Cornell University Notable Alumni is one of the world’s top research universities and has produced some of the world’s most successful and influential people.
Cornell University Notable Alumni has a long history of producing well-known and successful people who have become the most famous faces in their respective fields.
In this article, we’ll take a look at 10 of Cornell University’s notable alumni.
Table of Contents
- 1 10 Cornell University Notable Alumni:
- 1.1 Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Justice of the United States Supreme Court
- 1.2 Steve Ballmer – CEO of Microsoft
- 1.3 Goldie Hawn: Award-winning actress honored with both Academy and Emmy Awards.
- 1.4 E.B. White – Pulitzer and National Book Award Winner
- 1.5 Toni Morrison: Recipient of the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes
- 1.6 Jack Dorsey – CEO and Co-Founder of Twitter
- 1.7 Jeff Bezos – Founder and CEO of Amazon
- 1.8 Michelle Kwan – Olympic Gold Medal Winner
- 1.9 Dean Kamen – Entrepreneur and Scientist
- 1.10 Robert F. Engle III – Nobel Prize Winner
- 2 Cornell University Notable Alumni Famous MBAs
- 3 Distinguished Graduates from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration
- 4 Awards and Recognition: – Acknowledged by alumni, parents, and friends.
10 Cornell University Notable Alumni:
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Justice of the United States Supreme Court
One of Cornell University’s best-known alumni is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg graduated from Cornell University in 1954, where he majored in government.
Following her graduation, she pursued her legal education at Harvard Law School and subsequently enrolled at Columbia Law School, ultimately achieving the distinction of graduating as the valedictorian of her class.
After practicing law for several years, Ginsburg was eventually appointed to the United States Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993.
Due to this, she became the second woman judge of the Supreme Court. Over the course of her career, she gained recognition for her progressive and feminist perspectives.
Steve Ballmer – CEO of Microsoft
Born: Steven Anthony Ballmer
March 24, 1956 (age 67)
Detroit, Michigan, US
Education: Harvard University (AB)
Occupation: Investor & businessman
Known for: Former CEO of Microsoft
Spouse: Connie Snyder (m. 1990)
Children: 3
Steve Ballmer earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Cornell University in 1977.
Following graduation, he commenced his professional journey at Procter & Gamble before transitioning to a pivotal role at Microsoft, ultimately ascending to the position of Chief Executive Officer in the year 2000.
During his tenure, the company grew to become one of the most profitable tech businesses in the world. Ballmer currently owns the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers Cornell University Notable Alumni.
- History with Microsoft
Ballmer entered Microsoft’s ranks on June 11, 1980, becoming the company’s 30th employee and the inaugural business manager handpicked by Gates. He initially received a salary of $50,000, accompanied by an equity stake ranging from 5% to 10% in the company. Following Microsoft’s incorporation in 1981, Ballmer’s ownership interest stood at 8%. In 2003, he divested 39.3 million Microsoft shares, yielding around $955 million in proceeds, subsequently diminishing his ownership stake to 4%. During the same year, he took charge of revamping Microsoft’s employee stock options program.
Over the two decades that followed his recruitment, Ballmer assumed leadership roles in various divisions at Microsoft, including overseeing operations, the development of operating systems, and sales and support functions. Starting in February 1992, he served as the Executive Vice President responsible for Sales and Support. Ballmer played a pivotal role in guiding Microsoft’s development of the .NET Framework. Subsequently, he earned a promotion to the position of President at Microsoft, a title he held from July 1998 to February 2001. This appointment solidified his position as the company’s de facto second-in-command, reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO, Bill Gates.
Goldie Hawn: Award-winning actress honored with both Academy and Emmy Awards.
Born: Goldie Jeanne Hawn
November 21, 1945 (age 77)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupations: Actressdancerproducersinger
Years active:1966–present
Spouses: Gus Trikonis(m. 1969; div. 1976)
Bill Hudson(m. 1976; div. 1982)
Partner: Kurt Russell (1983–present)
Children: 4 including
Oliver Hudson
Kate Hudson
Wyatt Russell
Goldie Hawn is another Cornell graduate who has found success in the entertainment industry.
Hawn enrolled at Cornell University in the late 1960s but decided to depart before completing her degree in order to embark on a successful acting career. Her decision proved to be a wise one, leading to a multitude of accolades and notable achievements, earning her a place among Cornell University’s distinguished alumni.
Hawn is best 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.
E.B. White – Pulitzer and National Book Award Winner
Born: Elwyn Brooks White
July 11, 1899
Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.
Died: October 1, 1985 (aged 86)
Brooklin, Maine, U.S.
Resting place: Brooklin Cemetery, Brooklin, Maine, U.S.
Alma mater: Cornell University (BA)
Occupation: Writer
Spouse: Katharine Sergeant
(m. 1929; died 1977)
Children’s books
During the latter part of the 1930s, E.B. White ventured into the realm of children’s literature at the request of his niece, Janice Hart White. His inaugural children’s book, “Stuart Little,” saw the light of day in 1945, while “Charlotte’s Web” graced bookshelves in 1952. Initially, “Stuart Little” garnered a tepid response from the literary community. Nevertheless, both of these literary works eventually earned widespread acclaim. “Charlotte’s Web” even received a Newbery Honor from the American Library Association, although it narrowly missed securing the Newbery Medal, which went to “Secret of the Andes” by Ann Nolan Clark.
In 1970, E.B. White was honored with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal by the U.S. professional children’s librarians, acknowledging his significant and enduring contributions to children’s literature. During the same year, he received recognition as the U.S. nominee for the biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award, a position he held once more in 1976, although he finished as the runner-up both times. Additionally, in 1970, E.B. White’s third book for children, titled “The Trumpet of the Swan,” made its debut in the literary world.
In 1973, “Charlotte’s Web” received two prestigious awards chosen by students themselves: the Sequoyah Award from Oklahoma and the William Allen White Award from Kansas, both recognizing it as the favorite book of the year.
In 2012, the School Library Journal conducted a readers’ survey, which crowned “Charlotte’s Web” as the ultimate champion among children’s novels (specifically for readers aged 8–12). The librarian overseeing the poll commented, “It’s simply impossible to hold such a survey and not have [White’s novel] take the top spot.”
E.B. White enrolled at Cornell University during the early 1920s and successfully completed his studies, earning his degree 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 during his lifetime.
Toni Morrison: Recipient of the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes
Born: Chloe Ardelia Wofford February 18, 1931
Lorain, Ohio, U.S.
Died: August 5, 2019 (aged 88)
New York City, U.S.
Occupation: Novelistessayistchildren’s writer professor
Education: Howard University (BA)
Cornell University (MA)
Genre: Literary fiction
Notable works: The Bluest Eye (1970)
Sula (1973)
Song of Solomon (1977)
Tar Baby (1981)
Beloved (1987)
Notable awards: Presidential Medal of Freedom
National Humanities Medal
Nobel Prize in Literature
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Spouse: Harold Morrison(m. 1958; div. 1964)
Children: 2
Toni Morrison stands as one of Cornell University’s most distinguished alumni, acclaimed for her Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning literary achievements. She completed her studies at Cornell in 1955, graduating with a degree in English.
After graduating, Morrison began working as an editor for publications such as Random House and then began writing his own works in 1971, eventually winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993.
Jack Dorsey – CEO and Co-Founder of Twitter
Born: Jack Patrick Dorsey
November 19, 1976 (age 46)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Occupations: ProgrammerInternet entrepreneur
Notable for: Co-founding Twitter, Inc., Block, Inc., and Bluesky Social
Board member of Block, Inc.
Berggruen Institute’s
Governance Center
Bluesky, PBLLC
Jack Dorsey is another notable Cornell University alumni who have accomplished great things. Dorsey graduated from Cornell in 1996 with a degree in computer science Cornell University Notable Alumni.
Shortly thereafter, Dorsey joined forces with a group of friends to co-establish Twitter, a micro-blogging platform. Dorsey is the CEO of Twitter and also runs the financial services and mobile payments company Square.
Block
Dorsey, in collaboration with co-founder Jim McKelvey, created Square, a mobile payment platform designed to accept debit and credit card transactions, which was introduced in May 2010. The compact, square-shaped device connects to iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Android devices through the headphone jack. It serves as a miniature card reader, enabling individuals to swipe their cards, select the amount to transfer to the recipient, and finalize the transaction by signing their name for confirmation.
Other projects
In 2013, Dorsey shared with CNN his deep respect for Michael Bloomberg and revealed his aspiration to assume the role of Mayor of New York City. Furthermore, he had previously served as a judge for Bloomberg’s NYC BigApps competition in 2011.
Jeff Bezos – Founder and CEO of Amazon
Born: Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen
January 12, 1964 (age 59)
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Education: Princeton University (BSE)
Occupations: Entrepreneur media proprietor investor computer engineer
Years active: 1986–present
Title: Founder and executive chairman of Amazon
Founder of Blue Origin
Founder of Bezos Expeditions
Spouse: MacKenzie Scott
(m. 1993; div. 2019)
Partner(s): Lauren Sánchez
(2019–present)
Children: 4
Relatives: Ted Jorgensen (biological father)
Mark Bezos (half-brother)
Jeff Bezos is one of the most successful Cornell alumni of all time, graduating in 1986 with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science.
Bezos is best known as the founder and CEO of Amazon, a company that has revolutionized the way we protect.
Michelle Kwan – Olympic Gold Medal Winner
President: Joe Biden
Preceded by: Leyla Moses-Ones (Chargé d’Affaires ad interim)
Personal details
Born: July 7, 1980 (age 42)
Torrance, California, U.S.
Height: 5 ft 2 in (157 cm)
Spouse: Clay Pell
(m. 2013; div. 2017)
Children: 1
Residence(s): California, U.S
Michelle Kwan is another infamous Cornell alumnus who graduated in 2001 with a major in political wisdom.
Kwan is best known for her success in figure skating, winning two Olympic medals and nine world crowns in her career.
Kwan is also a minister of the association Change the Ref, which she created with her husband, Clay Pell, to promote dialogue around gun violence.
Dean Kamen – Entrepreneur and Scientist
Born: Dean Lawrence Kamen
April 5, 1951 (age 72)
Rockville Centre, New York, US
Nationality: American
Notable for: Creating the iBot Wheelchair, inventing the Segway, and founding FIRST
North Dumpling Island
Awards: Hoover Medal (1995)
Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment (1999)
National Medal of Technology and Innovation (2000)
Lemelson–MIT Prize (2002)
ASME Medal (2007)
Lindbergh Award (2011)
Global Humanitarian Award (2013)
Dean Kamen is an entrepreneur and scientist who graduated from Cornell in 1971 with an engineering degree.
Kamen is best known for creating the Segway Human Transporter and launching colorful technology companies such as FIRST Robotics and Deca Research and Development Corporation.
Additionally, Kamen has been awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation and has been inducted into the National Formulators Hall of Fame.
Robert F. Engle III – Nobel Prize Winner
Born: November 10, 1942 (age 80) Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Institution: New York University, since 2000 University of California, San Diego, (1975–2003) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (1969–1975)
Field: Econometrics
Alma mater: Cornell University, (Ph.D. 1969) Williams College, (BS 1964)
Doctoral advisor: Ta-Chung Liu
Doctoral students: Mark Watson Tim Bollerslev
Influences: David Hendry
Contributions: ARCH Cointegration
Honors: Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (2003)
Life
Robert Engle’s upbringing was on the outskirts of Philadelphia, USA. His journey led him to graduate school at Cornell University, where he initially pursued physics but soon shifted his focus to economics. In 1969, he earned his Ph.D. and also marked the year he married Marianne, with whom he has two children. His passions include traveling, hiking, skiing, and, notably, ice dancing.
Work
Robert Engle developed new statistical models of volatility that capture the tendency of stock prices and other financial variables to move between high and low volatility periods. In brief, these statistical models, known as ARCH, have become indispensable tools in the realms of arbitrage pricing theory and practice. Engle became a member of the University of California’s faculty in 1975 and retired from there in 2003. At present, he is an educator at New York University.
Biography
In 2003, Robert Engle received the Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking work on autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH). His development of this statistical method, which effectively models time-varying volatility, showcased its ability to accurately depict the characteristics of numerous time series. Professor Engle jointly earned this prestigious award with Clive W. J. Granger from the University of California at San Diego.
Research Interests
Econometrics
Empirical Market Microstructure
Courses Taught
Futures and Options
Topics in Financial Econometrics
Academic Background
Ph.D., Economics, 1969
Cornell University
M.S., Physics, 1966
Cornell University
B.A., Physics, 1964
Williams College
Robert Engel is another Nobel laureate Cornell alumnus who has made a name for himself in the field of economics. Engel attended Cornell and graduated in 1964 with a degree in mathematics.
Engel also earned an advanced degree in economics and eventually won a Nobel Prize and was also awarded the National Medal of Science. After Visit Website,www.johnson.cornell.edu
Cornell University Notable Alumni Famous MBAs
The full-time MBA program at Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management is highly acclaimed.
The degree was launched in 1946 and has since launched graduates into careers in some of the world’s largest companies.
Cornell Johnson MBA ranked 17th in the world and 11th in the US by the Financial Times
Cornell University Notable Alumni MBA scholars are located in Ithaca, New York for the duration of their program, close to major metropolitan areas including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.
Then there is Cornell University Notable Alumni MBA.
Mark T. Bertolini CEO of Bridgewater Associates
Born: June 7, 1956 (age 66) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Education: Wayne State University (BA) Cornell University (MBA)
Cornell University Notable Alumni After an undergraduate degree at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mark graduated in 1989 with an MBA. He joined a Fortune 50 healthcare benefits company in 2003 and was named CEO in 2010.
After Aetna was sold to CVS, Mark moved into financial operations, becoming co-CEO of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest barricade finance companies. He is also on the board of directors of Verizon.
David Duffield Software entrepreneur
Born: David Arthur Duffield 21 September 1940 (age 82)
Nationality: American
Alma mater: Cornell University
Occupation: Business software entrepreneur
Spouse: Cheryl Duffield
Personal Background
Luanne Johnson: Let’s start by talking about your family background.
David Duffield: I was born in Cleveland, stayed there six months, then my folks moved to
I regard Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, as my hometown.
Before entering his MBA from Cornell in 1964, David earned a bachelor’s degree in software engineering. He became an entrepreneur and founded two software companies, PeopleSoft and Workday, after the age of 40.
PeopleSoft became the largest alternative operations software company, while SaaS company Workday is now valued at $9.5 billion.
Herbert Fisk Johnson Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson & Son, Inc
- H. Fisk Johnson III serves as the Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, a privately-owned company specializing in cleaning products.
- He is the fifth generation of the Johnson family to lead the company.
- The corporation, with an estimated $11 billion in annual revenues, is most recognized for its brands, including Windex, Off!, and Pledge.
- Fisk and his three siblings all hold shares in SC Johnson.
- Fisk’s late father, Sam Johnson Jr. (d. 2004), led SC Johnson from 1966 to 2000.
Herbert did all of his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Cornell, including a master’s in applied drugs and a Ph.D. Three years after graduating with an MBA, Herbert joined his family’s company, SC Johnson—the namesake of Cornell’s College of Business.
As well as working for SC Johnson on aging operations sites nationally and internationally, Herbert has been honored for his philanthropy and activism, including raising awareness of ocean plastic pollution.
Randy Papadellis Former President and CEO of Ocean Spray
After a Cornell MBA, Randy pursued a 35-year career in food and libation acidity. He majored in marketing during his MBA, and after graduation landed positions at global brands such as Lay’s, Schweppes, and Welch.
He was named president and CEO of Ocean Spray Cranberry in 2002 and has held the position for 16 terms.
Anne Chow CEO of AT&T Business
Along with her MBA, Anne Chow also earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering at Cornell. When she accepted the position of CEO of an AT&T business in 2019, she became the first woman to hold the position and the first woman of color in AT&T’s history.
Annie is also the co-author of a best-selling book on unconscious bias in business and has served on the board of directors of companies including the Girl Scouts of the USA and the Asian American Justice Center.
After 32 years, what comes next?
However, it doesn’t mean she has to be completely emotionless either.
At the heart of Anne Chow’s principles and the bedrock of her leadership approach lies the belief that vulnerability can serve as a significant attribute for a senior executive.
She states, “I can demonstrate humility while maintaining effective leadership.”
If anything, she discovered that the COVID-19 pandemic has indeed demonstrated this.
“When we compile the traits of exceptional leaders, empathy and compassion are now prominent,” suggests Chow. “While they were always on my list prior to COVID, I would contend that they were not a priority for most others.”
Jim Bridenstine Former Administrator of NASA
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, serving as the 13th in this role.
In office
April 23, 2018 – January 20, 2021
President: Donald Trump
Deputy: James Morhard
Preceded by: Charles Bolden
Succeeded by: Bill Nelson
Prior to becoming a part of Cornell, Jim served in the United States Navy. However, at the end of his active duty, he joined Weill Laboratories, a defense consultancy.
In 2008, he was named the administrative director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and shortly thereafter received his MBA.
After being elected to the House of Representatives three times, Jim was chosen by President Donald Trump to be the 13th director of NASA.
Distinguished Graduates from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration
John Zimmer
Born: March 14, 1984 (age 39)
Nationality: American
Citizenship: United States
Educational Institution: Cornell University School of Hotel Administration
Occupation(s): Co-founder and President of Lyft
Website: www.lyft.com
John Zimmer, along with Logan Green, co-founded Lyft in 2012, and he currently serves as its president. Lyft is an on-demand transportation company.
In March of 2023, Zimmer revealed his plan to transition from his role as Lyft’s president to that of vice-chair on the board of directors, effective in June.
John Zimmer Early life
In 2006, Zimmer completed his education at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, where he was a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity. Following his graduation, he embarked on a career as a real estate finance analyst at Lehman Brothers in New York City.
Zimmer departed from Lehman Brothers just three months before the company declared bankruptcy. In 2007, during his tenure at Lehman Brothers, he and Logan Green jointly established Zimride, a ridesharing platform that initially operated on college campuses.
John Zimmer Growth
Following his departure from Lehman Brothers, Zimmer relocated to Silicon Valley with Green to dedicate their full efforts to Zimride. Lyft was introduced during the summer of 2012, initially as an extension of Zimride. The transition from Zimride to Lyft stemmed from a hackathon aiming to enhance user engagement, shifting from infrequent interactions to a more regular model. In May 2013, Zimmer and Green officially rebranded their company from Zimride to Lyft. During Lyft’s initial three years, Zimmer chose not to draw a salary, and he, alongside Green, operated the company from a shared apartment.
In August 2014, Lyft unveiled Lyft Line, a ridesharing product utilizing its existing driver network to transport passengers traveling in the same direction simultaneously. To encourage shared rides, Lyft Line offered passengers discounted fares, aligning with Zimmer and Green’s original vision for Zimride.
John Zimmer Lyft
Following his departure from Lehman Brothers, Zimmer relocated to Silicon Valley with Green to dedicate their full efforts to Zimride. Lyft was introduced during the summer of 2012, initially as an extension of Zimride. The transition from Zimride to Lyft stemmed from a hackathon aiming to enhance user engagement, shifting from infrequent interactions to a more regular model. In May 2013, Zimmer and Green officially rebranded their company from Zimride to Lyft. During Lyft’s initial three years, Zimmer chose not to draw a salary, and he, alongside Green, operated the company from a shared apartment.
In August 2014, Lyft unveiled Lyft Line, a ridesharing product utilizing its existing driver network to transport passengers traveling in the same direction simultaneously. To encourage shared rides, Lyft Line offered passengers discounted fares, aligning with Zimmer and Green’s original vision for Zimride.
John Zimmer’s Personal Life:
Zimmer is happily married. He met his wife during his study abroad program in Seville, Spain. They are proud parents to a daughter named Penélope, born in December 2015. Zimmer is a vocal supporter of the ACLU
Awards and Recognition: – Acknowledged by alumni, parents, and friends.
Cornell University Notable Alumni has produced some of the world’s top alumni, ranging from influential politicians to inspiring artistic figures. Cornell University Notable Alumni represent some of the most successful and notorious people to come out of the university, and their contributions to the world are worth noting.
Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is a private Ivy League and civil land-entitlement doctoral university.
Being one of three private land-entitlement universities in the United States and the only one in New York, the beautiful lot sprawls over a wide area of further than 4300 acres, including Cornell Botanic auditoriums.
One of the main features that make Cornell University Notable Alumni stand a class piecemeal is its non-sectarian approach to education, which has created an atmosphere where diversity thrives like noway ahead. Hailing from over 120 countries, the pupil body comprises of over21,100 scholars.
Cornell University Notable Alumni was supposed 16th in the QS World University Rankings and 19th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the time 2016- 17.
Basically being an exploration university, it’s also ranked fourth in the world for individuals who pursue PhDs in engineering and natural lores at American establishments.
The university enjoys a prestigious list of Cornell University Notable Alumni who have made it huge, from different walks of life. With 34 Marshall Scholars, 29 Rhodes Scholars, 29 Truman Scholars, and 7 Gates Scholars, the figures speak louder than words about Cornell’s quality of education.
Richard Baker, JohnB. Bell and Lou Abin are some of the prominent Cornell University Notable Alumni, who have contributed immensely to colorful fields of study.
Cornell University Notable Alumni who have been a source of alleviation in their separate areas of moxie.
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