the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick; quarterback of the New England Patriots, Tom Brady; baseball legend, Cal Ripken Jr.; award-winning actor and director, Robert Redford; and poet, Maya Angelou. Athletics Salem State University athletic teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III. The Vikings are a member of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). Men's Athletics Baseball Basketball Golf Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Tennis Women's Athletics Basketball Dance Field Hockey Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Softball Tennis Volleyball National championships Notable alumni Creative and performing arts Tracee Chimo – actress, recurs on 'Orange is the New Black' and 'Difficult People' – she is also an award-winning actress on Broadway. Elizabeth Updike Cobblah – artist, daughter of John Updike Keith Knight (1990) – cartoonist, creator of The K Chronicles Julie McNiven – actress, appearances on Law & Order, Mad Men, Supernatural and Stargate: Universe Mark Parisi (1984) – cartoonist, creator of Off The Mark Education Charlotte Forten Grimké (1856) – anti-slavery activist, educator, first African-American teacher to travel south during the American Civil War Ida M. Eliot (1867) – educator, philosopher, writer Government and politics Demetrius Atsalis – member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1999–2013) Donald C. Bolduc (1989) – United States Army brigadier general Arthur Broadhurst (1988) – member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1993–2007) Michael A. Costello (1989) – member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (2003–2014) Kim Driscoll (1989) – mayor of Salem, Massachusetts (2006–2023) and 73rd lieutenant governor of Massachusetts (2023–present) Robert Fennell (1978) – member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1995 – 2016) Brian Lees (1975) – member of the Massachusetts State Senate (1989–2007, minority leader from 1993 to 2007) Joan Lovely (2006) – member of the Massachusetts State Senate (2013–present) John F. Tierney (1973) – member of the United States House of Representatives (1997–2015) Sports Dick Lamby (1975) – member of 1976 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, NHL defenseman for the St. Louis Blues (1978–1981) Tom Thibodeau (1981) – professional basketball coach for the New York Knicks Other Walter Day (dropped out in 1978) – video game record keeper, founder of Twin Galaxies Mary H. Graves (graduated 1860) – minister, literary editor, writer Annie Stevens Perkins (graduated 1887) – writer References External links Official athletics website Public universities and colleges in Massachusetts Educational institutions established in 1851 Buildings and structures in Salem, Massachusetts Universities and colleges in Essex