21 Notable alumni of University of Jyvaskyla
Updated: June 22, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of Jyvaskyla is ranked #525 in the world and #6 in Finland by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 21 notable alumni from University of Jyvaskyla sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of Jyvaskyla won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Petri Honkonen
1987-. (aged 39)
politician
Petri Erkki Olavi Honkonen is a Finnish politician, representing the Centre Party in the Parliament of Finland since 2015. He was born in Pylkönmäki, and was elected to the Parliament from the Central Finland constituency in the 2015 elections with 2,978 votes.
+ show more
2. Osmo Pekonen
1960-2022 (aged 62)
historian
mathematician
writer
Osmo Pekonen was a Finnish mathematician, historian of science, and author. He was a docent of mathematics at the University of Helsinki and at the University of Jyväskylä, a docent of history of science at the University of Oulu, and a docent of history of civilization at the University of Lapland. He was the Book Reviews section editor of The...
+ show more
3. Bella Forsgrén
1992-. (aged 34)
politician
Bella Asha Maria Belaynesh Forsgrén is a Finnish politician of the Green League who has been serving as a member of the Parliament of Finland since 2019, representing the Central Finland constituency. She is the country's first Black female member of parliament.
+ show more
4. Markus Mustajärvi
1963-. (aged 63)
politician
Markus Mustajärvi is a Finnish politician for the Left Alliance. He represented Lapland in the Parliament of Finland from 2003 until 2023.
5. Susanna Huovinen
1972-. (aged 54)
journalist
politician
Krista Anri Susanna Huovinen is a Finnish politician of the Social Democratic Party and the Minister of Social Services between 2013 and 2015.
6. Tuomo Puumala
1982-. (aged 44)
politician
Tuomo Matti Oskari Puumala is a Finnish politician from the Centre Party. He has been a member of the Finnish Parliament from Vaasa since 2007. He has a master's degree in Social Science. Before his political career he worked as a journalist for Kokkola and Perhonjokilaakso newspapers. He was also the Chairman of Finnish Centre Youth from 2005 to 2009.
+ show more
7. Nikolay Kuznetsov
1922-2009 (aged 87)
aircraft pilot
writer
Nikolay Vladimirovich Kuznetsov is a specialist in nonlinear dynamics and control theory, and the founder of the theory of hidden oscillations.
8. Pasi Sahlberg
1959-. (aged 67)
university teacher
pedagogue
Pasi Sahlberg is a Finnish education expert, author and professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Previously, Sahlberg has worked as a professor of practice at Harvard University at the World Bank, and as the director of the Centre for International Mobility (CIMO) in Finland. His work Finnish Lessons: What can the world learn from educational change in Finland?...
+ show more
9. Mauri Pekkarinen
1947-. (aged 79)
politician
Reijo Mauri Matias Pekkarinen is a Finnish politician. He most recently served as a Member of European Parliament for Finland between 2019 and 2024. He is the Centre Party of Finland (Suomen Keskusta) deputy and secretary, having served in various cabinet position in the Finnish government, including as Minister of Economic Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Minister of...
+ show more
10. Hanna Kosonen
1976-. (aged 50)
politician
Hanna Kosonen is a Finnish politician and former ski-orienteering competitor. She was Finland's Minister of Science and Culture from August 2019 till August 2020.
+ show more
11. Elsi Katainen
1966-. (aged 60)
politician
Elsi Kaarina Katainen is a Finnish politician and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). She is a member of the Centre Party, part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.
+ show more
12. Ismo Leikola
1979-. (aged 47)
television presenter
musician
stand-up comedian
Ismo Mikael Leikola, sometimes known professionally as ISMO, is a Finnish comedian, musician, author, screenwriter, and YouTuber. Leikola made his United States debut in 2014, when he won the "Funniest Person in the World" competition organized by the comedy club Laugh Factory. In 2015, he made comedy series ISMO for Finnish television and moved to the United States. He gained...
+ show more
13. Jutta Urpilainen
1975-. (aged 51)
teacher
politician
Jutta Pauliina Urpilainen is a Finnish politician. She was the first female chair of the Social Democratic Party of Finland, which she led from 2008 to 2014. She was the Minister of Finance as well as the Deputy Prime Minister of Finland from 2011 to 2014. Between 2019 and 2024, she served as the European Commissioner for International Partnerships in...
+ show more
14. Lotta Hintsa
1988-. (aged 38)
mountaineer
beauty pageant contestant
model
Lotta Henriikka Hintsa is a Finnish model, mountaineer and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Finland 2013 and represented her country at Miss Universe 2013.
+ show more
15. Matti Heikkinen
1983-. (aged 43)
sports commentator
sports executive
cross-country skier
Matti Heikkinen is a Finnish former cross-country skier and World Champion who competed from 2002 to 2019.
16. Henna Virkkunen
1972-. (aged 54)
member of parliament
politician
journalist
Henna Maria Virkkunen is a Finnish politician who serves as Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, and European Commissioner for Digital and Frontier Technologies in the von der Leyen II Commission since December 2024.
+ show more
17. Touko Aalto
1984-. (aged 42)
politician
Touko Juhani Aalto is a Finnish politician. He was chairman of the Green League from 2017 to 2018. He represented the electoral district of Central Finland in the Parliament of Finland 2015–2019.
+ show more
18. Sinuhe Wallinheimo
1972-. (aged 54)
ice hockey player
politician
Mika Sinuhe Wallinheimo is a Finnish politician and former professional ice hockey goaltender. As the last team he represented JYP in the SM-liiga. After his sporting career he entered politics and was elected to the Parliament of Finland as an MP for the National Coalition Party in the 2011 election and reelected in 2015 and 2019. His parents derived his...
+ show more
19. Sofi Oksanen
1977-. (aged 49)
novelist
playwright
publisher
Sofi-Elina Oksanen is a Finnish writer and playwright. Oksanen has published six novels, of which "Purge" has gained the widest recognition. She has received several international and domestic awards for her literary work. Her work has been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than two million copies. Oksanen has been called "Finnish-Estonian Charles Dickens" and her work...
+ show more
20. Jukka Jalonen
1962-. (aged 64)
ice hockey player
ice hockey coach
Jukka Pertti Juhani Jalonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey coach and former player. In 2011, 2019 and 2022, he led the Finnish national team to the gold medal in the IIHF World Championship, and at the 2022 Winter Olympics, he coached the team that won Finland's first ever Olympic gold in ice hockey. He was the head coach of...
+ show more
21. Laura Huhtasaari
1979-. (aged 47)
politician
Laura Huhtasaari is a Finnish politician and teacher. As a member of the Finns Party, she has represented Satakunta in the Parliament of Finland from April 2015 to July 2019. She was the Finns Party candidate for the 2018 Finnish presidential election. In 2019 Huhtasaari was elected to the European Parliament with 92,760 votes
+ show more