Distinguished Alumni of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) has a long and storied history of producing accomplished graduates who have made significant contributions in a wide array of fields. Known as Tar Heels, these alumni have left their mark on the world as teachers, business leaders, musicians, journalists, healthcare professionals, and more. The knowledge and expertise gained at Carolina have propelled them into promising careers, impacting their fields and communities.
Business Leaders
Many UNC alumni have achieved success in the business world, demonstrating the problem-solving abilities and leadership skills honed during their time in Chapel Hill.
- Niki Shamdasani '15: After struggling to find clothes for a traditional wedding in India, Niki Shamdasani and her sister launched their own South Asian-inspired fashion brand, Sani. She credits Carolina with helping her hone the crucial problem-solving abilities she now uses as a business owner.
- Anna Shuford ’20: After spending the early days of the pandemic working out in her living room, Anna Shuford channeled her frustrations with virtual workout programs into market research and came up with a solution that improved the experience for everyone.
- Tyrell Carter ’21: A Carolina Covenant Scholar and a first-generation college grad, Tyrell Carter ’21 aims to make it easier to start and run a business. Carter is currently the CEO of ANTE, a company that provides the tools for entrepreneurs to get their businesses off the ground.
- Caroline Lindley ’14, ’17 (MBA): A two-time Carolina graduate, Caroline Lindley is utilizing what she learned at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School as an undergrad and MBA student to help lead her family's business: the nearly three-century-old Lindley Mills in Graham, North Carolina.
Community Builders
UNC alumni are also dedicated to serving their communities and making a difference in the lives of others.
- Tim Walker ’17, ’18 (MA): Alumnus Tim Walker always knew he wanted to be a teacher. After earning his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Carolina, followed by a Master of Arts in Teaching at the UNC School of Education, he now teaches social studies at Carrboro High School, building community for the next generation of learners.
- Yesenia Pedro Vicente ’13: Yesenia Pedro Vicente came to Carolina for her undergrad as a "first-generation everything." Now, she has returned to the University to help underrepresented graduate students navigate obstacles.
- Kevin Giff ’17: From the moment Kevin Giff stepped on campus as a first-year student in 2013, his involvement with APPLES Service-Learning - a student-led public service program in the Carolina Center for Public Service - defined his Carolina experience. It also led to a career as the community development manager for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, where he also helps APPLES students gain experience.
Creative Tar Heels
The University of North Carolina has nurtured the talents of many individuals who have gone on to excel in creative fields.
- Spencer Bakalar ’13: Alumna Spencer Bakalar has made a career out of filming world leaders and newsmakers like Serena Williams and Oprah Winfrey. But before she first got behind a camera at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, the Carolina Covenant paved the way for her in Chapel Hill.
- Janie Sircey '15: Ever since she was a kid, Carolina alumna Janie Sircey knew she wanted a career with LEGO. Using the skills she first honed in Chapel Hill, Sircey has built a career that led to that dream job. The Tar Heel is now a digital marketing manager with LEGO Group.
- Mary Thurman '17: After graduating from Carolina in 2017, Mary Thurman moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in professional animation. “I benefited so much from my years studying in and around Greenlaw Hall, encouraged by the incredible professors, the variety of unique programs for undergraduates (like the PIT Journal, or studying Shakespeare in London and Oxford), and the active literary scene around campus, especially in poetry. “I often say that my English degree has served me so much better than I could ever imagine in the entertainment industry, not just in terms of understanding story, but being able to communicate and process knowledge and how you decipher the world… I think one of the most valuable skills I have as a producer and what I try to do often is to be a spectacularly clear communicator.
Voices from the Past: Reflections on the Value of a UNC Education
Many alumni have reflected on how their time at UNC shaped their careers and lives.
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- Arthur J.: “While basic science courses are important, on a day-to-day basis, I was far more prepared for the art of medicine by my non-science courses."
- Vikram O.: “The English professors with whom I studied taught me how to write, how to analyze a text, and how to think critically and arrange thoughts logically for my readers-skills which have been invaluable to me as an attorney. “My passion for the last twenty-five years has been to fight for the civil rights of LGBT Americans as an LGBT activist. In this role, I have written op eds for media outlets, managed media relations for direct action social justice organizations, and served as spokesperson for LGBT causes."
- Vice President & Senior Editor at W.W.: “English majors develop skill in writing and speaking - two critical skills for effective management. After completing a Master’s in English literature at UNC, I went on to various management positions."
- Unknown Alumnus: “Whereas in many of my other classes, I learned facts or theories or mechanisms of action, in my English classes, I learned how to think analytically and articulate my ideas."
- Unknown Alumnus: “The most significant part of my college experience was the opportunity to direct and produce a 50-min narrative film…the English & Comparative Literature department was the only place that gave me the freedom to pursue a Senior Honors Thesis in the form of a feature film…Although this experience gave me the opportunity to pursue a career in filmmaking, I chose instead to pursue a legal career, where my background and skill set have proven to be not only unique but crucial…In the legal field, the difference between a lawyer who merely makes his case and a lawyer who can craft a story for the jury is remarkable."
- Unknown Alumnus: “The combination of insightful film courses and encouraging faculty provided me with the experience and support network to further my academic career at the graduate level."
A Shared Experience
As a UNC-CH alumna myself, I often reflect on the famous alumni that have walked these brick paths before me. We were students, all of us, spending a few years on this beautiful campus, seeking to better ourselves and enrich our lives through the collective college experience. A group of scholars as distinct as snowflakes, yet united as Tar Heels. We shared the same hallowed lecture halls that Hinton James, the first UNC student, attended in 1795. We took sips from The Old Well to refresh ourselves on hot, humid days. We all tripped on roots and bricks on the way to class at least once. We had professors who inspired us and challenged us. We learned the vital skills of critical thinking and to appreciate well-written prose. We met life-long friends. We dreamed about the future. And we wondered how to best incorporate all of this new-found knowledge and experience into our lives upon graduating.
Notable UNC Alumni (Abridged List)
Out of the many UNC alumni there have been since its founding, 286,707 are still with us as of May 2012, scattered all over the globe. Many are unsung heroes, making silent yet worthy contributions as they go. Others have reached a level of fame and acknowledgement few ever do.
- B.B. Elson
- William C.
- R.J.
- William L.
- J.
- George T.
- Alfred P.
- Donald H.
- Dan T.
- W. H.
- Frederick A.
- Andrew C.
- David R.
- David L.
- William A.
- W.R. Kenan Jr.
- Joseph A.
- C. E.
- John D.
- E.
- Arthur F.
- D. W.
- Douglas A.
- Ross T.
- C.
- Poppy Z.
- L. M.
- Charles F.
- Richard G.
- C.
- Paul R.
- Ph.D.
- Robert J.
- Max C. Former President and Chairman of R.J.
- J. CEO of Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
- William B.
- Walter E.
- Howard R.
- John T.
- Frank J.
- Allen B. President George W.
- William H. Former Chairman and CEO of Walt Disney Imagineering and St.
- Marcus G.
- Mitchell S.
- James M.
- E!
- Eboni K. TV and film producer, writer, director; executive producer of Survivor; director of The World Made Straight; writer of Good vs.
- Screenwriter, Where's Poppa?
- James D.
- Samuel T.
- Karen L.
- W.
- Vermont C.
- James K.
- William R.
- Charles B.
- Aaron V.
- Walter H.
- John C.
- B.
- Luther H.
- Clyde R.
- Dan K. Former governor of North Carolina, former justice of N.C.
- William B.
- Alfred O.
- P.
- William R.
- Michael D.
- J.
- Aaron V.
- Alfred L.
- J.
- William C.
- William T.
- James C.
- Lawrence H.
- V.
- William C.
- David N.
- John S.
- Charles R.
- Hamilton C.
- John Y.
- William H.
- George M.
- William B.
- Edwin Y. Director of the Domestic Policy Council for the George W.
- Jonathan W.
- James C.
- C.
- John Y.
- H. R.
- Colin R.
- Mary J.
- James A.
- J.
- Eric L.
- Max O.
- Robert P.
- Leo M.
- Peter W.
- Karen L.
- Algenon L.
- Richard E.
- John J.
- S.
- David B.
- James A.
- M. V.
- William H.
- J.
- Joseph J.
- Walter E.
- William A.
- Robert P.
- Robert H.
- James G.
- Henry E.
- Robin E.
- Robert N.
- J.
- James F.
- John H.
- John Y.
- Bartholomew F.
- Dan K. Former governor of North Carolina, former justice of N.C.
- Robert F.
- William B.
- Aaron A.
- F.
- James E.
- Walter P.
- Earl W.
- J.
- Thomas F.
- G.
- Charles G. Acting deputy mayor of Washington, D.C.
- Thad A.
- Richard M.
- Michael R.
- Paul V.
- Thomas J.
- Charles E.
- Chad M.
- Robert F.
- Jerry M.
- Lloyd S.
- Howard T.
- Kevin R.
- William E.
- R. C.
- B.J.
- J.R.
- J.P.
- T. J.
- Robert D.
- Laura M.
- George D.
- Robert S.
- Harry E.
- Kristy M.
- Howard E.
- Walter R.
- James H.
- James M.
- C.
- William J.
- V. K.
- T. C.
- W. A.
- Charles O.
- H.
- S.
- R.
- R.
- W.
- S.
- A.
- E.
- C.
- W.
- T.
- C.
- M.
- E.
- Kemp P. Former president of St.
- B.B. Elson S.
- William C.
- R.
- Joseph S.
- J.
- William L.
- J.
- George T.
- Donald H.
- Andrew C.
- Dan T.
- W. H.
- David R.
- Frederick A.
- David L.
- William A.
- W.R. Kenan Jr.
- Joseph A.
- C. E.
- John D.
- E.
- Arthur F.
- D. W.
- Douglas A.
- Ross T.
- C.
- Poppy Z.
- L. M.
- Charles F.
- Richard G.
- C.
- Paul R.
- Ph.D.
- Robert J.
- Max C. Former president and chairman of R.J.
- J. CEO of Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
- William B.
- Walter E.
- Howard R.
- John T.
- Frank J.
- Allen B. President George W.
- William H. Former Chairman and CEO of Walt Disney Imagineering and St.
- Marcus G.
- Mitchell S.
- James M.
- E!
- Eboni K. TV and film producer, writer, director; executive producer of Survivor; director of The World Made Straight; writer of Good vs.
- Screenwriter, Where's Poppa?
- James D.
- Samuel T.
- Karen L.
- W.
- Vermont C.
- James K.
- William R.
- Charles B.
- Aaron V.
- Walter H.
- John C.
- B.
- Luther H.
- Clyde R.
- Dan K. Former governor of North Carolina, former justice of N.C.
- William B.
- Alfred O.
- P.
- William R.
- Michael D.
- J.
- Aaron V.
- Alfred L.
- J.
- William C.
- William T.
- James C.
- Lawrence H.
- V.
- William C.
- David N.
- John S.
- Charles R.
- Hamilton C.
- John Y.
- William H.
- George M.
- William B.
- Edwin Y. Director of the Domestic Policy Council for the George W.
- Jonathan W.
- James C.
- C.
- John Y.
- H. R.
- Colin R.
- Mary J.
- James A.
- J.
- Eric L.
- Max O.
- Robert P.
- Leo M.
- Peter W.
- Karen L.
- Algenon L.
- Richard E.
- John J.
- S.
- David B.
- James A.
- M. V.
- William H.
- J.
- Joseph J.
- Walter E.
- William A.
- Robert P.
- Robert H.
- James G.
- Henry E.
- Robin E.
- Robert N.
- J.
- James F.
- John H.
- John Y.
- Bartholomew F.
- Dan K. Former governor of North Carolina, former justice of N.C.
- Robert F.
- William B.
- Aaron A.
- F.
- James E.
- Walter P.
- Earl W.
- J.
- Thomas F.
- G.
- Charles G. Acting deputy mayor of Washington, D.C.
- Thad A.
- Richard M.
- Michael R.
- Paul V.
- Thomas J.
- Charles E.
- Chad M.
- Robert F.
- Jerry M.
- Lloyd S.
- Howard T.
- Kevin R.
- William E.
- R. C.
- B.J.
- J.R.
- J.P.
- T. J.
- Robert D.
- Laura M.
- George D.
- Robert S.
- Harry E.
- Kristy M.
- Howard E.
- Walter R.
- James H.
- James M.
- C.
- William J.
- V. K.
- T. C.
- W. A.
- Charles O.
- H.
- S.
- R.
- R.
- W.
- S.
- A.
- E.
- C.
- W.
- T.
- C.
- M.
- E.
This list, while extensive, is not exhaustive. Many more names need to be included. Having attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at some point in your life is the only requirement, as several of those on the list never graduated.
Alumni Making an Impact
- Paapa-Berchie Berko ’20: musician and business owner, Carolina equipped me with not only the leadership skills but the confidence, tenacity and wisdom for me to navigate through the music and tech industry. My time at Carolina helped me work on my communication skills, both personally and professionally, so I can continue building relationships throughout the course of my lifetime.
- Amanda Atkins ’20: a registered nurse at Duke University Hospital, I firmly believe that I wouldn’t have been able to take on such a challenge without the support I received from so many of my professors and clinical faculty. … Many of them may never know the lasting impression they left on me and how they shaped me to be the nurse I am today.
- Michele Buck: 225 years of Tar Heels
- Peaches Golding OBE Office: UWE awards honorary degree to Peaches Golding OBE Office
- Paul Kolton: Who Led the American Stock Exchange, Dies at 87
- James M. Wells III: Suntrust Banks Inc (STI:New York): James M. Wells III
- Melissa Claire Egan: Q&A with soap actress, UNC Alum Melissa Claire Egan
- Edward Louis "Ed" Grady: Edward Louis "Ed" Grady - obituary
- Andy Griffith: Favorite son of all tar heels, Dies at 86
- Sharon Lawrence: My Carolina Story
- Brooke Baldwin: Day in the Life: CNN anchor and Carolina Alum Brooke Baldwin
- Pamela Brown: CNN's Pamela Brown 06': From UNC's MJ-school to senior white house correspondent
- Heather Childers: You'd have to wake up pretty early to compete with Fox News' Heather Childers
- Helene Cooper: 'Gathering Global Stories': Helene Cooper '87 deliverers lecture for CGI's 25th Anniversary
- Woody Durham: Woody Durham passes away at the age of 76
- Molly Sullivan: UNC Athletics.
- Maddie Gardner biography: WFMY News 2.
- Monica Malpass biography: WPVI. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010.
- Stuart Scott: 225 years of Tar Heels: Stuart Scott
- Lloyd Shearer: Longtime Celebrity Columnist, Dies at 84
- Kayla Tausche Profile: CNBCCom.
- Nikole Hannah-Jones: Nikole Hannah-Jones '03 (M.A.) receives UNC's prestigious Distinguished Alumna Award
- James K. Polk: White House Biography
- William Rufus de Vane KING: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Charles Brantley Aycock: National Governors Association.
- John Branch: National Governors Association.
- Aaron Venable BROWN: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Tod Robinson Caldwell: National Governors Association.
- Gaston Caperton: National Governors Association.
- Elias Carr: National Governors Association.
- Henry Toole Clark: National Governors Association.
- Roy Cooper: National Governors Association.
- John Branch: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- John Edwards: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Terry Sanford: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- H.R. McMaster: UNC graduate, H.R. McMaster appointed as Trump national security adviser
- Nina Albert: GSA Names Nina Albert Public Buildings Service Commissioner
- Jonathan Howes: Former Chapel Hill Mayor Jonathan Howes dies at 78
- Tim Longest: Ballotpedia.
- Dustin Ackley: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Daniel Bard: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Kent Emanuel: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Mike Fox: GoHeelscom. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
- Zac Gallen: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Moonlight Graham: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Adam Greenburg: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Matt Harvey: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Gary Hill: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Michael Jordan: 225 years of Tar Heels: Michael Jordan
- Mark Kingston: GoUSFBullscom. USF Athletic Communications. Archived from the original on July 4, 2014.
- Andrew Miller: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Colin Moran: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Kyle Seager: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Trent Thornton: Baseball-ReferenceCom.
- Cole Anthony: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- La'Tangela Atkinson: Women's Basketball
- Armando Bacot: Men's basketball
- LaQuandra Barksdale: Basketball-Referencecom.
- Harrison Barnes: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Joel Berry II: Thank you Carolina
- Garrison Brooks: Men's Basketball
- Dudley Bradley: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Tony Bradley: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Pete Brennan: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Nate Britt: UNC Athletics.
- Leaky Black: Basketball-Referencecom.
- Reggie Bullock: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Vince Carter: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Pete Chilcutt: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Ed Cota: UNC Athletics.
- Sylvia Crawley: 1994 title winner Sylvia Crawley reflects on 25 years as a champion
- Billy Cunningham: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Brad Daugherty: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Ed Davis: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Hubert Davis: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Walter Davis: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Wayne Ellington: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Darrell Elston: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Oz: Sports IllustratedCom.
- Jalek Felton: Over a year later, still few answers in Jalek Felton's departure from North Carolina
- Raymond Felton: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Phil Ford: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Joseph Forte: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Rick Fox: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Marcus Ginyard: GoHeelscom.
- Danny Green: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- PJ Hairston: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Tyler Hansbrough: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Brendan Haywood: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- John Henson: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Harrison Ingram: Basketball-Referencecom.
- Justin Aaron Jackson: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Joel James: UNC Athletics.
- Antawn Jamison: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Brice Johnson: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Cameron Johnson: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Bobby Jones: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Marion Jones: Named An ACC Basketball Legend
- Michael Jordan: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Michael Jordan: lasting impact on UNC
- George Karl: Former UNC Grad George Karl still hates Duke
- Tommy Kearns: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Walker Kessler: Basketball-Referencecom.
- Justin Knox: GoHeelscom. North Carolina Tar Heels.
- Mitch Kupchak: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- York Larese: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Ty Lawson: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Nassir Little: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- George Lynch: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Kendall Marshall: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Sean May: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Luke Maye: UNC Athletics.
- Bob McAdoo: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- James Michael McAdoo: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Rashad McCants: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Rashanda McCants: UNC Athletics.
- Jeff McInnis: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Brady Manek: Men's Basketball
- Kennedy Meeks: GoHeelscom. North Carolina Tar Heels.
- Orlando Melendez: GoHeelscom.
- Larry Miller: New book focuses on Larry Miller, lost legend of UNC basketball
- Doug Moe: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Eric Montross: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- David Noel: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Mike O'Koren: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Ademola Okulaja: Former Tar Heel basketball MVP, entrepreneur, and cancer survivor Ademola Okulaja lives up to his warrior nickname
- Marcus Paige: Men's Basketball - UNC-Chapel Hill
- Sam Perkins: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Theo Pinson: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- J.R. Reid: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Henrik Rödl: leading German Basketball
- Charlie Scott: wwwbasketball-referencecom.
- Day'Ron Sharpe: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Kenny Smith: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Jerry Stackhouse: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Rasheed Wallace: wwwbasketball-referencecom.
- Stephanie Watts: GoHeelscom. North Carolina Tar Heels.
- Ryan Wilcox: Why this UNC women's basketball player transferred out of UNC - then came back
- Coby White: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Kenny Williams: goheelscom. North Carolina Tar Heels.
- Marvin Williams: wwwbasketball-referencecom.
- Seventh Woods: Men's basketball
- Shammond Williams: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- James Worthy: Pro-Basketball ReferenceCom.
- Brandan Wright: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Tyler Zeller: Basketball-ReferenceCom.
- Larry Brown: Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Jason Capel: UNC Athletics.
- Roy Williams: wwwhoophallcom.
- Matt Baker: UNC Athletics.
- Hakeem Nicks: Pro-Football-ReferenceCom.
- Julius Peppers: Pro-Football-ReferenceCom.
- Jeff Saturday: Pro-Football-ReferenceCom.
- Lawrence Taylor: Pro-Football-ReferenceCom.
- Mitchell Trubisky: Pro-Football-ReferenceCom.
- TJ Yates: Pro-Football-ReferenceCom.
- Donna Andrews: Former Tar Heel Donna Andrews to be Inducted into NC Sports Hall of Fame
- Meaghan Francella: UNC Athletics.
- Yael Averbuch: My Carolina Experience
- Michael Lewis: NO GAME IS TOO FAR (1992): Egan, Santana drive 350 miles to play
- Matt Crawford: UNC Athletics.
- Crystal Dunn: UNC Athletics.
- Mia Hamm: FORevHER A Tar Heel
- Mia Hamm: The Legendary Mia Hamm
- Allie Long: UNC Athletics.
- John Swofford: Staff Directory - Atlantic Coast Conference
- Shamed as a Pro, Jones still Enshrined at Carolina: unc.edu. UNC Alumni Association.
- Rachel Dawson: UNC Athletics.
- Diversity and Inclusion: General Christine Burckle
- Laura M. Coast Guard: United States Coast Guard.
- Laura Dickey: Wilmington native Rear Adm. Laura Dickey returns to familiar waters with assignment as Coast Guard 5th District commander
- Carl Torbush: UNC football staff remembers the intensity, tender-heartedness of late head coach Carl Torbush
- John Bunting: A decade later, John Bunting finds peace in his post-football life
- Butch Davis: fired by Tar Heels
- Everett Withers: Named Carolina's Interim Head Football Coach
- Larry Fadora: Football Coach
- Mack Brown: Football Coach
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tags: #famous #University #of #North #Carolina #Chapel
