rather than competitive learning, and a faculty of scholars devoted to helping young people develop their powers, mentors who often become their valued friends". Pope added, "What Beloit turns out is a better, more effective person, and one who tends to go on getting better … [Beloit] outproduces very selective schools in graduates who make significant contributions and achievements." Notable alumni Matthew Aid, military historian and author Roy Chapman Andrews, naturalist, explorer, and director of the American Museum of Natural History James Arness, actor, star of films and long-running TV series Gunsmoke Don Bolles, investigative journalist Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin, geologist, professor, University of Wisconsin president, museum director Derek Carrier, former NFL tight end Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, editorial cartoonist and conservationist who won two Pulitzer Prizes. Joe Davis, sportscaster Clarence Ellis, first African-American Ph.D. in computer science, pioneer in interface design Janine P. Geske, justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Zainab al-Khawaja, human rights activist Stephanie Klett broadcast personality Courtney Lyder, nursing educator Kerwin Mathews, actor Judith A. Miller, attorney and government official, member of the Beloit Board of Trustees Lorine Niedecker, poet Madeleine Roux, horror writer John Sall, one of the four founders of SAS Institute Walter A. Strong, publisher Chicago Daily News Matt Tolmach, filmmaker, Sony Pictures Entertainment executive James Zwerg, civil rights activist Notable faculty Bei Dao, poet Jackson J. Bushnell, educator Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin, founder of the Journal of Geology Arthur M. Chickering, arachnologist Merle Curti, Pulitzer Prize recipient Robert O. Fink, papyrologist Crawford Gates, musician George Ellery Hale, astronomer Edward Hoagland, author Ursula K. Le Guin, author Henry Bradford Nason, chemist Lou B. ("Bink") Noll, poet John Ostrom, paleontologist Scott Sanders, author Erastus G. Smith, chemist and politician Robley Wilson, poet See also Thompson Observatory References External links Official website Buildings and structures in Beloit, Wisconsin Education in Rock County, Wisconsin Educational institutions established in 1846 Liberal arts colleges in Wisconsin Private universities and colleges in Wisconsin 1846 establishments in Wisconsin Territory