5 People You Probably Didn’t Know Went to William and Mary
Start writing a post
Entertainment

5 People You Probably Didn’t Know Went to William and Mary

We have other alumni just as cool as Jon Stewart, okay?

69
5 People You Probably Didn’t Know Went to William and Mary

We all know that Jon Stewart, Glenn Close, and Thomas Jefferson attended this fine institution, and we make sure to rub that in the faces of everyone we know who isn’t lucky enough to walk (more like trip) along these brick paths every day. But we have a lot more than those three alums who did -- and are doing -- amazing things in the world. Here are five of many who might be a little less well known.

1. Beth Comstock, ’82.

Who she is: the vice chair of General Electric.

Why you should be proud to share an alma mater: She was just named one of the “Most Powerful Women in Business” by Fortune. Forbes also named her one of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” earlier this year. Read more about her in a recent profile on W&M’s website.

2. Perry Ellis, ‘61.

Who he is: an international fashion designer.

Why you should be proud to share an alma mater: Ellis was only a designer for less than a decade, but his influence and his brand still endure today. During his career, Ellis was awarded the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Award in 1981, and he even served as president of the organization from 1984-1986!

3. Mary Jo White, ‘70.

Who she is: Head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Why you should be proud to share an alma mater: Not only is White head of the SEC, she was also the first woman to be appointed the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and was named one of Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women” in 2014.

4. Ellen Stofan, ‘83.

Who she is: NASA chief scientist.

Why you should be proud to share an alma mater: Stofan was awarded the incredibly prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PRECASE). This is the highest honor given to scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers by the U.S. government. AND, she recently said that signs of alien life could likely be found within 20 to 30 years!

5. Bill Lawrence, ‘90.

Who he is: Creator and writer of "Scrubs," "Spin City," and "Cougar Town"

Why you should be proud to share an alma mater: Lawrence began his career as a staff writer on the ABC sitcom, "Billy" and then went from writing for shows like "Boy Meets World," "Friends," and "The Nanny" to creating his own shows. His work has been nominated for two primetime Emmy awards, and a Writers Guild of America award -- among many other awards!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

75761
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

140870
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments