Top Most Notable Alumni from Cornell University
Cornell University is one of the top research universities in the world and has produced some of the most successful and influential people in the world. The university has a long history of producing well-known and successful people who have gone on to become some of the most famous faces in their respective fields. In this article, we will take a look at 10 of the most notable alumni from Cornell University.
List of 10 Cornell University Notable Alumni
1. Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
One of the most well-known Cornell University Notable Alumni is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg graduated from Cornell University in 1954, where she majored in government. After graduation, she attended Harvard Law School and then Columbia Law School, where she eventually graduated at the top of her class. After practicing law for several years, Ginsburg was eventually appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States by President Bill Clinton in 1993, making her the second female justice of the Supreme Court. Throughout her career, she became known for her progressive and feminist views.
2. Steve Ballmer – CEO of Microsoft
Steve Ballmer also graduated from Cornell University in 1977, with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics. After graduation, he initially worked for Procter & Gamble and then eventually moved on to work for Microsoft, eventually becoming their chief executive officer in 2000. During his tenure, the company flourished and became one of the most profitable tech businesses in the world. Ballmer is currently the owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers.
3. Jack Dorsey – CEO and Co-Founder of Twitter
Jack Dorsey is another Cornell university notable alumni who have gone on to do great things. Dorsey graduated from Cornell in 1996 with a degree in computer science. Soon after, Dorsey co-founded Twitter, a micro-blogging platform, with some of his friends. Dorsey is the CEO of Twitter and also runs Square, a financial services and mobile payments company.
4. Toni Morrison – Pulitzer and Nobel Prize Winner
Toni Morrison is one of the most prominent Cornell University Notable Alumni and a Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. Morrison graduated from Cornell in 1955 with a degree in English. After graduating, Morrison began to work as an editor for publications such as Random House and then began to write her own works in 1971, eventually winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993.
5. E.B. White – Pulitzer and National Book Award Winner
E.B. White was another distinguished Cornell graduate and the author of various books both for adults and children, such as Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little. White attended Cornell in the early 1920s and eventually graduated in 1921. The books he wrote became some of the most popular books of all time and he won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award over his lifetime.
6. Goldie Hawn – Academy and Emmy Award Winning Actress
Goldie Hawn is another Cornell graduate who has gone on to have success in the entertainment industry. Hawn attended Cornell in the late 1960s but eventually left without graduating to pursue a career in acting, which eventually paid off with numerous awards and various successes. Hawn is most well-known for her role in Cactus Flower, for which she won an Academy Award, as well as roles on television shows such as The Arthur show and Laugh-In, for which she won an Emmy.
7. Robert F. Engle III – Nobel Prize Winner
Robert Engle is another Nobel Prize-winning Cornell alumni who made a name for himself in the field of economics. Engle attended Cornell and graduated in 1964 with a degree in mathematics. Engle then went on to pursue an advanced degree in economics and eventually won the Nobel Prize and was also awarded a National Medal of Science.
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8. Dean Kamen – Entrepreneur and Scientist
Dean Kamen is an entrepreneur and scientist who graduated from Cornell in 1971 with a degree in engineering. Kamen is most well-known for inventing the Segway Human Transporter and for founding various technology companies such as FIRST Robotics and Deka Research & Development Corporation. In addition, Kamen has been awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
9. Michelle Kwan – Olympic Gold Medal Winner
Michelle Kwan is another famous Cornell University Notable Alumni who graduated in 2001 with a major in political science. Kwan is most well-known for her success in figure skating, having won two Olympic medals and nine World Championships over her career. Kwan is also an ambassador for the organization Change The Ref, which she formed with her husband Clay Pell to promote dialogue around gun violence.
10. Jeff Bezos – Founder and CEO of Amazon
Jeff Bezos is one of the most successful Cornell alumni of all time, having graduated in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science. Bezos is most well-known as the founder and CEO of Amazon, a company that has revolutionized how we shop.
Cornell University has produced some of the top alums in the world, ranging from influential politicians to inspiring cultural figures. These ten Cornell University notable alumni represent some of the most successful and famous people to come out of the university, and their contributions to the world are worth noting.