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 contactus@umaaa.org.
You were. You are. UMASS. ™
Announcing the 2026 UMass Alumni Honors recipients
This year’s honorees have translated their UMass Amherst experiences into lasting impact in their communities and around the world. Learn about the remarkable alumni receiving this year’s awards and their contributions to the common good.
You made a difference
Over the course of UMassGives—our annual two-day, online giving campaign—the UMass community supported over 350 departments, student groups, centers, and programs across campus and beyond!
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.
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Jack Canfield '72 MEd
Author, Chicken Soup for the SoulPaul Harding '92
Author, 2010 Pulitzer Prize for TinkersBrett Lott '84 MFA
Author, Jewel (Oprah's Book Club)Valerie Martin '74 MFA
Author, 2003 Orange Prize for PropertyScott Prior '71
PainterPaul Theroux '63
Author, The Great Railway Bazaar, The Mosquito CoastNatasha Trethewey '95 MFA
Poet, 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Native Guard, 19th Poet Laureate of the United States -
George "Trigger" Burke '56
Forward, Boston Celtics 1956-57Marcus Camby '96
Professional Basketball PlayerVictor Cruz '09
Wide Receiver, NY GiantsGary DiSarcina '90
Boston Red SoxJulius Erving '86
Forward, Philadelphia 76ers, inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993Danielle Henderson '99
Olympic softball player and UMass Softball Head CoachJames Ihedigbo '07
Multiple NFL teams, including 2013 Super Bowl Champion Baltimore RavensHeather MacLean '17, '19MEd
2021 Olympic runnerRobert Meers '66
Football Player, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers, CEO Reebok & LululemonRick Pitino '75
Head basketball coach at St John's UniversityJonathan Quick '09
Goalie for NY Rangers and U.S. Olympic Hockey Team
Briana Scurry '95
Former goalie, US Women's National Soccer TeamBusiness & Industry
George Ditomassi '57
Former CEO of Milton BradleyJohn Jacobs '90
Founder of Life is GoodKaren Kaplan '82
President of Hill HolidayRichard Kelleher '73
Principal and CEO of Pyramid Hotel GroupRichard Mahoney '55, '83H
Former chairman and CEO of Monsanto CompanyEd Shirley '78
Former president and CEO of Bacardi Ltd.Jack Smith '60
Former CEO of General MotorsJack Welch '57
Former chairman and CEO of General ElectricScience & Technology
Cady Coleman '91 PhD
AstronautDan 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 BradleyJohn Jacobs '90
Founder of Life is GoodKaren Kaplan '82
President of Hill HolidayRichard Kelleher '73
Principal and CEO of Pyramid Hotel GroupRichard Mahoney '55, '83H
Former chairman and CEO of Monsanto CompanyEd Shirley '78
Former president and CEO of Bacardi Ltd.Jack S
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Norm Abram '72
Host, This Old HouseNatalie Cole '72
SingerAudie Cornish-Emery '01
Anchor and correspondent, CNN+Jeff Corwin '02 MS
Host and executive producer, Animal PlanetJeffrey Donovan '91
Actor, Burn NoticeRichard Gere '71
Actor, Pretty WomanMike Haley, '65
Film producer and actor, Angels in America, Working GirlTaj Mahal '63, '06H
Blues musicianKen Ober '80
Comedian, game show host, Remote ControlBill Pullman '80 MFA, '08 DFA
Actor, While You Were Sleeping, Independence DayBuffy Sainte-Marie '70
Singer, songwriterJoanne Weir '75
Author, host, Joanne Weir's Cooking ShowMark Wilding '79
Writer/Producer Grey's Anatomy -
Carlton Brown '72, '79 EdD
President, Clark Atlanta UniversityIrma McClaurin '76 MFA, '89 MA, '93 PhD
President, Shaw University
Joseph Moore '76
President, Lesley University
Qifeng Zhou '83 PhD
President, Peking UniversityGovernment & Politics
James Kallstrom '66
Former FBI Assistant Director - New York DivisionMadeline Kunin '56
Former Vermont governorLaw & Justice
Kenneth Feinberg '67
Attorney, September 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund; Administrator, Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Compensation Fund; Boston One Fund Manager
“Our mission is to inform, involve, and invest students and alumni in advancing UMass Amherst as a top-tier public research institution.”
Stay Connected
The UMass Alumni social media channels are a great way to keep in touch! Follow along to stay up-to-date on alumni, UMass Amherst Foundation and university events, news, profiles, and much more.
