University of Louisiana at Lafayette: Notable Alumni
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, boasts a diverse and accomplished alumni network. These individuals have made significant contributions in various fields, bringing honor and distinction to their alma mater. The Outstanding Alumni Award, the highest honor bestowed by the university, recognizes graduates and former students who have demonstrated exceptional professional and personal achievements.
Academics and Research
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has produced numerous alumni who have excelled in academia and research. Several graduates have become professors at esteemed institutions, contributing to advancements in their respective fields.
- Bassem A. Alhalabi: (CACS Ph.D. 1995) is an Associate Professor at the Computer Science and Engineering Department, Florida Atlantic University, specializing in embedded systems and related areas.
- Chung Han Chen: (CACS M.Sc. 1987, Ph.D. 1993) is a faculty member in the Computer Science Department at Tuskegee University.
- Rick Chow: (Ph.D. 1994, M.S. 1989, B.S. 1987) served as the chairman of the Division of Mathematics and Computer Science at Upstate and is involved in data mining projects related to healthcare.
- Chita R. Das: (Ph.D. 1986) is a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Pennsylvania State University, focusing on parallel and distributed computer architectures.
- James A. Grant: (Ph.D. 1994) has a background in mathematics and computer science.
- Herman D. Hughes: (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.) was a leader in network traffic management and modeling.
- Tom Johnsten: (Ph.D. 2002) is an Associate Professor at the School of Computer and Information Sciences, University of South Alabama.
- Zhu Li: (M.S. 1997) was a Principal Staff Research Engineer with the Multimedia Research Lab (MRL), Motorola Labs, specializing in video coding and communication.
- Nam Ling: is an IEEE Fellow recognized for his contributions to video coding algorithms and architectures.
- Maja Matijasevic: holds multiple degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering.
- Dennis Moreau: (Ph.D. 1987) is the Chief Technology Officer for Configuresoft.
- J. Richard Newman: (Ph.D. 1976) has held various academic and administration positions.
- Ramakrishna Nunna: (Ph.D. 1993) is a Professor and Associate Dean at California State University Fresno.
- Richard Turner: (M.S. 1977) is a Golden Core Member of the IEEE Computer Society.
Arts and Entertainment
The university has fostered the talents of individuals who have achieved recognition in the arts and entertainment industry.
- Ali Landry: is an actress, model, and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1996.
- Daniel Sunjata: is an actor known for his roles in film, television, and theater.
- Eddy Raven: is an American country music singer and songwriter with multiple number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
- Felecia Angelle: is a voice actress and ADR director.
- George Rodrigue: was an American artist known for his Blue Dog paintings.
- Hedwig Gorski: is an American performance poet and avant-garde artist.
- James Lee Burke: is an American author, best known for his Dave Robicheaux series.
- Richard Simmons: is a fitness instructor and television personality known for his weight-loss programs.
Athletics
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has a strong athletic tradition, with many alumni going on to successful careers in professional sports.
- Andrew Toney: is a former professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers and a two-time NBA All-Star.
- B. J. Ryan: is a former baseball coach and relief pitcher.
- Brian Mitchell: is a former professional football running back and return specialist who played in the NFL.
- David Patrick: is an Australian college basketball coach.
- Elijah McGuire Jr.: is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL).
- Elfrid Payton Jr.: is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
- Jake Delhomme: is a former quarterback who played for several NFL teams.
- Jonathan Lucroy: is an American former professional baseball catcher.
- Paul Bako: is an American former professional baseball catcher.
- Ron Guidry: is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played for the New York Yankees.
- Shawn Long: is an American professional basketball player for the Ulsan Mobis Phoebus of the Korean Basketball League (KBL).
Business and Entrepreneurship
Alumni have also made their mark in the world of business and entrepreneurship, demonstrating innovation and leadership in various sectors.
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- Scott Angelle: is an American politician and businessman.
- Walter Imahara: is the founding owner of Imahara’s Nursery and Landscape Co.
Government and Public Service
A significant number of alumni have dedicated their careers to public service, holding positions in government and contributing to the well-being of their communities.
- Albert H.: Representative for Louisiana from 2005 to 2013.
- Charles Boustany: representative from Louisiana's 3rd congressional district from 2005 to 2017
- Charles B. DeBellevue: is a retired officer in the United States Air Force (USAF).
- Jefferson Caffery: was an American diplomat.
- John Breaux: is an American lobbyist, attorney, and retired politician from Louisiana.
- Jeff Landry: is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 57th governor of Louisiana since 2024.
- J. Rayburn Bertrand: was a businessman, civic leader, and decorated World War II veteran who served as the Democratic mayor of Lafayette from 1960 to 1972.
- Kathleen Blanco: served as the 54th governor of Louisiana.
- Paul Hardy: former lieutenant governor of Louisiana (1988-1992); Louisiana Secretary of State (1976-1980); Louisiana state senator for Iberia and St.
- Roy Bourgeois: is an American activist, a former Catholic priest, and the founder of the human rights group School of the Americas Watch (SOA Watch).
Journalism and Media
The field of journalism and media has also seen successful alumni who have made significant contributions to news reporting and broadcasting.
- David Begnaud: is an American journalist and news correspondent for CBS News.
Science and Technology
- Majid Altuwaijri: (CACS M.Sc. 1992 and Ph.D. 1995) is CIO of the Saudi Arabian National Guard-Health affair.
- Jonas Fontenot: is chief of medical physics.
- Kowsik Guruswamy: is the co-founder and CTO of Mu Dynamics.
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