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Cornell University is an Ivy League research university which is located in Ithaca, New York. This university offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in various fields such as arts, engineering, Hotel Administration, agriculture and life science. Several notable and renowned personalities have pursued their studies at this university. This blog will cover the names of those Top 10 Cornell University Notable Alumni and will give you an overview of people who studied there. Read to learn more about it!
This Blog Includes:
David Duffield
David Duffield is a prominent name in the world of Software companies. He is the founder of several software companies in the field of technology and software. This American businessman has completed his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and master’s in Business Administration and is a Cornell University Notable Alumni.
| Full Name | David Duffield |
| Profession | American Businessman |
| Degree | – Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering – Master’s in Business Administration |
| Achievements | – Co-founder and chairman of PeopleSoft. – Co-founder and CEO of Workday. – Current Founder and Co-CEO of Ridgeline. |
Must Read: How To Get Into Cornell University With a Scholarship?
Bill Nye
Bill Nye, also known as ‘The Science Guy’ is a science educator, mechanical engineer and television presenter. He is an alumnus of Cornell University who completed his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and started his career as an engineer. Later, he became a part of the television and advocated for the environmental issues.
| Full Name | William Sanford Nye |
| Profession | American Television Presentor |
| Degree | – Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering |
| Achievements | – Won 7 national Emmy awards for writing, performing and producing for the show ‘The Science Guy’. – Wrote 5 books for children about science. – Current Executive Director of The Planetary Society. – Won Humanist of the Year Award in 2010. |
Must Read:MBA at Cornell University
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison is an American novelist and editor who had a significant impact on American literature and culture. She did her master’s degree in English literature from Cornell University. She held teaching positions in various universities including, Princeton University, Texas Southern University and Howard University. She also wrote notable novels from the perspective of Black women.
| Full Name | Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison |
| Profession | American Novelist and Editor |
| Degree | – Master’s in English literature |
| Achievements | – Won Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. – Won Pulitzer Award for Fiction in 1988. – Won the National Book Critics Circle Award for the ‘Song of Solomon’. |
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Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve is an American Actor and Film Director, who is famously known for his role as ‘Superman’. He attended Conell University where he discovered his passion for acting. He then studied at the Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York City where he honed his craft.Christopher acted in various films such as Superman sequels, Deathtrap and many more.
| Full Name | Christopher D’Olier Reeve |
| Profession | American Actor and Film Director |
| Degree | Major in Music Theory and English |
| Achievements | – Won the Lasker — Bloomberg Public Service Award in 2003. – Became America’s leading advocate for spinal cord injury research. – Received a BAFTA Award, an Emmy Award and a Grammy Award for his novels. |
Also Read: Columbia University Notable Alumni
Janet Reno
Janet Wood Reno is an American Lawyer and politician. She is the first female who served as a public official and the 78th United States Attorney General. Reno is a Cornell University Notable Alumni who completed her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. She then pursued Law at Harvard Law School and has handled many controversial and high-profile cases throughout her tenure.
| Full Name | Janet Wood Reno |
| Profession | American Lawyer and public official |
| Degree | – Bachelor’s in Chemistry |
| Achievements | – The first female to serve as a public official. – 78th United States Attorney General. – Served as second-longest attorney general, after William Wirt. |
Must Read: Cornell University Admission Process
Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata is an Indian Industrialist, philanthropist, and former chairman of Tata Group. He completed his bachelor’s in Architecture at Cornell University. He is one of the Indians who is a Cornell University Notable Alumni. He is a leading figure in the global business, acquiring various international companies under his name. He also launched the world’s cheapest car, Tata Nano an awarded various honours for his contribution.
| Full Name | Ratan Naval Tata |
| Profession | Indian Industrialist and the former chairman of Tata Group |
| Degree | – Bachelor’s in Architecture |
| Achievements | – Awarded Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2008). – Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 2009. – Founded various organizations under Tata Group such as Tata Motors, Tata Docomo, Tata Teleservices and many more. |
Must Read: Cornell University Scholarships for Indian International Students
Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden is a Canadian ice hockey player and politician. He earned his bachelor’s degree in History from Cornell University, where he also played for the Cornell Big Red hockey team. Apart from hockey, he also wrote several books and was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Liberal Party in the 2004 Canadian federal election.
| Full Name | Kenneth Wayne Dryden |
| Profession | Canadian ice hockey player and politician |
| Degree | Bachelor’s in History |
| Achievements | – Won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 1972.–Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. – Received several awards for his contribution to sports, literature and public service. – Designated as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2013 for his contribution to sports and the public sphere. |
Also Read: Notable Alumni of Purdue University
Irene Rosenfeld
Irene Rosenfeld is an American Businesswoman who was chairman and CEO of Mondelēz International. She completed her bachelor’s in Psychology from Cornell University. He is a renowned name in the global food and beverage industry. She is recognized as the most powerful woman in business by Forbes and Fortune.
| Full Name | Irene Blecker Rosenfeld |
| Profession | American Businesswoman |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree in Psychology |
| Achievements | – Expanded Mondelez’s snack brands, including Oreo, Cadbury, and Toblerone. – CEO and chairwoman of Frito-Lay. – Received several awards for his contribution to sports, literature and public service. – Ranked among Forbes’ list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. – Ranked as Fortune’s Most Powerful Women. – Received numerous awards for their contribution to the business world. |
Also Read: Arizona State University Notable Alumni
Barbara McClintock
Barbara McClintock is an American scientist and cytogeneticist. She is renowned for her work in the field of genetics, especially in the discovery of ‘Jumping genes’. She completed her bachelor’s in Biology and PhD in Cytogenetics from Cornell University. She was also awarded the Nobel Prize due to her significant contribution to science.
| Full Name | Barbara McClintock |
| Profession | American Scientist and Cytogeneticist. |
| Degree | – Bachelor’s in Biology – PhD in Cytogenetics |
| Achievements | – Discovered the existence of ‘Jumping genes’. – Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983 and became the first woman to receive an award in this category. – Received the National Medal of Science in 1970 and the Lasker Award in 1981. |
Also Read: University of Texas at Austin Notable Alumni
Paul Wolfowitz
Paul Wolfowitz is an American Political Scientist who served as the 10th President of the World Bank. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Cornell University. She hold various positions throughout the years such as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense and U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia. He significantly contributed to the fields of international relations and global financial institutions.
| Full Name | Paul Dundes Wolfowitz |
| Profession | American Political Scientist |
| Degree | Bachelor’s in Political Science. |
| Achievements | – Served as Deputy Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2005 — Served as the 10th President of the World Bank from 2005 to 2007. |
FAQs
Cornell University is famous for its various undergraduate, graduate and professional programmes in various fields. It is best known for engineering, biology, agriculture, architecture, and hotel administration. Cornell University is also famous for its global network of notable alumni.
Ratan Tata is a famous Indian alumnus of Cornell University. He is an Indian Industrialist, philanthropist, and former chairman of Tata Group. He completed his bachelor’s in Architecture at Cornell University.
Cornell University is an Ivy League research university with government land grants. This university has multiple campuses with a focus on STEM. Cornell is among the 8 Ivies which makes it so prestigious.
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