Notable UNCF Alumni
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Samuel L. Jackson and Dr. Ruth Simmons.
These are just three noteworthy individuals who have attended one of UNCF’s 37 member institutions.
To find out who else has attended a UNCF-member institution, read on.
- Mary Lee Alexander-Johnson—Educator
- Honorable Joe Ellis Brown—Retired State House of Representative, South Carolina
- Dr. Leroy T. Walker—First African American President, U.S. Olympic Committee
- Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson—Former International President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- Dr. Susie Powell— Television journalist best known for her Emmy Award-winning work as an ABC News correspondent
- Jen-ai Pridgeon-Childress—Author of children’s books
- A. Philip Randolph—Civil rights activist
- Larry Little—Former NFL player, San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins
- Ernest A. Finney, Jr.—First African American chief justice, South Carolina Supreme Court
- Cecil Williams—Noted photographer, publisher, author and artist
- James Weldon Johnson—Writer of the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
- Jacque Reid—Radio and television personality, author, public speaker and host of, “The Jacque Reid Show”
- Dr. Ruth Simmons—Former President, Brown University and first African American to head an Ivy League university
- Ellis M. Marsalis Jr.—World-renowned Jazz Musician
- Barbara Lang—Former President, Washington D.C. Chamber of Commerce
- Betty Holzendorf—Former Florida State Representative
- Norma Ely—Former FAA, Air Traffic Manager
- Simone Fitzcharles—Lawyer, Partner in the Litigation and Insolvency and Restructuring Groups
- Dr. James Harris—Nuclear Chemist
- Honorable Azie Taylor Morton—former Treasurer of the United States
- John Lewis—Former U.S. Representative (D-GA)
- Kym Whitley—Actress known for The Cosby Show and Sister, Sister
- Mandisa—Grammy award-winning recording artist
Interdenominational Theological Center
- Bishop Charles E. Blake—Presiding Bishop, Church of God in Christ
- Dr. Otis Moss, Jr.—Pastor, theologian and author
- Woody Wilson—Distinguished celebrity clothing designer
- Michelle Stimpson—Author of Boaz Brown, Divas of Damascus Road, The Good Stuff and more
- Pettis Norman—Former NFL tight end for Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers
- Dr. Bertha Maxwell Roddey—Educator and former Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. president
- Jacoby Jones—former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
- Jesse Tyson—President and CEO, National Black MBA Association
- Marion Barry—Former Mayor of Washington, DC
- W.W. Herenton—First elected African American Mayor, City of Memphis, TN
- George E. Battle, Jr.—Sr. Bishop AME Zion Church
- Elizabeth Duncan Koontz—First Black President, National Educator Association
- Richard Arrington—First Black mayor of Birmingham
- U. W. Clemons—Alabama’s first Black Federal Judge
- Samuel L. Jackson—Acclaimed actor known for roles in Pulp Fiction and the Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Spike Lee—Filmmaker and director of Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X
- John David Washington—Actor and former professional football player
- Keshia Knight Pulliam—Actress best known as Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show
- Stacey Abrams—Politician, lawyer and voting rights activist
- Alice Walker—Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Color Purple
- LaTanya Richardson Jackson—NAACP Image Award-nominated actress and producer