List of Southern Methodist University people

Politics and government

U.S. government

U.S. Cabinet/White House

• Laura Bush (B.S. 1968) – First Lady of the United States (2001–2009), First Lady of Texas (1995–2000)^[16]
• Bill Clements (attended) – U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense (1973–1977)^[17]
• Hope Hicks (B.A. 2010) – former White House communications director, former press secretary for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and presidential transition team^[18][19]
• Karen Hughes (B.A. 1977) – former under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs, counselor to the president, White House Communications Director^[20]
• Jo Jorgensen (MBA 1980) – Libertarian Party's nominee in the 2020 election, first woman to become the Libertarian nominee, and the only female 2020 presidential candidate with ballot access to over 270 electoral votes^[21][22]
• John Lee Ratcliffe (J.D. 1989) – current director of the Central Intelligence Agency, former director of national intelligence,^[23] former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas representing the 4th district
• Chad Wolf (B.A. 1998) – acting secretary United States Department of Homeland Security and Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Strategy, Policy, and Plans, previously, Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Homeland Security and Chief of Staff of the Transportation Security Administration^[24][25]

U.S. Senate

• Bob Krueger (B.A. 1957) – former U.S. senator and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas, U.S. ambassador to Botswana, U.S. ambassador to Burundi^[26]
• Rick Scott (J.D. 1978) – U.S. senator from Florida^[27]
• John Tower (M.A. 1951) – former U.S. senator from Texas^[28]

U.S. House of Representatives

• John Wiley Bryant (B.A. 1969, J.D. 1972) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas^[29]
• Jim Chapman (J.D. 1970) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas^[30]
• James M. Collins (B.S. 1937) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas^[31]
• John Culberson (B.A. 1981) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas^[32]
• Bob Franks (J.D. 1976) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey, chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee^[33]
• Ralph Hall (LL.B. 1951) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas^[34]
• Eddie Bernice Johnson (M.P.A. 1976) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas^[35]
• Sam Johnson (B.B.A. 1951) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas^[36]
• Bob Krueger (B.A. 1957) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas, U.S. ambassador to Botswana, U.S. ambassador to Burundi^[26]
• Dennis Moore (attended) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas^[37]
• John Lee Ratcliffe (J.D. 1989) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas representing the 4th district, 2015–2020^[23]
• Lamar Smith (J.D. 1975) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas^[38]

U.S. ambassadors and diplomats

• Rena Bitter (J.D. 1991) – former U.S. ambassador to Laos, Nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs^[39]
• Teel Bivins (J.D. 1976) – former U.S. ambassador to Sweden, member of the Texas Senate^[40]
• Tony Garza (J.D. 1983) – former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Texas Railroad Commissioner, 98th Secretary of State of Texas^[41]
• Roy M. Huffington (B.S. 1938) – former U.S. ambassador to Austria^[42]
• Bob Krueger (B.A. 1957) – former U.S. ambassador to Botswana, U.S. ambassador to Burundi^[26]
• George C. McGhee (attended) – former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, U.S. ambassador to West Germany, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs^{[citation needed]}
• Jeanne L. Phillips (B.A. 1976) – former U.S. ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development^[43]
• Elizabeth Holzhall Richard (B.A. 1981, J.D. 1984) – current U.S. ambassador to Lebanon^[44]
• Roy R. Rubottom Jr. (B.A. 1933) – former U.S. ambassador to Argentina, Assistant secretary for Inter-American Affairs^{[citation needed]}

State governors

• Bill Clements (attended) – 42nd and 44th governor of Texas (1979–1983; 1987–1991), U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense (1973–1977)^[45]
• Rick Scott (J.D. 1978) – 45th governor of Florida (2011–2019)^[27]

State legislators

• Rafael Anchia (B.A. 1990) – current member of the Texas House of Representatives^[46]
• Leo Berman (B.A. 1969) – former member of the Texas House of Representatives, member of the city council of Arlington, Texas^[47]
• Dan Branch (J.D.) – former member of the Texas House of Representatives^[48]
• Raleigh Brown – member of the Texas House of Representatives; Texas State District Court judge in Abilene^[49]
• Jim R. Caldwell (M.S.) – former member of the Arkansas Senate, chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party^{[citation needed]}
• Mickey Dollens (B.A. 2011) – current member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives^[50]
• Charlie Geren (B.B.A. 1971) – member of the Texas House of Representatives from his native Fort Worth
• Christine Hamm – member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
• Ike Harris (J.D. 1960) – member of the Texas Senate (1967–1995), president pro tempore of the Texas Senate (1973)^[51]
• Todd Ames Hunter (Law '78) – member of the Texas House of Representatives from Corpus Christi (Democrat, 1989–1997; Republican, since 2009)
• Ray Hutchison (B.A. '57, J.D. '59) – former state representative and partner in Vinson and Elkins in Dallas; husband of U.S. senator Kay Bailey Hutchison^{[citation needed]}
• Jim Keet (B.B.A. 1971) – 2010 Republican nominee for Governor of Arkansas, member of the Arkansas Senate (1993–1997), member of the Arkansas House of Representatives (1989–1991)^{[citation needed]}
• Bill Keffer (B.A. 1981) – member of the Texas House of Representatives (2003–2007)^[52]
• Sharon Keller – presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
• Bob McFarland (J.D. 1966) – member of the Texas Senate (1983–1991), president pro tempore of the Texas Senate (1989)^[53]
• R. Kirk McPike (B.A. 2005) — member of the Virginia House of Delegates from District 5 since 2026
• Morgan Meyer – Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 108 in Dallas County, including University Park^[54]
• Barrow Peacock – Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from Shreveport^[55]
• E. J. Pipkin (M.S. 2014) – Republican member of the Maryland Senate (2003–2013)
• Ana-Maria Ramos (J.D.) – member of the Texas House of Representatives
• Matt Shaheen – Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Plano, effective 2015; former Collin County commissioner; received master's degree from SMU^[56]
• Kenneth Sheets (J.D. 2004) – Dallas attorney and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 107 in Dallas County since 2011^[57]
• Virginia Shehee – member of the Louisiana State Senate from Shreveport, 1976 to 1980; businesswoman and philanthropist; studied social work at SMU^[58]
• Burt Solomons – Republican former member of the Texas House of Representatives from Denton County; received a Master of Public Administration degree from SMU in the early 1970s^[59]

Other state and local government

• Dewey F. Bartlett Jr. (M.B.A. 1971) – 39th mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma (2009–2016), son of former U.S. senator Dewey F. Bartlett^[60]
• Bryan Bush – district attorney of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana (1985–1990)^{[citation needed]}
• Joe Cobb - mayor of Roanoke, Virginia (2025-present)^[61]
• K. Dennise Garcia (B. A., B.S., J.D.) – state district judge (2004–2020); justice, 5th District Court of Appeals (2021–present)^[62]
• Helena Moreno (B.A. 1999) – Mayor of New Orleans (2025-present), former New Orleans City Council President (2019–2025); former journalist and Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 93^[63]
• Eric V. Moyé (B.A.) – state district judge (1992–95; 2008–present)^[64]
• Barbara Staff (B.A.) – Texas Republican Party activist, Texas co-chairman of Ronald Reagan's 1976 presidential primary campaign^[65]
• Martha Whitehead (B.A. 1962) – last Texas State Treasurer (1993–1996)^[66]
• Phil Wilson (M.B.A.) – 106th Texas Secretary of State (2007–2008)^{[citation needed]}

Military

• Sam Brown – U.S. Army captain; recipient of the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart for service in Afghanistan
• Fred E. Ellis – Air National Guard major general^[67]
• Fred E. Haynes Jr. – World War II Marine officer and later major general; brother of actor Jerry Haynes^[68]
• General Craig R. McKinley (B.B.A. 1974) – 26th Chief of the National Guard Bureau (2008–2012)^[69]
• Jack Miller – World War II Marine officer; namesake of the USS Jack Miller^[70]
• Huan Nguyen – first Vietnamese-American Navy rear admiral^[71]
• Harry M. Wyatt III (B. A. in Business Administration, 1974) – attorney, retired lieutenant general of the U.S. Air Force, former adjutant general of Oklahoma, former Secretary of Military Affairs for State of Oklahoma; J.D. from University of Tulsa School of Law (1980)

Business

• Gerald Alley – founder, president and CEO, Con-Real^[72]
• Bill Armstrong ’82, founder of Armstrong Oil & Gas, SMU trustee, and major athletics donor^[73][74]
• Thaddeus Arroyo – CEO, AT&T Business Solutions and International^[72]
• Gabriel Barbier-Mueller – founder and CEO, Harwood International^{[citation needed]}
• Harry W. Bass, Jr. – owner, Vail Resorts
• Mark Blinn – former president and chief executive officer, Flowserve Corporartion^[75]
• Henry L. Brandon – chairman of the board, Unocal Corporation
• Lally Brennan, proprietor of Commander's Palace
• John J Christmann IV – chairman and CEO, Apache Corporation
• Richard L. Clemmer (MBA) – CEO of NXP Semiconductors^[76]
• Lodwrick Cook – chairman and CEO, Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO)^[77]
• Trammell Crow – founder, Trammell Crow Company^[78]
• Álex Cruz – former CEO, British Airways^[72]
• C. David Cush – former CEO, Virgin America
• Aaron Davidson – chairman of the North American Soccer League and president of Traffic Sports USA^[79]
• Aart J. de Geus – co-founder, chairman and CEO of Synopsys^[80]
• Robert H. Dedman, Sr. – founder and CEO, ClubCorp^[81]
• Robert H. Dedman, Jr. – former CEO, ClubCorp
• David B. Dillon – president and chairman of the Kroger Co.^[82]
• Bob Dudley – CEO, BP^[83]
• Thomas Dundon (B.S. 1993) – chairman and managing partner of Dundon Capital Partners in Dallas, Texas, owner of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League and one-quarter of TopGolf^[84]
• Sten Ekberg (BBA) – doctor of chiropractic, Olympic athlete
• J. Lindsay Embrey – chairman and CEO of First Continental Enterprises Inc. and Embrey Enterprises Inc.^[85]
• Martin L. Flanagan – president and CEO, Invesco^[72]
• Gerald J. Ford (B.A. 1966, J.D. 1969) – Dallas-based billionaire^[86]
• Jerry Fullinwider – founder of V–F Petroleum^[87]
• Deborah Gibbins – chief operating officer, Mary Kay, Inc.^{[citation needed]}
• Rob C. Holmes – CEO, president, and member of the board of directors, Texas Capital Bank^[88]
• Donald Holmquest – CEO, California RHIO^[89]
• Thomas W. Horton – CEO, American Airlines
• Clark Hunt (B.B.A. 1987) – current part owner, chairman, and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer^[90]
• Helen LaKelly Hunt – founder of the Sister Fund^[91]
• Hunter L. Hunt (B.A. 1990) – current chairman and CEO of Hunt Consolidated Energy^{[citation needed]}
• Lamar Hunt (B.S. 1956) – principal founder of the American Football League (AFL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and Kansas City Chiefs, owner of the Kansas City Wizards, Columbus Crew, and FC Dallas^[92]
• Ray Lee Hunt – chairman and CEO, Hunt Oil Company^[93]
• Jim Irsay (B.A. 1982) – former owner of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League^[94]
• Keith D. Jackson – president, CEO and director of ON Semiconductor and 2020 chair of the Semiconductor Industry Association board of directors^[95]
• Jerry Junkins – president, chairman, and CEO of Texas Instruments (1988–1996)^[96]
• Colette Kress(MBA) — CFO, Nvidia
• Michelle Lemmons-Poscente – founder and CEO of International Speakers Bureau^[97]
• Paul B. Loyd, Jr. – former chairman and CEO of the R&B Falcon Corporation, the world's largest offshore drilling company (1997–2001); sits on the SMU Board of Trustees^[98]
• Harold MacDowell – CEO, TDIndustries^[99]
• Ruth Ann Marshall – one of Forbes' 100 most influential women of 2005; former president of the Americas at MasterCard^[100]
• John H. Matthews^{[citation needed]}
• David B. Miller, co-founder of EnCap Investments, current chairman of the SMU Board of Trustees, and major benefactor of the Cox School of Business; played a central role in SMU's entry into the ACC^{[73][101][102]}
• Jordan Miller – founder and CEO of Yendo, on Forbes' "30 under 30" list^[103]
• Beth E. Mooney – CEO of Key Bank
• Kenneth R. Morris – co-founder, PeopleSoft^[72]
• Robert Mosbacher, Jr. – Houston businessman; president of Mosbacher Energy Company, Overseas Private Investment Corporation^{[citation needed]}
• Erle A. Nye – chairman and CEO, TXU^{[citation needed]}
• William J. O'Neil – founder of the business newspaper Investor's Business Daily^[104]
• Jamie Patel – Senior Vice-president and Chief Technology Officer, American Century Investments^[105]
• Marc Patrick (B.A. 1993) – senior director for global brand communications, Nike, Inc.^[106]
• Martin W. "Bud" Pernoll – founder and CEO, Bay Mutual Financial
• Eckhard Pfeiffer (MBA) – chairman and CEO, Compaq^[107]
• Melissa Reiff – CEO, The Container Store^[72]
• Robert Rowling – U.S. billionaire, No. 45 on Forbes 400^[108]
• Edward B. Rust, Jr. (MBA) – chairman and CEO, State Farm Insurance^[109]
• John Santa María Otazua – CEO, Coca-Cola FEMSA^[72]
• George Edward Seay III – businessman; co-founder and CEO of Annandale Capital; philanthropist; conservative political activist^[110]
• Mark Shepherd – chairman and CEO, Texas Instruments^[111]
• Jeffrey Skilling – chairman and CEO of Enron^[112]
• Jeff Storey – president and chief executive officer of Level 3 Communications^[113]
• Emily Summers – interior designer
• John H. Tyson – chairman of Tyson Foods^[114]
• Ray Washburne – real estate investor
• Whitney Wolfe Herd – founder and CEO, Bumble; co-founder of Tinder^[72]
• Donald Zale – chairman, Capitol Entertainment Group and son of Morris (M. B.) Zale, co-founder of Zale Corporation^[78]

Law

• James A. Baker (B.B.A. 1953, LL.B. 1958) – justice of the Supreme Court of Texas (1995–2002)^[115]
• Jeff Cox (Legal Law Masters in Taxation) – judge since 2005 of the Louisiana 26th Judicial District Court of Bossier and Webster parishes^[116]
• Craig T. Enoch – justice, Texas Supreme Court^{[citation needed]}
• Mondonna ("Mondi") Ghasedi (BA 1996) – judge, State of Missouri (21st Circuit - St. Louis County)^[117]
• David C. Godbey – federal judge
• Deborah Hankinson – former justice of Texas Supreme Court^{[citation needed]}
• Irma Carrillo Ramirez – circuit judge, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
• Nathan Hecht – chief justice, Texas Supreme Court^[118]
• Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. – justice, Supreme Court of Missouri^[119]
• Barbara M.G. Lynn – judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas^[120]
• Robert B. Maloney – federal judge
• Lawrence E. Meyers – judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals since 1993; resides in Fort Worth^[121]
• Harriet Miers – George W. Bush administration nominee to the United States Supreme Court^[122]
• James Latane Noel, Jr. – attorney general of Texas
• Michael Pryles (LL.M '68, S.J.D '70) – former commissioner, Australian Law Reform Commission; former Commissioner, United Nations Compensation Commission (Geneva); chairman, Singapore International Arbitration Centre (2009–2012)
• William Steger – judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas^[123]
• Larkin Walsh – justice of Kansas Supreme Court^[124]

Scientists

• Michael Bunnell – winner of 2010 Scientific and Engineering Academy Award for making computer-generated characters look more real^[125]
• Donald D. Clayton – astrophysicist
• James Cronin – Nobel Prize-winning physicist^[126]
• Robert Dennard – computing pioneer^{[citation needed]}
• Donald Holmquest – NASA astronaut, physician
• Jack N. James – engineer and manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory; project manager for the Mariner program^{[citation needed]}
• Kent Norman – cognitive psychologist and expert on computer rage^{[citation needed]}
• Andrés Ruzo – geothermal scientist and a National Geographic Young Explorer^[127]
• Clyde Snow – forensic anthropologist ^{[citation needed]}
• Robert Taylor – computing pioneer
• Mary E. Weber – NASA astronaut^[128]
• Donald J. Wheeler – expert on statistical process control and data analysis^{[citation needed]}
• Cindy Ann Yeilding – geologist and former vice president of BP^[129]

Academia

• Betsy Boze (née Betsy Vogel) – president, The College of The Bahamas^{[130][131][132]}
• Dan W. Dodson – former sociology professor at New York University^[133]
• Larry Faulkner – president, University of Texas at Austin (1998–2006)^[134]
• Utpal K. Goswami – president, Santa Barbara City College^[135]
• Lee F. Jackson – former chancellor of the University of North Texas System (2002–2017) and the State of Texas' longest-serving chancellor at the time when he announced his retirement in March 2017
• Jo Jorgensen (M.B.A. 1983) – 2020 Libertarian Party presidential candidate, senior lecturer of Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Clemson University^[136]
• Herma Hill Kay – dean, UC Berkeley School of Law
• Mary Elizabeth Moore – dean, Boston University School of Theology
• Donde Plowman – chancellor of the University of Tennessee (2019–present)^[137]
• William C. Roberts – cardiologist; pathologist; first head of pathology for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
• Andrea I. Robinson – master sommelier and dean of wine studies at the French Culinary Institute^[138]
• Earl Rose – Dallas County medical examiner at the time of the assassination of John F. Kennedy; pathologist at University of Iowa^[139]
• Vernon L. Scarborough (PhD 1980) – Mesoamerican archaeologist; professor and head of department in anthropology at University of Cincinnati^{[citation needed]}
• Thomas F. Siems – senior economist and policy advisor in the Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas^{[citation needed]}

Film, performing arts, television, radio, popular culture

• Amy Acker – actress, BFA (Theater) 1999, Person of Interest, Angel^[140]
• Michael Aronov – actor, playwright
• Antoine Ashley (a.k.a. Sahara Davenport) – female impersonator, singer, and reality show participant (RuPaul's Drag Race)^{[citation needed]}
• Astronautalis (Charles Andrew Bothwell) – hip-hop artist^[141]
• George C. Baker – organist, composer, pedagogue, and dermatologist^[142]
• Bob Banner – TV producer^[143]
• Joseph Banowetz – Grammy-nominated classical pianist; music professor^[144]
• David Barrera – actor, Generation Kill^[145]
• Adam Bartley – actor notable for television's Longmire^[146]
• David Bates – artist^[147]
• Kathy Bates – Oscar-winning actress^[148]
• Brian Baumgartner – actor on The Office^[149]
• Matt Earl Beesley – TV and film director^[150]
• Andrew-John Bethke – composer, conductor and organist
• Mary Walling Blackburn – artist
• Andy Blankenbuehler – dancer, choreographer, Hamilton, Bandstand, In the Heights
• Powers Boothe – Emmy Award-winning actor^[151]
• Cale Boyter – film producer, Wedding Crashers^[152]
• Edie Brickell – singer-songwriter, guitarist with The New Bohemians^[153]
• Allen Case – Broadway and television actor (The Deputy)^[154]
• R. Jane Chu – chairperson, National Endowment for the Arts
• Laura Claycomb – operatic soprano^[155]
• Eddie Coker – children's musician^{[citation needed]}
• Graham Colton – pop singer, performer, songwriter^[156]
• Cristi Conaway – actress^[157]
• John-Henry Crawford – classical cellist^[158]
• Mimi Davila – from the Chonga Girls^{[citation needed]}
• Paige Davis – TLC Network personality^[159]
• Stefanie de Roux – model, represented Panama in Miss Universe 2003 and Miss Earth 2006^[160]
• Fernando del Valle (Brian S. Skinner) – operatic tenor^[161]
• Irene the Alien – drag queen, reality television personality on RuPaul's Drag Race known for her alien-inspired drag
• Hacksaw Jim Duggan – pro wrestler^{[citation needed]}
• Amanda Dunbar – visual artist^{[citation needed]}
• Mary Elizabeth Ellis – actress known for portraying "The Waitress" on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia^[162]
• Bill Fagerbakke – actor on Coach and voice on SpongeBob SquarePants^[163]
• Katie Featherston – lead actress in the independent horror film Paranormal Activity^[164]
• Amanda Frances - author and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member^[165]
• Morgan Garrett – voice actress affiliated with Funimation
• Clarence Gilyard – actor, Walker, Texas Ranger^[166]
• Lynda Goodfriend – actress
• Lauren Graham – lead actress, Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, and Guys and Dolls on Broadway^[167]
• Art Greenhaw – Grammy Award-winning artist, record producer and audio engineer^[168]
• Daniel Hart – musician and composer^[169]
• James V. Hart – screenwriter and author
• Jerry Haynes – actor, most well known as Mr. Peppermint, brother of Fred E. Haynes Jr., World War II Marine officer and later major general^[68]
• Thomas Hayward – chairman of the Voice and Opera departments of the Meadows School of the Arts; named distinguished professor of voice 1990; namesake of the Thomas Hayward Memorial Award scholarship^{[citation needed]}
• Ian Hill – Drag Performer, Irene The Alien
• Jerrika Hinton – actress, Grey's Anatomy
• John Holiday – operatic countertenor
• David Hudgins – TV writer and producer, Everwood and Friday Night Lights^{[citation needed]}
• Tom Hussey – photographer specializing in commercial advertising and lifestyle photography^[170]
• Jack Ingram – country music singer^{[citation needed]}
• Rick Jaffa – screenwriter
• William Joyce – creator of Rolie Polie Olie and George Shrinks, Academy Award winner^[171]
• Ron Judkins – production sound mixer and writer-director
• Kourtney Kardashian (attended) – co-owner of D-A-S-H; featured on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami, and Kourtney and Kim Take New York^[172]
• Marklen Kennedy – TV and film producer
• Bavand Karim – TV and film producer^[173]
• Jordan Ladd – actress and model
• Sheryl Leach – creator of Barney & Friends children's television program^{[citation needed]}
• Gus Levene – arranger, composer, orchestrator, and guitarist^[174]
• Lydia Mackay – voice actress affiliated with Funimation
• Dorothy Malone – Academy Award-winning actress
• Jayne Mansfield – actress
• Page McConnell – keyboardist for Phish^[175]
• Jay McGraw – son of Dr. Phil McGraw, "Dr. Phil"^{[citation needed]}
• Debra Monk – Tony Award-winning actress^[176]
• Belita Moreno – actress; Benny on the George Lopez TV series^[177]
• N'dambi – Grammy-nominated recording artist^[178]
• Jeffrey Nordling – actor, 24, Desperate Housewives, Big Little Lies, Once and Again
• Sybil Robson Orr – film producer and former news anchor^{[citation needed]}
• Candice Patton – actress, The Flash^[179]
• Khary Payton – actor, The Walking Dead
• Artemis Pebdani – actress, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia^[180]
• Lynne Strow Piccolo – operatic soprano^[181]
• D.J. Pierce (a.k.a. Shangela Laquifa Wadley) – drag queen, reality television personality reality show participant (seasons 2 & 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race) and actor^[182]
• Patricia Richardson – actress, Home Improvement, Strong Medicine, The West Wing^[183]
• Wolfgang Rübsam – German-American organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue^[184]
• Saundra Santiago – actress, Miami Vice^[185]
• Wrenn Schmidt – actress^[186]
• Molly Searcy – voice and stage theatre actress^[187]
• Sarah Shahi – actress, Person of Interest and The L Word^[188]
• Joey Slotnick – actor, Boston Public, A League of Their Own^[189]
• David Lee Smith^[190] – actor, Fight Club and CSI: Miami
• Dan Smoot – journalist, author, radio, and television commentator; figure in the anti-communist movement^[191]
• Aaron Spelling – TV and film producer^[192]
• Rawson Stovall – video game producer^{[citation needed]}
• Ptosha Storey – actress and singer
• Regina Taylor – playwright, director, Golden Globe-winning actress^[193]
• Carole Terry – organist, harpsichordist, and pedagogue^[194]
• Frank Ticheli – musician, composer, and professor of music composition at University of Southern California^[195]
• Craig Timberlake – stage actor and opera singer^{[citation needed]}
• Stephen Tobolowsky – actor^[196]
• Tsui Hark – film director^[197]
• Kellie Waymire – actor, notable for her appearances in the Star Trek franchise
• Alliene Brandon Webb – composer

Writing and journalism

• Deborah Coonts – romantic, mystery, and humor novelist; lawyer
• Robert M. Edsel – art history
• Craig Flournoy – Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist^[198]
• Beth Henley – Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright^[199]
• Monika Kørra – Norwegian author and athlete
• Jack Myers – poet laureate of the state of Texas in 2003^[200]
• Matt Zoller Seitz – editor at large of RogerEbert.com, TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, and a Pulitzer Prize in criticism finalist
• Andy Sidaris – sports TV pioneer^[201]
• Michael Simms – poet, novelist and publisher
• Clifton Taulbert – author and public speaker^[202]
• Marshall Terry – author, nicknamed Mr. SMU, founded the Creative Writing department, founded the university literary festival, co-winner of the Texas Institute of Letter's (TIL) top prize for best novel of 1968^[203]

Religious

• Sante Uberto Barbieri – bishop of the Methodist Church in Latin America (earned bachelor's, master's and divinity degrees)^{[citation needed]}
• Kirbyjon Caldwell – UM pastor and community leader in Houston, Texas, gave the benediction at George W. Bush's first inauguration^{[citation needed]}
• John Wesley Hardt – bishop of the United Methodist Church^[204]
• Robert E. Hayes Jr – bishop of the United Methodist Church (M.Th. degree, 1972)^{[citation needed]}
• Hiram "Doc" Jones – deputy chief of chaplains of the U.S. Air Force
• Scott J. Jones – bishop of the United Methodist Church and former McCreless Associate Professor of Evangelism and director of the Center for the Advanced Study and Practice of Evangelism, Perkins School of Theology (earned M.Th. and PhD degrees)^[205]
• Neill F. Marriott – second counselor in the Young Women's General Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (earned bachelor's degree in English literature and secondary education)^[206]
• William Clyde Martin – elected bishop to the Methodist Church, 1938^{[citation needed]}
• Ashley Null – Anglican theologian^[207]
• Cecil Williams – pastor of Glide Memorial Church (United Methodist) in San Francisco, California^[208]

Non-profit

• Brian Mushana Kwesiga - entrepreneur, engineer, and civic leader; former president and CEO, Ugandan North American Association (UNAA)^[209]
• Eleanor Smith Morrison – 11th National Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America^[210]

Athletics

Football

Main article: SMU Mustangs football

• Kenneth Acker – professional football player
• Jerry Ball – professional football player; three-time pro-bowler^[211]
• Chris Banjo – professional football player
• Lloyd Baxter – professional football player^[212]
• Kelvin Beachum – professional football player
• Cole Beasley – professional football player
• Raymond Berry (B.B.A. 1955) – Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver^[213]
• Chris Bordano – professional football player^[214]
• Maury Bray – professional football player^[215]
• John Burleson – professional football player^[216]
• Michael Carter – professional football player and Olympic silver medalist^[217]
• Russell Carter – professional football player^[218]
• Putt Choate – professional football player^[219]
• Ja'Gared Davis – professional football player^[220]
• Willard Dewveall – professional football player,^[221] first "star" to go from NFL to AFL
• Eric Dickerson – Pro Football Hall of Fame running back^[222]
• Joe Ethridge – professional football player^[223]
• Bill Forester – professional football player; elected to Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame^[224]
• Eddie Garcia – professional football player^[225]
• Ben Gottschalk (born 1992), NFL football player^[226]
• Forrest Gregg – former NFL coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle^[227]
• Glynn Gregory – professional football player^[228]
• Dale Hellestrae – professional football player; played for 3 Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl teams^[229]
• Margus Hunt (class of 2013) – Cincinnati Bengals defensive end; former world junior champion in the discus and shot put, representing his homeland of Estonia^{[citation needed]}
• Charlie Jackson – football player^[230]
• Craig James – football player; former commentator^[231]
• Don King – professional football player^[232]
• Josh Leribeus – professional football player
• Jerry LeVias – broke color barrier in the Southwest Conference; inducted into Texas Sports and College Football Hall of Fame^[233]
• Zach Line – professional football player
• Mike Livingston – quarterback in the American Football League and National Football League for twelve seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs
• Jerry Mays – professional football player^[234]
• Bryan McCann – professional football player for Dallas Cowboys^[235]
• Don Meredith – former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Monday Night Football commentator^[236]
• Don Miller – professional football player^[237]
• Sterling Moore – professional football player
• Thomas Morstead – professional football player; kicker for the New Orleans Saints^[238]
• Jerry Norton – professional football player; five-time Pro Bowler^[239]
• Uzooma Okeke – professional football player^[240]
• Taylor Reed – professional football player^[241]
• Jerry Rhome – former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and College Football Hall of Fame inductee^[242]
• Mike Richardson – professional football player^[243]
• John Roderick – professional football player^[244]
• Justin Rogers – All-conference defensive end; professional football player^[245]
• Kyle Rote – professional football player; four-time Pro Bowler^[246]
• Emmanuel Sanders – professional football player; Denver Broncos^[247]
• Ray Schoenke – professional football player and entrepreneur^[248]
• Courtland Sutton – professional football player
• Taylor Thompson – professional football player
• Ted Thompson – general manager of the Green Bay Packers 2005–2017, professional football player and executive in the NFL^[249]
• Doak Walker – Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back^[250]
• Val Joe Walker – professional football player^[251]
• Gene Wilson – professional football player^[252]
• Zach Wood – professional football player