40 Notable alumni of
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Updated:
The West Chester University of Pennsylvania is 1233rd in the world, 436th in North America, and 409th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 40 notable alumni from the West Chester University of Pennsylvania sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Jill Biden
- Enrolled in the West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- In 1981 graduated with Master of Education
- Occupations
- authorFirst Ladyteacherpolitician
- Biography
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Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden is an American educator who served as the First Lady of the United States from 2021 to 2025, as the second wife of Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States. She was second lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017 when her husband was vice president. From 2009 to 2024 she was a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College. She was the first First Lady to hold a salaried job during the majority of her husband's tenure and the first to carry on with her professional career outside the White House for the majority of her tenure as first lady.
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Shane Gillis
- Occupations
- actorcomedianwriter
- Biography
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Shane Michael Gillis is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster. Gillis started performing comedy in 2012, and in 2016, along with fellow stand-up comedian Matt McCusker, began co-hosting Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast, the most subscribed-to podcast on Patreon as of 2024. Gillis had a breakout year in 2019; the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal named him one of its "New Faces" in July, and in September he was announced as a newly-hired cast member on NBC's sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live (SNL). He subsequently became the subject of controversy and was fired after five days at SNL due to backlash over a 2018 clip from his podcast in which derogatory language, such as Asian ethnic slurs, was used, sparking a discussion about context and intent when certain topics are used for comedic purposes.
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Geno Auriemma
- Occupations
- basketball coachbasketball player
- Biography
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Luigi "Geno" Auriemma is an American basketball coach who is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team. He holds the NCAA basketball records for wins and winning percentage with a minimum of 10 seasons. Auriemma also has the most NCAA Division I basketball championships at 12.
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Jessica Barth
- Occupations
- actortelevision actorfilm actorvoice actorstage actor
- Biography
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Jessica Barth is an American actress, known for portraying Tami-Lynn McCafferty in the film Ted and its sequel.
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Nafessa Williams
- Occupations
- film actoractortelevision actor
- Biography
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Nafessa Williams is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Anissa Pierce in The CW's Black Lightning and Robyn Crawford in the 2022 Whitney Houston biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody.
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Billy Kametz
- Enrolled in the West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- Studied theatre art
- Occupations
- voice actor
- Biography
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Billy P. Kametz was an American voice and stage actor. He was best known for his work dubbing anime and video games. Kametz began his voice acting career in 2016. He provided the English voices for Josuke Higashikata in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable, Takuto Maruki in Persona 5 Royal, Naofumi Iwatani in The Rising of the Shield Hero, Colt in Brawl Stars, and Ferdinand von Aegir in the Fire Emblem series. Kametz died from colorectal cancer at the age of 35.
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Asher Roth
- Occupations
- singersongwriterrapper
- Biography
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Asher Paul Roth is an American rapper from Morrisville, Pennsylvania. He is best known for his 2009 debut single "I Love College," which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and foresaw the birth of frat rap, a college-oriented subgenre of hip hop.
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David Starr
- Occupations
- professional wrestler
- Biography
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Charles Max Barsky, best known by his ring name David Starr, is an American bodybuilder and former professional wrestler.
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Joe Gunkel
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Joseph Dillon Gunkel is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
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Yogananda Pittman
- Years
- 20th Century
- Occupations
- police officer
- Biography
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Yogananda D. Pittman is an American police officer who is the University of California, Berkeley chief of police. She was formerly the assistant chief and acting chief of the United States Capitol Police (USCP), serving in those posts during and after the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
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Curt Weldon
- Enrolled in the West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- In 1969 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- teacherfire chiefpolitician
- Biography
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Wayne Curtis Weldon is an American educator and politician. He served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 2007, representing the 7th district of Pennsylvania. He was defeated in November 2006 for reelection by Joe Sestak. Weldon was vice-chair of the Armed Services Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee. He was also the co-chair of the Duma-Congress Study Group, the official inter-parliamentary relationship between the United States and Russia.
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John Toland
- Occupations
- professional wrestler
- Biography
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John Joseph Toland is an American former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Tank Toland. Toland is best known for his appearances on the independent circuit with promotions such as Ring of Honor, Ohio Valley Wrestling as well as his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment on its SmackDown! brand in 2005 to 2006 as James Dick.
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Tamie Sheffield
- Occupations
- modelprofessional wrestleractorfilm actor
- Biography
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Tamie Michelle Sheffield is an American film actress, model and former professional wrestler.
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Glenn Robinson
- Occupations
- basketball coach
- Biography
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Glenn R. Robinson is a retired American basketball coach who coached the men's team at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for 48 years. He is the all-time wins leader in Division III men's basketball history with over 900 career victories. He announced his retirement on November 5, 2019.
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Stanley Weintraub
- Occupations
- historianteacherbiographerwriter
- Biography
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Stanley Weintraub was an American historian and biographer and an expert on George Bernard Shaw.
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Tommy Tomlinson
- Occupations
- politicianfuneral director
- Biography
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Robert M. Tomlinson is an American politician who served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 6th District from 1995 to 2022.
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Carolyn Comitta
- Years
- 1952-.. (age 74)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Carolyn Comitta is an American politician, educator and financial officer. A Democrat, she is a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the 19th district. Previously, Comitta was the first woman to serve as Mayor of West Chester, the seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, and served two terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 156th district.
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Bob Curnow
- Occupations
- music educatorrecord producerconductorcomposerjazz musician
- Biography
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Robert Harry Curnow is an American musician who served as a trombonist, staff arranger and producer for the Stan Kenton Orchestra during the 1960s and 1970s. As a composer and arranger, he has become well known for large ensemble jazz music set to contemporary fusion and rock music of groups such as Chicago, Blood, Sweat and Tears, and the Yellowjackets. Most notably, he arranged the music for and produced the award-winning and critically acclaimed CD, Bob Curnow's L.A. Big Band Plays The Music of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays. His compositions and arrangements are heavily influenced by earlier writers for the Stan Kenton Orchestra such as Pete Rugolo, Bill Russo, Johnny Richards and Bill Holman. Curnow is currently owner and President of Sierra Music Publications, Inc., he is also prominent in the instrumental music and jazz education fields.
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George N. Parks
- Occupations
- bandleaderconductormusic educatormusic director
- Biography
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George N. Parks was the director of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band at University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1977 until 2010. He also led the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy, a summer workshop program for high school drum majors that he founded in 1978.
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Gloria Casarez
- Occupations
- civil servant
- Biography
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Gloria Casarez was an American civil rights leader born in Philadelphia.
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Joseph R. Pitts
- Enrolled in the West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- In 1972 graduated with Master of Education
- Occupations
- business executiveteachermilitary officerpolitician
- Biography
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Joseph Russell Pitts is a former American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district from 1997 to 2017. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district was based in Lancaster and Reading and included much of the Amish country. It also included the far southwestern suburbs of Philadelphia in Chester County.
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Robert Mosley
- Occupations
- opera singer
- Biography
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Robert Mosley was an American operatic bass-baritone. Part of the first generation of African-American opera singers to achieve wide success, he performed in numerous opera productions, recitals, and in concerts from the 1950s through the 1990s. In 1957 he won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He drew particular acclaim for his portrayal of Porgy in George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, a role which he portrayed in the landmark 1976 Houston Grand Opera production, on Broadway, and at the Metropolitan Opera among other opera companies both in the United States and in Europe.
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Jennifer O’Mara
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Jennifer O'Mara is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 165th Legislative District. The district includes parts of Springfield Township, Marple Township, Radnor Township and the borough of Morton.
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Howie Bedell
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Howard William Bedell is an American former Major League Baseball player, coach, and front-office administrator.
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Thomas Hannum
- Occupations
- music director
- Biography
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Thomas Patrick "Thom" Hannum is an American percussionist and music educator, known for being the former associate director of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band. He previously served as interim director after the sudden death of bandleader George N. Parks while the Minuteman Band was on a trip to Michigan, and served in this position until 2011, when Timothy Todd Anderson was named the new director.
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Howard J. Buss
- Occupations
- composer
- Biography
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Howard J. Buss is an American composer of contemporary classical music.
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Michael Dever
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
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Michael Dever is an American businessman, futures trader, and author. Dever is the founder and CEO of Brandywine Asset Management, Inc., an investment management firm founded in 1982, and he is the author of the investment book "Jackass Investing: Don't do it. Profit from it."
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Geralyn Wolf
- Occupations
- Anglican priest
- Biography
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Geralyn Wolf is an American bishop who was the twelfth diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Rhode Island in the Episcopal Church. Wolf was consecrated as bishop on February 17, 1996.
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Leonard W. Miller
- Years
- 1934-.. (age 92)
- Occupations
- racing driver
- Biography
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Leonard W. Miller is one of two black motor racing pioneers living in the United States.
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Stephen Kinsey
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Stephen Kinsey is an American politician and former Democratic Party member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving from 2013 to 2024. Kinsey had served as chief of staff to state Representative John Myers, who preceded Kinsey in office. Kinsey served as the chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus during the 2019-2020 legislative session.
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Danielle Friel Otten
- Years
- 1977-.. (age 49)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Danielle Friel Otten is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 155th district. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
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Paul Bartram Dague
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Paul Bartram Dague was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
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Albert W. Jefferis
- Occupations
- lawyerAmerican football coachpolitician
- Biography
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Albert Webb Jefferis was an American Republican Party politician.
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Christopher McMullen
- Years
- 1952-.. (age 74)
- Enrolled in the West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- Graduated with master's degree in modern Europe
- Graduated with bachelor's degree in history
- Occupations
- diplomathistorian
- Biography
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Christopher J. McMullen is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. He served as the United States Ambassador to Angola from October 2010 to June 12, 2013.
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Tammy Stoner
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
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Tammy Lynne Stoner is an American writer and artist. She was the Publisher of Gertrude, a 25-year-old, queer literary journal, and the author of Sugar Land.
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Pat Meiser
- Born in
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United States - Occupations
- basketball coach
- Biography
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Pat Meiser is a college women's basketball coach. She is best known for her 6-year run as head coach of Penn State, in which she compiled a 92–52 record. Following that, she became the athletics director at the University of Hartford. She was named one of the nation's top 50 women's sports executives by Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal. She has also worked as the associate athletic director at the University of Connecticut.
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D. Brian Peterman
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Vice Admiral David Brian Peterman retired in July 2008. Prior to retiring he was Commander, Atlantic Area / Commander, Defense Force East. He assumed command of United States Coast Guard Atlantic Area on May 9, 2006 and was the operational commander for all Coast Guard activities in an area of responsibility east of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico, across the Atlantic Ocean to the Persian Gulf and throughout the Caribbean Sea. Over 33,000 military and civilian personnel, and 30,000 auxiliarists were under his leadership. He served concurrently as Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Defense Force East. With this change of command, Peterman relieved Vice Admiral Vivien S. Crea.
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Frank S. Welsh
- Biography
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Frank Sagendorph Welsh is president of the U.S.-based Frank S. Welsh Co. (formerly Welsh Color and Conservation, Inc.), a company that analyzes old paints and wallpapers; their pigments and fibers.
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Ken Campbell
- Years
- 1938-.. (age 88)
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Robert Kenneth Campbell is an American former professional football player who was an end with the New York Titans of the American Football League (AFL). He played college football for the West Chester Golden Rams. He is the father of Scott Campbell, who was also a football player. Campbell also served as athletic director and a coach at Hershey High School.
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Henry Baldwin
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Henry Clay Baldwin, nicknamed "Ted", was an American Major League Baseball infielder. Baldwin played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1927. In six career games, he had five career hits in 16 career at-bats. He batted and threw right-handed. Balwin attended Swarthmore College.
