List of Chicago State University people

The list of Chicago State University people includes notable alumni, non-graduates, faculty and staff, chief executives, and affiliates of the Chicago State University.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

## Academe

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* James A. Banks, founding director, Center for Multicultural Education, University of Washington; received bachelor's degree in social science and education from CSU in 1963[1]
* Jack Dongarra, distinguished professor of computer science at the University of Tennessee; earned Bachelor of Science in mathematics at CSU[2]
* Frances Ekstam, professor and founder of the physical therapy program at Indiana University School of Medicine[3]
* Cynthia Nance, Nathan G. Gordon Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law; graduated magna cum laude from CSU[4]
* Martin Ridge, historian and director of research at the Huntington Library; earned bachelor of education at CSU in 1943[5]
* Margaret Taylor-Burroughs, co-founder of the DuSable Museum of African American History[6]

## Activism

[edit]

* Margaret A. Haley, teacher, unionist, and land value tax activist; took classes for several years at CSU when it was Cook County Normal University[7]
* Rhoda Hatch, teacher, anti-war activist and one of the first one hundred people in Chicago to die from COVID-19[8][9][10][11]
* Mamie Till, activist, educator, and mother of Emmett Till; graduated from CSU[12]
* Jacqueline B. Vaughn, first female president of the Chicago Teachers Union[13]

## Athletics

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* Deji Akindele, professional basketball player for Yalova Group BelediyeSpor of the Turkish Basketball First League[14]
* Darron Brittman, former basketball player; first officially recognized NCAA Division I season steals leader in 1985–86[15]
* Josephine D'Angelo, left fielder who played 1943–1944 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League; later earned her master's degree from CSU[16][17]
* James "Chico" Hernandez, FIAS World Cup Vice-Champion in Sombo Wrestling; graduated from CSU[18]
* David Holston, basketball player for JDA Dijon Basket of France's LNB Pro A; played for the Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team[19]
* Bob Janecyk, goaltender for Chicago Blackhawks 1983–1984 and Los Angeles Kings 1984–1989; played for CSU and graduated in 1978[20]
* John Mallee, Major League Baseball hitting coach, Philadelphia Phillies; attended CSU[21]
* Wayne Molis, professional basketball player who played for the New York Knicks 1966–1967; played for the Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team[22]
* Royce Parran, professional basketball player who last played for Belfius Mons-Hainaut of the Belgian Basketball League; played for the Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team[23]
* Clarke Rosenberg (born 1993), American-Israeli basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League
* Tony Weeden, professional basketball player; played for the Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team[24]
* Willye White, first American track and field athlete to take part in five Olympics, competing on the 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, and 1972 teams; graduated from CSU in 1976 with a degree in public health administration[25]

## Arts and entertainment

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* William D. Alexander, film producer; studied at CSU for several years[26][27]
* John Curulewski, guitarist, vocalist and founding member of Styx; attended CSU in the late 1960s and early 1970s[28]
* Dennis DeYoung, singer, songwriter and founding member of Styx; attended CSU in the late 1960s and early 1970s[28]
* Tina Howe, playwright of Museum, The Art of Dining, Painting Churches, Coastal Disturbances and Pride's Crossing[29]
* RM Johnson, author of The Harris Men, The Million Dollar Divorce, Love Frustration and The Million Dollar Demise; graduated CSU[30]
* Nicole Mitchell, jazz flautist; alumna and part-time instructor at CSU[31]
* Chuck Panozzo, bass guitarist and founding member of Styx; attended CSU in the late 1960s and early 1970s[28]
* John Panozzo, drummer and founding member of Styx; attended CSU in the late 1960s and early 1970s[28]
* Law Roach, celebrity stylist and judge on America’s Next Top Model[32]
* Kanye West, rapper and record producer; attended CSU, but did not graduate, hence his debut album title The College Dropout[33]
* Steven Whitehurst, author, poet and educator; graduated from CSU in 1990[34]

## Business

[edit]

* Edith Heath, studio potter and founder of Heath Ceramics[35]

## Government and law

[edit]

### U.S. government and politics

[edit]

* Danny K. Davis (1968), member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois's 7th congressional district since 1997[36]
* Blanche M. Manning, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; graduated from CSU in 1961 with a Bachelor of Education[37]
* William J. Walker, major general in United States Army, commanding general of District of Columbia National Guard; earned a Master of Science degree from CSU in 1990[38]
* Aaron S. Williams, 18th director of the Peace Corps; graduated CSU[39]

### State and local politics

[edit]

* Howard B. Brookins Sr., Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, 1987–1993[40]
* Isaac "Ike" Carothers, former alderman of the 29th Ward[41]
* Eugenia S. Chapman, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the Arlington Heights area 1965–1983; graduated from CSU[42][43]
* Shirley Coleman, politician who served as the 16th ward alderman 1991–2007[44]
* Annazette Collins, Democratic member of the Illinois General Assembly serving in the House 2001–2011 and the Senate 2011–2013
* Marlow H. Colvin, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives 2001–2012[45]
* Marcus C. Evans Jr., Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives since April 2012[46]
* Emil Jones III, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate since 2009; attended CSU[47]
* Jeremiah E. Joyce, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate 1979–1993; earned his master's degree at CSU[48]
* Edward Maloney, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate 2003–2013; earned master's degree from CSU[49]
* Sharon G. Markette, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives 1983–1985; received bachelor's degree in criminal justice from CSU[50]
* Lillian Piotrowski, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives 1951–1964 and member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from 1964 until her death in 1974; attended CSU when it was Chicago Teachers College before earning her degree at Loyola University Chicago[51]
* Al Riley, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 2007[52]
* Nicholas Smith, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives since February 2018; graduated from CSU with a B.S. in chemistry in 2000[53]
* Donne E. Trotter, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate 1993–2018[54]
* Karen Yarbrough, Democratic Cook County Recorder of Deeds 2010–2024 and former member of the Illinois House of Representatives 2001–2010; earned her bachelor of business administration degree from CSU in 1973[55]

### Non-United States politics

[edit]

* Bola Tinubu, president of Nigeria since 2023, received his degree in accounting from CSU in 1979[56]

## Media

[edit]

* Warren Ballentine, attorney and Soul 106.3 radio personality[57]
* Leanita McClain, journalist and commentator; attended CSU before going to the Medill School of Journalism[58]

## Faculty and staff

[edit]

* Gwendolyn Brooks, first African American Pulitzer Prize winner, held a self-named Distinguished Professorship at CSU[59]
* Elnora D. Daniel, president of CSU from 1998 to 2008[60][61]
* Eliza Atkins Gleason, first African American to receive a doctorate in library science; associate professor of library science at CSU
* William Nicholas Hailmann, Chair of the Department of Psychology and History of Education in the early 20th century[62]
* Francis Wayland Parker, principal of Cook County Normal School in the 19th century
* Carol Geary Schneider, professor of history at CSU prior to becoming President of the Association of American Colleges and Universities[63]
* Henry H. Straight, taught at Cook County Normal School in 1883[64]
* Paul Vallas, served as Chief Administrative Officer in a temporary capacity from February 2017 to January 2018[65]
* Donda West, mother of rapper and producer Kanye West
* Pharez Whitted, director of jazz studies at Chicago State University

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "James A. Banks". Biography. Michigan State University. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
2. ^ "Dr. Jack Dongarra — Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University". Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
3. ^ "Frances Ekstam Obituary (2005) - Indianapolis, IN - The Indianapolis Star". Legacy.com. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
4. ^ "African American Faculty News". Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. November 1, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
5. ^ Times Staff and Wire Reports (October 8, 2003). "Martin Ridge, 80; Directed Research at Huntington Library". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
6. ^ Davis, Monique (November 2, 2007). "Illinois House Resolution 0802 of the 95th Illinois General Assembly". Springfield: Illinois General Assembly.
7. ^ Harmon, Sandra D. (2001). "Women Building Chicago: Illinois State Normal University Connections" (PDF). Women's Voice. Normal, Illinois: Illinois State University. p. 1. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
8. ^ Eldeib, Duaa, Adriana Gallardo, and Akilah Johnson, et. al. "The First 100: COVID-19 Took Black Lives First. It Didn’t Have to." Chicago, Illinois: ProPublica Illinois, May 9. 2020.
9. ^ "Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus." Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Tribune, April 12, 2020, Section 1, p. 25.
10. ^ Hauck, Grace. "Losing Rhoda: Chicago family struggles over weeks to grieve matriarch, friends taken by the coronavirus." Tysons Corner, Virginia: USA Today, May 27, 2020 (retrieved online August 2, 2023).
11. ^ Sabino, Pascal. "West Side Educator and Activist Lost to Pandemic Was the 'Keeper of Our Sacred Family Stories.'" Chicago, Illinois: Block Club Chicago, January 25, 2021 (retrieved online August 2, 2023).
12. ^ "Did you know that Mamie Till-Mobley was a 1960 graduate of Chicago Teachers College? #SaveCSU #BlackHistoryMonth". Chicago State University Public Library. Twitter. February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
13. ^ Heard, Jacquelyn (January 23, 1994). "Union Leader Jacqueline Vaughn". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
14. ^ "Men's Basketball History".
15. ^ Kiley, Mike (February 13, 1986). "Chicago State's 'Secret' Out: Senior Brittman Feeling Left Out Of Limelight". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
16. ^ The Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
17. ^ Encyclopedia of Women and Baseball
18. ^ "newsstory". August 12, 2002. Archived from the original on August 12, 2002. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
19. ^ Goodwin, Marvin (July 2, 2010). "David Holston camp teaches youngsters basketball, life skills". The Oakland Press. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
20. ^ "NHL Player Search: Bob T. Janecyk". Legends of Hockey. National Hockey League Players' Association. 1997. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
21. ^ Rosenthal, Ken (November 15, 2016). "The amazing story behind the Chicago Cubs' No. 11". Fox Sports. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
22. ^ "Wayne J. Molis, 58". Chicago Tribune. March 27, 2002. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
23. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). NBA.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2018.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
24. ^ "College Basketball News, Videos, Scores, Teams, Standings, Stats".
25. ^ Litzky, Frank (February 7, 2007). "Willye B. White, the First 5-Time U.S. Track Olympian, Dies at 67". The New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
26. ^ Bowser (1999). "Pioneers of Black Documentary Film". In Klotman; Cutler (eds.). Struggles for Representation. Indiana University Press. pp. 28–29\. ISBN 0253213479.
27. ^ Moon (1997). Reel Black Talk. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 4\. ISBN 9780313298301.
28. ^ a b c d Kogan, Rick (December 8, 2002). "Giving up the ghosts: He led Styx to the top of the charts, but now Dennis DeYoung has to sail away on his own". Chicago Tribune. p. 2. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
29. ^ Jackson R. Bryer, Mary C. Hartig (ed.), Tina Howe, Encyclopedia of American Drama, Infobase Learning, 2015, ISBN 1438140762 (no page number)
30. ^ "Distinguished Alumni | the Office of Alumni Affairs | Chicago State University". Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
31. ^ Margasak, Peter (August 2, 2007). "An Improvised Life". Chicago Reader. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
32. ^ Law Roach, Image Architect™
33. ^ Riotta, Chris (February 18, 2016). "Where Did Kanye West Go to College? Turns out the 'College Dropout' Actually Holds a Ph.D." Mic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
34. ^ "Official Website Of Author Steven Whitehurst". Retrieved August 15, 2015.
35. ^ Ginsburg, Marsha (January 1, 2006). "Edith Heath -- renowned ceramicist". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
36. ^ "Danny Davis' Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
37. ^ "CSU Celebrates 13th Annual Alumni Awards Dinner" (Press release). Chicago: Chicago State University. August 24, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
38. ^ "Walker Bio". National Guard Bureau. Retrieved March 2, 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
39. ^ "Aaron S. Williams Sworn in as Peace Corps Director" (Press release). Washington D.C.: Peace Corps. August 24, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
40. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1991-1992,' Biographical Sketch of Howard B. Brookins, pg. 85
41. ^ "'We don't want a rush to judgment'". February 10, 2021.
42. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1981-1982,' Biographical Sketch of Eugenia S. Chapman, pg. 78
43. ^ 'Former State Rep. Eugenia Chapman,' Chicago Tribune, Dan Wetzel, October 1, 1994
44. ^ Kogan, Rick (April 30, 2006). "Serving two flocks: Shirley Coleman, The Only Minister In The City Council, Saves The Sermons For Sundays". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
45. ^ "Representative Marlow H. Colvin (D) - Previous General Assembly (95th) 33rd District". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois General Assembly. January 13, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
46. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography".
47. ^ "Senator Emil Jones, III (D) 14th District". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois General Assembly. January 13, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
48. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1991-1992,' Biographical Sketch of Jeremiah E. Joyce, pg. 87
49. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography".
50. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1983-1984,' Biographical Sketch of Sharon G. Markette, pg. 68
51. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1963-1964,' Biographical Sketch of Lillian Piotrowski, pg. 264
52. ^ "Representative Al Riley (D) - 38th District". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois General Assembly. January 13, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
53. ^ Smith, Nicholas (March 12, 2014). "Nicholas "Nick" Smith". Chicago Tribune (Interview). Interviewed by Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
54. ^ "Senator Donne E. Trotter (D) Represented the 17th District". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois General Assembly. January 13, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
55. ^ "Representative Karen Yarborough (D) - Previous General Assembly (95th) 7th District". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois General Assembly. January 13, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
56. ^ Ufuoma, Vincent (June 27, 2022). "Chicago University replies ICIR on Tinubu's controversial certificate". International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
57. ^ Seidel, Jon (July 7, 2015). "Judge gives 'People's Attorney' Warren Ballentine 3 years of probation". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
58. ^ Reed, Adolph L. (1997). W.E.B. Du Bois and American Political Thought: Fabianism and the Color Line. New York City: Oxford University Press. p. 172\. ISBN 0198021917.
59. ^ Steele, Jeffrey (March 6, 1994). "Faculty Members Can Be The Star". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
60. ^ "Elnora D. Daniel's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
61. ^ "Embattled Ex-President of Chicago State U. Signed Off on $18,000 Book Honoring Herself". The Chronicle of Higher Education. August 7, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
62. ^ Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Hailmann, William Nicholas" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
63. ^ "Carol Geary Schneider". August 27, 2014.
64. ^ "Straight, Henry Harrison, Educator". nebraskahistory.org. Lincoln, NE: Nebraska State Historical Society. July 2000. Archived from the original on November 15, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
65. ^ Rhodes, Dawn (January 29, 2018). "Chicago State ends contract with Paul Vallas, accusing him of using college for political boost". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2018.