21 Notable alumni of Kennesaw State University
Updated: June 15, 2026 EliteDegrees
Kennesaw State University is ranked #985 in the world and #260 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 21 notable alumni from Kennesaw State University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Kennesaw State University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Nels S.D. Peterson
1978-. (aged 48)
lawyer
Nels Stefan David Peterson is an American lawyer serving as the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. In February 2025, he was elected to serve as chief justice of the court.
+ show more
2. Bradley S. James
military leader
Bradley Steven James is a retired United States Marine Corps Major General who most recently served as the Commander of United States Marine Corps Forces, Korea, Component Commander of the United Nations Command and the Deputy Commander of the Combined Marine Corps Command from May 30, 2019 to June 27, 2022. His previous general officer assignments were as Commanding General...
+ show more
3. Emma Hunt
2003-. (aged 23)
rock climber
Emma Hunt is an American competition climber who specializes in competition speed climbing, and holds the American women's speed record with 6.25 seconds, set in July 2025 at the Climbing world Cup in Chamonix, France.
+ show more
4. Ali Shilatifard
1966-. (aged 60)
researcher
biochemist
molecular biologist
Ali Shilatifard is an American biochemist, molecular geneticist, the Robert Francis Furchgott Professor and chairman of the department of biochemistry and molecular genetics, and the director of the Simpson Query Institute for Epigenetics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He has served as a member of the Senior Editorial Board for the journal Science. He also served as...
+ show more
5. Michael Ryan Caldwell
1989-. (aged 37)
politician
Michael Ryan Caldwell is an American entrepreneur and the Mayor of Woodstock, Georgia. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Technology Authority since October 15, 2020, and a former Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives for the 20th district between January 13, 2013 and January 11, 2021. He is also the...
+ show more
6. Dar'shun Kendrick
1982-. (aged 44)
lawyer
politician
Dar'shun Nicole Kendrick is an American attorney and a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing the 95th district; she previously represented the 94th and 93rd districts. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
+ show more
7. Chad Jenkins
1987-. (aged 39)
baseball player
Stephen Chadwick Jenkins is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays.
8. Richard Lovelady
1995-. (aged 31)
baseball player
Richard Tyler "Dicky" Lovelady, an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets. Lovelady was selected by the Royals in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB draft.
+ show more
9. Max Pentecost
1993-. (aged 33)
baseball player
Maxwell Glen Pentecost is an American former professional baseball catcher. Prior to playing professionally, Pentecost attended Kennesaw State University, where he played college baseball for the Kennesaw State Owls baseball team. He was selected in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft by the Blue Jays.
+ show more
10. Arturo Char
1967-. (aged 59)
politician
Arturo Char Chaljub is a former Senator of Colombia. Prior to his appointment he served as First Secretary of the Colombian Embassy in London.
11. Alan Busenitz
1990-. (aged 36)
baseball player
Alan Paul Busenitz is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
+ show more
12. Jasmine Burke
1983-. (aged 43)
television actor
film director
actor
film actor
Jasmine Burke is an American actress. She is known for her role as Dr. Christie Johnson in the Bounce TV prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. She's more recently known for her role as June on the soap opera 'Beyond the Gates'.
+ show more
13. Larry Nelson
1947-. (aged 79)
golfer
Larry Gene Nelson is an American professional golfer. He has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.
14. Bronson Rechsteiner
1997-. (aged 29)
professional wrestler
American football player
Bronson Rechsteiner is an American professional wrestler and former football player. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Bron Breakker, and is a member of The Vision stable.
+ show more
15. Mac Powell
1972-. (aged 54)
singer-songwriter
singer
Mac Powell, originally from Clanton, Alabama, United States, is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and musician who formed the Christian rock band Third Day with guitarist Mark Lee, with both of them being the only continuous members of the band, as well as being a solo artist. Powell also delves into country music, having released several independent country albums.
+ show more
16. Ty Pennington
1964-. (aged 62)
actor
television actor
joiner
businessperson
model
Tygert Burton "Ty" Pennington is an American television host, artist, carpenter, author, and former model and actor.
17. Ryan Seacrest
1974-. (aged 52)
voice actor
actor
television actor
television producer
film producer
Ryan John Seacrest is an American television host and producer. Seacrest is the host of Wheel of Fortune, having hosted since replacing long-time host Pat Sajak in September 2024. Seacrest co-hosted and served as executive producer of Live with Kelly and Ryan, and has hosted other media including American Idol, American Top 40, and On Air with Ryan Seacrest. He...
+ show more
18. Richard Woods
politician
Richard Woods is an American politician and educator who is currently the Georgia Superintendent of Schools, a position he was elected to in 2014. He was reelected to his position in 2018, defeating his Democratic opponent Otha Thornton with slightly over 53% of the vote.
+ show more
19. Willie Harris
1978-. (aged 48)
baseball player
William Charles Harris is an American professional baseball coach who currently serves as the third base coach for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is also a former outfielder and second baseman who played for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds between 2001 and...
+ show more
20. James Wade Jr
1975-. (aged 51)
basketball player
basketball coach
James Earl Wade Jr., known as Coco, is an American-French basketball assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
+ show more
21. Nick Ayers
1982-. (aged 44)
political adviser
James Nicholas Ayers is an American political strategist and consultant who served as Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence between July 2017 and January 2019. He had previously served as national chairman for Pence's vice-presidential campaign in 2016, as well as executive director of the Republican Governors Association from 2007 to 2010.
+ show more