From CEOs To Cookie: HBCU Graduates Who Run The World - Page 9

Do you know all of the graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are running the world (literally) today? Just because they’re making significant moves and dominating their respective fields doesn’t mean that they have forgotten where they came from. These HBCU graduates are still glad to represent their alma maters, and most of them are still giving back to those same schools.

You may recognize some of the more famous names, but actors and other entertainment celebrities aren’t the only world influencers on this list. From the influential people running Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart to Pulitzer Prize winners, HBCUs have some very distinguished alumni among their ranks.

So whether you’re an HBCU graduate, student or enthusiast, read on to get inspired by these famous alumni. If we’ve missed any of the famous alumni from your favorite HBCU, let us know in the comments. There were just too many to list here!

Rosalind Brewer

Spelman graduate Rosalind Brewer is the President and CEO of Sam’s Club, and the first African-American to fill the role. She completed her undergraduate education with a degree in chemistry.

Image Source: WENN

Alice Walker

Alice Walker’s birthday is today, and it’s the day we celebrate the Pulitzer Prize-winning author who also attended Spelman College in 1961 before later transferring to Sarah Lawrence College to finish her education. Walker was also a writer in residence at Jackson State College and Tougaloo.

Image Source: WENN

Spike Lee

Spike Lee got his BA in Mass Communication from Morehouse in 1979 and filmed his first student film, Last Hustle in Brooklyn while he was there.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey received her first broadcasting job while still a student at Tennessee State University on a full scholarship, studying communications.

Herman Cain

Former presidential hopeful and Tea Party activist Herman Cain graduated from Morehouse in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics.

Image Source: C-Span

Colbert I. King

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and frequent panelist on ABC’s, Inside Washington, Colbert I. King earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Howard University in 1961.

Image Source: WENN

Samuel L. Jackson

A-list actor Samuel L. Jackson was a marine biology major at Morehouse College before he set his sights on acting and changed his major to dramatic acting.

Image Source: WENN

Sean Combs

Music industry mogul Sean Combs dropped out of Howard University to pursue music full-time and is now worth more than $700 million. He has since gone back and been given an honorary doctorate in humanities.

Image Source: YouTube

John Thompson

John Thompson is the Chairman of the Board of Microsoft and a graduate of Florida A&M University, receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1971.

Image Source: WENN

Tom Joyner

“The Hardest Working Man in Radio” (with a $30 million net worth to prove it) earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology at Tuskegee University before starting his career as a radio host.

Image Source: Apple.com

Denise Young Smith

Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Human Resources, responsible for attracting top talent to the company, graduated from Grambling State University. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s in organizational management.

Image Source: WENN

Phylicia Rashād

Creed and Cosby Show star Phylicia Rashād graduated magna cum laude from Howard University in 1970 before starting her acting career.

Credit: Nicky Nelson/WENN.com

Taraji P. Henson

The Academy-Award nominee, Golden Globe winner and star of Empire obtained a bachelor’s in theater arts at Howard in 1995.