Outstanding Alumni


The cougar statue located at Cougar Mall.

The College's alumni, spanning over 250 years, have left an indelible mark on American society. Among them are a host of trailblazers, including visionary architects, accomplished attorneys and celebrated writers. Let's take a glimpse at some of the distinguished members of this esteemed alumni community.

Notable Alumni

The College of Charleston is proud of its diverse and accomplished alumni community, whose impact can be seen across many fields and generations. Graduates have built careers defined by leadership, innovation, and service, contributing to advancements in fields ranging from education and entrepreneurship to the arts and public affairs. Together, they showcase the college’s legacy of producing individuals who shape society at local, national and global levels.
  • Trailblazers
    Ms. Byrd, College of Charleston’s first female graduate.

    Pierrine St. Claire Smith Byrd (1899-1994)

    Class of 1922

    Byrd was the College of Charleston’s first female graduate, graduating first in the Class of 1922 and earning the Alumni Medal. She later became an active philanthropist and community member in Greenwood, where she lived until her death in 1994.

    Black-and-white portrait of Eddie Ganaway, the first African American student to graduate from the College of Charleston, sitting on a stool.

    Eddie Ganaway (1944-2013)

    Class of 1971

    Ganaway was the first African American student to graduate from the College of Charleston. Additionally, in December 2007, he was presented a Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Dr. Ted Stern, president of the College of Charleston during Ganaway's undergraduate years.

     

  • Political Leaders and Public Servants
    Vintage black-and-white photograph of Randolph Hall mansion with tall columns and a triangular pediment.

    John Charles Fremont (1813–1890)

    Class of 1836

    Known as the Great Pathfinder, Fremont explored the West in the 1830s and 1840s. In 1856, Fremont, an outspoken opponent of slavery, was the first Republican nominee for president. During the Civil War, he served as a major general for the Union and, in 1861, issued a proclamation (overturned by President Lincoln) freeing slaves. He later served as governor of Arizona.

    Black-and-white portrait of a J Waring in a suit, looking toward the camera.

    J. Waties Waring (1880-1968)

    Class of 1900

    Waring became a federal district judge and played a pivotal role in advancing desegregation in South Carolina, issuing rulings that equalized teacher salaries and integrated the state’s law school. His 1951 dissent in Briggs v. Elliott argued that segregation was inherently unequal, helping pave the way for the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education.

    Burnet Maybank in a suit reading from papers into a studio microphone.

    Burnet R. Maybank (1899–1954)

    Class of 1919

    Maybank served as mayor of Charleston, became governor of the state and served in the national legislature during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Maybank chaired the Senate Finance Committee and played a key role in the development of the New Deal. Maybank Hall, one of the main academic buildings on campus, bears his name.

    *Image courtesy of SC Encyclopedia

    Vintage black-and-white photograph of Randolph Hall mansion with tall columns and a triangular pediment.

    Mary Stewart Allan (1908–1975)

    Class of 1928

    Allan began her career as a legal secretary, where she independently studied law. In 1933, she became the first woman admitted to the South Carolina Bar after passing the state exam. She later earned a master’s in social work from the University of Chicago, volunteered as a social worker during the Great Depression, and in 1949 organized Charleston’s first Legal Aid Society.

    Close-up black-and-white portrait of James Edwards wearing glasses and a suit, smiling slightly.

    James Edwards (1927-2014)

    Class of 1950

    Edwards served as governor of South Carolina. He became the secretary of energy under President Reagan and was president of the Medical University of South Carolina from 1983 to 1999.

    *Image courtesy of Post and Courier

    Black-and-white headshot of Arthur Ravenel in a suit and striped tie.

    Arthur Ravenel

    Class of 1950

    Ravenel has been an exceptional public servant. He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1953 to 1958, a South Carolina senator from 1980 to 1986 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986. In 1996, he returned to the South Carolina Senate, serving until 2005. In 2006, at the age of 79, he was elected to the Charleston School Board. The bridge connecting Charleston to Mt. Pleasant bears his name.

    *Image courtesy of Congress.gov

    McConnell, former president of the College of Charleston.

    Glenn McConnell

    Class of 1969

    McConnell was an influential force in South Carolina politics for more than three decades. Elected to public office in 1981, he became the president pro tempore of the South Carolina Senate in 2001 (the first Republican since Reconstruction to hold that leadership role) and later served as South Carolina's lieutenant governor (2012-2014), before assuming the presidency at the College of Charleston in July 2014.

    A smiling woman name Arlinda Locklear wearing glasses and a gray blazer indoors.

    Arlinda Locklear

    Class of 1973 

    Locklear is a nationally recognized legal expert on tribal land claims and treaty rights issues. She is the first Native American woman to appear before the U.S. Supreme Court. 
     

    Smiling woman in a garden holding a green bell pepper.

    Katie Stagliano

    Class of 2020

    Stagliano founded Katie’s Krops in 2008 to create vegetable gardens that donate fresh produce to people in need while inspiring young people to do the same. Her nonprofit has grown to 100 gardens nationwide and has donated thousands of pounds of food. She has received numerous honors, including the Clinton Global Citizen Award for Leadership in Civil Society.

     

  • Science and Medicine
    Vintage photograph of Randolph Hall with a large columned portico and triangular pediment.

    Dr. Hilla Sheriff (1902–1988)

    Class of 1924

    Sheriff completed her undergraduate studies in two years before earning her medical degree from the Medical College of South Carolina. Known as the “Grand Dame of S.C. Public Health,” she opened a pediatrics practice in 1929 and later established the nation’s first county health department–based family-planning clinic. In 1937, she became the first American woman to receive a master of public health from Harvard University.

    Dr. John Tisdale smiling in a lab coat standing in a laboratory with shelves of bottles in the background.

    Dr. John Tisdale

    Class of 1986

    Tisdale earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina and is a physician-scientist focused on developing cures for sickle cell disease through bone marrow and stem cell transplantation. He now leads gene therapy research at the National Institutes of Health aimed at expanding treatment options and advancing potential cures for sickle cell disease and other genetic disorders.

    College of Charleston's alumni, Tabetha Boyajian standing inside of a theatre.

    Tabetha Boyajin

    Class of 2003

    Boyajin earned a degree in physics with a concentration in astronomy, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. from Georgia State University. She is now an astrophysicist at Louisiana State University and was the lead author of the 2015 study on the unusual star KIC 8462852, later known as “Tabby’s Star.”

    Dr. Hilton in scrubs with a stethoscope stands with arms crossed in an operating room surrounded by medical equipment.

    Ebony Jade Hilton

    Class of 2004

    Hilton earned three bachelor’s degrees in the sciences and a medical degree from MUSC. In 2013, she became the first Black female anesthesiologist at MUSC and now serves as an associate professor at the University of Virginia, as well as a healthcare consultant, author, speaker, and community advocate.

     

  • Art and Literature
    Randolph Hall

    Robert Mills (1781–1855)

    Mills studied at the College in the late 18th century. He is considered by many to be the first American-born architect. Mills designed the Washington Monument as well as the Department of Treasury building and the U.S. Patent Office building.

    Randolph Hall

    Ludwig Lewisohn (1882–1955)

    Class of 1901

    Lewisohn was a novelist, a translator and a distinguished literary and drama critic. He was also one of the founding professors of Brandeis University.

    Randolph Hall

    Herbert Ravenel Sass (1884–1958)

    Class of 1905

    A versatile and prolific writer, Sass was a significant figure in the Charleston Literary Renaissance (1920–1933). He wrote several novels, including War and Drums, Emperor Brims and Hear Me, My Chiefs!

    Randolph Hall

    George Rogers (1922–1997)

    Class of 1943 

    An award-winning writer, Rogers is considered one of the preeminent historians of South Carolina. 

    Black-and-white close-up portrait of Padgett Powell with a serious expression against a dark background.

    Padgett Powell

    Class of 1974 

    Powell is an award-winning writer and novelist. He has published four novels, including Edisto and Mrs. Hollingsworth’s Men. 

  • Athletics and Entertainment
    Black-and-white portrait of Frank Blair in a suit, with a hand resting on his shoulder.

    Frank Blair (1916–1995)

    Class of 1934

    Blair was an early cast member of NBC’s The Today Show, serving as a newsman and anchor from 1953 to 1974.

    *Image courtesy of SC Encyclopedia

    Illustration of a Charleston basketball player in a #24 jersey with text reading “Anthony Johnson, Inducted 2013, Basketball, Class of ’97,” alongside a C logo.

    Anthony Johnson

    Class of 1998

    Johnson is a professional basketball player who has played in the NBA for more than a decade.

    Black-and-white cover of College of Charleston magazine featuring Matt Czuchry in a dark suit seated against a gray background.

    Matt Czuchry

    Class of 1999

    Czuchry is an actor on popular television shows like Gilmore Girls, The Good Wife and The Resident.

    Cary Ann Hearst in a red fringed shirt holding a guitar, seated against a dark wooden door.

    Cary Ann Hearst

    Class of 2001

    Hearst contributes vocals, guitar, drums and keyboard to her and her husband's band Shovels & Rope. Her song "Hell's Bells" was featured on HBO's True Blood.

    New York Yankees player, Brett Gardner, in a pinstriped uniform running during a game, with dirt stains on the jersey.

    Brett Gardner

    Class of 2005

    Gardner played three seasons of baseball at the College of Charleston, highlighted by a senior year in which he batted .447 with 122 hits, 85 runs scored, and 38 stolen bases, setting a school record and leading the Southern Conference in steals. He went on to debut with the New York Yankees in 2008, winning a World Series in 2009 and later earning All-Star and Gold Glove honors. Over his MLB career, he reached 100 home runs and became one of the longest-tenured players in Yankees history.