Inspiring Leaders: Notable Alumni of Colgate University

Colgate University, a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, has a rich history and a tradition of fostering passionate and ambitious students. From its welcoming arrival day traditions to its emphasis on inclusivity and community, Colgate cultivates an environment where students can thrive both academically and personally. This commitment to holistic development is reflected in the accomplishments of its diverse and influential alumni.

A Tradition of Community and Spirit

The Colgate experience begins with a strong sense of community. As first-year students arrive on campus, upperclassmen create a welcoming atmosphere, cheering them on and encouraging them to embrace the Colgate spirit. This spirit is characterized by a passion for learning and a dedication to having fun, creating a vibrant and energetic campus environment. Students form connections, exchange greetings on their way to class, and develop a lasting sense of belonging to the university.

Colgate fosters inclusivity through various programs and resources. The Africana, Latin, Asian, and Native American (ALANA) Cultural Center hosts ALANAPalooza, a student-favorite event that kicks off the academic year by celebrating multicultural life at Colgate. Brown bag lunches provide a platform for discussing challenging topics, while guest lectures and dinners with today's leaders and activists offer students unique insights. These initiatives, along with the support of staff, faculty, and peer mentors, create a diverse community that encourages personal growth and discovery.

Living at Colgate is designed to foster a sense of community from the start. First-year and second-year students belong to one of four residential commons, providing them with support, opportunities to make friends, and a feeling of connection early in their college life. These commons offer a range of optional activities, such as weekly dinners with faculty, ski trips, study groups, trivia nights, and weekend brunches, promoting empathy, sociability, flexibility, and respect for others. Most students live in Colgate housing for all four years, ensuring a consistent and supportive living environment.

Sample activities within the residential commons include:

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Intellectual Curiosity: Fireside Chats, Big Question Series, Faculty Dinners
Arts and Culture: Coffeehouses, International Dinners, Talent Shows
Environment and Sustainability: Colgate Unplugged, LED Exchange Program
Recreation and Wellness: Halloween Trick or Trot, Dodgeball, Chess Tournament
Community Engagement: MLK Day of Service, Commons Formal

Fraternities and sororities have been a part of Colgate's tradition since 1856. Approximately 25 percent of students belong to one of the five fraternities and three sororities, contributing to the social fabric of the university.

Dedicated Faculty and Academic Excellence

Colgate students often refer to their courses by the name of the professor who teaches them, reflecting the personal connection they feel to their classes. The faculty are known for their achievements and their approachability, investment, involvement, and ability to inspire. With 95% holding a PhD or the highest degree in their field, Colgate faculty are committed to providing a challenging and rewarding academic experience.

The university offers 56 undergraduate majors leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, all registered with the New York State Department of Education. Colgate's rigorous academic curriculum, combined with mentoring and support, creates a winning combination for its students.

Alumni: A Network of Leaders

Colgate University boasts a famously loyal alumni network of over 35,000 individuals who are leaders in business, literature, finance, entertainment, and more. These alumni provide mentoring, internships, and constant engagement with undergraduates, tailored to their specific areas of interest. The support from this inspiring and successful group of leaders is invaluable to Colgate students.

Each year, the Kerschner Family Series Global Leaders at Colgate brings notable individuals to campus whose work has had a global impact. These encounters with world leaders help students prepare for lives of leadership and contribute to the advancement of both local communities and global society.

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Notable Alumni

Colgate University has produced a diverse array of accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. Here are some notable examples:

Arts and Entertainment:

John Cassavetes: A pioneer of American independent cinema, Cassavetes was a filmmaker and actor known for his raw and innovative style. He received nominations for three Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and an Emmy Award.
Bob Balaban: An actor, director, producer, and writer, Balaban has directed feature films and television episodes. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture as one of the producers of Gosford Park (2001).
Charles Addams: A cartoonist known for his darkly humorous and macabre characters, Addams created the Addams Family, which has been popularized through various adaptations.
Steve Lemme: An actor, writer, and producer, Lemme is a member of the Broken Lizard comedy group.
Erik Stolhanske: An actor, writer, and producer, Stolhanske is also a member of the Broken Lizard comedy group, best known as "Officer Rabbit" from the Super Troopers films.
Kevin Heffernan: An actor, writer, producer, and director, Heffernan is a member of the Broken Lizard comedy group.

Politics and Law:

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.: A pastor and politician, Powell represented Harlem in the United States House of Representatives from 1945 to 1971. He was the first African American elected to Congress from New York and a powerful voice for civil rights.
Charles Evans Hughes: A politician, academic, and jurist, Hughes served as the 11th Chief Justice of the United States from 1930 to 1941. He also served as Secretary of State and was the Republican nominee in the 1916 presidential election.
William P. Rogers: A politician, diplomat, and attorney, Rogers served as Attorney General under President Dwight D. Eisenhower and as Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon.
Claudia Tenney: A politician, journalist, and lawyer, Tenney has represented New York's 22nd and 24th congressional districts in the United States House of Representatives.
John Durham: An attorney, Durham served as the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut and as special counsel for the Department of Justice.
Mary Gay Scanlon: An attorney and politician, Scanlon represents Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.
Antonio Delgado: An attorney and politician, Delgado is the Lieutenant Governor of New York. He previously represented New York's 19th congressional district.
Brad Ashford: A politician, judge, business executive, and lawyer, Ashford served in the Nebraska Legislature and the United States House of Representatives.

Business and Finance:

Ben Cohen: An entrepreneur, activist, and philanthropist, Cohen is a co-founder of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry's.
Bruce Buck: A lawyer and businessperson, Buck is the founding managing partner of the London office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. He was also the Chairman of Chelsea Football Club from 2004 until 2022.
Chase Carey: A business executive, Carey is the former chief executive officer and executive chairman of the Formula One Group.
Steve Burke: A businessperson, Burke is the senior executive vice president of Comcast and chairman of NBCUniversal.
Carmine Di Sibio: A business executive, Di Sibio was the Global Chairman and CEO of EY (Ernst & Young) until July 2024.
Duncan L. Niederauer: A business executive, Niederauer served as the chief executive officer of NYSE Euronext until 2014.
Bill Winters: A banker and business executive, Winters is the chief executive (CEO) of Standard Chartered.
Jonah Shacknai: A pharmaceutical executive, Shacknai was the founder of Illustris Pharmaceuticals and the founder, chairman, and CEO of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation.

Journalism and Media:

Gloria Borger: A political pundit, journalist, columnist, and senior political analyst for CNN.
Chris Hedges: A journalist, author, commentator, and Presbyterian minister.
Andy Rooney: A radio and television writer, Rooney was best known for his weekly broadcast "A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney" on the CBS News program 60 Minutes.
Bob Woodruff: A television journalist, Woodruff has served as a reporter for ABC News since 1996.
Howard Fineman: A journalist and television commentator, Fineman covered nine presidential campaigns and was the chief political correspondent, senior editor, and deputy Washington bureau chief for Newsweek magazine.
Rob Stone: A sports commentator for Fox Sports, covering various sports including Major League Soccer (MLS), NCAA and NFL football, and the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA).

Athletics:

Otto Graham: A professional football quarterback, Graham played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
Mike Milbury: A former professional ice hockey player, Milbury played for twelve seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins and is a current sports announcer.
Adonal Foyle: A former professional basketball center, Foyle played ten seasons with the Golden State Warriors.

Science and Academia:

Oswald Avery: A physician and medical researcher, Avery is best known for the experiment that isolated DNA as the material of which genes and chromosomes are made.
Harry Emerson Fosdick: A pastor, Fosdick was a central figure in the fundamentalistâmodernist controversy within American Protestantism and one of the most prominent liberal ministers of the early 20th century.

Entrepreneurs on Forbes 30 Under 30 List (2020):

Jake â16 and Caroline â19 Danehy: Founders of Fair Harbor, a clothing company that makes apparel from recycled plastic bottles.
Hele: Vice president at Bank of America, specializing in the financial dealings of industrial companies.
Freud and Carroll: Founders of CampusReel, a platform that allows current students to post virtual campus tours.
Sameshima and Petracca: Founders of Chicory, a company that integrates recipes and online grocery shopping.

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