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.
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.
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.
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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!
