14 Notable alumni of Western Connecticut State University
Updated: June 14, 2026 EliteDegrees
Western Connecticut State University is ranked #2,481 in the world and #643 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 14 notable alumni from Western Connecticut 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 Western Connecticut State University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Evan Bernstein
Evan R. Bernstein is an American public figure and community leader, known for his work with Jewish NGOs. He worked for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) from 2013 and became the inaugural CEO and National Director of Community Security Service (CSS) in May 2020. Since November 2023, Bernstein has been the vice president of community relations at the Jewish Federations of...
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2. David Cappiello
1968-. (aged 58)
politician
David J. Cappiello is a businessman and former State Senator representing Connecticut’s 24th Senate District, which includes the communities of Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman, and part of Bethel. In the Senate, he served as Deputy Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee.
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3. Dana Sawyer
1951-. (aged 75)
writer
Dana Sawyer is professor emeritus of religious studies and world religions at the Maine College of Art & Design and an adjunct professor in Asian Religions at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine. He is the author of numerous published papers and books, including Aldous Huxley: A Biography, which Laura Huxley described as, "Out of all the biographies written about Aldous,...
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4. John H. Frey
1963-. (aged 63)
politician
John H. Frey since 1987 is an American real estate broker (with Coldwell Banker Realty), businessman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives for the 111th district from 1999 to 2021.
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5. William Arndt
1993-. (aged 33)
Canadian football player
William Arndt is an American professional football quarterback. He attended Western Connecticut State University, where he played college football. Arndt made his professional debut in 2019 for the Ottawa Redblacks.
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6. Peter Selgin
1957-. (aged 69)
playwright
Peter Selgin is an American novelist, short story writer, playwright, essayist, editor, and illustrator. Selgin is Associate Professor of English at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia.
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7. Chris Casey
1963-. (aged 63)
basketball coach
Chris Casey is an American head college basketball coach. He is currently the head coach for the Fairfield Stags men's basketball team. He was the head coach of the Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball team. On March 11, 2019, he was released. He finished at Niagara with a six-year record of 64–129. He took over the head coach position after...
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8. Paul Pasqualoni
1949-. (aged 77)
head coach
Paul Lucian Pasqualoni is an American football coach who recently served as the linebackers coach for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). He most recently was the defensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers.
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9. Mark D. Boughton
1964-. (aged 62)
politician
Mark D. Boughton is an American politician who was the longest-serving mayor in Danbury, Connecticut's history. He served ten consecutive terms as mayor, from 2001 to 2020. He was the Republican endorsed candidate for governor of Connecticut in 2018, but lost the primary election to Bob Stefanowski. In 2020, Governor Ned Lamont nominated Boughton to serve as commissioner of the...
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10. Thurston Moore
1958-. (aged 68)
guitarist
jazz musician
film actor
voice actor
singer
Thurston Joseph Moore is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter best known as a member of the rock band Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label. Moore was ranked 34th in Rolling Stone's 2004 edition of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
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11. Jane K. Cleland
novelist
Jane K. Cleland is a contemporary American author of mystery fiction and non-fiction. She is the author of the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries, a traditional mystery series set in New Hampshire and featuring antiques appraiser Josie Prescott, as well as books and articles about the craft of writing. Cleland has been nominated for and has won numerous awards for her...
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12. Paul LaPolice
1970-. (aged 56)
head coach
American football player
Paul LaPolice is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Canadian men's national flag football team. He is also a broadcaster for TSN.
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13. Sas Carey
1945-. (aged 81)
healer
teacher
film director
nurse
film producer
Sas Carey is an American film director, author, teacher, holistic nurse, and spiritual healer. She is best known for her four feature documentaries: Gobi Women's Song, Ceremony, Migration and Transition and her two books Reindeer Herders in My Heart: Stories of Healing Journeys in Mongolia, and Marrying Mongolia: A Memoir. She founded the non-profit Nomadicare, which works to support and...
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14. Jodi Rell
1946-2024 (aged 78)
politician
Mary Carolyn Rell, known as M. Jodi Rell, was an American politician who served as the 87th governor of Connecticut from 2004 to 2011. Rell also had served as the state's 105th lieutenant governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004 under Governor John G. Rowland, and became governor after Rowland resigned from office. To date, Rell is the last Republican...
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