University of New Orleans: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
The University of New Orleans (UNO), a public research university, has been a cornerstone of education and innovation in the Greater New Orleans region. Established in 1958, UNO has grown into the largest public university. Its alumni have made significant contributions across various fields, shaping the region's economy, culture, and society. This article explores the notable alumni of the University of New Orleans, highlighting their achievements and impact.
A Hub of Academic Excellence and Community Engagement
The University of New Orleans stands as a testament to accessible, high-quality education. Originally named Louisiana State University in New Orleans (LSUNO), the institution was established to address the need for a public university in the largest metropolitan area in the United States.
UNO's commitment to academic excellence is reflected in its diverse colleges: the College of Business Administration, the College of Liberal Arts, Education and Human Development, the College of Engineering, and the College of Sciences. The university's campus, located on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, provides a vibrant and engaging environment for students.
Business and Leadership
UNO alumni have made significant strides in the business world, driving the greater New Orleans economy and shaping the region's future. The 2025 edition of the New Orleans 500 featured 66 University of New Orleans alumni, as well as several UNO administrators, highlighting the university's impact on the local business landscape.
Donald T. Bollinger, a distinguished alumnus, leads Bollinger Shipyards, the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Robert A. Savoie, another accomplished graduate, is the president and chief science and engineering officer of Sev1Tech, a leading provider of IT modernization, cybersecurity, cloud services, and engineering to government agencies and major commercial organizations. The UNO’s Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering is named in his honor.
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Arts, Entertainment, and Media
The University of New Orleans has nurtured creative talent that has achieved national and international recognition in the arts, entertainment, and media.
Ellen DeGeneres, a renowned comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer, is one of UNO's most famous alumni. She starred in the television sitcoms Ellen (1994-1998) and The Ellen Show (2001-2002) and hosted The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003-2022), earning numerous Daytime Emmy Awards.
Frank Ocean, an American singer and songwriter, has been credited as a pioneer of the alternative R&B genre. He has won two Grammy Awards and a Brit Award.
John Larroquette, an American actor, is known for his roles in the NBC sitcom Night Court. He has received four consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Dawn Richard, an American singer, began her career on MTV's Making the Band 3 and formed the girl group Danity Kane.
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Michelle Miller is a national correspondent for CBS News and a co-host on CBS Saturday Morning.
Mark Normand is an American stand-up comedian and actor who has appeared on Conan, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Luke Winslow-King is an American guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, and lyricist based out of Calatayud, Aragon, Spain, known for his vintage blues and jazz music.
Brian Palermo is an American character actor, science communicator, improv instructor and comedian.
Bunny Matthews was an American cartoonist and writer from the Greater New Orleans Area, best known for his depictions of New Orleans characters and local dialect.
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Science and Technology
UNO alumni have made significant contributions to the fields of science and technology, driving innovation and advancing knowledge.
James Henry Clark, an American entrepreneur and computer scientist, founded several notable Silicon Valley technology companies, including Silicon Graphics, Netscape, myCFO, and Healtheon. His research work in computer graphics led to the development of systems for the fast rendering of three-dimensional computer images.
Sal Khan, an American educator, is the founder of Khan Academy, a free online non-profit educational platform.
Patrick Scheuermann is the former Director of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
Sports
The University of New Orleans has a rich athletic tradition, and its alumni have achieved success in various sports.
Brian Snitker is the manager of the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Bo McCalebb is an American-Macedonian former professional basketball player who represented the senior Macedonian national team internationally.
Ervin Johnson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player who is a community ambassador for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Paul Mainieri is an American baseball coach. He coached LSU to the 2009 College World Series Championship.
Johnny Giavotella is an American former professional baseball second baseman.
Randy Bush is a former Major League Baseball player and current front office member of the Chicago Cubs.
Joey Butler is an American former professional baseball designated hitter and left fielder.
Wally Whitehurst is an American former professional baseball right-handed pitcher.
Quincy Diggs is an American-Austrian professional basketball player for Oberwart Gunners of the Austrian Basketball Bundesliga.
Pat Barry is an American former professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer.
Politics and Public Service
UNO alumni have served in various political and public service roles, shaping policies and contributing to their communities.
Renée Gill Pratt is an American politician from New Orleans, Louisiana. She was also Director of the Center for Student Retention and Success in Southern University at New Orleans.
Fady Qaddoura is a Palestinian American politician from Indianapolis. He was elected to represent Senate District 30 in the Indiana Senate in the 2020 general election, becoming the first Arab Muslim lawmaker in the state's history.
Jim Letten is an American attorney. He served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana for more than eleven years.
Humanities and Arts
Joseph Boyden is a Canadian novelist and short story writer, best known for writing about First Nations culture.
Chloé Valdary is an American writer and entrepreneur whose company, Theory of Enchantment, teaches social and emotional learning in schools, as well as diversity and inclusion in companies and government agencies.
Anita Ratnam is an Indian classical and contemporary dancer and choreographer.
Jericho Brown is an American poet and writer.
Peter Halley is an American artist and a central figure in the Neo-Conceptualist movement of the 1980s.
Jan Aronson is a New Orleans-born artist working and living in New York City.
Valerie Martin is an American novelist and short story writer.
Max Hardberger is an American adventurer, ship captain, aviator, ship recovery specialist, admiralty lawyer, and author of maritime fiction and nonfiction adventures.
Kathleen Alcalá is the author of a short-story collection, three novels set in the American Southwest and nineteenth-century Mexico, and a collection of essays.
Law and Justice
Kim McGuire was an American lawyer, author, and former actress, best known for her role of Mona "Hatchet-Face" Malnorowski in John Waters' 1990 comedy musical Cry-Baby.
Jay Christopher Zainey is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
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