Distinguished Alumni of the University of Iowa
The University of Iowa has fostered a diverse array of accomplished individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields. From arts and entertainment to journalism, politics, and business, the university's alumni have left an indelible mark on the world. This article explores the notable alumni of the University of Iowa, highlighting their achievements and contributions to society.
Arts and Entertainment
The University of Iowa boasts a rich tradition in the arts, producing numerous talents who have excelled in film, television, theatre, and literature.
Actors, Comedians, and Filmmakers
Gene Wilder, a beloved American actor, comedian, writer, and filmmaker, graduated from Iowa in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication and theatre arts. Best known for his comedic roles, including his portrayal of Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). He collaborated with Mel Brooks on the films The Producers (1967), Blazing Saddles (1974) and Young Frankenstein (1974), and with Richard Pryor in the films Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) and Another You (1991).
Ashton Kutcher rose to stardom as Michael Kelso on the FOX sitcom "That '70s Show." In addition to plenty of other film credits, Kutcher had leading roles in the movies "Dude, Where's My Car?" and "The Butterfly Effect." He enrolled at the University of Iowa in August of 1996. Kutcher's planned major at Iowa was biochemical engineering.
Jake Johnson, known for his portrayal of Nick Miller in the Fox sitcom New Girl (2011-2018), earned a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy Series in 2014. He also voiced a version of Spider-Man in the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and its 2023 sequel. While at the University of Iowa, Jake Johnson wrote a play that earned him admission into the dramatic writing department at NYU's Tisch School of Arts.
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Brandon Routh is an American actor. He portrayed Superman in the 2006 film Superman Returns, which garnered him international fame. In 2011, he played the title character of the film Dylan Dog: Dead of Night. He also had a recurring role in the NBC series Chuck, as Daniel Shaw. Routh also played a supporting role in the film Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), and played Todd Ingram in the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), reprising the role in the animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023).
Jean Seberg was an American actress. She is considered an icon of the French New Wave as a result of her performance in Jean-Luc Godard's 1960 film Breathless.
Joe Russo, a celebrated filmmaker, graduated from the University of Iowa with a major in English and writing. Alongside his brother Anthony, he has directed several high-profile films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Russo brothers’ notable works include “Avengers: Infinity War,” which made history as the first superhero movie to surpass $2 billion at the box office.
James Tolkan is best known for his roles as Mr. Strickland in Back to the Future (1985) and Back to the Future Part II (1989), and as his ancestor, Marshal James Strickland, in Back to the Future Part III (1990). Other memorable film roles include Love and Death (1975), Top Gun (1986), Masters of the Universe (1987), Dick Tracy (1990), and Problem Child 2 (1991).
David Eigenberg is known for his roles as Steve Brady on the HBO series Sex and the City and its revival series And Just Like That… and as Firefighter/Lieutenant/Captain Christopher Herrmann on NBC's Chicago Fire.
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Paul Rust starred in the 2009 film I Love You, Beth Cooper and in the Netflix series Love.
Toby Huss is known for portraying Artie in the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1993-1996). He is also known for his voice-over work on the long-running animated series King of the Hill (1997-2010) as Kahn Souphanousinphone and Cotton Hill, and his role as Felix "Stumpy" Dreifuss on HBO's Carnivàle (2003-2005). He played John Bosworth on the AMC original period drama Halt and Catch Fire.
Tom Arnold studied business administration and writing at the University of Iowa. Arnold rose to stardom as Arnie Thomas on the hit ABC sitcom Roseanne. He also was one of the hosts on The Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Playwrights and Writers
Tennessee Williams, a distinguished American playwright, graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in English. He is celebrated for his profound plays like “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” which delve into deep psychological themes and complex characters. His remarkable contributions to American theater were honored with his induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1979.
Mildred Benson, an American writer, earned her English degree from the University of Iowa in 1925 and later became the first student there to receive a master’s degree in journalism. She is best known for writing many of the early Nancy Drew mysteries under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene, shaping the series’ adventurous and daring heroine. Her work made significant contributions to children’s literature, particularly in developing strong female characters. B.A., 1925; M.A.
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Robert Olen Butler, Jr. won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, among other literary awards.
Max A. Collins, Jr. is the writer of the comic strip “Dick Tracy.” (Chester Gould was the creator of the strip and Collins took over in 1977 when Gould retired.) Collins also writes mystery novels.
Paul Engle was a Poet and director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop for 24 years. Engle also founded the International Writing Program- M.A., 1932, English.
W.P. Kinsella is the author of the critically-acclaimed bestseller Shoeless Joe, upon which the motion picture “Field of Dreams” was based.
Richard W. Maibaum was a screenwriter and producer who wrote Broadway plays and thirteen James Bond scripts/films. B.A., 1931; M.A., 1932, Communication and Theatre Arts.
James Alan McPherson is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and MacArthur Fellow who is currently on the faculty of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
(Mary) Flannery O’Connor was a Novelist and author of numerous short stories. M.F.A., 1947, English.
John W. Irving is a Novelist who wrote The World According to Garp, A Prayer for Owen Meany, and several others.
Diablo Cody graduated from the University of Iowa in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in media. She received critical acclaim for her screenwriting debut film, "Juno." The 2007 movie won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Recently, Cody won a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for "Jagged Little Pill."
Ann Patchett received the 2002 PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize for Fiction for her novel "Bel Canto." One of her other novels, "The Dutch House," was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Peter Craig is best known for co-writing the screenplays to The Town (2010), The Batman (2022), and Top Gun: Maverick (2022), earning an Academy Award nomination for the lattermost.
Musicians
Al Jarreau earned a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Iowa in 1964. Jazz singer and 1982 Grammy Award winner for best male pop performance.
Simon Estes is a World famous baritone, formerly of the New York Metropolitan Opera.
Journalism and Media
The University of Iowa has produced numerous prominent figures in journalism and media, shaping the landscape of news and information dissemination.
Tom Brokaw, an esteemed American broadcast journalist, attended the University of Iowa before completing his studies at the University of South Dakota. He is renowned for his role as the anchor of “NBC Nightly News” from 1982 to 2004.
Harry Kalas, an iconic American sportscaster, graduated from the University of Iowa in 1959, where he honed his distinctive voice that would later echo through Major League Baseball stadiums. Kalas was the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1971 until his death in 2009, beloved for his resonant tone and memorable calls.
Paul Conrad was a Former editorial cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1964, 1971, and 1984.
Michael F. Toner was a 1993 Pulitzer Prize winner for explanatory journalism.
Mary Stier was the Publisher of the Des Moines Register, 2000 to 2007. He started his company in Sioux City, Iowa, with a $10,000 loan from his grandmother in 1985.
Milo Hamilton was a sportscaster for the Iowa Hawkeyes and seven different Major League Baseball teams; recipient of the Ford C.
Kari Lake Graduated with Bachelor of Arts in journalism. Kari Lake Halperin is an American political figure and former television news anchor, who has been proposed by Donald Trump as a candidate to become the Voice of America director. She was the Republican Party's nominee in Arizona's 2022 gubernatorial and 2024 United States Senate elections.
Politics and Government
The University of Iowa has a strong tradition of producing leaders in politics and government, shaping policy and serving the public good.
Terry Branstad, Iowa’s longest-serving governor, graduated from the University of Iowa in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, and got his law degree from Drake University in 1974. He was Governor of Iowa from 1983 to 1999, and again from 2011 to 2017, making him the longest-serving governor in US history.
Joseph Crowley was the Former president of the University of Nevada at Reno (1977 to 2000) and president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association from 1993 to 1995.
Edward Jackson is the Chancellor of Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge since 1998.
W. Ann Reynolds was the Former president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (1997-2002), chancellor of the City University of New York (1990 to 1997), and chancellor of California State University (1982 to 1990).
Juanita Kidd Stout was the First woman appointed as a federal judge; Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice.
Edwin Adams Davis - M.A.
Jewel Prestage is the dean of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Southern University, first African-American woman to earn Ph.D.
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Business and Entrepreneurship
The University of Iowa has cultivated numerous successful entrepreneurs and business leaders who have made significant contributions to the economy and innovation.
Patrick Baird was the Former president and CEO of AEGON USA, one of the largest insurance companies in America. He retired in 2009.
Donald Bently launched an industrial machine engineering operation from his garage that evolved into a corporation with offices in 43 countries generating nearly $300 million in annual sales before selling it to General Electric in 2002.
Doris J. Biester was the Retired President and CEO of the Children's Hospital of Denver. A pioneer in pediatric health care, she was the first nurse and woman to serve as the Denver hospital's CEO. She retired in 2007.
Katherine "Kay" Hammer is the President and CEO of Evolutionary Technologies International, which helps corporations worldwide consolidate incompatible computer systems.
Steve La Croix is the Chief Marketing Officer for the Minnesota Vikings.
David A. Levin is the President and CEO of Casual Male Retail Group (a big-and-tall men clothier) since April 2000, and former executive vice president of eOutlet.com. As a UI student in the 1970s, he and a friend started a clothing business that was making $2 million by the time they graduated.
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