List of Fairfield University alumni

The following is a list of notable graduates of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Notable alumni

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Arts and entertainment

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  • The Alternate Routes – award-winning alternative rock band formed by Eric Donnelly (2001) and Tim Warren (2003)
  • Donatella Arpaia (1993) – New York City restaurateur; judge on the Food Network reality TV series The Next Iron Chef
  • Connor Campbell (2018) - Boston Connor personality on The Pat McAfee Show
  • Joe DeCamara (2000) – sports radio personality for 94.1 WIP in Philadelphia
  • Edward J. Delaney (1979) – award-winning author; Professor of Creative Writing, Roger Williams University
  • Joe DeVito (1990) – comedian and writer; appeared on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham" and NBC's Last Comic Standing
  • Bob Drury (1980) – New York Times Bestselling author
  • Paul Fargis (1961) – founder of Stonesong, publisher of several bestselling reference books
  • Githa Hariharan (1977) – Commonwealth Writers' Prize winning author and editor
  • Pat Jordan (1965) – acclaimed author of A False Spring, ranked #37 on Sports Illustrated's 100 Top Sports Books
  • Burt Kearns (1978) – founder, Frozen Television/Frozen Pictures; author, Tabloid Baby; producer, A Current Affair
  • Adam LaVorgna (2011) – actor best known as Robbie Palmer in the TV series 7th Heaven
  • January LaVoy (1997) – actress best known as Noelle Ortiz on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live
  • Paul Marcarelli (1992) – actor/screenwriter best known as the face of the Verizon Wireless "Can You Hear Me Now?" national TV campaign
  • Peter McCann (1970) – singer/songwriter, best known for "Do You Wanna Make Love" (1977)
  • Kevin NealonSaturday Night Live cast member
  • Ron Palillo – actor best known as Arnold Horshack on Welcome Back, Kotter
  • Neil Peng – Taiwanese screenwriter and political activist
  • Paul Ryan Rudd (1970) – actor who played John F. Kennedy in the 1977 NBC movie Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye
  • Rob Stevenson (1992) – president of Virgin Records US
  • Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel (2012) – Mohegan author, historian, and storyteller
  • Jim Wilbur (1986) – guitarist for indie-rock band Superchunk

Academia

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  • Melissa Begg (1985) – Dean, Columbia University School of Social Work
  • Ronald A. Bosco (1967) – Distinguished Professor of English and American Literature, University at Albany
  • Rebecca Miriam Cunningham (1992) – President, University of Minnesota
  • William Doerner (1971) – Professor, Florida State University, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Jennifer Griffiths (1968) – Professor and Chair, New York Institute of Technology, Humanities, College of Arts and Sciences
  • James Hanrahan (1952) – founding Chancellor, St. Thomas More School
  • Edward Hardiman (1991) – Headmaster, St. John's Preparatory School (Massachusetts)
  • Zachary Freedman[1] (2005) – O.N. Allen Professor of Soil Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Thomas Kelly – Head of School, Horace Mann School
  • Kevin Kiernan (1967) – T. Marshall Hahn Sr. Professor of Arts and Sciences Emeritus, University of Kentucky
  • Katherine Lapp (1978) – Executive Vice President of Harvard University
  • Harry Marmion (1953) – President of Saint Xavier University, Stony Brook Southampton and United States Tennis Association
  • David J. McCarthy, Jr. (1957) – Dean Emeritus, Georgetown University Law Center
  • Bernard McGrane (1969) – Associate Professor of Sociology, Chapman University
  • Robert J. McMahon (1971) – Ralph D. Mershon Professor of History, The Ohio State University
  • Joseph Moylan (1960) – founding President, Durham Nativity School; professor of surgery, Duke University School of Medicine
  • Maurice J. O'Sullivan (1966) – Kenneth Curry Chair of Literature, Rollins College
  • Thomas Poon (1990) – Executive Vice President and Provost, Loyola Marymount University; Acting and Interim President, Pitzer College
  • Donald Preziosi (1962) – leading art historian and author; Slade Professor of Fine Art, Oxford University; Professor Emeritus, UCLA
  • Mark Reed (1996) – President of Loyola of Chicago University
  • Charles E. Schaefer (1955) – "Father of Play Therapy"; Professor of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • Kurt C. Schlichting (1970) – E. Gerald Corrigan Endowed Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Fairfield University
  • John Skoyles (1971) – poet and writer; Professor of Writing, Literature & Publishing, Emerson College

Business

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Journalism

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  • Rob Finnerty (2005) – news host on Newsmax
  • Sonia Isabelle (1997) – Emmy Award-winning news anchor; host of Celebrity Page, a nationally syndicated TV magazine show
  • Susan King (1973) – Emmy Award-winning TV news anchor; Dean, University of North Carolina School of Media and Journalism
  • Bill McDonald (1975) – Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times editor
  • Donna Savarese (1984) – Emmy Award- and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning TV news anchor
  • Bob Sullivan (1990) – award-winning journalist, New York Times best-selling author; founding staff member, msnbc.com
  • Carmen Wong Ulrich (1992) – personal finance journalist; host, CNBC's On the Money
  • Liz Wahl (2008) – former Russia Today news anchor who quit on air for ethical reasons

Judges

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  • Sean Connelly (1980) – Colorado Court of Appeals Judge; Special Attorney to U.S. Attorneys General Ashcroft and Reno
  • John A. Danaher III (1992) – Connecticut Superior Court Judge; 47th United States Attorney For the District of Connecticut
  • Raymond J. Dearie (1966) – United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Judge
  • Daniel J. Dinan (1952) – United States Tax Court Special Trial Judge
  • Joseph P. Flynn (1962) – Connecticut Appellate Court Chief Judge
  • William J. Lavery (1959) – Connecticut Appellate Court Chief Judge
  • Steve Shannon (1993) – Circuit Court Judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Virginia

Law and government

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  • Darryl J. Brackeen Jr. (2010) – five-term Alderman of New Haven, Connecticut
  • Stephen L. Braga (1978) – lawyer known for pro bono representation of Martin Tankleff and the West Memphis Three
  • Stephen Buoniconti (1991) – Massachusetts State Senator
  • J. Edward Caldwell (1967) – Connecticut State Comptroller and State Senator
  • Vincent Cianci (1962) – 32nd and 34th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island; longest standing mayor in the United States
  • Donald DeFronzo (1970) – Connecticut State Senator; Chief Assistant Majority Leader; Mayor, New Britain, Connecticut
  • J. Michael Farren (1977) – Deputy White House Counsel; Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade
  • Michael Fedele (1980) – 87th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Connecticut
  • C. Frank Figliuzzi (1987) – Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Counterintelligence Division
  • Brian J. Flaherty (1987) – eight-term Connecticut State Representative; Deputy House Minority Leader
  • Thomas J. Josefiak (1968) – Chairman, Federal Election Commission; Chief Counsel, Republican National Committee
  • Kevin C. Kelly (1985) – Connecticut State Senator
  • Martin Looney (1970) – President Pro Tempore of the Connecticut State Senate
  • Edward Mazurek (1968) – Maine State Senator
  • Richard Morgan Downey (1968) – Executive director and CEO, American Obesity Association
  • Thomas C. O'Connor (1955) – Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut
  • Leonard S. Paoletta (1956) – 48th Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut
  • Jorge E. Pérez-Díaz (1977) – Attorney General and Solicitor General, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
  • Chris Pilkerton (1995) – Administrator of the Small Business Administration
  • J. Michael Quinlan (1963) – 5th Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons
  • Rosa Rebimbas (2004) – Connecticut State Representative
  • David Rothbard – co-founder and president, Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)
  • Joseph Russoniello (1963) – two-term U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California
  • Thomas Spota (1980) – District Attorney of Suffolk County, New York
  • Steven Stafstrom (2005) – Connecticut State Representative
  • Bob Stefanowski (1984) – Republican nominee for Governor of Connecticut in 2018
  • Nancy Vaughan (1981) – Mayor of Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Roy J. Wells – president and managing director, Triad Strategies

Medicine and science

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  • James L. Abbruzzese (1974) – internationally recognized pancreatic cancer researcher at the Duke Cancer Institute
  • David C. Christiani (1979) – Elkan Blout Professor of Environmental Health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  • J. Kevin Dorsey (1964) – dean and provost of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
  • Steven Flanagan (1984) – nationally renowned expert on Traumatic Brain Injuries at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Tatiana Foroud (1987) – internationally recognized genetic researcher at the Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Doris Troth Lippman – Vietnam Women's Memorial Vice-Chair; Honorary Purple Heart recipient
  • John T. Lis (1970) – 2000 Guggenheim Fellow; Barbara McClintock Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Cornell University
  • Jean Malecki – Local Legend honoree by the National Library of Medicine
  • Gregory J. Martin (1980) – Chief of Infectious Diseases, Bethesda Naval Hospital; U.S. Navy Legion of Merit recipient
  • Brian Monahan (1980) – Attending Physician of the United States Congress; Rear Admiral in the United States Navy
  • Richard J. Murphy (1973) – President and CEO Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital; CEO Richmond University Medical Center; CEO Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center
  • Caitlin O'Connell-Rodwell (1987) – world renowned elephant expert; instructor at Stanford University Medical School
  • Peter Pronovost (1984) – 2008 MacArthur Fellow and one of Time magazine's 100 World's Most Influential People
  • Richard Proto (1962) – noted cryptographer elected to the United States National Security Agency Hall of Honor
  • Julio Ramirez (1977) – national leader in neuroscience education; R. Stuart Dickson Professor of Psychology at Davidson College
  • Francis J. Tedesco (1965) – president emeritus, Medical College of Georgia

Social action and community service

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  • Tom Cornell (1956) – journalist and peace activist
  • Michael Donnelly (1981) – leading activist for sufferers of Gulf War Syndrome; author of Falcon's Cry
  • Paula Donovan (1977) – executive director, AIDS-Free World; Salem Award for Human Rights and Social Justice Foundation recipient
  • G. Simon Harak (1970) – Director of the Center for Peacemaking at Marquette University
  • Stephen V. Kobasa (1969) – peace and political activist
  • Robert J. Wicks (1968) – leading writer about the intersection of spirituality and psychology; Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice recipient

Sports

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Basketball

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  • Maurice Barrow (2014) – professional basketball player
  • Troy Bradford (1989) – professional basketball player; 3x 1st Team Small American
  • Ajou Deng (2003) – professional basketball player; member of the Great Britain national basketball team
  • Joe DeSantis (1979) – All-American and professional basketball player
  • Tricia Fabbri (1991) – women's college basketball coach
  • Kathy Fedorjaka (1990) – women's college basketball coach
  • Greg Francis (1997) – Canadian Olympic basketball player and Junior National Men's basketball coach
  • Deng Gai (2005) – professional basketball player; 2005 NCAA Division I blocks leader
  • Marcus Gilbert (2016) – professional basketball player
  • Pete Gillen (1968) – college basketball analyst and men's basketball coach
  • Drew Henderson (1993) – professional basketball player; member of the Dutch national basketball team
  • Art Kenny (1968) – professional basketball player; No. 18 retired by Olimpia Milano
  • Scott King (2016) - head coach of NBA G League Austin Spurs
  • Nick Macarchuk (1963) – men's college basketball coach
  • Derek Needham (2013) – professional basketball player; member of the Montenegro national basketball team
  • Tyler Nelson (2018) – professional basketball player
  • Tim O'Toole (1988) – men's college basketball coach
  • Darren Phillip (2000) – professional basketball player; 2000 NCAA Division I rebounding leader
  • Rakim Sanders (2012) – professional basketball player; 2x Italian League champion
  • Lou Lopez Sénéchal (2022) – Mexican-French professional basketball player
  • Brendan Suhr (1979) – men's college basketball coach
  • Robert Thomson (2004) – professional basketball player in Europe; member of the Rwanda national basketball team
  • Keith Urgo (2002) – men's college basketball coach
  • A. J. Wynder (1987) – National Basketball Association player
  • Mark Young (1979) – professional basketball player

Lacrosse

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  • Brent Adams (2012) – All-American, Major League Lacrosse All-Star and Team USA midfielder
  • Chris Ajemian (2009) – Major League Lacrosse midfielder
  • Nate Bauers (2004) – Major League Lacrosse defenseman
  • Mike Bocklet (2007) – Major League Lacrosse All-Star attackman
  • Charlie Cipriano (2012) – All-American and Major League Lacrosse goalkeeper
  • Greg Downing (2007) – All-American, Major League Lacrosse All-Star and Team USA midfielder
  • Will Fox (2018) - head coach of Wagner Seahawks men's lacrosse
  • C.J. Kemp (2003) – All-American and Major League Lacrosse goalkeeper
  • Joe Marra (2010) – Major League Lacrosse All-Star goalkeeper
  • Jack Murphy (2015) – Major League Lacrosse goalkeeper
  • TJ Neubauer (2016) – All-American and Major League Lacrosse midfielder
  • Spencer Steele (2000) – All-American and Major League Lacrosse attackman
  • Peter Vlahakis (2004) – All-American and Major League Lacrosse All-Star face-off midfielder

Soccer

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  • Abby Allan (2001) – New Zealand national football player
  • Adam Braz (2001) – Technical Director, Montreal Impact; Canadian international and Major League Soccer player
  • Robyn Decker (2008) – professional football player
  • Jonathan Filipe (2021) – professional soccer player
  • Bryan Harkin (2001) – United Soccer League player
  • Mark Longwell (1982) – U.S. international and United Soccer League player
  • Brett Maron (2008) – National Women's Soccer League player
  • Jim McElderry (1993) – Rutgers University men's soccer coach and United Soccer League player
  • Michael O'Keeffe (2013) – New Zealand national football and 2014 Olympic player
  • Nikki Stanton (2013) – National Women's Soccer League player
  • Justin Thompson (2003) – Canadian international and professional soccer player
  • Matt Turner (2015) – United States men's national soccer team and Premier League football player
  • Matthew Uy (2010) – Philippines national football player

Other

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  • Will Brazier (2005) – All-American, U.S. international and Super League rugby player
  • Keefe Cato (1979) – Major League Baseball player
  • Evan Centopani (2004) – professional bodybuilder
  • Paul Sheehy (1985) – U.S. international and Super League rugby player
  • Laura Valentino (2013) – head coach of the UConn Huskies softball team

References

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