This is a list of Illinois State University alumni who are notable enough to warrant an article in Wikipedia. The list is organized by general fields of achievement.
Business
Education
Journalism and letters
Todd Heisler – photojournalist and winner of Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography Richard Roeper – author, columnist, film critic for Chicago Sun-Times, co-host of television's At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper Randy Salerno – Emmy award–winning news anchor at WGN-TV and WBBM-TV in Chicago
Law
Michael P. McCuskey – Federal Judge
Owen P. Thompson - Illinois District Judge
Literature
Norbert Blei – author of the Chicago trilogy of Neighborhoods, The Ghost of Sandburg-Es Phizzog, and Chi Town. Mort Castle – writer specializing in the horror genre. He has written seven novels, two short story collections, and hundreds of "shorter works." Kate Charles – mystery novelist who bases all of her novels out of the Church of England. Her works include Evil Angels Among Them, Unruly Passions, and Cruel Habitations. Eric Rohmann – author and illustrator of children's books. He received the 2003 Caldecott medal for My Friend Rabbit. He also received a 1995 Caldecott Honor book award for Time Flies. His other titles include The Cinder Cats and The Prairie Train. Lester W. Smith – game designer specializing in role-playing games. Creator of the Origins Award winning game Dragon Dice.
Music
Lil Bibby - rapper, producer, and record executive
Suzy Bogguss – country music singer and guitarist. Syleena Johnson – musician Gregory Kunde – operatic tenor Michelle Williams (attended) – musician, Destiny's Child
Science
Government
Federal Government
Adam Kinzinger – serves as a U.S. Representative for Illinois's 16th congressional district. Thomas R. Lamont – Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) (June 26, 2009 – October 1, 2014) Donald McHenry – former United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1979–81).
State Government
Pamela Althoff, Republican member of the Illinois Senate (2003–present) and Mayor of McHenry, Illinois (2001-2003). Bob Bacon, Democratic member of the Colorado Senate (2005-2013) and Colorado House of Representatives (1997-2003). Jason Barickman, Republican member of the Illinois Senate (2013–present). Scott M. Bennett – Democratic member of the Illinois Senate (2015–present). Thomas M. Bennett, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2015–present). Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate (2013–present) and Will County Regional Superintendent of Schools (2007-2013). William B. Black, Republican member of Illinois House of Representatives. Jim Durkin, Republican Minority Leader and member of Illinois House of Representatives (2006–present). Josh Harms, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013-2015). Jay Hoffman, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–present). He previously served from 1995 to 2001. Lyman Beecher Kellogg – President of Emporia State University from 1865 to 1871; 14th Kansas Attorney General. Frank Mautino, Illinois Auditor General (2015–present) and Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1991-2015). Jerry L. Mitchell, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995-2012). Rosemary Mulligan, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1993-2013). Laura Murphy, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate (2015–present). Michele Reagan – 27th Secretary of State of Arizona Kitty Rhoades, Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (1998-2010). Dan Rutherford, Illinois Treasurer (2011-2015) and gubernatorial candidate 2014 Republican primary. Sue Scherer, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–present). Elgie Sims, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2012–present). Thomas P. Sinnett, State Representative, Illinois House of Representatives (1924-1938), Democratic Floor Leader (1933-1934) Arthur Turner, House Majority Leader and Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1981-2010). Tammie Wilson, Republican member of the Alaska House of Representatives (2009–present). Christine Winger, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2015–present). James A Wright 1st Inspector General for state of Illinois Tollroad.
Currently Circuit Court Judge for Cook County Illinois.
Graduated in class of 1977 from Illinois State University.