The 15 Most Influential Drexel University Alumni: Billionaires, Astronauts, And 2024’s Newest Icons
Drexel University, a powerhouse of experiential learning and co-operative education in Philadelphia, has a long history of producing graduates who don't just join industries—they fundamentally reshape them. As of December 24, 2025, the impact of Drexel’s alumni network is more visible than ever, spanning from the deepest corners of the internet's infrastructure to the command decks of commercial spaceflight and the highest echelons of global philanthropy.
The unique "Drexel Co-op" model, which integrates professional work experience into the academic curriculum, has fostered a breed of pragmatic innovators, visionary leaders, and accomplished pioneers. The following list highlights the most notable and influential alumni, focusing on their groundbreaking achievements and, crucially, their most recent career updates and contributions, ensuring you have the freshest information on these Dragons.
The Pioneers of Technology and Global Infrastructure
Drexel’s roots are deeply entwined with engineering and technology, a legacy that has given the world some of its most foundational inventions. These alumni are not merely successful; they are the architects of the modern world.
- Paul Baran (BS ’49, Electrical Engineering): A figure often cited as one of the founding fathers of the internet. Baran is credited with co-inventing packet switching, the foundational technology that allows data to be broken into small blocks (packets) and efficiently routed across a network. Without this fundamental concept, the internet, as we know it today, would not exist. His work at the RAND Corporation revolutionized telecommunications and computer networking.
- Norman Joseph Woodland (BS ’47, Mechanical Engineering): Woodland is the co-inventor of the barcode, a ubiquitous technology that transformed global retail, logistics, and inventory management. The simple yet revolutionary concept, initially inspired by Morse code, was developed while he was a graduate student and remains a critical component of the supply chain economy.
- Moshe Kam (BS ’76, MS ’81, Electrical Engineering): Kam is a distinguished figure in academia and engineering leadership. He is known for his work in signal processing and sensor fusion. Kam served as the 49th President and CEO of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical professional organization, demonstrating Drexel's influence on global engineering standards.
Titans of Business, Finance, and Transformative Philanthropy
The LeBow College of Business has launched numerous executives into the Fortune 500 landscape, with many leveraging their success for massive philanthropic impact. Their influence extends across corporate boardrooms and humanitarian causes.
- Dr. Gary K. Michelson (MD ’75, College of Medicine): A retired orthopedic spinal surgeon and medical inventor, Dr. Michelson is a billionaire philanthropist whose recent actions have made global headlines. In a major and current development, he and his wife, Alya, made a historic $120 million commitment to UCLA for the new California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy in 2023. They were also honored with a 2024 Humanitarian Award for their work through Michelson Philanthropies, which focuses on intellectual property reform, medical research, and animal welfare. His portfolio includes over 340 U.S. patents on spinal surgery instruments, cementing his legacy as a medical innovator.
- Raj Gupta (MS ’69, Chemical Engineering): A highly respected global business leader, Gupta is a seasoned board director with governance expertise across numerous Fortune 500 companies. He recently retired as the Chairman of Avantor, a global provider of products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries. His current focus includes strategic investment, notably in companies like Bambrew in late 2023, showcasing his continued role in the industrial and investment sectors.
- Nicholas Schorsch (BS ’84, Business Administration): Schorsch is a prominent name in the financial and real estate investment trust (REIT) world. He is the former Executive Chairman of American Realty Capital (ARC), a major player in the net-lease real estate industry. His career highlights the significant financial acumen fostered at Drexel.
The Trailblazers: From Space to the NBA
Drexel’s alumni have reached the stratosphere and the pinnacle of professional sports, demonstrating the university’s ability to cultivate talent across highly specialized and competitive fields.
Christopher Ferguson: The Commercial Space Pioneer
Christopher J. Ferguson (MS ’92, Aeronautical Engineering) is one of Drexel’s most recognized figures, a former NASA astronaut and a key player in the new era of commercial spaceflight. His career is a testament to the rigorous engineering education from the College of Engineering.
- NASA Career: Ferguson piloted the Space Shuttle Atlantis on STS-115 and commanded two missions: STS-126 (Endeavour) and the final Space Shuttle mission, STS-135 (Atlantis).
- Commercial Space Role (Current Update): After retiring from NASA, Ferguson joined Boeing as the Director of Crew and Mission Operations for the CST-100 Starliner program. He was instrumental in the development of the spacecraft and was initially slated to command the first crewed test flight, making him one of the first corporate astronauts in history. Although he stepped away from the active flight assignment, he remains a vital part of Boeing's space division, shaping the future of human space exploration.
Malik Rose: NBA Champion and Executive
Malik Rose (BS ’96, Corporate Communications) is a two-time NBA champion and a highly respected executive in professional basketball. His transition from a successful playing career to a leadership role showcases the versatility of a Drexel education.
- Playing Career: Rose won two NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs (1999, 2003).
- Executive Career (Current Role): Rose is currently the Head of Basketball Operations for the NBA G League, a role he has held since 2022. Prior to this, he served as the General Manager of the Erie BayHawks and was named the 2017-18 NBA G League Basketball Executive of the Year. His work involves overseeing league-wide initiatives and maintaining the quality of play, ensuring the G League remains a premier developmental system for the NBA.
The Groundbreaking Leaders and Cultural Icons
From breaking gender barriers in medicine to leading the U.S. Air Force, these alumni represent Drexel’s commitment to diverse leadership and cultural impact.
- Maj Gen (USAF, Ret) Theresa C. Carter, DBA (DBA ’21, LeBow College of Business): A truly current and notable figure, Major General Carter was inducted into the prestigious Drexel 100 in 2024. Her distinguished career spans 31 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, where she rose to the rank of Major General. She previously served as the Air Force Civil Engineer. Today, she is an independent consultant, providing strategic leadership and management advisory services to defense and private sector organizations, reflecting her continued influence in high-level defense strategy.
- Anandi Gopal Joshi (MD 1886, Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, which merged with Drexel): Joshi is a historical giant and a symbol of global female empowerment. She was the first Indian female doctor of Western medicine and the first woman from the erstwhile Bombay Presidency to study medicine in the United States. Her achievement, though over a century old, continues to inspire women in STEM and medicine worldwide.
- Chuck Barris (BS ’53, Economics): Barris was a legendary television producer and host who fundamentally shaped American pop culture. He created and hosted iconic, unconventional game shows like The Gong Show and The Dating Game, earning him the title of the "King of the Cult Classics" in television. His influence on reality and game show formats is still felt today.
The Enduring Legacy of Drexel’s Co-op Model
The success of these alumni—from the co-inventors of critical technologies (Paul Baran, Norman Joseph Woodland) to the leaders of modern space exploration (Christopher Ferguson) and major philanthropic endeavors (Dr. Gary K. Michelson)—is a powerful testament to the value of Drexel’s educational philosophy. The mandatory Co-op program, which provides students with up to 18 months of full-time, paid work experience, is the engine that drives this level of success.
This experiential learning approach ensures that graduates are not just theoretically knowledgeable but are also pragmatic problem-solvers, ready to assume leadership roles immediately upon graduation. Whether it is in the high-stakes world of the NBA G League under Malik Rose, the complex corporate governance led by Raj Gupta, or the transformative military leadership of Maj Gen Theresa Carter, Drexel alumni are consistently found at the forefront of their respective fields, continually defining and redefining what it means to be influential in the 21st century.
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