63 Notable alumni of Morgan State University
Updated: June 14, 2026 EliteDegrees
Morgan State University is ranked #1,530 in the world and #374 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 63 notable alumni from Morgan 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 Morgan State University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Ralph M. Hughes
1948-. (aged 78)
politician
Ralph M. Hughes is an American politician who represented district 40 in the Maryland State Senate from 1991 to 2007 and a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the same district from 1983 to 1991.
+ show more
2. William Ashbie Hawkins
1862-1941 (aged 79)
lawyer
William Ashbie Hawkins was a lawyer in Baltimore, Maryland, who litigated prominent civil rights cases and was one of Baltimore's first African American lawyers.
+ show more
3. Nellie A. Buchanan
1900-1993 (aged 93)
Nellie A. Buchanan was an American educator and theatre professional. She was the fourth international president of the historically black sorority Zeta Phi Beta, serving from 1923 to 1925.
+ show more
4. Harold T. Pinkett
1914-2001 (aged 87)
historian
archivist
Harold Thomas Pinkett was an African-American archivist and historian. In 1942, he became the first African-American archivist employed at the National Archives of the United States. He was also the first African-American to become a fellow of the Society of American Archivists and to be editor of the journal The American Archivist. He was an expert in agricultural archives, and...
+ show more
5. Ron Pinkney
1935-2020 (aged 85)
sports commentator
Robert Theron "Ron" Pinkney was an American pioneer broadcaster who was the first African-American play-by-play announcer on a major television network (ABC). The game was played at the Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi between Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State.
+ show more
6. Vivian Caver
1928-2021 (aged 93)
politician
Vivian Leona Mead Caver was an American politician in the state of Washington. Appointed to a 37th District vacancy, Caver was the third African-American woman to serve in the Washington House of Representatives, serving the 37th district from 1994 to 1995. An alumnus of Morgan State College and the University of Washington, she was a human rights activist.
+ show more
7. Ida R. Cummings
1867-1958 (aged 91)
teacher
Ida R. Cummings was an American teacher and clubwoman, based in Baltimore, Maryland. She was an officer of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in the 1910s.
+ show more
8. Tiwian Kendley
1995-. (aged 31)
basketball player
Tiwian Kendley is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Freseros de Irapuato of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP). He played college basketball for Morgan State.
+ show more
9. Anna E. Cooper
1897-1988 (aged 91)
educator
Anna E. Cooper was a Liberian educator, she was the first female dean of the University of Liberia.
10. Melvin L. Stukes
1948-2024 (aged 76)
politician
Melvin L. Stukes was an American politician who represented the 44th legislative district in the Maryland House of Delegates. Stukes was a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. Prior to winning a seat in the Maryland General Assembly, Stukes served 13 years in the Baltimore City Council.
+ show more
11. Harry A. Cole
1921-1999 (aged 78)
lawyer
judge
politician
Harry A. Cole was an American lawyer, jurist and politician. He was a member of the Maryland State Senate from Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first African-American ever elected to the Maryland Senate and the first African-American to serve on the Maryland Court of Appeals.
+ show more
12. Decatur "Bucky" Trotter
1932-2004 (aged 72)
politician
Decatur "Bucky" Trotter was an American politician who was a member of the Maryland State Senate and chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.
+ show more
13. Louise Archer
1893-1948 (aged 55)
teacher
Louise A. Reeves Archer was an American teacher, principal, and activist who fought to educate African Americans during the 1930s and 1940s. During this era, racial barriers severely limited a black student's access to education. These students had limited resources compared to white children and were typically denied education beyond the seventh grade, even as twelve grades became common practice...
+ show more
14. David R. Craig
1949-. (aged 77)
politician
David R. Craig is an American Republican Party politician from the State of Maryland who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of Maryland in 2014. He was appointed, and sworn in as Harford County Executive on July 7, 2005. Craig was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. Craig previously served in the Maryland State Senate from 1995 to...
+ show more
15. Nathaniel J. McFadden
1946-. (aged 80)
politician
Nathaniel J. McFadden is an American politician who represented district 45 in the Maryland State Senate from January 11, 1995 to January 9, 2019, and who was the Senate's president pro tem from January 10, 2007 to January 9, 2019.
+ show more
16. Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa
1955-. (aged 71)
politician
Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa is a Nigerian politician who is the current Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2020. He was previously a senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District.
+ show more
17. Donald Sanford
1987-. (aged 39)
sprinter
Donald Eugene Blair-Sanford is an American-Israeli Olympic sprinter, who specialises in the 400 metre dash.
18. Matthew J. Maddox
1977-. (aged 49)
lawyer
judge
Matthew James Maddox is an American lawyer from Maryland who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland since 2023. He previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the same court from 2022 to 2023.
+ show more
19. Nathaniel T. Oaks
1946-. (aged 80)
politician
Nathaniel T. Oaks is an American politician from Baltimore City, Maryland. He was a longtime member of the Maryland General Assembly, serving as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1983 to 1989 and again from 1995 to February 2017, when he resigned to take a seat in the Maryland State Senate. Oaks remained in the state Senate...
+ show more
20. Robert M. Bell
1943-. (aged 83)
lawyer
judge
Robert Mack Bell is an American lawyer and jurist from Baltimore, Maryland. From 1996 to 2013, he served as Chief Judge on the Maryland Court of Appeals, now known as the Supreme Court of Maryland, the state's highest appellate court. He was the first African American to hold the position.
+ show more
21. H. Steven Blum
1946-. (aged 80)
H. Steven Blum is a retired United States Army lieutenant general. He served as the 25th chief of the National Guard Bureau from 2003 to 2008. His last assignment before retiring was deputy commander, United States Northern Command, where he concurrently served as vice commander, United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command. He retired from the Army National Guard...
+ show more
22. Sharon Green Middleton
1954-. (aged 72)
politician
Sharon Green Middleton is an American politician who has been a member of the Baltimore City Council since 2007 and its vice president since 2016. A member of the Democratic Party, she briefly served as acting president of the Baltimore City Council following Bernard C. Young's ascension to mayor following the resignation of Catherine Pugh.
+ show more
23. Pete Rawlings
1937-2003 (aged 66)
politician
Howard Peters "Pete" Rawlings was an American politician and the first African American to become chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee in the Maryland House of Delegates. Rawlings served the 40th legislative district, located in the central, northwest section of Baltimore, from 1979 until 2003. His daughter, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, is the former Mayor of Baltimore.
+ show more
24. Josh Culbreath
1932-2021 (aged 89)
athletics competitor
Joshua Culbreath was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 400 meter hurdles—the national outdoor champion from 1953 to 1955; three-time winner of the event in the Penn Relays in the same years, and Olympic bronze medal winner in 1956, while he was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps; and world record holder in 1957. Culbreath was inducted into...
+ show more
25. C. Anthony Muse
1958-. (aged 68)
politician
Charles Anthony Muse is an American politician and minister who has served in the Maryland Senate representing the 26th district since 2023, and previously from 2007 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1995 to 1999.
+ show more
26. Kwame R. Brown
1970-. (aged 56)
politician
Kwame R. Brown is an American politician in Washington, D.C., who was an at-large member of the council from 2005 to 2011 and chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia from 2011 until his resignation in June 2012.
+ show more
27. Larry R. Ellis
1946-. (aged 80)
military officer
Larry Rudell Ellis is a former United States Army officer who served as the Commander of United States Army Forces Command from 19 November 2001, until 2004, following his assignment as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans of the Department of the Army.
+ show more
28. Carolyn Colvin
1942-. (aged 84)
politician
Carolyn W. Colvin is an American public administrator who served as Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration from 2013 to 2017 and again from 2024 to 2025. On June 20, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated her to serve as the commissioner. On September 18, 2014, the United States Senate Committee on Finance approved her nomination by a 22–2 vote....
+ show more
29. Len Ford
1926-1972 (aged 46)
basketball player
American football player
Leonard Guy Ford Jr. was an American professional football player who was an offensive and defensive end from 1948 to 1958. He played college football for the University of Michigan and professional football for the Los Angeles Dons, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976 and the University of...
+ show more
30. Dia Simms
D'Angela "Dia" Simms is an American business executive. In 2020, Simms became the co-founder of Pronghorn. She was previously the president of Combs Enterprises, a position she had held since May 15, 2017. Simms was appointed to this position by Combs Enterprises founder and CEO, Sean Combs, and was the first person to assume the role of president at the...
+ show more
31. Parren Mitchell
1922-2007 (aged 85)
politician
military officer
Parren James Mitchell was an American politician who served as a U.S. Congressman affiliated with the Democratic Party representing the 7th congressional district of Maryland from January 3, 1971, to January 3, 1987. He was the first African American elected to Congress from Maryland.
+ show more
32. William C. Rhoden
1950-. (aged 76)
journalist
sports journalist
William C. Rhoden is an American sports journalist and author who formerly worked as a columnist for The New York Times from 1983 until 2016, when he joined ESPN's The Undefeated as a writer-at-large, where he is currently employed. Rhoden is also a visiting senior practitioner at Arizona State University as well as the director of the Rhoden Fellows program.
+ show more
33. Curt Anderson
1949-. (aged 77)
radio producer
lawyer
politician
Curtis Stovall Anderson is an American politician, lawyer and former broadcast journalist. He was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1983, was the chairman of the Baltimore City Delegation, and past chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. After serving 12 years, he was elected again in 2002, and served until his retirement in 2023. He...
+ show more
34. Earl G. Graves Sr
1935-2020 (aged 85)
military
businessperson
entrepreneur
Earl Gilbert Graves Sr. was an American entrepreneur, publisher, businessman, philanthropist, and advocate of African-American businesses. A graduate of Morgan State University, he was the founder of Black Enterprise magazine and chairman of the media company Earl G. Graves, Ltd. He was the director for Aetna and Executive Board member of the Boy Scouts of America. He was the father...
+ show more
35. Rosey Brown
1932-2004 (aged 72)
American football player
Roosevelt Brown Jr. was an American professional football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants from 1953 to 1965. He played college football for the Morgan State Bears and was selected by the Giants in the 27th round of the 1953 NFL draft.
+ show more
36. Visanthe Shiancoe
1980-. (aged 46)
American football player
Visanthe O. Shiancoe is a Liberian-American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Morgan State Bears, he was selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played for the Giants for four seasons from 2003 to 2006 and...
+ show more
37. Jim Thorpe
1949-. (aged 77)
golfer
Jimmy Lee Thorpe is an American retired professional golfer, who last played on the Champions Tour.
38. Anne Wiggins Brown
1912-2009 (aged 97)
opera singer
Anne Wiggins Brown was an American lyric soprano for whom George Gershwin rewrote the part of "Bess" into a leading role in the original production of his opera Porgy and Bess in 1935.
+ show more
39. Tanya Trotter
1977-. (aged 49)
actor
singer
model
Tanya Trotter is an American actress, musician and author. She began her career as a teen actress, appearing in the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), where she performed "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" in a duet with Lauryn Hill. She went on to release her debut album Natural Thing (1994), which featured the songs "Through...
+ show more
40. Clarence "Big House" Gaines
1923-2005 (aged 82)
American football player
basketball player
basketball coach
Clarence Edward "Big House" Gaines Sr. was an American college men's basketball coach with a 47-year coaching career at Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Among his numerous honors for his achievements, he is one of the few African Americans to be inducted as a coach into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
+ show more
41. William E. Ward
1949-. (aged 77)
army officer
William E. "Kip" Ward is a retired United States Army general officer who served as the inaugural Commander of United States Africa Command from 1 October 2007 to 8 March 2011. During his long career in public service, he has taught international affairs and relations at West Point, US Military Academy; served as Commander of Stabilization Force, Operation Joint Forge,...
+ show more
42. Leroy Kelly
1942-. (aged 84)
American football player
Leroy Kelly is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 to 1973. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
+ show more
43. Wilson Goode
1938-. (aged 88)
politician
Woodrow Wilson Goode Sr. is an American politician and former Mayor of Philadelphia and the first African American to hold that office. He served from 1984 to 1992, a period which included the controversial MOVE police action and house bombing in 1985. Goode was also a community activist, chair of the state Public Utility Commission, and managing director for the...
+ show more
44. April Ryan
1967-. (aged 59)
writer
political reporter
April Danielle Ryan is an American reporter, author, and White House Correspondent for The Grio. In 2023, Ryan joined MSNBC as a political contributor.
+ show more
45. Kevin Frazier
1964-. (aged 62)
sports commentator
basketball player
screenwriter
Kevin Timothy Frazier is an American television host, widely known as co-host of Entertainment Tonight and the founder and owner of the urban entertainment website HipHollywood.com.
+ show more
46. Kevin Liles
1968-. (aged 58)
composer
record producer
Kevin Liles is an American record executive who is the co-founder and CEO of 300 Entertainment. In 2020, Kevin was recognized by Billboard Magazine as R&B/Hip-Hop Executive of the Year for both his efforts in activism and the continued success of Megan Thee Stallion.
+ show more
47. Sijara Eubanks
1985-. (aged 41)
mixed martial arts fighter
Sijara Jihan Eubanks is an American professional mixed martial artist who competed in the women's bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
+ show more
48. Lester Speight
1963-. (aged 63)
actor
television actor
American football player
professional wrestler
film actor
Lester Speight, also known as Rasta, is a former American football player who has had subsequent careers as a professional wrestler and then actor. He achieved significant recognition for his portrayal of Terry Tate: Office Linebacker in a series of Reebok commercials that debuted during Super Bowl XXXVII, and received further recognition for his portrayal of Augustus Cole in the...
+ show more
49. Kweisi Mfume
1948-. (aged 78)
university teacher
program director
politician
Kweisi Mfume is an American politician who is the U.S. representative for Maryland's 7th congressional district, first serving from 1987 to 1996 and again since 2020. A member of the Democratic Party, Mfume first left his seat to become the president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a position he held from 1996...
+ show more
50. Mo'Nique
1967-. (aged 59)
television actor
voice actor
television producer
actor
film actor
Monique Angela Hicks, known mononymously as Mo'Nique, is an American comedian and Academy Award winning actress. She debuted as a member of The Queens of Comedy and earned recognition as a stand-up comedian. In 2002, she received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. She transitioned to mainstream roles starring in the UPN series The Parkers (1999–2004)...
+ show more
51. Omos
1992-. (aged 34)
basketball player
professional wrestler
Tolulope "Jordan" Omogbehin is a Nigerian professional wrestler and former college basketball player. He is signed to WWE, where he performs in its sister promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide under the ring name Omos.
+ show more
52. Deniece Williams
1951-. (aged 75)
singer-songwriter
recording artist
singer
record producer
June Deniece Williams is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great soul voices" by the BBC.
53. Antonio Fresco
1983-. (aged 43)
radio personality
disc jockey
television personality
songwriter
actor
Miguel Antonio Matos, known professionally as Antonio Fresco, is an American DJ, record producer and radio personality. He is an Afro-Latino of Dominican & Puerto Rican descent.
+ show more
54. Kenneth P. Kerr
1957-. (aged 69)
politician
Kenneth P. Kerr is an American politician. He is a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates. He represents District 3B, which covers parts of Frederick County. He was previously a member of the Frederick County Board of Education from 2016 to 2018.
+ show more
55. R. Scott Dingle
1965-. (aged 61)
Raymond Scott Dingle is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as the 45th Surgeon General of the United States Army and Commanding General, United States Army Medical Command from 2019 to 2024. Dingle graduated from Morgan State University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology, and has master's degrees in Administration from Central Michigan University,...
+ show more
56. Paul Brown
1934-2016 (aged 82)
bassist
Paul Eugene Brown was an American football coach and executive in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), the National Football League (NFL), and the American Football League (AFL). Brown was both the co-founder and first coach of the Cleveland Browns, a team named after him, and later co-founded the Cincinnati Bengals. His teams won seven league championships in a professional coaching...
+ show more
57. Vashti Murphy McKenzie
1947-. (aged 79)
religious writer
religious leader
journalist
methodist bishop
Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. She is also a retired bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and author of six books. In 2000, McKenzie became the first woman to be elected as bishop in the denomination's history. She later served as President of the...
+ show more
58. Yogananda Pittman
police officer
Yogananda D. Pittman is an American police officer who is the University of California, Berkeley chief of police. She was formerly the assistant chief and acting chief of the United States Capitol Police (USCP), serving in those posts during and after the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
+ show more
59. Bilal Salaam
singer
record producer
singer-songwriter
Bilal Salaam is an American professor, art historiographer, composer and academic. He is currently a lecturer at Istanbul Ticaret University.
60. LaChanze
1961-. (aged 65)
singer
television actor
film actor
dancer
stage actor
LaChanze Sapp-Gooding, known professionally as LaChanze, is an American actress, theater producer, singer, and dancer. She won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2006 for her role as Celie Harris Johnson in The Color Purple. LaChanze has subsequently received four more Tony Awards for co-producing Kimberly Akimbo, Topdog/Underdog, The Outsiders, and Purpose.
+ show more
61. Gloria C. Gilmer
1928-2021 (aged 93)
academic
mathematician
Gloria C. Gilmer was an American mathematician and educator, notable for being the first African American woman to publish a non-PhD thesis.
62. Robert Reed
1932-1992 (aged 60)
stage actor
film director
director
actor
film actor
Robert Reed was an American actor. He played Kenneth Preston on the legal drama The Defenders from 1961 to 1965 alongside E.G. Marshall, and is best known for his role as patriarch Mike Brady, opposite Florence Henderson's role as Carol Brady, on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch, which aired from 1969 to 1974. He later reprised his role of...
+ show more
63. Margaret Murphy
1930-2016 (aged 86)
politician
Margaret Murphy is a British crime writer.