37 Notable alumni of
Wright State University
Updated:
Wright State University is 1169th in the world, 420th in North America, and 393rd in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 37 notable alumni from Wright 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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Nicole Scherzinger
- Occupations
- dancervoice actorfashion designertelevision actorfilm actor
- Biography
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Nicole Scherzinger is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and television personality. She is a former member of the pop group and dance ensemble The Pussycat Dolls (2003–2010, 2019–2021). With over 55 million records sold worldwide, The Pussycat Dolls are one of the world's best-selling female groups of all time.
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Carlos Peña
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Carlos Felipe Peña is a Dominican former professional baseball first baseman and current broadcaster. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, and Kansas City Royals.
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Eddie McClintock
- Occupations
- actorfilm actortelevision actor
- Biography
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Edward Theodore McClintock is an American actor, best known for his role of Secret Service agent Pete Lattimer on the Syfy series Warehouse 13.
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Joe Smith
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Joseph Michael Smith is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, and Minnesota Twins. Smith attended Wright State University and was drafted by the Mets in the third round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut in 2007.
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Brad Sherwood
- Occupations
- television actorimproviseractorsinger
- Biography
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Bradley Sherwood is an American actor, singer, comedian, game show host and writer.
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Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
- Occupations
- writerpoetjournalistshort story writeressayist
- Biography
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Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an Indian-born American author, poet, and the Betty and Gene McDavid Professor of Writing at the University of Houston Creative Writing Program. Her short story collection, Arranged Marriage, won an American Book Award in 1996. Two of her novels (The Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart), as well as a short story (The Word Love) were adapted into films.
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Robert Pollard
- Occupations
- recording artistsinger-songwritermusiciansinger
- Biography
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Robert Ellsworth Pollard Jr. is an American singer and songwriter who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices. In addition to his work with Guided by Voices, he continues to have a prolific solo career with 22 solo albums released so far.
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Joyce Beatty
- Enrolled in Wright State University
- In 1974 graduated with Master of Science
- Occupations
- officialpoliticianuniversity teacherbusinessperson
- Biography
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Joyce Marie Beatty is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 3rd congressional district since 2013, and as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2021 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Beatty represented the 27th district in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1999 to 2008, serving for a time as minority leader. She was also previously the senior vice-president for outreach and engagement at Ohio State University.
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Nan Whaley
- Enrolled in Wright State University
- Graduated with Master in Public Administration in urban affairs
- Occupations
- international forum participantpolitician
- Biography
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Nannette L. Whaley is an American politician who served as the 56th mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 2014 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, she was first elected to the mayorship in November 2013, after she served on the city commission for two terms. Whaley presided over the United States Conference of Mayors from 2021 to 2022. She was the Democratic nominee in the 2022 Ohio gubernatorial election, losing to incumbent Mike DeWine in a landslide.
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Vitaly Potapenko
- Occupations
- basketball coachbasketball player
- Biography
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Vitalii Mykolayovych Potapenko is a Ukrainian former professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball at Wright State University and was selected 12th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1996 NBA draft, also the last pick before Kobe Bryant, believed by many as the best player from the 1996 draft. Nicknamed "The Ukraine Train", he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics, the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Sacramento Kings of the NBA, as well as MMT Estudiantes in the Spanish ACB.
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Sean Murphy
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Sean Michael Murphy is an American professional baseball catcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the third round of the 2016 MLB draft. Murphy made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Athletics and won a Gold Glove Award in 2021. In 2023, his first year with Atlanta, he made his first All-Star Game.
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Anthony Shaffer
- Years
- 1962-.. (age 62)
- Occupations
- writerintelligence analystmilitary officerspyintelligence officer
- Biography
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Anthony Shaffer is a former U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who became known for his claims about mishandled intelligence before the September 11 attacks, and for the censoring of his ghost written book Operation Dark Heart. Shaffer was a member of the Able Danger project, having joined in 1999.
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Brian Anderson
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Brian James Anderson is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher, who played 13 seasons for five teams, as well as a sports broadcaster and coach. Currently, Anderson is the color commentator on the Rays TV crew on Bally Sports Sun.
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Iman Crosson
- Occupations
- YouTubertelevision producercomedianactor
- Biography
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Iman Crosson, better known by his stage name Alphacat, is an American actor, impressionist, and YouTube personality known for his impersonations of former U.S. President Barack Obama and his starring role in independent film Along the Roadside.
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Mike Gallagher
- Years
- 1960-.. (age 64)
- Occupations
- radio personality
- Biography
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Mike Gallagher is an American radio host and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Mike Gallagher Show, a nationally syndicated radio program that airs throughout the United States on Salem Radio Network and is also a FOX News Channel Contributor and guest host. According to Talkers magazine, Gallagher is the ninth most-listened-to radio talk show host in the United States.
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Jorge Gurgel
- Occupations
- mixed martial arts fighter
- Biography
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Jorge Valente Gurgel is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist who competed in the Lightweight division. A professional competitor from 2002 to 2014, Gurgel is best known as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 2 and for his career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Strikeforce.
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Michael Barratt
- Occupations
- physicianastronaut
- Biography
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Michael Reed Barratt is an American physician and a NASA astronaut. Specializing in aerospace medicine, he served as a flight surgeon for NASA before his selection as an astronaut, and has played a role in developing NASA's space medicine programs for both the Shuttle-Mir Program and International Space Station. His first spaceflight was a long-duration mission to the International Space Station, as a flight engineer in the Expedition 19 and 20 crew. In March 2011, Barratt completed his second spaceflight as a crew member of STS-133. Barratt will pilot the SpaceX Crew-8 mission in spring 2024.
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Mark Green
- Occupations
- politicianflight surgeon
- Biography
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Mark Edward Green is an American politician, physician, and retired U.S. Army major who has served as the U.S. representative for Tennessee's 7th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Green has chaired the Committee on Homeland Security since 2023. Before his election to Congress, he served in the Tennessee Senate from 2013 to 2018, representing the 22nd district.
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David Albright
- Years
- 1948-.. (age 76)
- Occupations
- physicist
- Biography
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David Albright, M.Sc., is an American physicist and a weapons expert who is the founder of the non-governmental Institute for Science and International Security, its current president, and author of several books on proliferation of atomic weapons.
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Cliff Rosenberger
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Cliff Rosenberger is a former American politician who was a Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives, serving the 91st District from 2011 until 2018. He was Speaker of the House from 2015 until 2018. It was announced that Kirk Schuring would take over as the interim speaker. Rosenberger represented a large southern Ohio district that includes Wilmington, Hillsboro and Waverly.
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Frank Lickliter
- Occupations
- golfer
- Biography
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Franklin Ray Lickliter II is an American professional golfer. He featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking, going as high as 41st in 2001.
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Vernon Sykes
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Vernon Sykes is an American politician serving as the state Senator for the 28th district of the Ohio Senate. The district included Akron, Barberton, Green, Portage Lakes, Sawyerwood, Lakemore and portions of Cuyahoga Falls, Mogadore and Tallmadge in Summit County.
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Kevin Kramer
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Kevin Lowell Kramer is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018 and 2019.
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Siva S. Banda
- Occupations
- aerospace engineer
- Biography
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Siva Subrahmanyam Banda is an Indian-American aerospace engineer. He is Director of the Control Science Center of Excellence and Chief Scientist for the Aerospace Systems Directorate at the United States Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He has taught at Wright State University, the University of Dayton, and the Air Force Institute of Technology.
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Tim Waggoner
- Years
- 1964-.. (age 60)
- Occupations
- novelistwriterlecturereditor
- Biography
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Tim Waggoner is the author of numerous novels and short stories in the Fantasy, Horror, and Thriller genres.
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Deborah Loewer
- Enrolled in Wright State University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Deborah A. Loewer is a retired American naval officer. She was the first warfare-qualified woman promoted to flag rank in the United States Navy. She was frocked to the rank of rear admiral on October 1, 2003 and retired in 2007.
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Brent E. Huffman
- Years
- 1979-.. (age 45)
- Occupations
- film directorzoologistphotographerfilm producer
- Biography
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Brent Edward Huffman is an American director, writer, and cinematographer of documentaries and television programs, including Saving Mes Aynak (2015). His work has been featured on Netflix, Discovery Channel, The National Geographic Channel, VICE, NBC, CNN, PBS, Time, The New York Times, Al Jazeera America and Al Jazeera English and premiered at International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), and many other U.S. and international film festivals. He is also a professor at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University where he teaches documentary production and theory.
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Bhrigu Nath Singh
- Occupations
- aerospace engineer
- Biography
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Bhrigu Nath Singh, also known as B.N. Singh, is an Indian engineering scientist and the director general at the IITRAM. He is a distinguished professor, former HAL chair professor and Institute's first Dean of Human Resources, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. Chair of the ICTACEM and former Head of Department Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kharagpur.
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Michael A. Guetlein
- Years
- 1967-.. (age 57)
- Enrolled in Wright State University
- Graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Michael Anthony Guetlein is a United States Space Force general who serves as the second vice chief of space operations. He recently served as the first commander of Space Systems Command from 2021 to 2024. He previously served as the deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office from 2019 to 2021.
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Thais Russomano
- Occupations
- university teacherphysicianscientist
- Biography
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Thais Russomano is a Brazilian doctor and scientific researcher specialising in space medicine, space physiology, biomedical engineering, telemedicine and telehealth. She founded the Microgravity Centre (MicroG) at PUCRS university, Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1999, coordinating it for 18 years until 2017. The MicroG is the first educational and research centre in Space Life Sciences in Latin America. She is a senior lecturer at King's College London, lecturing in Aviation and Space related courses; coordinator of the Space Network (Rede Espaço), University of Lisbon; guest lecturer at Aalto University, Finland in Space and Design; guest lecturer at Pfarrkirchen Institute of Technology, European Campus, contributing to the MSc in Medical Informatics; consultant for the Skolkovo Foundation; member of the Mars One Advisory Board; International Relations Director for the UK-based HuSCO, Human Spaceflight Capitalization Office; and director of two private companies linked to space life sciences and telehealth – InnovaSpace Consultancy (UK) and International Space Medicine Consortium (USA).
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Cooper Land
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Cooper Land is an American former professional basketball player who is most known for his time spent in the State Basketball League (SBL) with the Rockingham Flames. He played college basketball for Wright State University before playing professionally in Norway, Germany, Australia and Japan.
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Loudon Love
- Years
- 1998-.. (age 26)
- Enrolled in Wright State University
- Studied in 2017
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Loudon Love is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Wright State Raiders.
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Kyle Koehler
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Kyle Koehler represented Ohio's 79th district in the Ohio House of Representatives from January 2015 to December 2023.
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Irene D. Long
- Occupations
- physician
- Biography
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Irene Duhart Long was an American physician and was an official at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She was the first female chief medical officer at the Kennedy Space Center.
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Chase Whiteside
- Years
- 1988-.. (age 36)
- Occupations
- journalist
- Biography
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Chase Augustus Whiteside is a documentary filmmaker, journalist, and co-founder of New Left Media. Whiteside is perhaps best known for his films documenting the participants at Tea Party events. Those documentaries, which IndieWire called "a perfect example of where documentary form and style is headed," have received more than 7 million views on YouTube. Henry Rollins wrote of his interviews with conservatives in a Vanity Fair column, "The very talented Mr. Whiteside is a good interviewer and puts his subjects at ease." The Advocate calls him an "ambitious gay reporter."
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Stephen L. Davis
- Enrolled in Wright State University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts in economics
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
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Stephen L. Davis is a United States Air Force lieutenant general who serves as the Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force since March 2022. He most recently served as the director of global power programs at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. Previously, he was the director for global operations of the United States Strategic Command.
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John B. Ellington, Jr
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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John B. Ellington Jr. is a former major general in the Air National Guard and director of the National Guard Chaplain Corps and Air National Guard Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force.
