University of Illinois | 150 Years & Beyond

Mary Doria Russell

Science fiction author

2-time Pulitzer nominee

Alan Ruck

Played sidekick Cameron in 'Ferris Bueller’s Day Off'

Can now be seen on HBO's 'Succession'

Henry Petroski

Civil engineering professor

Distinguished Alumni Award

Cheryl Berman

Award-winning ad exec

Past chairman, Leo Burnett

Jacquelyn Mitchard

Author

‘The Deep End of the Ocean’

Lee Archambault

NASA astronaut

Flew 2 shuttle missions

Jack Welch

Former CEO, General Electric

Died in 2020 at age 84

John McDonald

U.S. ambassador

Died in May 2019

Steve Weatherford

NFL punter

Won Super Bowl XLVI

John Pauly

Former Marquette provost

Journalism prof. emeritus

Dan Little

Chancellor

U of Michigan-Dearborn

Mandy Revisky

Air Force captain

Teaches aerospace studies

Paula Holderman

Former Chicago attorney

Past president, Illinois Bar

Leanna Rossmann

Global head of music finance

Walt Disney Co.

Michael Redington

Finance director

The Walt Disney Co.

Kathleen Feeney

Circuit court judge

Kent County, Mich.

Brian Wilson

World Series of Poker

$700,000-plus in winnings

Sylvia Puente

Leads Latino Policy Forum

Alumni Achievement Award

Paul Ingrassia

Shared 1993 Pulitzer for beat reporting

Died in 2019 at age 69

Jerry Markbreit

Former NFL official

Worked 4 Super Bowls

Matthew Gore

Uber general manager

Fmr. naval nuclear engineer

Stephen Tobolowsky

Actor

Ned from 'Groundhog Day'

Betsy Brandt

Actress

Marie on 'Breaking Bad'

Robert Johnson

Billionaire businessman

BET founder