15 Famous Dartmouth Alumni Who Changed the World

Dartmouth College is a New Hampshire, Ivy League research institution. Ranking as the 45th best university in the United States, Dartmouth is known for its popular majors in social sciences, engineering and computer sciences. In its over 250 year history, the college has produced many alumni who have made an impact around the globe. From politicians to world renowned writers to famous actors, this page will discuss 15 of the most influential Dartmouth alumni.

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World Leaders and Politicians

Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster (1782 – 1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who served in government under two U.S. presidents. Webster attended Dartmouth college from 1797 to 1801 where he studied classics among other subjects. During his time at Dartmouth, his political views and skills as a public speaker emerged which helped pave the way for his future career. After serving in a number of prominent positions, Webster was elected twice as the United States Secretary of State, making him the 14th and the 19th person to serve in the role.

Elaine Chao

Elaine Chao is an American businesswoman who served in government under both Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump. Chao studied money and banking at Dartmouth College before working at the Bank of America. Following this, she entered public service and was then appointed three separate roles by President George W. Bush. She was the 24th U.S. Secretary of Labour from 2001 to 2009. Elaine Chao was once again appointed in office under President Trump’s administration, serving as the 18th U.S. Secretary of Transport from 2017 to 2021.

Thaddeus Stevens

Thaddeus Stevens (1792 – 1868) was an American politician who graduated from Dartmouth in 1814 with a stellar academic record. Stevens quickly became a successful lawyer before moving into politics as an active leader of the Anti-Masonic Party. From 1849 to 1868, Stevens twice served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania in which he became well known for his anti-slavery views. Stevens legacy is as a man who was committed to equality and freedom for all.

Nelson Rockefeller

Nelson Rockefeller (1908 – 1979) was an American businessman and politician. Grandson of Standard Oil founder J. D. Rockefeller, Nelson was awared a degree in economics from Dartmouth college in 1930. Following this, Rockefeller moved into politics where he served in office under Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin Roosevent. He was then elected Governor of New York, a position he held from 1959 to 1973. After three unsuccessful campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination, Rockefeller was appointed United States Vice President by President Gerald Ford from 1974 to 1977.

Scientists

Elizaveta Glinka

Elizaveta Glinka (1962 – 2016), known as Dr. Liza, was a Russian palliative care doctor who became well known for her social activism. After graduating as a doctor in Russia, Dr. Liza moved to the U.S. where she studied palliative medicine at Dartmouth Medical School. Throughout her career, she is known for founding two hospices in Russia and Ukraine and for her activism regarding medical care for society’s most vulnerable members. For her work, she received the State Prize of Russia but sadly died in a plane crash two weeks later.

Writers and Journalists

Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904 – 1991) better known as Dr. Seuss was an American children’s author and cartoonist. Seuss graduated from Dartmouth College in 1925 where he became editor of the humour magazine Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern which sparked his love for writing and drawing. Following this, he began to write for a variety of magazines, newspapers and advertising campaigns before starting his work on children’s books. Dr. Seuss became highly successful for more than 60 books which sold over 600 million copies by the time of his death. Notable works include The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham and The Lorax.

Robert Frost

Robert Frost (1874 – 1963) was an American poet who attended Dartmouth College for two months before returning home to teach. In 1894 he published his first poem in The independent of New York. Frost continued to write poetry and throughout his career published many notable works including A Boy’s Will, North of Boston and New Hampshire. He was widely recognised and became the only poet to receive four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960 for his works.

David Benioff

David Benioff is a critically acclaimed American writer and producer. Benioff graduated from Dartmouth College in 1992 with a degree in English Literature before working in a range of different jobs including as an English teacher and academic. He began to write and in 2001 published his first novel. Following this, he started to write screenplays and had many successes. His most famous work as a writer is for his screenplay adaptation of Game of Thrones (2011-2019) and more recently wrote the screenplay for sci-fi series 3 Body Problem.

Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell (1904 – 1987) was an American writer who studied biology and mathematics at Dartmouth College but left to pursue the humanities instead. Campbell is known for the publication of The Hero with a Thousand Faces and for his role as a professor of literature, working on comparative mythology and religion. Interestingly, Campbell was also an accomplished athlete, at the time being one of the fastest individuals in the world to run a half mile!

Louise Erdrich

Louise Erdrich is an American author known for her children’s books featuring Native American characters. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Dartmouth College in 1976 where she began developing her writing style. Erdrich is a member of the federally recognised tribe of the Ojibwe people and is known for featuring Native American themes, characters and settings in her books. She has achieved great success for her works and has subsequently been recognised via a variety of awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Night Watchman.

Actors and Hosts

David Harbour

David Harbour is an American Actor who graduated with a major in drama from Dartmouth College in 1997. Harbour began Broadway acting after his studies and quickly emerged as an on screen actor. Harbour is known for playing supportive roles in films such as Brokeback Mountain and Black Mass but is best known for his role as a police officer in the highly successful sci-fi series Stranger Things. For his work he has received a Critics’ Choice Award aswell as two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination.

Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers (1928 – 2003) was an American television host, producer and Presbyterian minister. Rogers attended Dartmouth College for one year in 1950 before transferring to study music. Shortly after, he started his TV career at NBC before moving into theology and religion, pursuing further study in the area. Subsequently, Rogers ran a highly successful series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood which ran for 33 years. He won a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 1997 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002.

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling is an American actress, screenwriter and comedian who graduated from Dartmouth College in 2001 with a Bachelor’s degree in playwriting. Kaling gained recognition through her role as Kelly Kapoor in the highly successful comedy series The Office, for which she was awared a Primetime Emmy Award. Since, Kaling has received further success in series such as The Mindy Project, Never Have I Ever and the miniseries Four Weddings and a Funeral as well as several voice roles for animation films.

Sarah Callies

Sarah Wayne Callies is an American actress who earned a Bachelor’s degree in drama from Dartmouth College in 1991. She gained quick success through her starring role as Sara Tancredi in the series Prison Break and subsequently as Lori Grimes in The Walking Dead for which she won a Satellite Award in 2012.

Economists

Robert Reich

Robert Reich is an American professor, lawyer and economist who majored in history at Dartmouth College, graduating in 1968. He then went on to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University.

Before moving into academics, Reich had an earlier career in politics, serving in office under Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. He was a lecturer at Harvard University and, since 2006 has been the Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkely. Robert Reich was also a member of President Obama’s economic transition advisory board.

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