100 Notable alumni of
Stanford University
Updated:
Stanford University is 8th in the world, 5th in North America, and 5th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from Stanford University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. 26 individuals affiliated with Stanford University won Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
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Elon Musk
- Occupations
- entrepreneurprogrammerbusinesspersoninvestorengineer
- Biography
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Elon Reeve Musk is a businessman and investor. He is the founder, chairman, CEO, and CTO of SpaceX; angel investor, CEO, product architect, and former chairman of Tesla, Inc.; owner, chairman, and CTO of X Corp.; founder of the Boring Company and xAI; co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI; and president of the Musk Foundation. He is the second wealthiest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of US$232 billion as of December 2023, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, and $182.6 billion according to Forbes, primarily from his ownership stakes in Tesla and SpaceX.
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John F. Kennedy
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Studied in 1940-1941
- Occupations
- naval officerwriteranti-communistjournalistpolitician
- Biography
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John Fitzgerald Kennedy, often referred to as JFK or Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person elected president. Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his foreign policy concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. A Democrat, Kennedy represented Massachusetts in both houses of the U.S. Congress prior to his presidency.
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Reese Witherspoon
- Occupations
- modelfilm actorfilm producerbusinesspersonvoice actor
- Biography
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Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon is an American actress and producer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2006 and 2015, and Forbes listed her among the World's 100 Most Powerful Women in 2019 and 2021. In 2021, Forbes named her the world's highest earning actress, and in 2023, she was named one of the richest women in America with an estimated net worth of $440 million.
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Jennifer Connelly
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Studied in 1990-1990
- Occupations
- voice actormodelactorsinger
- Biography
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Jennifer Lynn Connelly is an American actress. She began her career as a child model before making her acting debut in the 1984 crime film Once Upon a Time in America. After a few more years of modeling, she began to concentrate on acting, starring in a variety of films including the horror film Phenomena (1985), the musical fantasy film Labyrinth (1986), the romantic comedy Career Opportunities (1991), and the period superhero film The Rocketeer (1991). She received praise for her performance in the science fiction film Dark City (1998) and playing a drug addict in Darren Aronofsky's drama film Requiem for a Dream (2000).
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Tiger Woods
- Occupations
- animal trainerwritergolfer
- Biography
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Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer. He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men's major championships, and holds numerous golf records. Woods is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and is one of the most famous athletes in modern history. He is an inductee of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
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Rishi Sunak
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Studied in 2006
- Occupations
- politicianfinancial analyst
- Biography
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Rishi Sunak is a British politician who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party since 2022. The first British Asian prime minister, he previously held two cabinet positions under Boris Johnson, latterly as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022. Sunak has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond (Yorks) since 2015.
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Sundar Pichai
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Graduated with Master of Science in materials science
- Occupations
- computer scientistinternational forum participantexecutivechief executive officer
- Biography
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Pichai Sundararajan, better known as Sundar Pichai, is an Indian-born American business executive. He is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google.
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Sigourney Weaver
- Occupations
- television actoractorartistvoice actorfilm producer
- Biography
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Susan Alexandra "Sigourney" Weaver is an American actress. A figure in science fiction and popular culture, she has received various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. In 2003, she was voted Number 20 in Channel 4's countdown of the 100 greatest movie stars of all time.
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Larry Page
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Graduated with Master of Science in computer science
- Occupations
- engineercomputer scientistinternational forum participantentrepreneur
- Biography
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Lawrence Edward Page is an American businessman, computer scientist and internet entrepreneur best known for co-founding Google with Sergey Brin.
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Mukesh Ambani
- Occupations
- businesspersongraphic designerinternational forum participantentrepreneur
- Biography
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Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani is an Indian billionaire businessman. He is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, India's most valuable company by market value. With an estimated net worth of $112.1 billion according to Forbes as of February 2024, he is the richest person in Asia and 11th richest in the world. Sometimes characterized as a plutocrat; he has attracted both fame and notoriety for reports of market manipulation, political corruption, cronyism, and exploitation. Time magazine listed him as one of the 100 most influential people of 2019, under the "Titans" section.
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Emmy Rossum
- Occupations
- opera singertelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Emmanuelle Grey Rossum is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She is best known for her portrayal of Fiona Gallagher in the television series Shameless (2011–2019). Since the mid-2010s, she has also directed and produced television, including the 2022 Peacock series Angelyne in which she also stars.
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John McEnroe
- Occupations
- journalisttennis coachtennis player
- Biography
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John Patrick McEnroe Jr. is an American former professional tennis player. He was known for his shot-making and volleying skills, his rivalries with Björn Borg and Jimmy Connors, and his confrontational on-court behavior, which frequently landed him in trouble with umpires and tennis authorities.
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Sergey Brin
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- 1993-1995 graduated with master's degree in computer science
- Occupations
- inventorbusiness executivecomputer scientistinternational forum participant
- Biography
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Sergey Mikhailovich Brin is an American businessman best known for co-founding Google with Larry Page. Brin was the president of Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., until stepping down from the role on December 3, 2019. He and Page remain at Alphabet as co-founders, controlling shareholders and board members. As of January 2024, Brin is the 9th-richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $114 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
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Ted Danson
- Occupations
- television actorfilm actoractorfilm producertelevision producer
- Biography
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Edward Bridge Danson III is an American actor. He achieved stardom playing the lead character Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom Cheers, for which he received two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. He was nominated for more Emmy Awards for roles in the legal drama Damages (2007–2010) and the NBC dramedy The Good Place (2016–2020). He was awarded a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1999.
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Herbert Hoover
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- 1891-1895 studied geology
- Occupations
- mining engineerbusinesspersonwriterpoliticianstatesperson
- Biography
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Herbert Clark Hoover was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933. A member of the Republican Party, he held office during the onset of the Great Depression. A wealthy mining engineer before his presidency, Hoover led the wartime Commission for Relief in Belgium, served as the director of the U.S. Food Administration, and served as the U.S. secretary of commerce.
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Mitt Romney
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Studied in 1965-1966
- Occupations
- non-fiction writerbusinesspersoninternational forum participantMormon missionarypolitician
- Biography
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Willard Mitt Romney is an American politician, businessman, and lawyer who has served as the junior United States senator from Utah since 2019. He served as the 70th governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and was the Republican Party's nominee for president of the United States in the 2012 election, losing to Barack Obama.
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Peter Thiel
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- computer scientistwriterentrepreneurmanagerbanker
- Biography
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Peter Andreas Thiel is a German-American billionaire entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and political activist. A co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and Founders Fund, he was the first outside investor in Facebook. As of June 2023, Thiel had an estimated net worth of $9.7 billion and was ranked 213th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
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Kal Penn
- Occupations
- television actorpoliticianfilm actoractorfilm producer
- Biography
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Kalpen Suresh Modi, known professionally as Kal Penn, is an American actor, author, and former White House staff member in the Barack Obama administration. As an actor he is known for his portrayals of Lawrence Kutner on the television program House, White House staffer Seth Wright on Designated Survivor, Kevin, a therapist and boyfriend to Robin in How I Met Your Mother, and Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar film series. He is also recognized for his performance in the film The Namesake. Penn once taught at the University of Pennsylvania in the Cinema Studies Program as a visiting lecturer.
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John Steinbeck
- Occupations
- novelistwriterscreenwriterwar correspondent
- Biography
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John Ernst Steinbeck was an American writer. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception". He has been called "a giant of American letters."
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Chelsea Clinton
- Occupations
- journalistentrepreneurbusinessperson
- Biography
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Chelsea Victoria Clinton is an American writer. She is the only child of Bill Clinton, a former U.S. President, and Hillary Clinton, a former U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. senator, and presidential candidate.
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Cory Booker
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- In 1991 graduated with bachelor's degree
- In 1992 graduated with master's degree
- Occupations
- lawyerjuristinternational forum participantpolitician
- Biography
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Cory Anthony Booker is an American politician who has served as the junior United States senator from New Jersey since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Booker is the first African-American U.S. senator from New Jersey. He was the 38th mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013, and served on the Municipal Council of Newark for the Central Ward from 1998 to 2002.
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Dianne Feinstein
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- In 1955 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- mayorpolitician
- Biography
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Dianne Emiel Feinstein was an American politician who served as a United States senator from California from 1992 until her death in 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988.
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Aaron Swartz
- Occupations
- WikimedianhacktivistInternet activistpolitical activistprogrammer
- Biography
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Aaron Hillel Swartz was an American computer programmer, entrepreneur, writer, political organizer, and Internet hacktivist. As a programmer, Swartz helped develop the web feed format RSS; the technical architecture for Creative Commons, an organization dedicated to creating copyright licenses; the website framework web.py; and Markdown, a lightweight markup language format. Swartz was involved in the development of the social news aggregation website Reddit until he departed from the company in 2007. He is often credited as a martyr and a prodigy, and his work focused on civic awareness and activism.
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Evan Spiegel
- Occupations
- entrepreneurcomputer scientist
- Biography
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Evan Thomas Spiegel is an American businessman, co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc. Spiegel was the youngest billionaire in the world in 2015. As of March 2023, he had a personal net worth of $2.7 billion according to Forbes.
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Jawed Karim
- Occupations
- computer scientistentrepreneurtelevision producerstudentYouTuber
- Biography
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Jawed Karim is an American software engineer and Internet entrepreneur. He is a co-founder of YouTube and the first person to upload a video to the site. The site's inaugural video, "Me at the zoo", uploaded on April 23, 2005, has been viewed over 303 million times as of January 18, 2024. During Karim's time working at PayPal, where he met fellow YouTube co-founders Steven Chen and Chad Hurley, he designed many of its core components, including its real-time anti-fraud system.
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Tarō Asō
- Occupations
- entrepreneureconomistpoliticiandiplomat
- Biography
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Tarō Asō is a Japanese politician serving as the Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 2021. Asō previously served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2008 to 2009 and as Deputy Prime Minister of Japan and Minister of Finance from 2012 to 2021. He was the longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in Japanese history, having previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007 and as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from 2003 to 2005. He leads the Shikōkai faction within the LDP.
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Philippe of Belgium
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- In 1985 graduated with Master of Arts in political science
- Occupations
- monarchpoliticianmilitary officerinternational forum participantnoiraud
- Biography
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Philippe is King of the Belgians. He is the eldest child of King Albert II and Queen Paola. He succeeded his father upon the latter's abdication for health reasons on 21 July 2013. He married Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz in 1999, with whom he has four children. Their eldest child, Princess Elisabeth, is first in the line of succession.
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Fred Savage
- Occupations
- film actorfilm producertelevision directorvoice actortelevision producer
- Biography
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Frederick Aaron Savage is an American actor and director. He is best known for his role as Kevin Arnold in the American television series The Wonder Years (1988–1993). He has earned several awards and nominations, such as People's Choice Awards and Young Artist Awards. He is also known for playing the Grandson in The Princess Bride, and voiced the title protagonist in Oswald. Savage has worked as a director, and in 2005 later starred in the television sitcom Crumbs. Savage returned to acting in the television series The Grinder, as well as the Netflix series Friends from College.
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Sterling K. Brown
- Occupations
- stage actorvoice actortelevision actorfilm actor
- Biography
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Sterling Kelby Brown is an American actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including three Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award in addition to a nomination for an Academy Award. He was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018.
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Rachel Maddow
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- In 1994 studied public policy
- Occupations
- journalist
- Biography
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Rachel Anne Maddow is an American television news program host and liberal political commentator. Maddow hosts The Rachel Maddow Show, a weekly television show on MSNBC, and serves as the cable network's special event co-anchor. Her syndicated talk radio program of the same name aired on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010.
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Steve Ballmer
- Occupations
- merchantcomputer scientistinternational forum participantentrepreneur
- Biography
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Steven Anthony Ballmer is an American business executive and investor who was the chief executive officer of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. He is the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a co-founder of Ballmer Group, a philanthropic investment company. As of January 2024, Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates his personal wealth at around $135 billion, making him the sixth-richest person in the world.
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Christian McCaffrey
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Studied in 2014
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Christian Jackson McCaffrey, also known by the initials CMC, is an American football running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was selected by the Carolina Panthers eighth overall in the 2017 NFL draft. As a sophomore in 2015, McCaffrey was named AP College Football Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He holds the NCAA record for most all-purpose yards in a season, with 3,864.
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Kevin Systrom
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Studied in 2006
- Occupations
- computer scientistentrepreneurengineer
- Biography
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Kevin Systrom is an American computer programmer and entrepreneur. He co-founded Instagram, the world's largest photo sharing website, along with Mike Krieger.
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Laurene Powell Jobs
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Occupations
- international forum participantbusinessperson
- Biography
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Laurene Powell Jobs is an American billionaire businesswoman and executive. She is the widow of Steve Jobs, co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc., and she manages the Steve Jobs Trust. She is the founder and chair of Emerson Collective and XQ Institute. She is a major donor to Democratic Party politicians.
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Maya Harris
- Occupations
- television presenterlawyerpolitical scientist
- Biography
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Maya Lakshmi Harris is an American lawyer, public policy advocate, and writer. Harris was one of three senior policy advisors for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign's policy agenda and she also served as chair of the 2020 presidential campaign of her sister, Kamala Harris.
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Katie Ledecky
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Studied in 2016
- Occupations
- swimmer
- Biography
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Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky is an American competitive swimmer. She has won seven Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals, the most in history for a female swimmer. She has won a world record 16 individual gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships. Ledecky's six individual gold medals at the Olympics and 26 overall medals at the World Aquatics Championships are records in women's swimming. Ledecky is the world record holder in the women's 800- and 1500-meter freestyle (both long course and short course) as well as the former world record holder in the women's 400-meter freestyle (long course). She also holds the fastest-ever times in the women's 500-, 1000-, and 1650-yard freestyle events. She is widely regarded as the greatest female swimmer of all time and one of the greatest Olympians of all time.
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Phil Knight
- Occupations
- businesspersonphilanthropistwriterentrepreneur
- Biography
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Philip Hampson Knight is an American billionaire business magnate who is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc., a global sports equipment and apparel company. He was previously its chairman and CEO. As of December 2023, Forbes estimated his net worth at $45.0 billion. He is also the owner of the stop motion film production company Laika. Knight is a graduate of the University of Oregon and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He was part of the track and field club under coach Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon with whom he would later co-found Nike.
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Sam Harris
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- In 2000 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in philosophy
- Occupations
- writerphilosopherneuroscientistbloggerpodcaster
- Biography
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Samuel Benjamin Harris is an American philosopher, neuroscientist, author, and podcast host. His work touches on a range of topics, including rationality, religion, ethics, free will, neuroscience, meditation, psychedelics, philosophy of mind, politics, terrorism, and artificial intelligence. Harris came to prominence for his criticism of religion, and is known as one of the "Four Horsemen" of New Atheism, along with Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett.
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Raymond Burr
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Raymond William Stacy Burr was a Canadian actor known for his lengthy Hollywood film career and his title roles in television dramas Perry Mason and Ironside.
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Gretchen Carlson
- Occupations
- journalistbeauty pageant contestantmodeltelevision presenter
- Biography
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Gretchen Elizabeth Carlson is an American broadcast journalist, writer, and television personality.
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Andre Braugher
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Andre Keith Braugher was an American actor known for his roles as Detective Frank Pembleton in the NBC police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999) and Captain Raymond Holt in the Fox/NBC police comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021). He won two Primetime Emmy Awards and was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards.
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Issa Rae
- Occupations
- film directorYouTuberfilm actorscreenwritertelevision producer
- Biography
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Jo-Issa Rae Diop, credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, and producer. Rae first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl. Since 2011, Rae has continued to develop her YouTube channel, which features various short films, web series, and other content created by black people.
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Susan Rice
- Occupations
- international forum participantpoliticianscreenwriterdiplomat
- Biography
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Susan Elizabeth Rice is an American diplomat, policy advisor, and public official. A member of the Democratic Party, Rice served as the 22nd Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council from 2021 to 2023, as the 27th U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013, and as the 23rd U.S. National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2017.
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Andrew Luck
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- 2009-2012 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in design studies
- In 2022 studied pedagogy
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Andrew Austen Luck is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. One of the most highly touted amateur prospects during his college football career with the Stanford Cardinal, Luck won the Maxwell, Walter Camp, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards as a senior. He was selected first overall by the Colts in the 2012 NFL Draft.
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Ashraf Ghani
- Occupations
- university teacheranthropologistwriterinternational forum participanteconomist
- Biography
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Mohammad Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is an Afghan former politician, academic, and economist who served as the president of Afghanistan from September 2014 until August 2021, when his government was overthrown by the Taliban.
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Sandra Day O'Connor
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- In 1950 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in economics
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- lawyerjuristpoliticianjudge
- Biography
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Sandra Day O'Connor was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1981 to 2006. O'Connor was the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. A moderate conservative, O'Connor was known for her precisely researched opinions. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, she was considered a swing vote for the Rehnquist Court and the first four months of the Roberts Court. Before O'Connor's tenure on the Court, she was an Arizona state judge and earlier an elected legislator in Arizona, serving as the first female majority leader of a state senate as the Republican leader in the Arizona Senate. Upon her nomination to the Court, O'Connor was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate.
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John Elway
- Occupations
- gridiron football playerplayer of American footballbaseball player
- Biography
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John Albert Elway Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback who spent his entire 16-year career with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Following his playing career, he then spent 11 years with the Broncos in various front office positions, eventually being promoted to general manager. Elway, along with former backup quarterback and head coach Gary Kubiak, are the only individuals to be associated with all three of the Broncos' Super Bowl wins.
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Reed Hastings
- Occupations
- philanthropistinternational forum participantchief executive officerentrepreneur
- Biography
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Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr. is an American billionaire businessman. He is the co-founder, and executive chairman of Netflix, Inc. and currently sits on a number of boards and non-profit organizations. A former member of the California State Board of Education, Hastings is an advocate for education reform through charter schools.
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Jack Palance
- Occupations
- television actormodelstage actorboxerfilm actor
- Biography
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Jack Palance was an American actor known for playing tough guys and villains. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, all for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, for his roles in Sudden Fear (1952) and Shane (1953), and winning almost 40 years later for City Slickers (1991).
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Tom Steyer
- Occupations
- entrepreneurbusinesspersoninternational forum participantorganizational founderinvestment banker
- Biography
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Thomas Fahr Steyer is an American climate investor, businessman, hedge fund manager, philanthropist, environmentalist, and liberal activist. Steyer is the co-founder and co-chair of Galvanize Climate Solutions, founder and former co-senior-managing-partner of Farallon Capital and the co-founder of OneCalifornia Bank, which became (through merger) Beneficial State Bank, an Oakland-based community development bank. Farallon Capital manages $20 billion in capital for institutions and high-net-worth individuals. The firm's institutional investors include college endowments and foundations. Steyer served on the board of trustees at Stanford University from 2007 to 2017. Since 1986, he has been a partner and member of the executive committee at Hellman & Friedman, a San Francisco–based private equity firm.
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Adam Schiff
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- In 1982 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Adam Bennett Schiff is an American lawyer, author, and politician serving as a U.S. representative from California since 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, Schiff was a member of the California State Senate from 1996 to 2000.
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Ben Savage
- Occupations
- actorfilm actortelevision actor
- Biography
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Bennett Joseph Savage is an American actor. He played the lead role of Cory Matthews on the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World (1993–2000) and its Disney Channel sequel Girl Meets World (2014–2017).
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Sam Altman
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Studied computer science
- Occupations
- programmerbusinesspersonblogger
- Biography
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Samuel Harris Altman is an American entrepreneur and investor best known as the CEO of OpenAI since 2019 (he was briefly fired and reinstated in November 2023). Altman is considered to be one of the leading figures of the AI boom. He dropped out of university after two years and founded Loopt, a mobile social networking service, raising more than $30 million in venture capital. In 2011 Altman joined Y Combinator, a startup accelerator, and was its president from 2014 to 2019.
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Stephen Breyer
- Occupations
- judgelawyeruniversity teacherpoliticianjurist
- Biography
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Stephen Gerald Breyer is an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1994 until his retirement in 2022. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton, and replaced retiring justice Harry Blackmun. Breyer was generally associated with the liberal wing of the Court. He is now the Byrne Professor of Administrative Law and Process at Harvard Law School.
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Eunice Kennedy Shriver
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- In 1943 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in sociology
- Occupations
- sociologistsocial activistpoliticianorganizational founderphilanthropist
- Biography
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Eunice Mary Kennedy Shriver was an American philanthropist and a member of the Kennedy family. She was the founder of the Special Olympics, a sports organization for persons with intellectual disabilities. For her efforts on behalf of disabled people, Shriver was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984.
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Mike Krieger
- Occupations
- engineerbusinessperson
- Biography
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Michel Krieger is a Brazilian-American entrepreneur and software engineer who co-founded Instagram along with Kevin Systrom, and served as its CTO. Instagram expanded from a few million users to 1 billion monthly active users while Krieger served as CTO.
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Kurtwood Smith
- Occupations
- film actorcharacter actortelevision actoractorvoice actor
- Biography
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Kurtwood Larson Smith is an American television and film actor. He is known for playing Clarence Boddicker in RoboCop (1987), Robert Griggs in Rambo III (1988), and Red Forman in That '70s Show (1998–2006) and That '90s Show (2023–present), as well as for his many appearances in science fiction films and television programs (Lou Grant, Star Trek, The X-Files). He also starred in the seventh season of 24. He voiced Gene on Regular Show (2012–2017), portrayed Leslie Claret on Patriot (2015–2018), and Old Man Peterson on The Ranch (2017–2020).
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Carly Fiorina
- Occupations
- politicianbusinesspersoninternational forum participant
- Biography
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Cara Carleton "Carly" Fiorina is an American businesswoman and politician, known primarily for her tenure as chief executive officer (CEO) of Hewlett-Packard (HP) from 1999 to 2005. Fiorina was the first woman to lead a Fortune Top-20 company.
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Richard Sherman
- Occupations
- player of American footballinternational forum participant
- Biography
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Richard Kevin Sherman is an American former football cornerback who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Sherman played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, beginning his career as a wide receiver before moving to cornerback as a junior. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft. He was selected to the Pro Bowl five times and voted All-Pro five times, including three times to the first team, and led the NFL in interceptions in 2013, when he also helped the Seahawks win their first Super Bowl. Sherman is regarded as one of the greatest cornerbacks of all time.
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Joe Kennedy III
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- In 2003 graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- lawyerfinancial analystassistantpolitician
- Biography
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Joseph Patrick Kennedy III is an American politician and diplomat who currently serves as United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland since 2022. Prior to this, Kennedy served as the U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 4th congressional district from 2013 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented a district that extends from Boston's western suburbs to the state's South Coast. He worked as an assistant district attorney in the Cape and Islands and Middlesex County, Massachusetts, offices before his election to Congress. In January 2021, he became a CNN commentator.
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Sally Ride
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Graduated with Master of Science in physics
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy in physics
- Graduated with bachelor's degree in English studies and physics
- Occupations
- children's writeruniversity teacherwriterastrophysicistphysicist
- Biography
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Sally Kristen Ride was an American astronaut and physicist. Born in Los Angeles, she joined NASA in 1978, and in 1983 became the first American woman and the third woman to fly in space, after cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova in 1963 and Svetlana Savitskaya in 1982. She was the youngest American astronaut to have flown in space, having done so at the age of 32.
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Azim Premji
- Occupations
- entrepreneurbusinesspersoninternational forum participant
- Biography
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Azim Hashim Premji is an Indian businessman and philanthropist, who was the chairman of Wipro Limited. Premji remains a non-executive member of the board and founder chairman. He is informally known as the Czar of the Indian IT Industry. He was responsible for guiding Wipro through four decades of diversification and growth, to finally emerge as one of the global leaders in the software industry. In 2010, he was voted among the 20 most powerful men in the world by Asiaweek. He has twice been listed among the 100 most influential people by Time magazine, once in 2004 and more recently in 2011. For years, he has been regularly listed one among The 500 Most Influential Muslims. He also serves as the Chancellor of Azim Premji University, Bangalore. Premji was awarded Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, by the Government of India.
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Nicholas Gonzalez
- Occupations
- television actorvoice actormodelfilm actor
- Biography
-
Nicholas Edward Gonzalez is an American actor. He is best known for portraying the roles of Alex Santiago on the Showtime television series Resurrection Blvd, Dr. Ben Douglas in Anacondas 2004 and Dr. Neil Melendez on the ABC television series The Good Doctor.
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Valerie Jarrett
- Occupations
- politicianinternational forum participantlawyer
- Biography
-
Valerie June Jarrett is an American businesswoman and former government official serving as the chief executive officer of the Obama Foundation since 2021. She previously served as the senior advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama and assistant to the president for public engagement and intergovernmental affairs from 2009 to 2017. Before that, she served as a co-chair of the Obama–Biden Transition Project.
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Bill Walton
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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William Theodore Walton III is an American television sportscaster and former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for coach John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins, winning three consecutive national college player of the year awards (1972–1974), while leading UCLA to NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973 and an 88-game winning streak. After being selected as the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA draft, Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to an NBA championship in 1977, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award that season. He won another NBA title in 1986 as a member of the Boston Celtics. Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. He was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams.
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Brook Lopez
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
-
Brook Robert Lopez is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Splash Mountain", he was named an NBA All-Star as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, and has been voted twice to the NBA All-Defensive Team while with the Bucks. He won an NBA championship with Milwaukee in 2021.
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Anthony Kennedy
- Occupations
- judgelawyeruniversity teacherpoliticianjurist
- Biography
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Anthony McLeod Kennedy is an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1988 until his retirement in 2018. He was nominated to the court in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan, and sworn in on February 18, 1988. After the retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor in 2006, he was considered the swing vote on many of the Roberts Court's 5–4 decisions.
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Josh Hawley
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- 1998-2002 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politicianlawyerjurist
- Biography
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Joshua David Hawley is an American politician and lawyer serving as the senior United States senator from Missouri, a seat he has held since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Hawley served as the 42nd attorney general of Missouri from 2017 to 2019, before defeating two-term incumbent Democratic senator Claire McCaskill in the 2018 election.
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Marissa Mayer
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science in symbolic systems and computer science
- Occupations
- engineerbusiness executivecomputer scientistinternational forum participant
- Biography
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Marissa Ann Mayer is an American business executive and investor who served as president and chief executive officer of Yahoo! from 2012 to 2017. She was a long-time executive, usability leader and key spokesperson for Google (employee No. 20). Mayer later co-founded Sunshine, a startup technology company.
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Akshata Murty
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- 2004-2006 graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Occupations
- fashion designermanager
- Biography
-
Akshata Narayana Murty is an Indian heiress, businesswoman, fashion designer, and venture capitalist. She is married to Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Conservative Party. According to the Sunday Times Rich List, Murty and Sunak hold the 275th rank for the richest people in Britain as of 2023, with a combined wealth of £529 million (US$645 million).
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Jennifer Grant
- Occupations
- film actortelevision actor
- Biography
-
Jennifer Diane Grant is an American actress. The daughter of actors Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon, she is best known for roles in the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 and Movie Stars.
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Alexander Payne
- Occupations
- writerfilm directordirectorscreenwriterfilm producer
- Biography
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Constantine Alexander Payne is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He is noted for his satirical depictions of contemporary American society. Payne has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award and two Golden Globe Awards as well as a nomination for a Grammy Award.
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Reid Hoffman
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- entrepreneurbusinesspersonwriterinternational forum participantinvestor
- Biography
-
Reid Garrett Hoffman is an American internet entrepreneur, venture capitalist, podcaster, and author. Hoffman was the co-founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn, a business-oriented social network used primarily for professional networking. He is currently a partner at the venture capital firm Greylock Partners and a co-founder of Inflection AI.
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Ram Dass
- Occupations
- university teacherwriteracademicpsychologistguru
- Biography
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Ram Dass, also known as Baba Ram Dass, was an American spiritual teacher, guru of modern yoga, psychologist, and writer. His best-selling 1971 book Be Here Now, which has been described by multiple reviewers as "seminal", helped popularize Eastern spirituality and yoga in the West. He authored or co-authored twelve more books on spirituality over the next four decades, including Grist for the Mill (1977), How Can I Help? (1985), and Polishing the Mirror (2013).
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Jensen Huang
- Occupations
- businesspersonengineercomputer scientistentrepreneur
- Biography
-
Jen-Hsun "Jensen" Huang is an American businessman, electrical engineer, and the co-founder, president and CEO of Nvidia Corporation.
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Christine Blasey Ford
- Years
- 1966-.. (age 58)
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- 2007-2011 graduated with Master of Education in epidemiology
- Occupations
- professor of psychologywriteruniversity teacheracademicpsychologist
- Biography
-
Christine Margaret Blasey Ford is an American professor of psychology at Palo Alto University and a research psychologist at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She specializes in designing statistical models for research projects. During her academic career, Ford has worked as a professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine Collaborative Clinical Psychology Program.
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Fred Thompson
- Occupations
- columnistactortelevision actorvoice actorpolitician
- Biography
-
Freddie Dalton Thompson was an American politician, attorney, lobbyist, columnist, actor, and radio personality. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1994 to 2003; Thompson was an unsuccessful candidate in the Republican Party presidential primaries for the 2008 United States presidential election.
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Kyriakos Mitsotakis
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- 1992-1993 graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Kyriakos Mitsotakis is a Greek politician who has been prime minister of Greece since June 2023 and before from July 2019 to May 2023. He is president of the New Democracy party since 2016. On 26 June 2023, Mitsotakis won a second term as prime minister after winning the June 2023 Greek legislative election. Mitsotakis previously was Leader of the Opposition from 2016 to 2019, and Minister of Administrative Reform from 2013 to 2015. He is the son of the late Konstantinos Mitsotakis, who was Prime Minister of Greece from 1990 to 1993. He was first elected to the Hellenic Parliament for the Athens B constituency in 2004. After New Democracy suffered two election defeats in 2015, he was elected the party's leader in January 2016. Three years later, he led his party to a majority in the 2019 Greek legislative election.
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Ehud Barak
- Occupations
- international forum participantpoliticianmilitary officerdiplomat
- Biography
-
Ehud Barak is an Israeli former general and politician who served as the tenth prime minister from 1999 to 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party between 1997-2001 and 2007-11.
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Meena Harris
- Occupations
- writerlawyeractivist
- Biography
-
Meenakshi Ashley Harris is an American lawyer, children's book author, producer, and founder of the Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign, which creates statement fashion to support charity. In June 2020, Harris released her first book from HarperCollins, entitled Kamala and Maya's Big Idea, which is based on the story of her mother, Maya Harris, and aunt, Kamala Harris, the 49th Vice President of the United States.
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bell hooks
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- university teacherwriterphilosopher
- Biography
-
Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name bell hooks, was an American author, theorist, educator, and social critic who was a Distinguished Professor in Residence at Berea College. She was best known for her writings on race, feminism, and class. The focus of hooks' writing was to explore the intersectionality of race, capitalism, and gender, and what she described as their ability to produce and perpetuate systems of oppression and class domination. She published around 40 books, including works that ranged from essays, poetry, and children's books. She published numerous scholarly articles, appeared in documentary films, and participated in public lectures. Her work addressed love, race, class, gender, art, history, sexuality, mass media, and feminism.
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Mae Jemison
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- In 1977 graduated with Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and African American studies
- Occupations
- professorphysicistchildren's writerastronautphysician
- Biography
-
Mae Carol Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first African-American woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. Jemison joined NASA's astronaut corps in 1987 and was selected to serve for the STS-47 mission, during which the Endeavour orbited the Earth for nearly eight days on September 12–20, 1992.
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Yukio Hatoyama
- Occupations
- university teacherpoliticianengineer
- Biography
-
Yukio Hatoyama is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and Leader of the Democratic Party of Japan from 2009 to 2010. He was the first Prime Minister from the modern Democratic Party of Japan. Hatoyama is currently the founder and leader of Kyowa Party, a minor political party established in 2020 after he announced his return to politics.
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Jidenna
- Occupations
- songwritersingerrecord producerrapperrecording artist
- Biography
-
Jidenna Theodore Mobisson, known mononymously as Jidenna, is an American rapper and singer. He signed with Janelle Monáe's record label Wondaland Arts Society, an imprint of Epic Records to release his debut single, "Classic Man" (featuring Roman GianArthur or Kendrick Lamar) in 2015. The song peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and was followed up with the single "Yoga" (with Janelle Monáe) that same year. Both of which preceded the release of Wondaland's debut compilation project, The Eephus (2015). Jidenna's debut studio album, The Chief (2017) peaked at number 38 on the Billboard 200. His second album, 85 to Africa (2019) explored the afro fusion musical style.
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Julián Castro
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
-
Julián Castro is an American lawyer and politician from San Antonio. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the youngest member of President Obama's cabinet, serving as the 16th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2014 to 2017. Castro served as the mayor of his native San Antonio, Texas from 2009 until he joined Barack Obama's cabinet in 2014.
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William Rehnquist
- Occupations
- lawyerhistorianpoliticianjudge
- Biography
-
William Hubbs Rehnquist was an American attorney and jurist who served on the U.S. Supreme Court for 33 years. Rehnquist was an associate justice from 1972 to 1986 and the 16th chief justice from 1986 until his death in 2005. Considered a staunch conservative, Rehnquist favored a conception of federalism that emphasized the Tenth Amendment's reservation of powers to the states. Under this view of federalism, the Court, for the first time since the 1930s, struck down an act of Congress as exceeding its power under the Commerce Clause.
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Daniel Pearl
- Occupations
- journalistwriterreporter
- Biography
-
Daniel Pearl was an American journalist who worked for The Wall Street Journal. On January 23, 2002, he was kidnapped near a restaurant in downtown Karachi and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan.
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Prince William of Gloucester
- Occupations
- aircraft pilotdiplomat
- Biography
-
Prince William of Gloucester was a grandson of King George V and paternal cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. At birth he was fourth in line to the throne; he was ninth in line at the time of his death.
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Parag Agrawal
- Occupations
- business executivecomputer scientistchief technology officerchief executive officer
- Biography
-
Parag Agrawal is an Indian-American software engineer and businessman who was the CEO of Twitter, Inc. from November 2021 to October 2022.
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Ken Kesey
- Occupations
- writernovelistessayistchildren's writeramateur wrestler
- Biography
-
Ken Elton Kesey was an American novelist, essayist and countercultural figure. He considered himself a link between the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the hippies of the 1960s.
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Robin Lopez
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
-
Robin Byron Lopez is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected with the 15th pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns, was traded to the New Orleans Hornets in 2012 and was traded to Portland in 2013. He played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal alongside his twin brother Brook Lopez.
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Paul Bilzerian
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- Studied in 1975
- Occupations
- businesspersonfinancier
- Biography
-
Paul Alec Bilzerian is an American businessman and corporate takeover specialist.
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Marc Mezvinsky
- Occupations
- investment banker
- Biography
-
Marc Mezvinsky is an American investor and partner at TPG. He has served previously as vice chairman at Social Capital. He is the husband of Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
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Jennifer Siebel Newsom
- Occupations
- television actorfilm directorstage actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
-
Jennifer Lynn Siebel Newsom is an American documentary filmmaker and actress who is the current First Lady of California as the wife of Governor Gavin Newsom. She is the director, writer, and producer of the film Miss Representation (2011), which premiered in the documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival. The film examines how the media has underrepresented women in positions of power. The Mask You Live In (2015), her second film which she wrote, produced and directed, scrutinizes American society's definition of masculinity.
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Skyler Samuels
- Occupations
- television actormodelfilm actoractor
- Biography
-
Skyler Rose Samuels is an American actress known for her roles in the television series Wizards of Waverly Place, The Gates, The Nine Lives of Chloe King, Scream Queens and The Gifted.
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Morris Chang
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- 1961-1964 graduated with doctorate
- Occupations
- engineerentrepreneur
- Biography
-
Morris Chang is a Taiwanese-American businessman and electrical engineer. He built his career first in the United States and then subsequently in Taiwan. He is the founder, as well as former chairman and CEO, of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). He is known as the semiconductor industry founder of Taiwan. As of February 2024, his net worth was estimated at US$2.8 billion.
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Tracey Edmonds
- Occupations
- television producerbusinessperson
- Biography
-
Tracey Elaine Edmonds is an American businesswoman, television producer and personality. She is the CEO of Edmonds Entertainment Group Inc and Alrightnow.com and is a former host of the television show Extra. She currently sits on the national board of directors for the Producers Guild of America.
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Josep Borrell
- Enrolled in Stanford University
- 1974-1975 graduated with master's degree
- Occupations
- engineereconomisttrade unionistpolitician
- Biography
-
Josep Borrell Fontelles is a Spanish politician serving as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy since 1 December 2019. A member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), he served as President of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2007 and as Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation in the Government of Spain from 2018 to 2019.
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Roger Corman
- Occupations
- television actorfilm directorscreenwriterfilm actorfilm producer
- Biography
-
Roger William Corman is an American film director, producer, and actor. Known under various monikers such as "The Pope of Pop Cinema", "The Spiritual Godfather of the New Hollywood", and "The King of Cult", he is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are low-budget cult films including some which are adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe.
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Heather Langenkamp
- Occupations
- film actortelevision actoractorfilm producerfilm director
- Biography
-
Heather Elizabeth Langenkamp is an American actress, writer, director, disc jockey, and producer. Although she has acted in many film genres, she is primarily known for her work in horror films, in addition to her work on television sitcoms. Langenkamp has been referred to as a scream queen and was inducted into the Fangoria Chainsaw Hall of Fame in 1995.
