List of Western Illinois University people

• Darwin Gale Schisler, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Illinois's 19th congressional district from 1965 to 1967. He earned his B.A. at Western Illinois University.[1]
• Vincent R. Stewart, LtGen US Marine Corps and 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.[2]
• Tim Walberg, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Michigan's 7th congressional district since 2011. He attended Western Illinois University, but earned his B.A. at Taylor University.[3]
• Harlan Watson, Special Envoy to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.[4]

• Tod Bowman, Democratic member of the Iowa Senate for District 29. He earned his M.Ed. at the university.[5]
• Rich Brauer, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 87th district (2003–2015). He attended Western, but did not graduate.
• Kathie Conway, Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives representing the 104th district since 2011. She graduated with a B.S. in Law Enforcement Administration.[6]
• Kirk Dillard, Republican member of the Illinois Senate (1994–2014) and gubernatorial candidate in 2010 and 2014.[7][8]
• Randy Frese, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 94th district (2015–present). He earned B.S. in agriculture from Western.[9]
• Regis Groff, Democratic member of the Colorado Senate from the 33rd district (1974–1994). He was the second African-American elected to the Colorado Senate.[10]
• Norine Hammond, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2010–present). Her district, the 93rd, includes the university's Macomb campus.[11]
• Joe Hutter, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. He earned his B.A. from Western.[12]
• Kimberly Lightford, Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois Senate. She has represented the 4th district since 1998. She earned a B.A. in communications at Western.[13]
• Mona Martin, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives for the 43rd district (1993-2001). She earned her B.S. from Western.[14]
• Jerry L. Mitchell, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2012). He represented the 90th district and earned his Ed.S. at Western Illinois University.[15]
• John Millner, Republican member of the Illinois Senate representing the 28th district (2005–2013). Earned his master's degree in criminal justice administration at the university.[16]
• Richard P. Myers, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2010. He earned his B.S. at the university.[17]
• Cynthia Nava, Democratic member of the New Mexico Senate from 1992 to 2012.
• Timothy H. Osmond, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 61st district (1999–2002).[18]
• James O'Toole, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 1992 to 2002. He attended Western Illinois University, but graduated from University of Missouri at St. Louis.
• Todd Sieben Republican member of the Illinois Senate (1993–2008). He earned his B.S. in business administration at Western.[19]
• Mike Smiddy, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 71st district (2013–present). He attended Western Illinois University.[20]
• Litesa Wallace, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 67th district (2014–present). She earned her B.A. and M.Ed. from Western.[21]
• Frank B. Wood, Democratic member of the Iowa Senate from the 42nd district.[22]

• Matthew Shirk, Public Defender of Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit Court (2008–present). He earned his B.S. at the university in 1997.[23]

Erin Merryn founder of Erin’s Law passed in 37 states. A law requiring kids be taught personal body safety education. She travels to each state capitol testifying on the law. Passed in 37 states. Federal bill for Erin’s Law passed in 2015. Named one of fifteen women changing the world by PEOPLE Magazine.

• Mary Matalin, Republican political strategist who worked on the campaigns of Dave O'Neal, George H. W. Bush and served as chief of staff to Lee Atwater.[24]
• Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. She is a human rights advocate who has worked for the Anti-Defamation League. She earned her M.S. at Western.[25]
• C.T. Vivian, leader in the Civil Rights Movement who participated in the Freedom Rides.

• Ahmet Kenan Tanrıkulu – Turkish politician
• Camilo Osías Filipino politician

• Robert Nardelli – former chairman and chief executive officer of Chrysler, former president and CEO of Home Depot
• Jeremy Schoemaker – internet entrepreneur
• Dorothy Holland - business woman, Director and Vice President, Kraft Kitchens. Presidential American Success Award recipient, 1989

• Michael Boatman – actor and author
• Jeremy Brizzi – writer, musician
• Kenneth L. Dixon – journalist in Illinois, New Mexico and Louisiana
• Mark Konkol – 2011 Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist (Chicago Sun-Times)
• John Mahoney – actor, Frasier, taught at Western
• Jock Hedblade – Multi-Emmy award-winning national television producer.
• Brian O’Connell – Multi-Country Music Award winner as president of Country Touring for Live Nation.
• Jason Tanamor - writer and author

• David L. Chicoine, 19th president of South Dakota State University (2007–present). He earned his M.A. at Western Illinois University.[26]
• Diana Hess, dean of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[27]
• Bob Krause, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Kansas State University (1986–2009). He served as acting Athletic Director from 2008 to 2009.
• Michael Shonrock, 22nd president of Lindenwood University.[28]
• Paul Vallas, education administrator who has served as the chief executive for Chicago Public Schools (1995–2001), School District of Philadelphia (2002–2006) and the Recovery School District of Louisiana (2007–2012).[29]
• Syed Abul Kalam Azad, treasurer of University of Dhaka[30]

• Todd Auer – National Football League
• Don Beebe – National Football League
• David Bowens – National Football League
• Fabien Bownes – National Football League
• Lee Calhoun – Olympic gold medal winner
• Bryan Cox – National Football League
• Booker Edgerson – National Football League
• Larry Garron – National Football League
• Don Greco – National Football League
• Rodney Harrison – National Football League
• Edgerton Hartwell – National Football League
• Frisman Jackson – National Football League
• William James – National Football League
• Kosuke Kimura – soccer midfielder for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer
• Gary Lagesse – Hall of Fame Softball Coach
• Gene Lamont – Major League Baseball
• Rob Lazeo – Canadian Football League
• Lamar McGriggs – National Football League
• Russ Michna – Arena Football League
• Red Miller – former head coach of the NFL Denver Broncos and USFL Denver Gold
• Dennis Morgan – National Football League
• J.R. Niklos – National Football League
• Terell Parks (born 1991) - basketball player in the Israeli National League
• Paul Reuschel – Major League Baseball & National Football League
• Rick Reuschel – Major League Baseball
• Mike Scifres – National Football League
• Rich Seubert – National Football League
• Rick Short – Major League Baseball
• Tom Soehn – director of soccer operations for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Aaron Stecker – National Football League
• John Teerlinck – National Football League
• Marco Thomas – Canadian Football League
• Mike Wagner – National Football League
• Jason Williams – National Football League
• Frank Winters – National Football league