 2010 campaign for the United States Senate seat from Delaware.
- Ben Weinman: An American musician, most notable for being the lead guitarist and primary songwriter of the mathcore band the Dillinger Escape Plan (DEP).
- Darren Young: An American professional wrestler and trainer signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
- Mensun Bound: A British maritime archaeologist best known as director of exploration for two expeditions to the Weddell Sea which led to the rediscovery of the Endurance, in which Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 men sailed for the Antarctic on the 1914-1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
- Jedh Colby Barker: A United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Vietnam War in September 1967.
- Gilbert M. Gaul: A journalist.
Read also: FDU Basketball: Triumphs and Moments
Read also: Visual History of the FDU Logo
Read also: Exploring Fairleigh Dickinson
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