known for his work in combinatorics; Fields Medal winner Timothy Gowers' dissertation advisor Peter J. Brand – Egyptologist Joyce Cobb – jazz vocalist Jack Cooper – jazz composer, arranger Miriam DeCosta-Willis – first African American faculty member at what was then Memphis State University Ralph Faudree – mathematician with a focus on Ramsey theory; provost of the university Robert Fisher – MBA, president of Belmont University Stan Franklin – cognitive scientist; proponent of artificial consciousness Arthur C. Graesser – cognitive psychologist; editor of the Journal of Educational Psychology Jessie Mae Hemphill – electric guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist specializing in Southern music Benjamin Hooks – civil rights leader Xiangen Hu – professor in cognitive psychology John Lee – author, professor of English Michael Leff – scholar of rhetoric Jennifer R. Mandel – professor of biology Milton C. Moreland – archaeologist and president of Centre College Cecil C. Rousseau – mathematician and author who specializes in graph theory and combinatorics Rebecca Skloot – New York Times bestselling science writer, professor of English Coaches John Calipari – Kentucky basketball coach Penny Hardaway – Memphis basketball coach Dana Kirk – Memphis basketball coach Josh Pastner – Memphis basketball coach Tic Price – Memphis basketball coach Other Stan Bronson Jr. – Guinness World Record holder batboy for Memphis Tigers baseball References Lists of people by university or college in Tennessee