Alumni
Arts, entertainment and letters
- Donna Axum – Miss America 1964[1]
- Brent Bradshaw – writer for television[citation needed]
- Jimmy Dykes – ESPN college football and basketball analyst[2]
- Peggy Gram – champion barbershop music singer and leader of Sweet Adelines International
- Barry Hannah – novelist and short story writer[3]
- E. Lynn Harris – novelist and former in-house writer for the UA English Department[4]
- T. J. Holmes – CNN anchor[5]
- Douglas C. Jones – historical fiction writer[6]
- E. Fay Jones – AIA Gold Medal-winning architect, architect for Thorncrown Chapel[7]
- Laurence Luckinbill – actor, best known as Spock's half-brother in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier[8]
- Darcy Pattison – writer of children's literature, blogger, writing teacher and indie publisher
- Nic Pizzolatto – creator and executive producer of HBO series True Detective[9]
- Charles Portis – author of True Grit[10]
- Ben Rector – singer and songwriter, Brand New
- Savvy Shields – Miss Arkansas 2016, Miss America 2017[11]
- Edward Durell Stone – world-renowned 20th-century modernist architect who helped create Radio City Music Hall and Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts[12]
- Pat Summerall – sportscaster for CBS, Fox and ESPN[13]
- Tony Tost – Walt Whitman Award-winning poet and screenwriter[14]
- Barry A. Vann – author, lecturer
Business, science and academia
- George W. Bond – president of Louisiana Tech University 1929–1936, received his undergraduate degree from University of Arkansas
- Moses T. Clegg – bacteriologist, noted for his work in leprosy[15]
- William T. Dillard – founder of Dillard's Department Stores[16]
- Robert Fisher, PhD – president of Belmont University[17]
- Joe T. Ford – founder and CEO of Alltel[18]
- J. William Fulbright – former president of the University of Arkansas, U.S. Senator and founder of the Fulbright Program
- Mary L. Good – past president, American Association for the Advancement of Science[19]
- Jerry Jones – oilman and owner of the Dallas Cowboys[20]
- Walter Keller – developer of the heart pacemaker[21]
- John E. King, PhD – president of the Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University); also president of the University of Wyoming 1966–1967
- Casey Mann and Jennifer McLoud-Mann – mathematicians, discoverer of the 15th and last class of convex pentagons to tile the plane[22]
- Ricardo Martinelli – 36th President of the Republic of Panama, president of Super99 stores.
- Robert D. Maurer – inventor of fiber optic technology[23]
- James O. McKinsey – founder of McKinsey & Company
- Mack McLarty – former CEO of Arkla, Inc.; served as White House Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton
- Doug McMillon – current CEO of Walmart[24]
- David Wiley Mullins (BA 1931) – served as president of the University of Arkansas and chancellor of North Carolina State University[25]
- Marwan M. Muwalla – president of University of Petra, Amman, Jordan
- Connie Redbird Pinkerman-Uri – doctor and lawyer
- David O. Russell – vice president of Verizon Communications
- Skip Rutherford (born 1950) – first president of the Clinton Foundation, Dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service[26]
- Ray Thornton – served as president of the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University
- John H. Tyson – former CEO and current chairman of Tyson Foods
- Jim Walton – board of directors for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and former CEO of Arvest Bank
- S. Robson Walton – chairman of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.[27]
- Ed Wilson – president of the Fox Broadcasting Company
- Pamela Rouse Wright – businesswoman, jewelry designer, and 46th President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Sports
- Lance Alworth – Hall of Fame wide receiver for the American Football League's San Diego Chargers[28]
- Steve Atwater – 2020 NFL Hall of Fame inductee, eight-time Pro Bowl NFL defensive back[29]
- Corey Beck – retired NBA player[30]
- Andrew Benintendi – current MLB left fielder for the Boston Red Sox[31]
- Ronnie Brewer – former NBA player for the Utah Jazz[32]
- Veronica Campbell – five-time Olympic medal-winning sprinter[33]
- Bubba Carpenter – former MLB outfielder and designated hitter for the Colorado Rockies
- Coty Clarke (born 1992) – basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Mike Conley, Sr. – Olympic silver and gold medalist in triple jump, and holder of US record[34]
- Austin Cook – professional golfer
- John Daly – golfer, won five PGA Tour tournaments, including the PGA Championship and the British Open[35]
- Butch Davis – former head football coach at the North Carolina Tar Heels, Cleveland Browns and Miami Hurricanes[36]
- Calvin Davis – bronze medalist in 400m hurdles at the 1996 Olympics[citation needed]
- Todd Day – former NBA player with the Milwaukee Bucks
- María Fassi – LPGA player and 2019 NCAA national champion
- Joe Ferguson – former quarterback, had a 17-year career in the NFL, primarily with the Buffalo Bills[37]
- Henry Ford – first round draft pick to the Houston Oilers in 1994[38]
- Logan Forsythe – MLB baseball player, currently with the Texas Rangers
- Jack Haden – football player
- Dan Hampton – member of Pro Football Hall of Fame[39]
- Dusty Hannahs (born 1993) – basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Wayne Harris – nicknamed "Thumper", Canadian Football Hall of Famer and Grey Cup champion with the Calgary Stampeders
- Madre Hill – SEC Player of the Year, 1995; played in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and the Oakland Raiders[40]
- Eric Hinske – hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks; won World Series with 2016 Chicago Cubs
- Jim Lee Howell – head coach of the 1956 NFL champion New York Giants[41]
- Jimmy Johnson – former football coach and two-time Super Bowl winner with the Dallas Cowboys; first of two coaches to win an NCAA championship and a Super Bowl; Fox NFL studio analyst[42]
- Joe Johnson – NBA player for the Brooklyn Nets[43]
- Felix Jones – former NFL player[44]
- Matt Jones – former NFL player[45]
- Deena Kastor – bronze medalist in 2004 Olympic marathon, holder of American women's record for marathon[46]
- Dallas Keuchel – 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner and current MLB pitcher with the Atlanta Braves[47]
- Jeff King – former MLB player[48]
- Cliff Lee – Cy Young Award-winning MLB pitcher[49]
- Stacy Lewis – 2-time LPGA Golfer of the Year, 2013 Women's British Open Champion[50]
- Jim Lindsey – former NFL player[51]
- Rashad Madden (born 1992) – basketball player in the Israeli National League
- Darren McFadden – former NFL player and two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up[52]
- Oliver Miller – former NBA player[53]
- Sidney Moncrief – Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, inaugural winner of NBA Defensive Player of the Year with Milwaukee Bucks[54]
- Mike Oquist – former MLB player[55]
- Jannero Pargo – professional basketball player for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks[56]
- Michael Qualls (born 1994) – American basketball player for Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Basketball Premier League[57]
- Scotty Robertson – former NBA coach; Louisiana Tech University basketball coach 1964–1974, received master's degree from UA[citation needed]
- Howard Sampson – former NFL player[58]
- Clyde Scott – former NFL player and Olympic medalist
- Gerald Skinner – former NFL player[59]
- Justin Smith (born 1999) – basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Barry Switzer – former head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners (3 NCAA Championships) and Dallas Cowboys (1 World Championship); the second of two coaches to win an NCAA Championship and a Super Bowl (the other is former teammate Jimmy Johnson)[60]
- Shelley Taylor-Smith – Australian former long-distance swimmer[61]
- Ethan Tracy – professional golfer[62]
- Clyde Van Sickle – former NFL player[63]
- Darrell Walker – current head coach of Little Rock men's basketball; won NBA title with the 1998 Chicago Bulls
- Chuck Washington – former NFL player[64]
- Tim Webster – former NFL player[65]
- Sonny Weems – former NBA player[66]
- JaCorey Williams (born 1994), basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Corliss Williamson – 1994 Final Four MOP; retired NBA player[67]
- Ben Winkelman – former NFL player[68]
Olympians
- Espen Borge – Norway, steeplechase, 1988
- Neil Brooks – Australia, freestyle swimmer, won 4 × 100 m medley relay, 1980, gold
- Niall Bruton – Ireland, 1500 m, 1996
- Kemoy Campbell – Jamaica, 5000 m, 2016
- Veronica Campbell-Brown – Jamaica, 4 × 100 m relay, 2000, silver; 100 m, 2004, bronze, 200 m, 2004, gold; 4 × 100 m relay, 2004, gold; 200 m, 2008, gold, 4 × 100 m relay, 2008; 100 m, 2012, bronze, 200 m, 2012, 4 × 100 m relay, 2012, silver; 200 m, 2016, 4x100 relay, 2016, silver
- Gordon Carpenter – USA, basketball, 1948, gold
- Mike Conley Sr. – USA, triple jump, 1984, silver; triple jump, 1992, gold; triple jump, 1996
- Alistair Cragg – Ireland, 5000 m, 2004; 1500 m and 5000 m, 2008; 5000 m, 2012
- Calvin Davis – USA, 400m hurdles, 1996, bronze
- Paul Donovan – Ireland, 5000 m, 1984; 5000 m, 1992
- Taylor Ellis-Watson – USA, 4 × 400 m relay, 2016, gold
- Edrick Floréal – Canada, triple jump, 1988; long jump, 1992
- Tyson Gay – USA, 4 × 100 m relay and 100 m, 2008; 4 × 100 m relay and 100 m, 2012; 4 × 100 m relay, 2016
- Regina George – Nigeria, 400 m and 4 × 100 m relay, 2012
- Matt Hemingway – USA, high jump, 2004, silver
- Raymond Higgs – Bahamas, long jump, 2012
- Graham Hood – Canada, 1500 m, 1992; 1500 m, 1996
- Robert Howard – USA, triple jump, 1996; triple jump, 2000
- Christine Kalmer – South Africa, marathon, 2016
- Deena Kastor – USA, 10,000 m, 2000; marathon, 2004, bronze; marathon, 2008
- Ivanique Kemp – Bahamas, 100 m hurdles, 2012
- Joe Kleine – USA, basketball, 1984, gold
- Jarrion Lawson – USA, 100 m and 4 × 100 m relay, 2016
- Stacy Lewis – USA, golf, 2016
- Daniel Lincoln – USA, steeplechase, 2004
- David Lingmerth – Sweden, golf, 2016
- Melvin Lister – USA, long jump, 2000; triple jump, 2004
- Gaby López – Mexico, golf, 2016
- Sparkle McKnight – USA, 400 m hurdles, 2016
- Omar McLeod – Jamaica, 110 m hurdles, 2016, gold
- Kerri-Ann Mitchell – Canada, 100 m, 2012
- Lashauntea Moore – USA, 200 m, 2004
- Sandi Morris – USA, pole vault, 2016, silver
- Marek Niit – Estonia, 100 m/200 m, 2012
- Frank O'Mara – Ireland, 5000 m, 1984; 5000 m, 1992; 5000 m, 1996
- Niall O'Shaughnessy – Ireland, 800 m/1500 m, 1976
- Robert C. Pitts – USA, basketball, 1948, gold
- Michael Power – Australia, 5000 m, 2000
- Alvin Robertson – USA, basketball, 1984, gold
- Brandon Rock – USA, 5000 m, 1992
- Jérôme Romain – USA, 1996
- Clyde Scott – USA, 110 m hurdles, 1948, silver
- Dominique Scott – South Africa, 10,000 m, 2016
- Jeremy Scott – USA, pole vault, 2012
- Godfrey Siamusiye – Zambia, 5000 m, 1992; steeplechase, 1996
- Siow Yi Ting – Malaysia, 200 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM, 2000; NA, 2004; NA, 2008
- Wallace Spearmon – USA, 200 m, 2008; 200 m, 2012
- April Steiner Bennett – USA, pole vault, 2008
- Tina Šutej – Slovenia, pole vault, 2012; pole vault, 2016
- Sigrún Brá Sverrisdóttir – Iceland, 200 free, 2008
- Nicole Teter – USA, 800 m, 2004; 800 m, 2008
- Samuel Vázquez – Puerto Rico, 1500 m, 2012
- Lexi Weeks – USA, pole vault, 2016
- Brian Wellman – Bermuda, triple jump, 1988; triple jump, 1992; triple jump, 1996; triple jump, 2000
- Chrishuna Williams – USA, 800 m, 2016
- Hunter Woodhall – USA, 2016 Paralympics, bronze 200m, silver 400m
- Christin Wurth-Thomas – USA, 1500 m, 2008
- Amy Yoder Begley – USA, 10,000 m, 2008
Politics, law and military
- William Vollie Alexander, Jr., BA 1957 – US Representative from Arkansas's 1st district 1969–1993[69]
- Beryl Anthony, BA 1961; JD 1963 – US Representative from Arkansas's 4th district 1979–1993[70]
- Morris S. Arnold – senior-status judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, based in Little Rock, former UALR law professor and former Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court[71]
- Duncan Baird – Arkansas state budget director since 2015; former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Benton County, 2009–2015; unsuccessful candidate for state treasurer in 2014 Republican primary[72]
- Mike Beebe – 45th Governor of Arkansas[73]
- Robert Marion Berry, 1964 – US Representative from Arkansas's 1st district 1997–2011[74]
- Edwin Bethune – lawyer and lobbyist; member of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas's 2nd district 1979–1985[75]
- John Boozman, 1974 (only attended one year) – US Representative from Arkansas's 3rd district 2001–2011; US Senator from Arkansas since 2011[76]
- Drew Bowers, 1906 – Arkansas lawyer and Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1926 and 1928; obtained a teacher's certificate from the university[77]
- David Branscum, 1982 – Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Searcy County since 2011[78]
- Maurice Britt – World War II Medal of Honor recipient, NFL player, Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas[79]
- Charles Hillman Brough – governor of Arkansas 1917–1921; UA faculty member[citation needed]
- Dale Bumpers – 37th Governor of Arkansas and Senator representing Arkansas 1975–1999[80]
- John Burkhalter (Civil Engineering 1980) – former chairman of both the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Arkansas Highway Commission; unsuccessful Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014[81]
- Harvey Locke Carey (pre-law) – Louisiana lawyer and politician[82]
- Francis Cherry – 35th Governor of Arkansas[83]
- Admiral Vern E. Clark – Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy[84]
- Sterling R. Cockrill – businessman, politician, urban planner, and artist; Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives 1967–1968
- Donald L. Corbin – Associate Justice for the Arkansas Supreme Court[citation needed]
- William Fadjo Cravens – US Representative from Arkansas's 4th district 1939–1949[85]
- Paul Danielson – Associate Justice for the Arkansas Supreme Court[86]
- Jeff Davis – Democratic US Senator from Arkansas and the 20th Governor of Arkansas[87]
- Jesse C. Deen, M.S. – educator in Bossier Parish, Louisiana; member of the Louisiana House of Representatives 1972–1988[88]
- Jay Dickey, J.D. 1963 – US Representative from Arkansas's 4th district 1993–2001[89]
- George Washington Donaghey – 22nd Governor of Arkansas[90]
- Clyde T. Ellis, BS '31; JD '34 – US Representative from Arkansas's 3rd district 1939–1943[91]
- General Carlton D. Everhart II, M.S. 1989 – Commander, Air Mobility Command
- Charlene Fite, Master's in Education – Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Crawford County
- Scott Flippo, BBA 2003 – incoming Republican member of the Arkansas State Senate from Baxter, Boone, and Marion counties[92]
- John C. Floyd, BS 1879 – US Representative from Arkansas's 3rd district 1905–1915[93]
- Clay Ford, BS Finance 1969 – member of both the Arkansas (1975–1976) and the Florida House of Representatives (2007–2013) from Pulaski and Santa Rosa counties, respectively[94]
- J. William Fulbright, BA '25 – US Senator, US Representative, creator of the Fulbright Scholar Program and president of the University of Arkansas[95]
- Junius Marion Futrell – 30th Governor of Arkansas[96]
- Ezekiel C. Gathings, JD 1929 – US Representative from Arkansas's 1st district 1939–1969[97]
- William S. Goodwin – US Representative from Arkansas's 7th district 1911–1921[98]
- Bill Gossage, Master's in Counseling 1991 – Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from District 82 in Franklin County; assistant superintendent of the Ozark School District[99]
- John Paul Hammerschmidt, BA '41 – US Representative from Arkansas's 3rd district 1967–1993[100]
- Jim Hannah – Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court[citation needed]
- Mike Haridopolos – former President of the Florida Senate, former member of the Florida House of Representatives
- Brooks Hays, BA 1919 – U.S. Representative from Arkansas's 5th District 1943–1959, President of the Southern Baptist Convention
- Pat Hays – former mayor of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Arkansas state representative[101]
- Jim Hendren, Class of 1984, B.S. in Electrical Engineering – Arkansas Republican state senator since 2013, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives[102]
- George Howard, Jr. – first African-American federal judge in Arkansas[103]
- Asa Hutchinson – 46th Governor of Arkansas; US Representative from Arkansas's 3rd district 1997–2001[104]
- Donna Hutchinson (Master of Education) – member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Benton County[citation needed]
- Tim Hutchinson – US Senator representing Arkansas 1997–2003; US Representative representing Arkansas's 3rd district 1993–1997[105]
- Bob Johnson (M.S. Accounting) – Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Pulaski County since 2015; former justice of the peace[106]
- Lee Johnson, MD – politician from Arkansas
- Richard C. Johnston, MS '89 – US Air Force general[107]
- Bryan King – Republican member of the Arkansas Senate for the fifth district[108]
- Wade Kitchens, 1898 – U.S. Congressman, 1937–1941[109]
- Dan Kyle, MBA 1961; PhD 1968 – Louisiana legislative auditor (1989–2003)[citation needed]
- Jack Ladyman, B.S. Engineering – Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Craighead County since 2015[110]
- Lynn Lowe, B.S. Engineering 1959 – former Republican state chairman and gubernatorial nominee, 1978, and Texarkana farmer[111]
- Mark Lowery, Master's in Communications 2000 – member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Pulaski County since 2013[112]
- Robin Lundstrum, three degrees in education and health science – Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Benton and Washington counties since 2015[113]
- Mark R. Martin, BS Engineering 1998 – Arkansas Secretary of State, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Washington County
- John Ellis Martineau – 28th Governor of Arkansas[114]
- Ricardo Martinelli – President of the Republic of Panama[115]
- Hayes McClerkin, LLB '59 – Speaker of the Arkansas House, 1969–1970; Texarkana attorney[citation needed]
- Sid McMath – decorated US Marine, 34th Governor of Arkansas, top personal injury attorney (President, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1977–78); built University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, defeated Dixiecrats in Arkansas and opposed Governor Faubus[116]
- Edwin L. Mechem – Republican governor of the State of New Mexico[117]
- John Isaac Moore – member of the Arkansas Senate and Acting Governor of Arkansas[118]
- Kendra Moore, MBA – member of the Arkansas house of Representatives[119]
- Micah Neal, BS 1997 – member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Springdale[120]
- Catherine Dorris Norrell, BA 1925 – US Representative representing Arkansas's 6th district 1961–1963; Director of the United States Department of State 1965–1969[121]
- Willie Oates, BA 1941 – member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, 1959–1960[122]
- Danny L. Patrick, Bachelor's, Master's, specialist degrees in Education – member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Madison and Carroll counties, 1967–1970[123]
- Xenophon Overton Pindall – 21st Governor of Arkansas[124]
- Odell Pollard, JD 1950 – Searcy attorney and state Republican chairman, 1966–1970[citation needed]
- David Pryor, BA 1957; JD 1964 – 39th Governor of Arkansas 1975–1979, US Senator 1979–1997, and US Representative from Arkansas's 4th district 1966–1973[125]
- Mark Pryor, BA 1985; JD 1988 – US Senator representing Arkansas[126]
- Joe Purcell – 40th Governor of Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General, and Lieutenant Governor[127]
- Chad Puryear – Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives[128]
- Heartsill Ragon, BA 1905 – US Representative from Arkansas's 5th district 1923–1933[129]
- Carol Rasco, BS circa 1970 – Director of the Domestic Policy Council under President Bill Clinton; advocate for disability rights, education, and children[130]
- James B. Reed, JD 1909 – US Representative from Arkansas's former 6th district, 1923–1929[131]
- Charles C. Reid, BA 1885 – US Representative from Arkansas's 4th district 1901–1903[132]
- Bob C. Riley – 38th Governor of Arkansas[133]
- Joseph Robinson – 23rd Governor of Arkansas and Senator representing Arkansas 1913–1937; US Representative from Arkansas's 6th district 1903–1913[134]
- Laurie Rushing – real estate broker from Hot Springs, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Garland and Hot Spring counties since 2013[135]
- Rodney Slater – former US Secretary of Transportation[136]
- Lieutenant General Martin R. Steele – United States Marine Corps lieutenant general[citation needed]
- Gary Stubblefield – dairy farmer from Franklin County; member of the Arkansas State Senate since 2013; member of Arkansas House 2011–2013[137]
- Boyd Anderson Tackett, JD 1935 – US Representative from Arkansas's 4th district 1949–1953[138]
- Tom Jefferson Terral – 27th Governor of Arkansas, 1925–1927[139]
- David D. Terry, JD 1903 – US Representative from Arkansas's 5th district 1933–1943[140]
- Ray Thornton, JD 1956 – US Representative from Arkansas's 2nd district 1991–1997; 4th district 1973–1979; Arkansas Attorney General 1971–1973; president of the University of Arkansas System 1984–1990[141]
- John N. Tillman, BA 1880; JD 1883 – US Representative from Arkansas's 3rd district 1945–1967; president of the University of Arkansas 1905–1912[142]
- James William Trimble, BA 1917; JD 1925 – US Representative from Arkansas's 3rd district 1945–1967[143]
- Jim Guy Tucker, JD 1968 – 43rd governor of Arkansas, US Representative from Arkansas's 2nd district 1977–1979; Arkansas Attorney General 1973–1977[144]
- Bolon B. Turner, BA 1922 – Judge of the United States Tax Court (1934–1962)[145][146]
- Elana Wills – Associate Justice for the Arkansas Supreme Court[147]
- Jon Woods (B.S. in Marketing Management 2002) – Arkansas Republican State Representative and Senator 2007–2017, record producer, musician
- Marshall Wright (Bachelor's and JD) – Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for St. Francis, Woodruff, Lee, and Monroe counties[148]
