Going to a big institution like the University of Connecticut has its perks: a big campus, tons of activities and resources, great sports, and alumni connections! With over 200,000 UConn alum out there in the world right now, many have paved their way to be extremely successful in many different concentrations of life. Let’s take a look at seven successful female alumni from UConn’s many graduating classes.
1. MEg Ryan
Meg Ryan is an American actress and UConn alum who you may know better from one of the biggest romantic comedies of the 80s: When Harry Met Sally. Ryan has starred in movies like Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and Top Gun, just to name a few.
Fun fact: Meg Ryan was born in Fairfield, Connecticut.
2. Sue Bird
Sue Bird is another incredibly successful UConn alum known for her professional basketball career, playing with the Seattle Storm from 2002 to 2022. She is known to be one the greatest drafted players in Women’s National Basketball Association history, and her basketball career started here at UConn!
Fun Fact: When Bird’s UConn career finished, she was ranked first for three-point field goal percentages and free throw percentages.
3. Pam Arciero
While UConn is known primarily for basketball, we also have an amazing puppetry school. Pam Aciero was a Puppetry major here at Uconn and took her skills to a stage and show we all know and love, Sesame Street. She is best known for playing Oscar the Grouch’s girlfriend, Grundgetta.
Fun fact: Pam was born in Honolulu, Hawaii!
4. Jackie Burns
While her talents started here at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, Jackie Burns is an American actress and singer best known for her role as Elphaba in the Broadway musical Wicked. She has also been featured in recent movies such as In the Heights and Set it Up.
Fun Fact: Jackie Burns was the longest running Elphaba in Wicked’s history on Broadway.
5. Rebecca Lobo
Rebecca Lobo is another successful Husky whose talents went to the WNBA. She played professionally from 1997 to 2003. She now serves as an American television basketball analyst and even frequents UConn games to support our current team.
Fun Fact: Lobo was inducted into the WNBA Hall of Fame in 2010.
6. Paige Turco
Graduating with a degree in drama at UConn in the 80s, Paige became a voice actor in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie series. She has also acted in movies such as The Game Plan, Dark Tides, and The Stepfather.
Fun fact: As a child, Paige took ballet lessons and was trained to become a ballerina!
7. Maya Moore
Maya Moore is a former WNBA player who joined the Minnesota Lynx team in 2011 after leading the UConn Huskies to two back-to-back national championships in 2009 and 2010. She became the first UConn player to be signed to Air Jordan and was named “the Greatest Winner in the History of Women’s Basketball” by Sports Illustrated.
Fun Fact: Moore has won four WNBA championships!
Endless Talent All around
Seeing these successful graduates from UConn is a constant reminder that many amazing women graduate from our university every year. We are among some talented, inspiring women, and one day, you may see yourself on a list like this! Happy Women’s History Month from one UConn woman to the next.