Famous Sociology Majors

There are thousands of accomplished people who are not necessarily Sociologists with a capital “S” but who have earned BA, MA, or PhD degrees in Sociology. 
Below is a list of just a few.

Politics:

• Wellington Webb, mayor of Denver
• Annette Strauss, former mayor of Dallas
• Rev. Martin Luther King
• Roy Wilkins, former head of NAACP
• Rev. Jesse Jackson
• Shirley Chisholm, former Congresswoman from NY
• Maxine Waters, Congresswoman from LA
• Barbara Mikulski, US Senator from Maryland
• Tim Holden, Congressman from Pennsylvania
• Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, DC
• Saul Alinsky, father of community organizing
• Ronald Reagan (double major in sociology and economics)
• Emily Balch, 1946 Nobel Peace Prize winner (a social worker and social reformer)
• Francis Perkins, social reformer and former Secretary of Labor
• Suzanne Malveaux, Famous CNN Whitehouse Correspondent
• Richard Barajas, Chief Justice, Texas Supreme Court
• Michelle Obama, lawyer, wife of President Barack Obama

Arts:

• Saul Bellow, novelist
• Regis Philbin, TV host
• Dan Aykroyd, actor/Blues Brother
• Robin Williams, actor/comedian
• Paul Shaffer, band leader on David Letterman Show
• Dinah Shore, singer
• Ruth Westheimer, the sex doctor
• James Blunt, singer/songwriter
• Pete Seeger, singer/songwriter

Sports:

• Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
• Bryant Smith, Boston Celtics
• Brian Jordan, Atlanta Braves
• Joe Theisman, NFL quarterback
• Eric Bjornson, Dallas Cowboys
• Bobby Taylor, Eagles cornerback
• Ahmad Rashad, Sportscaster
• Terence Newman, Dallas Cowboys (Formerly at K-State)
• Roderick (Rock) Cartwright, Washington Redskins (Formerly at K-State)

Based on Peter Dreier's (Occidental College) commencement address to
the graduating class of the Sociology Department of the University of
Oregon and published on the American Sociological Association's website.