Notable Alumni of DePaul University

DePaul University, a private Roman Catholic institution in Chicago, Illinois, has a rich history of producing accomplished individuals across various fields. Founded in 1898, the university has grown to become the largest Catholic university with a focus on serving underprivileged students. With a vast alumni network of approximately 74,000 individuals, DePaul graduates have made significant contributions to business, law, arts, entertainment, and public service. This article highlights some of the most notable alumni who have left their mark on the world.

Alumni in Business and Law

DePaul University's Driehaus College of Business and the College of Law have produced numerous leaders who have excelled in their respective fields. These alumni have demonstrated real-world business acumen, solved complex problems, and driven change in their communities.

Leaders in the Business World

Several DePaul alumni have risen to prominent positions in the business world, leading major corporations and shaping industries.

Jack M. Greenberg (BUS ’64, JD ’68, DHL ’99): Former Chairman & CEO of McDonald’s Corporation and Life Trustee of DePaul University.
Andrew McKenna, Sr. (JD ‘54): Former Chairman of McDonald’s Corporation.
Frank Clark (BUS ’72, JD ’76, LLD ’04): Former Chairman & CEO of ComEd and Life Trustee of DePaul University.
Michael Jaharis (JD ’58): Founder & Former Chairman of Kos Pharmaceuticals.

These individuals have demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision, guiding their companies to success and making a lasting impact on the business landscape.

Influential Figures in Law and Public Service

DePaul's College of Law has a long tradition of producing influential figures in the legal profession and public service. These alumni have argued cases before the nation's highest courts, shaped public policy, and championed justice in their communities.

The Honorable Richard J. Daley (LLB ’33): Former Mayor of the City of Chicago.
The Honorable Richard M. Daley (LAS ’65, JD ’68, LLD ’90): Former Mayor of the City of Chicago.
The Honorable Michael A. Bilandic (JD ’48): Former Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and Former Mayor of the City of Chicago.
The Honorable William J., Charles P., Mary A., Kirk Dillard (JD ’82), Thomas M., Franklin U., Jonathan E., and Larry R. Rogers, Sr.: Judges in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and other districts.
Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks (JD ’48, DHL ’77): Former Executive Director of the NAACP.
The Honorable Bernard Carey (JD ’58): Former Cook County State’s Attorney, Cook County, Illinois.
The Honorable John J. Stamos (JD ’48): Former Cook County State’s Attorney, Cook County, Illinois.
Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr. (JD ’09): Cook County Public Defender, Cook County, Illinois.
The Honorable Juliana Stratton (JD ’92): Lieutenant Governor, State of Illinois.
The Honorable Ann Gillespie (JD ’84): Director, Illinois Department of Insurance; Former Illinois State Senator.
Samuel K. Secretary of Transportation.

These alumni have dedicated their careers to serving the public, upholding the law, and advocating for justice. Their contributions have had a profound impact on the legal system and the communities they serve.

Legal Professionals and Innovators

DePaul Law graduates have also made significant contributions to the legal profession as partners in prominent law firms and innovators in various fields.

Robert A. Clifford (BUS ’73, JD ’76, LLD ’03): Founder & Senior Partner, Clifford Law Offices; Life Trustee, DePaul University.
Stephen V. D’Amore (JD ’94): Chairman, Winston & Strawn LLP; Member, DePaul University Board of Trustees.
Carla Michelotti (LAS ’72, JD ’75, DHL ’08): Former Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Leo Burnett Worldwide; Member, DePaul University Board of Trustees.
Donald L. Mrozek (JD ’73): Former Chairman, Hinshaw & Culbertson.
Timothy P. Knight (JD ’90): President & CEO, Robert McCormick Foundation; Former CEO, Tribune Publishing Company
Justin Dearborn (JD ’94): Former CEO, Tribune Publishing Company.
Natalye Paquin (JD ’86): COO, The Rockefeller Foundation.
Richard Rosenfield (LLB ’69): Co-Founder, California Pizza Kitchen.
Chaz Ebert (JD ’77): CEO & Publisher, Ebert Digital (RogerEbert.com).

These individuals have achieved remarkable success in their careers, demonstrating the value of a DePaul Law education and the impact of a legal community built to lead, serve, and inspire.

Alumni in Arts, Entertainment, and Media

DePaul University has a strong presence in the arts, entertainment, and media industries, with alumni making significant contributions as actors, musicians, filmmakers, and writers.

Celebrated Actors and Actresses

DePaul's Theatre School has produced a remarkable array of talented actors and actresses who have achieved critical acclaim and commercial success.

Gillian Anderson: Best known for her roles as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in The X-Files, Lily Bart in The House of Mirth, DSI Stella Gibson in The Fall, Jean Milburn in Sex Education, and Margaret Thatcher in The Crown.
John C. Reilly: A versatile character actor known for his roles in films such as Days of Thunder, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Gangs of New York, and Chicago.
Judy Greer: A character actress who has appeared in a wide variety of films, including Jawbreaker, What Women Want, 13 Going on 30, 27 Dresses, and Love & Other Drugs.
Linda Hunt: An Academy Award-winning actress known for her roles in Popeye, The Year of Living Dangerously, Dune, and Kindergarten Cop.
Michael Rooker: Known for playing antagonists in films and television series, including Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, The Walking Dead, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Stana Katic: Played Kate Beckett in the ABC television series Castle and FBI Special Agent Emily Byrne in Absentia.
Sean Gunn: Known for his roles as Kirk Gleason in Gilmore Girls and Kraglin Obfonteri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
John Barrowman: Known for his roles as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and Torchwood, and as Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrowverse.
Elizabeth Perkins: Known for her roles in films such as About Last Night, Big, The Flintstones, and Weeds.
Lauren Lapkus: Known for portraying Susan Fischer in Orange Is the New Black and Jess in Crashing.
Lili Taylor: Known for her roles in independent films such as Mystic Pizza, Say Anything…, and Household Saints.
Ann Dowd: Has appeared in numerous films, including Green Card, Philadelphia, Garden State, Compliance, Hereditary, and Mass.
Harvey Korman: Best remembered as a main cast member on The Carol Burnett Show.
Tom Bosley: Best known for portraying Howard Cunningham on Happy Days.
Geraldine Page: An accomplished actress with a career spanning film, stage, and television.
Richard Gilliland: Best known as JD Shackleford in Designing Women.
Gloria Foster: A stage, film, and television actress.

These actors and actresses have captivated audiences with their performances, earning numerous awards and accolades for their contributions to the entertainment industry.

Accomplished Musicians

DePaul University has also produced talented musicians who have achieved success in various genres.

Pete Wentz: Bassist and lyricist for the rock band Fall Out Boy.
Joe Keery: Known professionally in music as Djo, also known for playing Steve Harrington in the science fiction series Stranger Things.
Ray Manzarek: Keyboardist and co-founder of the rock band The Doors.

These musicians have made significant contributions to the music industry, writing, performing, and producing music that has resonated with audiences worldwide.

Filmmakers and Media Professionals

DePaul's School of Cinematic Arts has a growing reputation for producing experienced professionals in the film and television industry.

Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan (BFA '19): Director of The Headhunter's Daughter, which won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Brittani Ward (BA '10): Casting Director for Ride and Back Fork, and Casting Associate for The First, Mindhunter, and Daredevil.
Keith O'Hara (BA '11): Associate Producer at Universal Pictures and worked on VFX for Avatar: The Way of Water and Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Roberto Larios (MFA ’17): TV Literary Agent at Verve Talent and Literary Agency.
Adam Banicki (BA ’08): Head of Video at Fortune.
Abby Plante (BA '13): Member of the Emmy-nominated writing team for Netflix's Bill Nye Saves the World and Associate Producer for Netflix, NBCUniversal, Logo Network, E! International, and SyFy Network.
Charia Rose (BFA ’17): Executive Story Editor at Warner Bros.

These alumni have demonstrated their talent and expertise in various aspects of filmmaking and media production, contributing to the success of numerous films and television shows.

Alumni in Sports

DePaul University has a strong athletic tradition, with alumni making significant contributions to professional sports as players and coaches.

George Mikan: A pioneering professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears and the Minneapolis Lakers, nicknamed "Mr. Basketball".
Jerry Sloan: A former professional basketball player and coach, who spent 23 years as head coach of the Utah Jazz.

These athletes have achieved remarkable success in their careers, inspiring generations of basketball players and fans.

Other Notable Alumni

In addition to the alumni mentioned above, DePaul University has produced notable individuals in other fields, including:

Philip Kotler: An American marketing author, consultant, and professor emeritus at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Ashton Sanders: An actor known for his portrayal of teenage Chiron in the film Moonlight.
David Dastmalchian: An actor, writer, and producer known for his roles in superhero franchises such as The Dark Knight, Ant-Man, The Flash, and The Suicide Squad.
Chelsea Tayui: Miss Universe Ghana 2020.
Walter J. Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush.
Todd Beamer: A passenger on United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, during the September 11 attacks.

These alumni have made significant contributions to their respective fields, demonstrating the breadth and depth of a DePaul University education.

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