Committed to Our Global UMass Community

Vibrant and pioneering, the UMass Amherst Alumni Association plays an essential role in engaging and mobilizing alumni, enhancing the student experience, and advancing UMass Amherst as a top public research university. 

With over 300,000 alumni worldwide, the Alumni Association provides year-round programming, communications, and opportunities to leverage UMass connections and show UMass pride. 

In addition, hundreds of alumni and students volunteer their time and expertise to the Alumni Association to help support important university initiatives focused on service, diversity and inclusion, and philanthropy. 

Learn more about the Alumni Association and how to stay connected and involved with your alma mater throughout this site, our global online community Connect UMass, or by contacting us at umassamherstalumni@uma-foundation.org.

You were. You are. UMASS. ™


“Our mission is to inform, involve, and invest students and alumni in advancing UMass Amherst as a top-tier public research institution.”

Learn more

Notable Alumni

These distinguished alumni are an inspiration to the UMass Amherst community and the world at large. We are proud of their outstanding accomplishments and proud to call them UMass alumni.

  • Jack Canfield '72 MEd
    Author, Chicken Soup for the Soul

    Paul Harding '92
    Author, 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Tinkers

    Brett Lott '84 MFA
    Author, Jewel (Oprah's Book Club)

    Valerie Martin '74 MFA
    Author, 2003 Orange Prize for Property

    Scott Prior '71
    Painter

    Paul Theroux '63
    Author, The Great Railway Bazaar, The Mosquito Coast

    Natasha Trethewey '95 MFA
    Poet, 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Native Guard, 19th Poet Laureate of the United States

  • George "Trigger" Burke '56
    Forward, Boston Celtics 1956-57

    Marcus Camby '96
    Professional Basketball Player

    Victor Cruz '09
    Wide Receiver, NY Giants

    Gary DiSarcina '90
    Boston Red Sox

    Julius Erving '86
    Forward, Philadelphia 76ers, inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993

    Danielle Henderson '99
    Olympic softball player and UMass Softball Head Coach

    James Ihedigbo '07
    Multiple NFL teams, including 2013 Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens

    Heather MacLean '17, '19MEd
    2021 Olympic runner 

    Robert Meers '66
    Football Player, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers, CEO Reebok & Lululemon

    Rick Pitino '75
    Head basketball coach at St John's University

    Jonathan Quick '09
    Goalie for NY Rangers and U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

    Briana Scurry '95
    Former goalie, US Women's National Soccer Team

    Business & Industry

    George Ditomassi '57
    Former CEO of  Milton Bradley

    John Jacobs '90
    Founder of Life is Good

    Karen Kaplan '82
    President of Hill Holiday

    Richard Kelleher '73
    Principal and CEO of Pyramid Hotel Group

    Richard Mahoney '55, '83H
    Former chairman and CEO of Monsanto Company

    Ed Shirley '78
    Former president and CEO of Bacardi Ltd.  

    Jack Smith '60
    Former CEO of General Motors

    Jack Welch '57
    Former chairman and CEO of General Electric

    Science & Technology

    Cady Coleman '91 PhD
    Astronaut

    Dan Riccio '86
    Vice President, Engineering of Apple, Inc.

    Mark Russell '85 MS, '12H
    SVP, Technology & Global Engineering of Raytheon Technologies, Corp

  • George Ditomassi '57
    Former CEO of  Milton Bradley

    John Jacobs '90
    Founder of Life is Good

    Karen Kaplan '82
    President of Hill Holiday

    Richard Kelleher '73
    Principal and CEO of Pyramid Hotel Group

    Richard Mahoney '55, '83H
    Former chairman and CEO of Monsanto Company

    Ed Shirley '78
    Former president and CEO of Bacardi Ltd.  

    Jack S

  • Norm Abram '72
    Host, This Old House

    Natalie Cole '72
    Singer

    Audie Cornish-Emery '01
    Anchor and correspondent, CNN+

    Jeff Corwin '02 MS
    Host and executive producer, Animal Planet

    Jeffrey Donovan '91
    Actor, Burn Notice

    Richard Gere '71
    Actor, Pretty Woman

    Mike Haley, '65
    Film producer and actor, Angels in America, Working Girl

    Taj Mahal '63, '06H
    Blues musician

    Ken Ober '80
    Comedian, game show host, Remote Control

    Bill Pullman '80 MFA, '08 DFA
    Actor, While You Were Sleeping, Independence Day

    Buffy Sainte-Marie '70
    Singer, songwriter

    Joanne Weir '75
    Author, host, Joanne Weir's Cooking Show

    Mark Wilding '79
    Writer/Producer Grey's Anatomy

  • Carlton Brown '72, '79 EdD
    President, Clark Atlanta University

    Irma McClaurin '76 MFA, '89 MA, '93 PhD
    President, Shaw University  

    Joseph Moore '76
    President, Lesley University

    Qifeng Zhou '83 PhD
    President, Peking University

    Government & Politics

    James Kallstrom '66
    Former FBI Assistant Director - New York Division

    Madeline Kunin '56
    Former Vermont governor

    Law & Justice

    Kenneth Feinberg '67
    Attorney, September 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund; Administrator, Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Compensation Fund; Boston One Fund Manager

Follow Us

Our social media channels are a great way to keep in touch! Join us to stay up-to-date on alumni, UMass Amherst Foundation and university events, news, profiles, and much more.

UMass Alumni Honors awards are presented each year to recognize the revolutionary and innovative members of the university's alumni community. The award recipients have translated their UMass Amherst experience into exceptional achievements across the spectrum, furthering the mission and impact of the university around the globe.