University Of Massachusetts Amherst Notable Alumni

With 39 Grand Slam titles and four Olympic gold medals, Serena Williams is clearly amongst the greatest female tennis players in the history. With 23 Grand Slam singles win, she is just a win away from equalling Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles. She has bagged the top spot in WTA’s world ranking numerous times.

Richard Gere's performance in the movie American Gigolo cemented his position as a sex symbol in the 1980s. He also established himself as a leading man, becoming one of Hollywood's most bankable and popular actors during the '90s. One of the most dedicated actors, he learned karate for his role in An Officer and a Gentleman and tap dance for Chicago.

Bridget Moynahan is an American actress known for playing important roles in popular movies like the John Wick film series and I, Robot. From being a tomboy who loved playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse at school to becoming a famous model and then an actress, Bridget Moynahan has had quite an inspiring and interesting journey so far.

Bill Pullman was persuaded by his students to try his hand at acting while working as an adjunct professor at the School of Film and Photography of the Montana State University. He then started working with theater companies and eventually became a film actor. He is also a creative writer and serves on the Alfred University's Board of Trustees.

Known for her music that showcases the issues of Native Americans, Canadian-American singer Buffy Sainte-Marie became the first person from any indigenous community to win an Oscar, with the song Up Where We Belong. She had also been blacklisted by many radio stations earlier due to her activism.

Civil rights activist and educator Betty Shabazz, or Betty X, was the wife of Black nationalist leader Malcolm X. Raised by her adoptive parents in Detroit, she met Malcolm X at a Nation of Islam event in Harlem. She died when her apartment was set on fire set by her grandson.

One of America’s most popular and beloved comedians, Bill Cosby’s reputation was totally shattered when he was accused of sexual assault, sexual battery and rape by multiple women in the 2010s. Subsequently, he was found guilty of sexual assault in two cases and was sentenced in September 2018 to a total of three to ten years in a state prison.

Author of The Death of a President, William Raymond Manchester was a well-known historian, author and a WWII veteran. On finishing his education after the war, he began his career as a reporter, publishing his master's thesis as Disturber of the Peace in 1951, thereafter, continuing to write, publishing a total of eighteen books, including a three part-biography of Churchill

Hina Rabbani Khar is a Pakistani politician who became the first woman and the youngest person to serve as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan; she was in the office from 2011 to 2013. Prior to serving as the Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar also became the first female politician to present the national budget in 2009 while serving as the Minister of Finance of Pakistan.   

Known for his 6-year stint as the head coach of women’s gymnastics at the University of Oklahoma, Steve Nunno trained Olympian Shannon Miller, who ended up earning 5 medals at the 1992 Olympics. He also serves as the CEO of the Gold Medal Consulting Group.