Last Updated on October 1, 2026
Quick answer: Brown University notable alumni include former Federal Reserve chair and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi, CNN founder Ted Turner, actors Emma Watson, John Krasinski, and Laura Linney, radio host Ira Glass, author Lois Lowry, and historical figures such as education reformer Horace Mann and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Founded in 1764 in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University has long been a hub for creative thinkers, visionary leaders, and groundbreaking researchers.[1] As one of the prestigious Ivy League institutions, Brown University attracts ambitious students from around the world, and the list of Brown University notable alumni reflects that range.
Notable Alumni of Brown University
Many of its graduates have gone on to become famous and influential people in science, business, politics, entertainment, and more. Here are 24 notable alumni of Brown University.
Leaders From Brown’s Early History
1. Horace Mann
Horace Mann was a graduate of Brown’s class of 1819 and instrumental in developing the American public school system. As an advocate for universal, non-sectarian, free education, he believed that education was the great equalizer and served as the first Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education.[2]
2. John Hay
John Hay served as private secretary to Abraham Lincoln and later became U.S. Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. His contributions to foreign policy shaped American diplomacy at the turn of the 20th century.[3]
3. Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes was both Governor of New York and Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He also served as Secretary of State and was the Republican Party’s presidential nominee in 1916.
4. John D. Rockefeller Jr.
The only son of oil magnate John D. Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller Jr. graduated from Brown with a focus on philanthropy instead of industry. As a philanthropist, he helped fund major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, Colonial Williamsburg, and Rockefeller Center.[4]
5. Thomas J. Watson Jr.
As the son of IBM’s founder, Thomas J. Watson Jr. revolutionized the company and helped usher in the era of computing. Under his leadership, IBM transitioned to electronics and became the dominant player in the global tech industry.
Leaders in Business, Media, and Public Life
6. Lois Lowry
Lois Lowry is a celebrated author of such influential novels as The Giver, a dystopian novel that’s become a classroom staple, and Number the Stars. She’s also a two-time Newbery Medal winner.
7. Ted Turner
Although Ted Turner left Brown before completing his degree, the university later awarded him an honorary degree, and he remains one of its most famous alumni. Turner founded CNN, the first 24-hour cable news network, revolutionizing how the world consumes news.
8. John Sculley
John Sculley has been influential in both consumer goods and tech. A graduate of the class of 1961, Sculley famously transitioned from being PepsiCo’s youngest president to serving as the CEO of Apple, where he worked alongside Steve Jobs.
9. Janet Yellen
Janet Yellen is a trailblazer in economics and finance, earning her undergraduate degree in economics from Brown in 1967.[5] She became the first woman to chair the Federal Reserve, and later, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
10. Andre Leon Talley
Andre Leon Talley graduated from Brown in 1972 and became a trailblazer at Vogue. As a former creative director at the publication, Talley became an influential voice in global fashion and a fierce advocate for Black representation in the industry.
11. Ira Glass
A pioneer in narrative audio storytelling, Ira Glass graduated from Brown in 1982 and is credited with turning public radio into an art form as the host of This American Life.
12. Jim Yong Kim
A global health leader, Jim Yong Kim is a physician and anthropologist who served as the 12th president of the World Bank and the 17th president of Dartmouth. He’s also the former chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the co-founder of Partners in Health.
13. Brian Moynihan
Brian Moynihan is a graduate of the class of 1981 and the chairman, president, and CEO of the Bank of America. He’s also a member of many boards, including the Partnership for Rhode Island and the Council on Competitiveness.
Leaders in Entertainment, Journalism, and Technology
14. John F. Kennedy Jr.
John F. Kennedy Jr. was the son of President John F. Kennedy and a Brown graduate of the class of 1983. In addition to being a lawyer and journalist, JFK Jr. founded George magazine and became a cultural icon in his own right.
15. Laura Linney
A graduate of the class of 1986, Laura Linney is a renowned actress known for roles in The Crucible, The Little Foxes, John Adams, and Ozark. She’s the recipient of four Emmy Awards, a three-time Oscar nominee, and a five-time Tony Award nominee.
16. Davis Guggenheim
Film director of An Inconvenient Truth and Waiting for ‘Superman’, Davis Guggenheim won an Oscar for An Inconvenient Truth and uses storytelling to drive social change.
17. Julie Bowen
Known for her roles as Claire Dunphy on Modern Family and Denise Bauer on Boston Legal, Julie Bowen graduated from Brown in 1991 with a degree in Italian Renaissance studies. Her comedic talent and versatility have made her a household name and earned her two Emmy Awards.
18. Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross is a graduate of the class of 1994 and a renowned actress, model, comedienne, and television host. She’s received nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
19. Dara Khosrowshahi
Dara Khosrowshahi earned a degree in engineering from Brown in 1991. After a successful run as CEO of Expedia, he became the chief executive of Uber, where he helped lead the company through a transformation and IPO.
20. Andrew Yang
Entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang graduated from Brown in 1996 with a degree in economics and political science. Known for popularizing universal basic income (UBI), Yang has become a significant voice in American politics and tech policy.
21. Chris Hayes
Chris Hayes graduated from Brown in 2001 and works as a television news anchor, political commentator, and author. He hosts All In with Chris Hayes, a weekday news and opinion television show on MS NOW (formerly MSNBC).
22. A. G. Sulzberger
Arthur Gregg “Dash” Sulzberger is an American journalist serving as the chairman of the New York Times Company and the publisher of the influential flagship newspaper, The New York Times.
23. Emma Watson
Famous for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, Emma Watson graduated from Brown in 2014 with a degree in English literature. In addition to acting, Watson is an advocate for gender equality and was appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.
24. John Krasinski
John Krasinski graduated from Brown with a degree in English literature, then rose to fame playing Jim Halpert on The Office. His career has grown since then, including directing and producing roles on films like A Quiet Place. He’s won multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards.
What Brown University Notable Alumni Have in Common
Look across this list and a pattern appears: many of these graduates built careers that cross fields. Janet Yellen moved between academic economics and public service, Jim Yong Kim combined medicine and anthropology, and Julie Bowen studied Italian Renaissance history before becoming an actor. That range reflects how Brown approaches undergraduate education.
Brown’s Open Curriculum has no general core requirements, so students design their own course of study. [6] Instead of majors, students choose from nearly 80 concentrations or propose an independent concentration, and they can take any course for a letter grade or on a satisfactory/no credit basis. To graduate, students complete at least 30 courses, fulfill their concentration requirements, and demonstrate writing competence.
For applicants, this structure shapes what Brown looks for. The admissions committee wants students who will make full use of that flexibility, so your application should show genuine intellectual curiosity and a clear sense of how you would build your own education. The Brown supplemental essays are the best place to show this, because they give you room to explain what you want to study and why Brown is the right place to do it.
Reading about these alumni can also help you think about your own goals. Notice how many of them followed more than one interest: Andrew Yang studied economics and political science before founding a nonprofit and running for president, and John Krasinski studied English literature before acting and directing. When you write about why Brown fits you, connect your interests to specific ways you would use the Open Curriculum, such as combining coursework from two departments or exploring a field you have never studied, rather than repeating general praise for the university.
Planning to Apply to Brown University?
As an Ivy League university, Brown is highly selective and carefully vets applicants. If Brown is your first choice, learn how Brown early decision works and take an honest look at whether you qualify for top schools. If you hope to attend Brown University or another top-tier school like Yale University, MIT, or Columbia University, InGenius Prep can help you present a winning application and make a great impression.
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