Notable Alumni of the University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina - Columbia boasts a diverse and accomplished alumni network. EduRank The University of South Carolina - Columbia is 179th in the world, 79th in North America, and 76th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. This article highlights some of the most notable graduates and former students, spanning various fields from politics and law to arts and athletics.
Politics and Law
The University of South Carolina has produced a significant number of influential figures in the realms of politics and law.
Lindsey Graham: A prominent figure in American politics, Lindsey Olin Graham is an American politician, attorney, and Air Force veteran serving as the senior United States senator from South Carolina, a seat he has held since 2003. A member of the Republican Party, Graham chaired the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2019 to 2021. He enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia In 1977 graduated with Bachelor of Arts In 1981 graduated with Juris Doctor.
Henry McMaster: Serving as the 117th governor of South Carolina since 2017, Henry Dargan McMaster is an American politician and attorney. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 50th attorney general of South Carolina from 2003 to 2011 and the 91st lieutenant governor of South Carolina from 2015 to 2017 under Governor Nikki Haley.
Lee Atwater: Harvey LeRoy "Lee" Atwater was an American political consultant and strategist for the Republican Party. presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and chairman of the Republican National Committee. Atwater aroused controversy through his aggressive campaign tactics, especially the Southern strategy.
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Melvin Purvis: Melvin Horace Purvis II was an FBI agent instrumental in capturing bank robbers John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd in 1934. All of this would later overshadow his military career which saw him directly involved with General George Patton, Hermann Göring, and the Nuremberg Trials.
Clementa C. Pinckney: Clementa Carlos Pinckney was an American politician and pastor who served as a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 45th District from 2000 until his murder in 2015. He was previously a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1997 through 2000.
Joseph F. J. J. David Johnson IV: Columbia-based shareholder J. David Johnson IV (JD 1999).
Cherie W. Blackburn: (JD 1987).
Elizabeth “Beth” J. Palmer: (JD 2005).
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Arts and Entertainment
The University of South Carolina has also fostered talent in the arts and entertainment industry.
Elle Fanning: Mary Elle Fanning is an American actress. She made her film debut as a child as the younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning's character in the drama film I Am Sam (2001). She appeared in several other films as a child actress, including Daddy Day Care (2003), Babel (2006), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Phoebe in Wonderland (both 2008), and the miniseries The Lost Room (2006). She then had leading roles in Sofia Coppola's drama Somewhere (2010) and J. J. Abrams' science fiction film Super 8 (2011).
Mike Colter: Mike Colter is an American actor best known for his role as Luke Cage / Carl Lucas in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in the streaming television series Luke Cage (2016-2018), The Defenders (2017), and Jessica Jones (2015; 2019). He has also appeared as Lemond Bishop in the television series The Good Wife (2010-2015) and The Good Fight (2018-2019), Malcolm Ward in Ringer (2011-2012), Jameson Locke in the Halo franchise (2014-2015), Agent J's father in Men in Black 3, and David Acosta, a former journalist studying to be a Catholic priest in the CBS/Paramount+ series Evil (2019-2024).
Darius Rucker: Darius Carlos Rucker is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Carolina along with Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld, and Dean Felber. The band released five studio albums with Rucker as a member and charted six top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Rucker co-wrote most of the songs with the other members of the band.
Ainsley Earhardt: Ainsley Earhardt is an American conservative television host and author. She is a co-host of Fox & Friends. She Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia Graduated with Bachelor of Arts.
Read also: Legacy of Fordham University
Lilian Garcia: Lilián Annette Garcia is an American ring announcer, singer, and podcaster. She is signed to WWE as a ring announcer for the SmackDown brand. She also announces for the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Leeza Gibbons: Leeza Kim Gibbons is an American talk show host. She is best known as a correspondent and co-host for Entertainment Tonight (1984-2000) as well as for having her own syndicated daytime talk show, Leeza (1993-2000). In 2013, her book Take 2 became a New York Times bestseller and she won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Host in a Lifestyle or Travel program for the PBS show, My Generation. On February 16, 2015, Gibbons was named the winner of Celebrity Apprentice; while on the show she raised $714,000 for her charity Leeza's Care Connection.
Toro y Moi: Chaz Bear, known professionally as Toro y Moi and occasionally referred to as Les Sins or simply as "Toro", is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and graphic designer. He is often recognized as a spearhead of the chillwave genre in the 2010s, alongside contemporaries Washed Out and Neon Indian, although his music has explored various styles since. His stage name is a multilingual expression consisting of the Spanish words "toro y" (meaning "bull and") and the French word moi (meaning "me").
Firdous Bamji: Firdous Bamji is an Indian-born actor and writer.
Sports
The University of South Carolina has a rich athletic tradition, and many of its alumni have gone on to achieve success in professional sports.
Jadeveon Clowney: Jadeveon Davarus Clowney is an American professional football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, where he won the Ted Hendricks Award, and was selected first overall by the Houston Texans in the 2014 NFL draft. Clowney was a member of the Texans for five seasons, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections during his final years with the team. Following his departure from Houston, he played with the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens.
A'ja Wilson: A'ja Riyadh Wilson is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She Studied in 2014-2018.
Bianca Belair: Bianca Nicole Blair Crawford is an American professional wrestler and fitness and figure competitor. As of April 2016, she is signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Bianca Belair. She is one-half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions alongside Naomi in their first reign as a team. Belair is one of two women to win at a WrestleMania main event and her 420-day reign as Raw Women's Champion stands as the longest in the championship's history.
Stephon Gilmore: Stephon Stiles Gilmore is an American professional football cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected tenth overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2012 NFL draft. Gilmore spent his first five seasons with the Bills and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2016 before joining the New England Patriots.
Alex English: Alexander English is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and businessman.
Justin Smoak: Justin Kyle Smoak is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Francisco Giants and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.
Jackie Bradley, Jr: Jackie Bradley Jr., nicknamed "JBJ", is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Kansas City Royals. Listed at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) and 200 pounds (91 kg), he bats left and throws right-handed.
Aliyah Boston: Aliyah Boston is an American professional basketball power forward and center for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was named 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year in a unanimous vote and the AP Rookie of the Year. She played college basketball at the University of South Carolina. She Studied in 2019-2023.
Melvin Ingram: Melvin Ingram III is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, earning All-American honors in 2011. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round with the 18th overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft. He has also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dan Reeves: Daniel Edward Reeves was an American professional football running back and coach in the National Football League (NFL). During his 38 years in the NFL, Reeves participated in nine Super Bowls, the third most for an individual. He was a head coach for 23 seasons, a position he held with the Denver Broncos from 1981 to 1992, the New York Giants from 1993 to 1996, and the Atlanta Falcons from 1997 to 2003. As a player, he spent his eight-season career with the Dallas Cowboys, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 1965.
Other Fields
Jo Jorgensen: Jo Jorgensen is an American libertarian political activist and academic. Jorgensen was the Libertarian Party's nominee for president of the United States in the 2020 election, in which she finished third in the popular vote with about 1.9 million votes, 1.2% of the national total. She was previously the party's nominee for vice president in the 1996 election, as Harry Browne's running mate. She is a full-time lecturer of psychology at Clemson University. She Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia In 2016 graduated with graduate certificate in addiction psychology In 2017 graduated with Master of Social Work in social work.
Dawn Brancheau: Dawn Therese Brancheau was an American animal trainer at SeaWorld. She worked with orcas at SeaWorld Orlando for fifteen years, including a leading role in revamping the Shamu show, and was SeaWorld's poster girl. She was killed by an orca, Tilikum, who was also involved in the deaths of Keltie Byrne and Daniel P. Dukes.
Cheslie Kryst: Cheslie Corrinne Kryst was an American television correspondent, model, and beauty pageant titleholder. She was also an attorney and a correspondent for the TV show Extra from October 2019 until her death. For her work on Extra, she was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards. As Miss USA 2019, Kryst represented the United States at Miss Universe 2019 where she reached the Top 10. She was the third woman from North Carolina to win Miss USA.
Kyle Carpenter: William Kyle Carpenter is a medically retired United States Marine who received the United States' highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010. Carpenter is the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient.
Jasper Johns: Jasper Johns is an American painter, sculptor, draftsman, and printmaker. Considered a central figure in the development of American postwar art, he has been variously associated with abstract expressionism, Neo-Dada, and pop art movements.
Zig Ziglar: Hilary Hinton "Zig" Ziglar was an American author, salesman, and motivational speaker.
Stanley Donen: Stanley Donen was an American film director and choreographer. He received the Honorary Academy Award in 1998, and the Career Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2004. Four of his films have been inducted into the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress.
J. Marion Sims: James Marion Sims was an American physician in the field of surgery. His most famous work was the development of a surgical technique for the repair of vesicovaginal fistula, a severe complication of obstructed childbirth. He is also remembered for inventing the Sims speculum, Sims sigmoid catheter, and the Sims position. Against significant opposition, he established, in New York, the first hospital specifically for women. He was forced out of the hospital he founded because he insisted on treating cancer patients; he played a small role in the creation of the nation's first cancer hospital, which opened after his death.
Charlie Weis: Charles Joseph Weis Sr. is a former American football coach. He was the head coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 2005 to 2009 and the Kansas Jayhawks from 2012 to 2014. He also served as an offensive coordinator in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. Weis most recently hosted "Airing It Out," along with Bob Papa, on Sirius XM NFL Radio.
Bob McNair: Robert C. McNair was an American businessman, philanthropist, and the founding owner of the National Football League's Houston Texans.
Amos Lee: Amos Lee is an American singer-songwriter whose musical style encompasses folk, rock, and soul.
Legal Field Updates
Several alumni have been recognized for their achievements and contributions to the legal field:
- J. Turner Padget announced that Columbia-based shareholder J. David Johnson IV (JD 1999).
- Kaymani West; Hon. Christopher Taylor; SC Representative Chris Hart; Dep.
- County Bar for her FEMA crisis relief efforts after Hurricane Helene.
- Stark P.A. Jake Moore Sr. honor, during a celebration marking his 50 years in law. community.
- William W. his practice in Construction Litigation for the tenth consecutive year.
- John R, Cella, Jr. Planning & Probate.
- 2025 "Legal Elite" list in Tax & Estate Planning by peer review.
- Gray T. John G. Tamasitis ‘14 and Christopher T.G.
- Danny Smith ‘74 and Patrick Smith ‘90 of Spartanburg-based Smith Legal Group, P.C.
- William "Billy" Moore Jr. '83 of Moore & Van Allen was awarded the Order of the Palmetto.The Honorable Amy W.
- Gray Culbreath '88, John T. Lay '91, David Rheney '89 and Ronald K.
- Lesley A. Jessica J.O. King '96, Ryan W. Trail '08 and Richard H.
- William P. Gray T. Culbreath ‘88 (Ranked in Band 2), John T. Lay ‘91 (Ranked in Band 1) and Lindsay A.
- Mr. Sharon Bramlett (’85) has joined Turner Padget as a Columbia-based shareholder.
- Stephanie G. injury and transportation litigation in both federal and state courts.
- Carolina’s Fifth Judicial Circuit on May 9.
- for the 2025 Elite Trial Lawyers Award in product liability.
- Tax Law Section.
- Christy L.
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