Distinctive Alumni of UMass Amherst

Feb. 4, 2009

AMHERST, Mass. - UMass Amherst alumni have achieved distinction in virtually every field and are an impressive and diverse group. They include:

* Bruce Berkowitz '80, founder, managing member, Fairholme Capital Management

* Herbert Bix ’60, Pulitzer Prize winner and historian

* Phil Buck ’91, explorer

* Jack Canfield ’72G, best-selling author

* Natalie Cole ’72, Grammy-winning singer

* Catherine Coleman ’91 Ph.D., astronaut

* Jeff Corwin ’02G, Animal Planet’s “The Jeff Corwin Experience.”

* Bill Cosby ’72G, '76 Ed.D., actor, comedian, writer

* Arthur Coviello '75, president of RSA Security

* John G. Drosdick ’68G, chairman, CEO and president of Sunoco

* Julius Erving ’86H, NBA Hall of Famer

* Jeff Flug '84, CEO/Executive Director, Millennium Promise Alliance

* Davey Hearn ’82, U.S. Olympian—Whitewater Slalom

* Danielle Henderson ’99, Olympic Gold Medal winner—Softball

* Russell Hulse ’72G, '75 Ph.D., Nobel Prize winner

* Madeleine Kunin ’56, former ambassador to Switzerland, former Vt. governor.

* Peter Laird '76, co-creator, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

* John Legere '80, president/CEO, Global Crossing Ltd.

* Pam Liebman '84, president/CEO, The Corcoran Group

* Taj Mahal ’63, composer and singer

* James Pallotta '79, Tudor Investments; Boston Celtics limited partner

* Scott Prior ’71, artist

* Bill Pullman ’80G, actor

* Buffy Sainte-Marie ’70, singer

* Briana Scurry ’95, Olympic Gold Medal winner, soccer

* Jack Smith ’60, former chairman of General Motors

* Jeff Taylor ’01, founder of Monster.com

* Paul Theroux ’63, author

* Edwin Thomas '69, materials science research, MIT

* Natasha Trethewey '95G, Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry

* Jack Welch ’57, retired CEO of General Electric

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