Daemen Alums live in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. But the university’s campus in Amherst has received its fair share of visits from writers, politicians, religious figures, activists, scholars, athletes, and performers over the years.
While this list by no means exhaustive, the notable names who have come to 4380 Main Street in the past three-quarters-of-a-century have given speeches, met with and taught students, recited poetry, danced, and made us laugh – all part of a Daemen education that strives to foster a world of opportunity.
1950s
Dorothy Day social activist
Nelson Rockefeller Governor, NY; eventual Vice President, U.S.
1960s
Eugene McCarthy U.S. Senator, MN; 1968 candidate for president
Kenneth Keating U.S. Senator, NY
Eminence Laurean Cardinal Rugambwa first modern native African Cardinal of the Catholic Church
W. D. Snodgrass Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
Agnes de Mille dancer
Tricia & Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower
Pierre Salinger press secretary, Presidents John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson; U.S. Senator, CA;
campaign manager, Robert Kennedy
Pearl Buck (Sai Zhenzhu) Nobel Prize-winning author John Barth writer
1970s
Julian Bond* civil rights activist
Kenneth Curtis Governor, ME
David Halberstam Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter
Robert Bly New York Times-best-selling poet
Galway Kinnell Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
Louise Gluck Nobel Prize-winning poet and essayist
Maxine Kumin Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
Fred Harris candidate, U.S. president; U.S. Senator, OK; former chair, Democratic National Committee
Wilma Rudolph Olympic gold medalist Alan Watts philosopher
Adelle Davis nutritionist
Dom David Steindl-Rast Benedictine Monk
1980s
Abbie Hoffman political and social activist
Donald Johanson paleoanthropologist known for discovering “Lucy”
Allen Ginsberg beat poet
Sam Donaldson ABC News anchor
Alfonse D’Amato U.S. Senator, NY
Dennis Miller comedian
Roy Innis National Chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality
Kurt Vonnegut writer
1990s
Wolf Blitzer CNN correspondent
Pauly Shore movie star known as “The Weasel”
10,000 Maniacs performer
Dan Rather* CBS News anchor
Coretta Scott King author, activist, civil rights leader
2000s
Ice T rapper, actor
Spike Lee director
Byron Brown* Mayor of Buffalo
Drake rapper, singer
Pat Buchanan political commentator
Nadine Strossen ACLU President
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. environmentalist
Dave Coulier Full House actor, stand-up
Michael Ian Black comedian
2010s
Erin Brockovich environmental activist
Mo Rocca CBS News reporter
Kirsten Gillibrand* U.S. Senator, NY
Chris Matthews MSNBC anchor
Chuck Schumer U.S. Senator, NY
Lilly Ledbetter women’s rights advocate
Stanley Fish literary theorist, public intellectual
Debbie Wasserman Schultz U.S. Representative, FL; former chair, Democratic National Committee
Jean Marie Keevins* Muppets producer
Eric Cantor U.S. House Majority Leader
W. Kamau Bell stand-up comic and television host
Kathy Hochul* Lieutenant Governor, now Governor, NY
Andrew Card chief of staff, President George W. Bush
2020s
Bill Siemering co-founder, NPR
Mark Emmert president of the NCAA
Baratunde Thurston** activist, comedian, and host of America Outdoors on PBS
* visited more than once
** coming Fall 2022
