100 Notable alumni of
Michigan State University
Updated:
Michigan State University is 74th in the world, 37th in North America, and 35th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from Michigan State University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Magic Johnson
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- Studied in 1977-1979
- Occupations
- entrepreneurbasketball playerfilm producerbusinesspersonactor
- Biography
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Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. Often regarded as the greatest point guard of all time, Johnson spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After winning a national championship with the Michigan State Spartans in 1979, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft by the Lakers, then led the team to five NBA championships during their "Showtime" era. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted HIV, but returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, winning the All-Star MVP Award. He retired again after fellow players protested his return, but returned in 1996, at age 36, to play 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for the third and final time.
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James Caan
- Occupations
- television actorfilm directordirectoractorkarateka
- Biography
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James Edmund Caan was an American actor. He came to prominence playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978.
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Sam Raimi
- Occupations
- film directordirectoractorexecutive producerfilm producer
- Biography
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Samuel Marshall Raimi is an American filmmaker. He is best known for writing and directing the Evil Dead trilogy (1981–1992) and directing the Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007). He also directed Darkman (1990), The Quick and the Dead (1995), A Simple Plan (1998), The Gift (2000), Drag Me to Hell (2009), Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), and Send Help (2026).
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Tom Sizemore
- Occupations
- actortelevision actorscreenwriterfilm actorvoice actor
- Biography
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Thomas Edward Sizemore Jr. was an American actor. Born in Detroit, he started his career with supporting appearances in Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Lock Up (1989), and Blue Steel (1990). The appearances led to more prominent roles in films like Passenger 57 (1992), True Romance (1993), Striking Distance (1993), Natural Born Killers (1994), Strange Days (1995), Heat (1995), and The Relic (1997).
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Draymond Green
- Occupations
- basketball playerpodcaster
- Biography
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Draymond Jamal Green is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Green, who plays primarily at the power forward position, is a four-time NBA champion, a four-time NBA All-Star, a two-time member of the All-NBA Team, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Considered one of the greatest defensive players of all-time, he is a nine-time All-Defensive Team member, was NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, and led the league in steals the same year.
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Nick Foles
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Nicholas Edward Foles is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. A member of six teams, he achieved his greatest success with the Philadelphia Eagles, leading them to the franchise's first Super Bowl title.
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Kirk Cousins
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Kirk Daniel Cousins is an American professional football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft. Cousins ranks sixth all-time in completion percentage with at least 1,500 pass attempts and is 11th in the NFL's all-time regular season career passer rating.
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Gretchen Whitmer
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- 1989-1993 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in marketing
- Occupations
- prosecutorlawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Gretchen Esther Whitmer is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019. A Democrat, she served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and in the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015.
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Robert Urich
- Occupations
- actortelevision producer
- Biography
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Robert Michael Urich was an American film, television, and stage actor and television producer. Over the course of his 30-year career, he starred in a record 15 television series.
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Le'Veon Bell
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Le'Veon Andrew Bell Sr. is an American professional boxer and former football running back. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. Bell also played for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Chris Hansen
- Occupations
- television actorYouTubertelevision personalityfilm actorvoice actor
- Biography
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Christopher Edward Hansen is an American television presenter, journalist, and YouTube personality. During his tenure as a correspondent for Dateline NBC, he hosted the program's segment To Catch a Predator (2004–2007), which revolved around catching potential Internet predators using a sting operation. When the segment's three-year run concluded, Hansen continued to host similarly formatted shows on other networks.
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Bubba Smith
- Occupations
- television actorbasketball playerAmerican football playeractorfilm actor
- Biography
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Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith was an American professional football defensive end and actor. Smith played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, and Houston Oilers.
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Michael Cimino
- Occupations
- screenwriterfilm directordirectorfilm producer
- Biography
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Michael Antonio Cimino was an American film director, screenwriter, producer and author. Notorious for his obsessive attention to detail and determination for perfection, Cimino achieved widespread fame with The Deer Hunter (1978), which won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
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Andrey Malakhov
- Occupations
- lecturermanufacturereditor-in-chieftelevision producertelevision journalist
- Biography
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Andrey Nikolayevich Malakhov is a Russian television personality and presenter on the main Russian television channel, Russia-1.
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Jon-Erik Hexum
- Occupations
- film actortelevision actormodel
- Biography
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Jon-Erik Hexum was an American actor and model, known for his lead roles in the TV series Voyagers! and Cover Up, and his supporting role as Pat Trammell in the biopic The Bear. He died due to the result of a self-inflicted blank cartridge gunshot to the head in a game of Russian roulette while on the set of Cover Up.
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Rashad Evans
- Occupations
- mixed martial arts fighter
- Biography
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Rashad Evans is an American retired mixed martial artist who competed in the Light Heavyweight division. Evans started his professional MMA career in 2003, and was the Heavyweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter 2 in 2005. In 2008, Evans won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, and in 2019, was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
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Zach Randolph
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Zachary McKenley Randolph is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Z-Bo", the 2-time NBA All-Star played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans before being drafted in the 2001 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He played for five teams over the course of his professional career, winning the NBA Most Improved Player award with the Portland Trail Blazers and making the All-NBA Third Team in 2011 with the Memphis Grizzlies. He also played with the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings before retiring in December 2019.
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Brian Hoyer
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Axel Edward Brian Hoyer is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. During his NFL career from 2009 to 2023, he started for eight different teams, the second-most in league history. Hoyer's longest stint was with the New England Patriots for eight non-consecutive seasons, primarily as a backup, and was a member of the team that won Super Bowl LIII. His most successful season was with the Houston Texans in 2015 when he helped lead them to a division title.
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James P. Hoffa
- Occupations
- lawyertrade unionist
- Biography
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James Phillip Hoffa, also known as James Hoffa Jr. or Jim Hoffa, is an American labor leader and attorney who served as the tenth General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He is the son of former Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa. First elected in 1998, Hoffa was subsequently re-elected in 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016, serving five consecutive five-year terms. In 2018, he was elected Chair of the Road Transport Section of the International Transport Workers' Federation during its quadrennial congress in Singapore. Hoffa is the second-longest-serving General President in the union’s history, following Dan Tobin, who held the position from 1907 to 1952. His final term concluded in 2022.
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Ted Raimi
- Occupations
- actortelevision actorscreenwritertelevision directorfilm actor
- Biography
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Theodore Raimi is an American character actor, director and writer. He is known for his roles in the works of his brother Sam Raimi, including a fake Shemp in The Evil Dead, possessed Henrietta in Evil Dead II, and Ted Hoffman in the Spider-Man trilogy. He later reprised his role as Henrietta in the television series Ash vs. Evil Dead, in which he also played the character Chet Kaminski. He is also known for his roles as Lieutenant JG Tim O'Neill in seaQuest DSV, the merchant in Legend of the Seeker, and Joxer the Mighty in both Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
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Miles Bridges
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Miles Emmanuel Bridges Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. A native of Flint, Michigan, he competed for Flint Southwestern Academy (freshman season) at the high school level before moving to Huntington Prep School for his sophomore, junior, and senior year. Bridges was selected 12th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2018 NBA draft, but was traded to the Hornets on draft night.
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Jaren Jackson Jr
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Jaren Walter Jackson Jr., nicknamed "the Block Panther", and also known by his initials JJJ, is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. Jackson was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the fourth overall pick of the 2018 NBA draft. In 2023, he was named to his first NBA All-Star team, later winning Defensive Player of the Year that same season. Jackson is renowned for his defensive dominance, particularly his exceptional rim protection; he led the league in blocks per game for two consecutive seasons in 2021–22 and 2022–23.
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Adam Gase
- Occupations
- American football coachcoach
- Biography
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Adam Joseph Gase is an American football coach who is currently the pass game coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He was the offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos from 2013 to 2014, whose offense set the NFL record for points scored in 2013 and helped the team reach Super Bowl XLVIII. Following this success, Gase served as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2016 to 2018 and the New York Jets from 2019 to 2020.
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Verghese Kurien
- Occupations
- screenwritermechanical engineerengineerentrepreneur
- Biography
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Verghese Kurien was an Indian dairy engineer and social entrepreneur. He led initiatives that contributed to the extensive increase in milk production in India termed as the White Revolution.
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Shannon Brown
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Shannon Brown is an American former professional basketball player. He attended Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois, was named Illinois Mr. Basketball in 2003, and played college basketball for Michigan State University. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 25th overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft. He played in the NBA for eight seasons, and won two championships, with the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 Los Angeles Lakers. He was known for his sensational athleticism and as one of the great leapers in the NBA.
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Tee Grizzley
- Occupations
- songwriterrapper
- Biography
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Terry Sanchez Wallace Jr., known professionally as Tee Grizzley, is an American rapper. He first began posting music online following a two year prison sentence, he released the song "First Day Out" in 2017. It quickly gained viral status—earning two million views on YouTube in under three weeks—due to a social media challenge enacted by American professional basketball power forward LeBron James, after which the song peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 and led him to sign with 300 Entertainment. Its release preceded his debut mixtape My Moment (2017), and was followed by the single "From the D to the A" (featuring Lil Yachty), which received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His collaborative mixtape with Lil Durk, Bloodas (2018), was followed by his debut studio album, Activated (2018).
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Steve Garvey
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- In 1971 graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Steven Patrick Garvey is an American former professional Major League Baseball player who played first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres from 1969 to 1987.
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Bob Chapek
- Occupations
- businesspersonbusiness executive
- Biography
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Robert Alan Chapek is an American businessman and former media executive who was the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Walt Disney Company from 2020 to 2022. He joined Masimo's board of directors in 2024 and resigned in 2025.
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Atsugiri Jason
- Occupations
- board memberowarai tarentoactorwriter
- Biography
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Jason David Danielson, known professionally as Atsugiri Jason (厚切りジェイソン, Atsugiri Jeison; lit. 'Thick-sliced Jason'), is an American comedian based in Japan and associated with Watanabe Entertainment. Danielson's comedic narrative is based on his confusion with kanji, ending with the punchline, "Why Japanese people?!"
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Walter Hill
- Occupations
- film producerscreenwritermanufacturerdirectorexecutive producer
- Biography
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Walter Hill is an American filmmaker, known for his action films and revival of the Western genre. He has directed such films as The Driver, The Warriors, Southern Comfort, 48 Hrs. and its sequel Another 48 Hrs., Streets of Fire and Red Heat, and wrote the screenplay for the crime drama The Getaway. He has also directed several episodes of television series such as Tales from the Crypt and Deadwood and produced films in the Alien franchise. He founded Brandywine Productions with David Giler and Gordon Carroll.
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Kwame Kilpatrick
- Occupations
- politicianAmerican football player
- Biography
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Kwame Malik Kilpatrick is an American former politician who served as the 72nd mayor of Detroit from 2002 to 2008. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously represented the 9th district in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1997 to 2002. Kilpatrick resigned as mayor in September 2008 after being convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to four months in jail and was released on probation after serving 99 days.
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Plaxico Burress
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Plaxico Antonio Burress is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans, and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the eighth overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Giants and the New York Jets, and caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII as the Giants beat the then-undefeated New England Patriots.
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Jemele Hill
- Occupations
- writertelevision presenterjournalistsports journalist
- Biography
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Jemele Juanita Hill is an American sports journalist. She worked for the Raleigh News & Observer, the Detroit Free Press, and the Orlando Sentinel. She joined ESPN in 2006 and worked in various roles until 2013, when she succeeded Jalen Rose as host of ESPN2's Numbers Never Lie. The show was rebranded to His & Hers which she co-hosted with Michael Smith. Hill and Smith co-hosted SC6, the 6 p.m. (ET) edition of ESPN's flagship SportsCenter from 2017 to 2018.
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Tyler Oakley
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts in communication
- Occupations
- television producerwriterhumoristbloggerYouTuber
- Biography
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Mathew Tyler Oakley is an American YouTuber, actor, activist, author, television personality and Twitch streamer. Much of Oakley's activism has been dedicated to LGBTQ youth, LGBTQ rights, as well as social issues including health care, education, and the prevention of suicide among LGBTQ youth. Oakley regularly posts material on various topics, including pop culture and humor.
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Kirk Gibson
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Kirk Harold Gibson is an American former professional baseball outfielder and manager. Gibson spent most of his career in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Detroit Tigers, but also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He batted and threw left-handed. He is currently a special assistant for the Tigers.
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Minakata Kumagusu
- Occupations
- scientific collectorfolkloristbiologistwriterenvironmentalist
- Biography
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Minakata Kumagusu was a Japanese author, biologist, naturalist and ethnologist.
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Dan Gilbert
- Occupations
- businessperson
- Biography
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Daniel Bruce Gilbert is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is the co-founder, majority owner, and chairman of Rocket Mortgage, and founder of Rock Ventures. He is also well-known as the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association, the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League, and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. As of May 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$22.5 billion, making him the 88th richest person in the world.
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Paul Stookey
- Occupations
- singerguitaristsinger-songwriterbanjoistmusician
- Biography
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Noel Paul Stookey is an American singer-songwriter and activist who is known for being a member of the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary along with Peter Yarrow and Mary Travers. Following the deaths of Travers in 2009 and Yarrow in 2025, Stookey is the sole surviving member of the group. He continues to work as a solo artist and an activist.
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George Steele
- Occupations
- teachertelevision actorfilm actoractorprofessional wrestler
- Biography
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William James Myers, better known by his ring name George "The Animal" Steele, was an American professional wrestler, school teacher, author, and actor. His career lasted from 1967 until 1988, though he made occasional wrestling appearances into the 1990s and 2000s.
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Jim Harrison
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- In 1964 graduated with Master of Arts in comparative literature
- Occupations
- film screenwriterchildren's writernovelistpoetessayist
- Biography
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James Harrison was an American poet, novelist, and essayist. He was a prolific and versatile writer publishing over three dozen books in several genres including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, and memoir. He wrote screenplays, book reviews, literary criticism, and published essays on food, travel, and sport. Harrison indicated that, of all his writing, his poetry meant the most to him.
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Pat Shurmur
- Occupations
- American football coachAmerican football player
- Biography
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Patrick Carl Shurmur is an American football coach. He recently was the quarterbacks coach at the University of Colorado. Prior to joining the staff at Colorado, he was the offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 2020 to 2021. A 32-year coaching veteran, Shurmur has 21 seasons of NFL experience, including the last 11 years as a head coach or offensive coordinator. Shurmur has four years of experience as a head coach, working in that role with the New York Giants from 2018 to 2019 and with the Cleveland Browns from 2011 to 2012. He also served as interim head coach for Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the 2015 season. He has been an offensive coordinator for seven seasons, previously coaching in that role with the Minnesota Vikings (2016–2017), Philadelphia Eagles (2013–2015), and St. Louis Rams (2009–2010).
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Jason Richardson
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Jason Anthoney Richardson Sr. is an American former professional basketball player who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Richardson was taken by the Golden State Warriors as the fifth overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft after playing college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. Richardson has also played for the Charlotte Bobcats, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, and the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Debbie Stabenow
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- In 1972 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- In 1975 graduated with Master of Social Work
- Occupations
- social workerpolitician
- Biography
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Deborah Ann Stabenow is an American politician who served from 2001 to 2025 as a United States senator from Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, she was Michigan's first female U.S. senator.
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Morten Andersen
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Morten Andersen, nicknamed "the Great Dane", is a Danish-American former professional football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 seasons, most notably with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. Following a career from 1982 to 2007, Andersen holds the NFL record for regular season games played at 382. He also ranks second in field goals (565) and points scored (2,544). In addition to his league accomplishments, he is the Saints all-time leading scorer at 1,318 points. Andersen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Along with Jan Stenerud and Adam Vinatieri, he is one of only three exclusive kickers to receive the honor.
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Ben McAdoo
- Occupations
- American football coachcoach
- Biography
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Benjamin Lee McAdoo is an American football coach who is currently serving as a senior defensive assistant of the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL). McAdoo was most notably the head coach of the New York Giants from 2016 to 2017, after serving as their offensive coordinator the previous two years under former head coach Tom Coughlin. He was fired from that position on December 4, 2017 following a 2–10 start, along with benching longtime starting quarterback Eli Manning. At the time of his termination, his 28 regular season games were the fewest by a Giants coach since 1930. Prior to working for the Patriots, McAdoo had also served as an assistant coach for several college football teams, as well as for the New Orleans Saints, the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers.
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Richa Gangopadhyay
- Occupations
- modelactor
- Biography
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Richa Langella is an Indian former actress and model who predominantly appeared in Telugu films. She presently resides at Portland, Oregon.
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SungWon Cho
- Occupations
- voice actorYouTuber
- Biography
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SungWon Cho, also known as ProZD, is an American YouTuber and actor. On his YouTube channel, Cho produces short comedy skits, unboxing videos, and reviews of board games, anime and snack foods. He is also known for his many voice acting roles, including FL4K from Borderlands 3, Holst Sigiswald Goneril from Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, Ratatoskr from God of War Ragnarök, and Abby Saja from KPop Demon Hunters. His live-action roles include Detective Joe Furuya in Anime Crimes Division and Ritchie Cheung in BlackBerry.
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Rod Brind'Amour
- Occupations
- ice hockey playerice hockey coach
- Biography
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Roderic Jean Brind'Amour is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the head coach for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL).
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Denzel Valentine
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- Studied in 2012-2016
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Denzel Robert Valentine is an American professional basketball player for Reyer Venezia Mestre of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. As a senior, Valentine became the first player in Michigan State history to be recognized as the National Player of the Year by the Associated Press.
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Gary Peters
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- In 2007 graduated with Master of Arts in philosophy
- Occupations
- instructorvice presidentprofessoruniversity teachermilitary officer
- Biography
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Gary Charles Peters is an American politician, lawyer, and former naval officer serving as the senior United States senator from Michigan, a seat he has held since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the U.S. representative for Michigan's 14th congressional district, which included the eastern half of Detroit, the Grosse Pointes, Hamtramck, Southfield, and Pontiac, from 2009 to 2015 (the district was Michigan's 9th congressional district until 2013).
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Ryan Miller
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
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Ryan Dean Miller is an American former ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and Anaheim Ducks. Miller was drafted 138th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 NHL entry draft. In 2010, he won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender. Miller was the winningest American-born goaltender in NHL history from February 2019 until March 2024, when he was passed by Jonathan Quick. In January 2023, Miller was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall Of Fame, and his #30 was retired. In April 2025, Miller was also inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame.
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Gary Harris
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Gary Harris Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.
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Gray Maynard
- Occupations
- mixed martial arts fighter
- Biography
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Bradley Gray Maynard is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Lightweight and Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Between 2008 and 2011, he competed in a noted rivalry with former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. Maynard competed in college wrestling at Michigan State University, and made his UFC debut in 2007.
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Richard Ford
- Occupations
- screenwriternovelistshort story writerwriterauthor
- Biography
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Richard Ford is an American novelist and short story author and writer of a series of novels featuring the character Frank Bascombe.
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Mat Ishbia
- Occupations
- basketball playerbusinessperson
- Biography
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Mathew Randall Ishbia is an American businessman who is CEO and chairman of mortgage lender United Wholesale Mortgage. He is the majority owner of the Phoenix Suns of the NBA and Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA alongside his older brother, Justin.
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Rollo May
- Occupations
- psychologistpsychotherapistwriter
- Biography
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Rollo Reece May was an American existential psychologist and author of the influential book Love and Will (1969). He is often associated with humanistic psychology and existentialist philosophy, and alongside Viktor Frankl, was a major proponent of existential psychotherapy. The philosopher and theologian Paul Tillich was a close friend who had a significant influence on his work.
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Ulana Suprun
- Occupations
- statespersonphysician
- Biography
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Ulana Nadia Suprun is a Ukrainian-American physician, activist, and philanthropist who served as the acting Minister of Healthcare from 2016 to 2019. Prior to her government career, Suprun served as Director of Humanitarian Initiatives for the Ukrainian World Congress.
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Adreian Payne
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Adreian DeAngleo Payne was an American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic as well as for several European and Asian teams. Payne played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.
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Scott Skiles
- Occupations
- basketball playerbasketball coach
- Biography
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Scott Allen Skiles Sr. is an American former professional basketball coach and player. A first-round draft pick from the Michigan State Spartans, Skiles played ten seasons as a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He holds the NBA record for assists in one game with 30, set with the Orlando Magic during a December game in the 1990-1991 season. After that season, he earned the NBA Most Improved Player Award. Skiles also played in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Washington Bullets and Philadelphia 76ers before he finished his playing career with PAOK Thessaloniki of Greece in 1997. He became a coach after his playing retirement and was the head coach for the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic.
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Timothy Zahn
- Occupations
- novelist
- Biography
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Timothy Zahn is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy. He is known best for his prolific collection of Star Wars books, chiefly the Thrawn trilogy, and has published several other series of sci-fi and fantasy novels of his own original creation, in addition to many works of short fiction.
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Ko Chih-en
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- Graduated with master's degree
- Occupations
- university teacherpoliticiantelevision presenter
- Biography
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Ko Chih-en is a Taiwanese educational psychologist and politician who is a member of the Legislative Yuan. She previously served as a legislator from 2016 to 2020 and was reelected in 2024. She is a member of the Kuomintang (KMT).
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Duncan Keith
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
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Duncan Keith is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers. He won three Stanley Cup championships with Chicago in 2010, 2013, and 2015. In 2017, Keith was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.
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Eric Thomas
- Occupations
- motivational speakerwriterbusinessperson
- Biography
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Eric D. Thomas is an American motivational speaker, author, consultant, and minister. Speeches by Thomas are popular on YouTube.
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Vernor Vinge
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- science fiction writerwriteruniversity teachernovelistmathematician
- Biography
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Vernor Steffen Vinge was an American science fiction author and professor. He taught mathematics and computer science at San Diego State University. He was the first wide-scale popularizer of the technological singularity concept and among the first authors to present a fictional "cyberspace". He won the Hugo Award for his novels A Fire Upon the Deep (1992), A Deepness in the Sky (1999), and Rainbows End (2006), and novellas Fast Times at Fairmont High (2001) and The Cookie Monster (2004).
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Marta Suplicy
- Occupations
- psychologistpolitician
- Biography
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Marta Teresa Smith de Vasconcellos Suplicy is a Brazilian politician, sexologist and psychologist. She was Mayor of São Paulo from 2001 to 2004. She later served as the Brazilian Minister of Tourism between 14 March 2007, and 4 June 2008, when she resigned to run again for the mayoralty of São Paulo. In 2015, she left the Brazilian Workers' Party (PT), but she returned to the party in January 2024 in order to be the running mate of Guilherme Boulos in the 2024 São Paulo mayoral election.
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Fang Zhouzi
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- 1990-1995 graduated with Doctor of Philosophy in biochemistry
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
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Fang Shimin, better known by his pen name Fang Zhouzi (Chinese: 方舟子; pinyin: Fāng Zhōuzǐ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Png Chiu-chú; born 28 September 1967), is a Chinese popular science writer who is primarily known for his campaign against pseudoscience and fraud in China. President and co-director of New Threads (simplified Chinese: 新语丝; traditional Chinese: 新語絲; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sin-gí-si), a publication and website that promotes Chinese culture to the general public, Fang's aggressive campaign against allegations of academic fraud has been hotly debated; while Fang's works have appeared in many Chinese publications, various Chinese scholars have accused him of vigilantism and of using populist rhetoric in academic research.
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Bryn Forbes
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Bryn Jerrel Forbes is an American professional basketball player for Aris of the Greek Basketball League. He played college basketball for Cleveland State and Michigan State, and became a reliable three-point shooter. He plays both guard positions.
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Eduardo Suplicy
- Occupations
- politicianeconomist
- Biography
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Eduardo Matarazzo Suplicy is a Brazilian left-wing politician, economist and professor. He is one of the founders and main political figures on the Workers Party of Brazil (PT). In the municipal elections of São Paulo in 2016 was consecrated as the most voted city councilor in the history of Brazil.
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Timothy Granaderos
- Occupations
- modelactor
- Biography
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Timothy Granaderos is an American actor and model. He is known for his portrayals of Ash Franklin in the thriller web series Tagged (2016–18), Taylor Price in the TV series In the Vault (2017), and Montgomery de la Cruz in the Netflix teen drama series 13 Reasons Why (2017–20). He is currently dating Margaux Brooke.
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Kevin Willis
- Occupations
- basketball playerfashion designer
- Biography
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Kevin Alvin Willis is an American former professional basketball player mostly known for playing with the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a 7-foot power forward/center. Excluding players not yet eligible, he holds the record for most games played among those not in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Dee Dee Bridgewater
- Occupations
- stage actorcomposersinger-songwriteractorfilm actor
- Biography
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Dee Dee Bridgewater is an American jazz singer and actress. She is a three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, as well as a Tony Award-winning stage actress. For 23 years, she was the host of National Public Radio's syndicated radio show JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater. She is a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization.
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Michelle Ruff
- Occupations
- voice actor
- Biography
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Michelle Suzanne Ruff is an American voice actress known for her work in anime and video games. In her early voice acting career, she used her mother's name, Georgette Rose, as a pseudonym. Some of her roles include Rukia Kuchiki in Bleach, Yuki Nagato in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Yoko Littner in Gurren Lagann, Fujiko Mine in Lupin the Third, Chi in Chobits, Aoi Sakuraba in Ai Yori Aoshi, Elie in Rave Master, Nat in The Promised Neverland, and Sinon in Sword Art Online. In video games, she is the voice of Jill Valentine in the Resident Evil series, Yukari Takeba and Sadayo Kawakami in the Persona series, Katherine McBride in Catherine and its definitive edition Catherine: Full Body, Cream the Rabbit in the Sonic the Hedgehog series and Crimson Viper in the Street Fighter series.
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Anson Carter
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
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Anson Horace Carter is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for eight teams from 1996 to 2007, most notably with the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. He was last active as a player with HC Lugano in the Swiss Nationalliga A. After retiring from professional hockey, he joined NBC Sports as an analyst and is now currently an analyst for NHL on TNT and MSG Network.
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Drew Stanton
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Drew Emeric Stanton is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft, after playing college football for the Michigan State Spartans. Stanton was a journeyman quarterback who was a member of the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and for a short stint the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coming out of retirement.
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Russell Kirk
- Occupations
- historianwriterpeace activistpolitical scientistliterary critic
- Biography
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Russell Amos Kirk was an American political philosopher, moralist, historian, social critic, literary critic, lecturer, author, and novelist who influenced 20th century American conservatism. In 1953, he authored The Conservative Mind, which traced the development of conservative thought in the Anglo-American tradition and Edmund Burke. The book helped establish the intellectual framework for a religious and humanistic understanding of conservatism in the postwar era. Kirk was the chief proponent of traditionalist conservatism.
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Eric Snow
- Occupations
- American football playerbasketball playerbasketball coach
- Biography
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Eric Snow is an American former basketball player and coach. He played the point guard position in the National Basketball Association from 1995 to 2008 and appeared in three NBA Finals. Known for his defense, Snow was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2003. Following his playing career, Snow served as an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic for two years (2014–2016) after having worked two seasons at SMU (2012–14) as the director of player development under Larry Brown, his former coach.
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Jack Conklin
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Jonathan Jackson Conklin is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected by the Tennessee Titans eighth overall in the 2016 NFL draft. Conklin has been named a first-team All-Pro twice.
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Eli Broad
- Occupations
- real estate developerfinancierart collector
- Biography
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Eli Broad was an American businessman and philanthropist. In June 2019, Forbes ranked him as the 233rd-wealthiest person in the world and the 78th-wealthiest in the United States, with an estimated net worth of $6.7 billion. He was known for his philanthropic commitment to transforming public K–12 education to a charter school model, scientific and medical research, and the visual and performing arts.
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Earl Morrall
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Earl Edwin Morrall was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons, both a starter and reserve. He was the last remaining player from the 1950s still active in NFL football. He started for six teams, most notably with the Baltimore Colts and the Miami Dolphins. He became known as one of the greatest backup quarterbacks in NFL history, having served in the capacity for two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Johnny Unitas and Bob Griese. An injury to Unitas in 1968 saw Morrall step in to become the starter; he guided the Colts to a 13–1 record and won league MVP. He also led them to their first NFL Championship win in nine years before ineffective play in Super Bowl III saw him benched for Unitas. Two years later, in Super Bowl V, Morrall came off the bench for an injured Unitas and kept the Colts in the game before they ultimately won on a last-second field goal. In his first season with Miami in 1972, he came off the bench when Griese became injured early in the year, with Morrall winning all nine starts; Morrall started the first two playoff games, with Griese playing in each game before being named the starter for Super Bowl VII, where the Dolphins completed the only perfect season in NFL history.
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Jackie Martling
- Occupations
- film actorscreenwriter
- Biography
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John Coger "Jackie" Martling Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, writer, radio personality, author, actor, and musician also known as Jackie the Joke Man. He is best known as a former writer and in-studio comedian for The Howard Stern Show from 1983 to 2001.
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Thom Hartmann
- Occupations
- writeramateur radio operatorjournalistradio personality
- Biography
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Thomas Carl Hartmann is an American radio personality, author, businessman, and progressive political commentator. Hartmann has been hosting a nationally syndicated radio show, The Thom Hartmann Program, since 2003 and hosted a nightly television show, The Big Picture, between 2010 and 2017.
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Richard Cordray
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Richard Adams Cordray is an American lawyer and politician who served from 2021 to 2024 as COO of Federal Student Aid in the United States Department of Education. From 2012 to 2017, he served as the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Before that, Cordray variously served as Ohio's attorney general, solicitor general, and treasurer. He was the Democratic nominee for governor of Ohio in 2018. In April 2024, the Biden administration announced Cordray's departure after a chaotic rollout of changes to the FAFSA student aid application form.
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Thomas McGuane
- Occupations
- autobiographerscreenwriterwriternovelistshort story writer
- Biography
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Thomas Francis McGuane III is an American writer. His work includes ten novels, short fiction and screenplays, as well as three collections of essays devoted to his life in the outdoors. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the NCHA Members Hall of Fame and the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. McGuane's papers, manuscripts, and correspondence are located in the Montana State University Archives and Special Collections and are available for research use. In 2023, he was given the first Award for Excellence in Service to the MSU Library for the advancement of scholarship and access to unique materials.
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Tyrone Willingham
- Occupations
- head coachAmerican football player
- Biography
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Lionel Tyrone Willingham is an American former football player and coach. He was the head coach at Stanford University (1995–2001), the University of Notre Dame (2002–2004), and the University of Washington (2005–2008), compiling a career college football record of 76–88–1.
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Cassius Winston
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- Studied in 2016-2020
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Cassius Xavier-Lamarr Winston is an American professional basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Premier League. He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.
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Mateen Cleaves
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Mateen Ahmad Cleaves is an American former professional basketball player who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played parts of six seasons in the NBA. He was an All-American college player for Michigan State, where he led the Spartans to a national championship in 2000. He has also worked as a studio analyst for Fox Sports.
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Milt Jackson
- Occupations
- composerrecording artistjazz musiciansinger
- Biography
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Milton Jackson, nicknamed "Bags", was an American jazz vibraphonist. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging solos as a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet and his penchant for collaborating with hard bop and post-bop players.
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Brian Sims
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Brian Kendall Sims is an American politician, activist and attorney. A Democrat, he was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 182nd district from 2013 until 2022. Sims is also a lawyer and advocate for LGBT civil rights. Sims became the first openly gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania history. He won re-election on November 6, 2018. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in 2022, finishing in second place behind Austin Davis with 25% of the vote. Since leaving public office in 2022, Sims served as the managing director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Out Leadership, on the Board of Trustees of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, and as CEO of Agenda PAC.
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Deyonta Davis
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Deyonta Davis is an American professional basketball player. He won the Mr. Basketball of Michigan in 2015 and appeared in the McDonald's All-American Boys Game the same year. He played one season of college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans before being drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 31st overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night.
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Craig Simpson
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
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Craig Andrew Simpson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres. He is currently the lead colour commentator with Sportsnet for Hockey Night in Canada and Toronto Maple Leafs' Sportsnet regional broadcasts.
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Joel Higgins
- Occupations
- actorsinger
- Biography
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Joel Franklin Higgins is an American actor and singer with a stage career spanning over 50 years. He is perhaps best known for his role as Edward Stratton III on the sitcom Silver Spoons.
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Xavier Tillman
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Xavier Justis Tillman Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.
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Torey Krug
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
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Torey Krug is a former American professional ice hockey defenseman under contract with the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). Krug previously played for the Boston Bruins from 2012 to 2020. He has not played an NHL game since.
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Mark Mulder
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Mark Alan Mulder is an American former professional baseball player. A left-handed starting pitcher, Mulder pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. He is a two-time All-Star.
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Derrick Mason
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Derrick James Mason is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for fifteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL draft by the Tennessee Oilers (which was renamed the Titans in 1999). After eight seasons with Tennessee, Mason signed with the Baltimore Ravens, becoming the franchise's all-time leading receiver with 5,777 yards from 2005 to 2010. He spent 2011 with the New York Jets and Houston Texans before retiring as a Raven on June 11, 2012.
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Jayden Reed
- Enrolled in Michigan State University
- In 2021 graduated with bachelor's degree in communication studies
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
-
Jayden Kevon Reed is an American professional football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos and the Michigan State Spartans. He was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.
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Ryan Devlin
- Occupations
- film actoractortelevision actor
- Biography
-
Ryan Devlin is an American actor. He is known for hosting the initial seasons of Are You the One?, as well as his recurring roles in the television series Brothers & Sisters, Cougar Town, Veronica Mars, Big Shots, Jane the Virgin and Grey's Anatomy. Current host for The Struggle Climbing Show.
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Bob Guiney
- Occupations
- singermortgage brokerAmerican football playerpresentertelevision personality
- Biography
-
Robert Guiney is an American television personality and insurance carrier consultant for Lincoln Financial. He was a contestant on the first season of The Bachelorette and later, appeared as the bachelor in the fourth season of The Bachelor. He hosted GSN Live from 2009 until the show's ending in 2012.
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Justin Abdelkader
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Justin Abdelkader is an American former professional ice hockey winger. He played for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League (NHL), as well as EV Zug and HC Lugano of the National League (NL). He was drafted 42nd overall by the Red Wings in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
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Trae Waynes
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
-
Trae Waynes is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round, 11th overall of the 2015 NFL draft. He also spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals.
