The following is a list of some notable alumni of the University of Colorado Boulder.
Nobel laureate alumni Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, 2011, BA
Notable alumni
Academia, science and technology Len Ackland, professor at the University of Colorado and co-director of the Center for Environmental Journalism Elaine Anderson, paleontologist George J. Armelagos, Goodrich C. White Professor of Anthropology at Emory University John Christian Bailar, statistician, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago Janet Bonnema, civil engineer Kathryn Bullock, electrochemist Mark Busby, professor of English at Texas State University Steve Chappell, aerospace engineer and NASA scientist Erica Chenoweth, Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at the Harvard Kennedy School Robert Corruccini, biological anthropologist and author of numerous monographs and articles on the theory of malocclusion Hilda Counts, electrical engineer Patrick Curran, professor of quantitative psychology at the University of North Carolina and Director of the L. L. Thurstone Psychometric Laboratory Ward Darley, president, University of Colorado William E. Davis, former university president and United States Senate candidate Vine Deloria Jr., academic and political author on Native American subjects W. Edwards Deming, manufacturing quality expert Marla Dowell, physicist, director of NIST Communications Technology Laboratory Patricia Louise Dudley, zoologist specializing in copepods Elsie Eaves, civil engineer Donald Evenson, biologist and chemist Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, Regius Professor of political science at the University of Essex, and former president of the International Studies Association (2021–22) Grizelle González, ecologist at the Sabana Field Research Station Steve H. Hanke, professor of economics at Johns Hopkins University, adviser to presidents, currency reformer and commodity and currency trader David Haussler, professor, University of California, Santa Cruz Clayton Heathcock, professor of Chemistry and dean of the College of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley Gretchen Hofmann, professor of ecological physiology of marine organisms at the University of California, Santa Barbara Tom Hornbein, developed the standard breathing mask after climbing Mt. Everest in 1963 Charles Hoskinson, mathematician, founder of Cardano and co-founder of Ethereum Moriba Jah, astrodynamicist; associate professor of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics at the University of Texas at Austin; Core Faculty of the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences; former spacecraft navigator for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Alan Kay, computer scientist, Turing Award winner Caitlín R. Kiernan, paleontologist and award-winning science-fiction author, specializing in Cretaceous mosasaurs and turtles; two-time winner of the World Fantasy Award Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Swiss-born psychiatrist and the author of the groundbreaking book On Death and Dying Ron Larson, professor of mathematics at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Emory Lindquist, Rhodes scholar, Swedish American historian, president of Bethany College and Wichita State University Theodore Harold Maiman, demonstrated the first laser Tom Maniatis, Edelma Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Christopher McKay, planetary scientist at NASA Ames Research Center Lou Alta Melton, civil engineer and bridge engineer Kenneth Miller, biologist at Brown University Kathe Perez, speech-language pathologist Ralph Prator, first president of California State University, Northridge Kay Schallenkamp, president of Emporia State University, and later Black Hills State University Leon Silver, geologist at California Institute of Technology, past president of Geological Society of America, trained Apollo astronauts in field geology Christopher Sorensen, Cortelyou-Rust University Distinguished Professor and a University Distinguished Teaching Scholar in the Kansas State University Physics DepartmentThe Alumni Association of the University of Colorado at Boulder: Gary Stormo, geneticist and pioneer of bioinformatics and genomics Michael T. Voorhees, entrepreneur, engineer, designer, geographer, and aeronaut
The arts, including film (see separate sections further down for "literature" and "journalism") 3OH!3, electronic music group Linda Alterwitz, artist and photographer Josephine Antoine, coloratura soprano with the Metropolitan Opera Brandon Barnes, drummer for the band Rise Against and Pinhead Circus Charles L. Bestor, composer and music educator Big Head Todd and the Monsters, platinum selling recording artists Austin Bisnow, songwriter, producer, and lead singer of the band MAGIC GIANT Rodney Carswell, painter Chairlift, electronic-pop group Derek Cianfrance, screenwriter and film director Lydia Cornell, actress, author Eli Craig, screenwriter and film director Eric Darnell, director Joey Diaz, comedian Brian Dietzen, actor Lisa Donovan, actress and writer Patricia Elliott, actress Joe Flanigan, actor Tanner Foust, television host, stunt driver, professional racing driver Nicole Fox, model, winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 13 Drew Goddard, film and television screenwriter, director and producer Jake Goldberg, actor Keith Dale Gordon, theatrical lyricist and composer Dave Grusin, composer, winner of three Academy Awards and three Grammy Awards Heather Hach, wrote the screenplay for the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday and the book of the Broadway musical Legally Blonde Erinn Hayes, actress Jonah Hill, actor, withdrew after freshman year David "GrandPooBear" Hunt, speedrunner and streamer well known for retro Super Mario games Angus T. Jones, actor R. J. Kern, artist and photographer Shawn King, drummer, percussionist, trumpeter, accordionist, organist for the band DeVotchKa Chaney Kley, actor Land of the Loops, electronica musician William Lewis, opera tenor and academic Larry Linville, actor (M*A*S*H) Low vs Diamond, rock band Erin Macdonald, science consultant for Star Trek Ross Marquand, actor Christopher Meloni, actor Glenn Miller, composer, big band leader Joan Moment, painter and educator Nathaniel Motte, singer, songwriter, producer, performer, film composer, instrumentalist, and playwright Thomas Noel, historian Peter O'Fallon, director, producer and writer Trey Parker, Emmy and Tony Award–winning director, writer, and producer; co-creator of South Park Caroline Polachek, singer-songwriter Robert Redford, actor (did not graduate), Oscar winner, founder of the Sundance Film Festival Dean Reed, actor, singer and songwriter, director, and social activist Joe Safdie, poet Beryl Shereshewsky, YouTuber, filmmaker, video producer, and host of PBS' Pan Pals Aaron Simpson, Emmy-nominated animation producer Susan Arnout Smith, award-winning playwright and novelist Derek Vincent Smith, electronic music producer, withdrew after freshman year Paul Soldner, artist Matt Stone, Emmy, and Tony Award–winning director, writer, and producer; co-creator of South Park Eric Stough, producer and director of animation on South Park Steve Taylor, singer/songwriter and film director Dalton Trumbo, writer, Academy Award winner Joan Van Ark, actress Townes Van Zandt, country-folk singer-songwriter, withdrew in his sophomore year Linda Williams, professor of film studies at the University of California, Berkeley Chris Wood, electronic musician Pamela Z, composer, performer, and media artist Dean Zanuck, motion picture executive and producer
Astronauts Loren Acton, NASA astronaut Patrick Baudry, CNES astronaut Vance D. Brand, NASA astronaut Scott Carpenter, NASA astronaut in second orbital flight (fourth crewed) of Project Mercury Kalpana Chawla, NASA astronaut, died on Columbia Takao Doi, NASA astronaut Samuel T. Durrance, NASA astronaut John Herrington, NASA astronaut Richard Hieb, NASA astronaut Marsha Ivins, NASA astronaut John M. Lounge, NASA astronaut George Nelson, NASA astronaut Ellison Onizuka, NASA astronaut, died on Challenger in January 1986 Stuart Roosa, NASA astronaut, flew on Apollo 14 Ronald M. Sega, NASA astronaut Steven Swanson, NASA astronaut Jack Swigert, NASA astronaut, flew on Apollo 13 James Voss, NASA astronaut
Athletics A–F Bobby Anderson, former NFL running back for the Denver Broncos Dick Anderson, former NFL safety for the Miami Dolphins Tom Ashworth, former NFL offensive tackle Sal Aunese, Big Eight Newcomer of the Year Chidobe Awuzie, NFL cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens David Bakhtiari, former NFL offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers Justin Bannan, former NFL defensive tackle Dede Barry, cyclist, won silver in the 2004 Summer Olympics in the women's time trial Mitch Berger, former NFL punter Greg Biekert, American football coach and former NFL linebacker for the Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings Eric Bieniemy, former NFL running back and offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs Chauncey Billups, American basketball coach and former NBA point guard, 2004 NBA Finals MVP Abhinav Bindra, shooter, won gold for India in the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 10 metre air rifle Joan Birkland, Colorado state women's amateur golf and tennis champion Jeremy Bloom, world champion and two-time Olympic freestyle skier; former NFL wide receiver and return specialist, for the Philadelphia Eagles Magnus Bøe, cross-country skier, Olympian, 2018 Cliff Branch, former wide receiver with the Oakland Raiders Tyler Brayton, former NFL defensive end Carlon Brown, former professional basketball player, 2013–14 top scorer in the Israel Basketball Premier League Chris Brown, former NFL running back Heidi Browning, NHL chief marketing officer Rae Carruth, former wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers Franklin Clarke, former All-Pro wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys Emma Coburn, mid-distance runner, Olympian 2016 bronze medalist in the steeplechase, 2017 World Champion Valerie Constien, 3000m and 3000m steeplechase, Olympian, 2020 and 2024 Mark Cooney, former NFL linebacker for the Green Bay Packers Joe Cooper, former NBA center Mason Crosby, former NFL kicker for the Green Bay Packers Alan Culpepper, runner, Olympian, 2000 and 2004 Tristan da Silva, NBA small forward for the Orlando Magic Koy Detmer, former NFL quarterback Spencer Dinwiddie, former NBA guard Boyd Dowler, former NFL wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers Flora Duffy, professional triathlete, Olympian 2020 gold medalist in triathlon, multiple-time World Champion Jon Embree, former head football coach for the Colorado Buffaloes Christian Fauria, former NFL tight end Bill Frank, Canadian Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
G–M Tom Garfinkel, president and chief executive officer of the Miami Dolphins David Gibbs, former NFL head coach Taylor Gold (born 1993), snowboarder; Olympic bronze medalist Adam Goucher, professional runner, Olympian 2000 Kara Goucher, professional runner, Olympian 2008, 2012 Daniel Graham, former NFL tight end BJ Green II, NFL defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars Natalia Grossman, IFSC Climbing World Cup champion sport climber Alex Gurney, professional auto racing driver Andre Gurode, American football coach and former All-Pro center for the Dallas Cowboys D.J. Hackett, former NFL wide receiver Tyler Hamilton, cyclist with many impressive finishes at the Tour de France and the Summer Olympics David Harrison, former NBA center Don Hasselbeck, former NFL tight end Steven J. Hatchell, president and chief executive officer of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Mark Haynes, former NFL cornerback Jimmie Heuga, alpine skiing, 1964 Olympic bronze medalist in slalom