List of Minnesota State University, Mankato people

This is a list of notable people associated with Minnesota State University, Mankato .

Alumni

Academics and education

Name	Notability	Reference(s)
Barbara Fister	Librarian, professor at Gustavus Adolphus College	[1]
Steve Gehrke	Professor of fine arts at University of Texas-Austin, poet	[2]
Judith Kuster	Professor of speech-language pathology	[3]
Michelle LaRue	Conservation biologist and ecologist	[4]
Shirley Ardell Mason	Art teacher, subject of 1973 book Sybil	[5]
Nancy B. Olson	Librarian and educator; founder, Online Audiovisual Catalogers (OLAC)	[6]
William A. Sederburg	Senior scholar, American Association of State Colleges and Universities; former president, Utah Valley University
Yang Chao-hsiang	President, Fo Guang University; former Minister of Examination and Minister of Education of Taiwan
Gwen Walz	Educator, public school administrator, and 39th First Lady of Minnesota
Suzanne White	Professor at community college and debate coach
Dean Zimmerman	Professor of philosophy at Rutgers University	[7]

Arts and entertainment

Name	Notability	Reference(s)
Adrienne Armstrong	Record producer, clothing designer, and wife of Billie Joe Armstrong of the band Green Day	[8] [9]
Barbara Fister	Author, blogger and librarian
Becca Kufrin	Winner of the twenty-second season of The Bachelor and the lead on the fourteenth season of The Bachelorette
Andrew Kuster	Writer, composer, and conductor
Vicki Myron	Librarian, author of Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World	[10]
Brad Nessler	Sports commentator, ESPN/ESPN on ABC
Melissa Peterman	Actress, Reba
Rob Shanahan	Rock & roll photographer, Ringo Starr's personal photographer	[11]
Mona Smith	Native American artist, storyteller, and documentary producer	[12]
Mark Withers	Actor, Dynasty
Cedric Yarbrough	Actor, Reno 911! and The Boondocks	[13]

Athletics

Name	Notability	Reference(s)
David Backes	Professional and Olympic hockey player	[14]
Adrian Battles	Professional football player	[15]
Kevin Birr	Curler, USCA Bronze medalist
Teddy Blueger	Latvian professional hockey player
Jerilyn Britz	Professional golfer, Minnesota State Mavericks Athletics Hall of Fame
LaMark Brown	Professional football player	[16]
Larry Brown	Professional football player
Ryan Carter	Former professional hockey player
John Castañeda	UFC bantamweight mixed martial artist
Jim Dilling	High jumper, 2007 USA Outdoor Champion
Aaron Fox	Professional hockey coach and former player
Brandon Girtz	2007 NCAA All-American wrestler, Bellator mixed martial artist	[17]
Tim Jackman	Professional hockey player
Jon Kalinski	Professional hockey player
Connor Mackey	Professional hockey player	[18]
Emmanuel Matadi	2016 Olympic 100m and 200m sprinter, flag bearer for Liberia in the 2016 Parade of Nations	[19]
Malavath Poorna	Indian mountaineer, youngest Indian and youngest female to scale Mount Everest
Dryden McKay	Professional hockey goaltender
Travis Morin	Professional hockey player and American Hockey League MVP	[20]
Joel Nielsen	Sports administrator
Zach Palmquist	Professional hockey player
Chris Reed	Professional football player	[21]
Grant Stevenson	Professional hockey player
C.J. Suess	Professional hockey player
Adam Thielen	Professional football player	[22] [23]
Steven Wagner	Professional hockey player	[24] [25]
Shane Zylstra	Tight end for NFL Detroit Lions
Darren Tighe	Head men's basketball coach for the Dakota State Trojans

Business and leadership

Name	Notability	Reference(s)
Maha Aboulelenein	Former head of communications and spokeswoman, Google MENA	[26]
Albert T. Annexstad	Former president and CEO, Federated Mutual	[27]
Lou Bellamy	Founder, Penumbra Theatre Company
Tom J. Shea	Businessman for Shea Company Inc and Steele County, former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Glen Taylor	Founder, Taylor Corporation; owner, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx	[28] [29]

Law, politics, government, and military

Name	Notability	Reference(s)
Ben Bakeberg	Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Bob Barrett	Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives; Director of Market Research for the Hazelden Foundation	[30]
Jessica Benham	Member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Bob Bird	Alaskan politician and organizer
Charnelle Bjelkengren	Judge for Spokane County Superior Court
David Bly	Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Larry Buendorf	Former Navy aviator and Secret Service agent
Lyndon Carlson	Politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Greg Davids	Former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Pat Garofalo	Politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Theresa Greenfield	Democratic candidate for 2020 U.S. Senate in Iowa	[31]
Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik (USMC)	Commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and Marine Forces Command	[32]
John Jasinski	Member of the Minnesota Senate
David M. Jennings	Former Speaker of the House, Minnesota House of Representatives
Patrick D. McGowan	Former member of the Minnesota Senate and sheriff of Hennepin County
Scott Newman	Attorney and former member of the Minnesota Senate and Minnesota House of Representatives
Brian Pfarr	Former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Mark Piepho	Former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate
Christian Rosenmeier	Minnesota Senator
Gary J. Schmidt	Assemblyman, Wisconsin State Assembly
Stephanie Schriock	Former president, Emily's List; former campaign manager for Senator Al Franken (D-MN)	[33]
Roy F. Shulz	Former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and farmer
Rod Searle	Minnesota State Representative and Speaker of the House Minnesota House of Representatives	[34]
Greg Stevens	Former member of Iowa House of Representatives
Steve Strachan	Former Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, former Sheriff of King County, Washington
Arthur S. Thomas	Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Air Force	[35] [36]
Mohamed Aden Tiiceey	Founder and former president of unrecognized autonomous state, Himan and Heeb	[37]
Tim Walz	41st governor of Minnesota, 2024 Democratic nominee for vice president of the United States
Andy Welti	Representative, Minnesota House of Representatives	[38] [39]
Samuel B. Wilson	Former Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court	[40]
John M. Zwach	Former U.S. Representative, MN-06	[41]

Other

Name	Notability	References
Jeanne Audrey Powers	leader within The United Methodist Church, an advocate for women and LGBTQ+ people in the church, and one of the first women ordained in the denomination

Faculty

Name	Notability	Reference(s)
William Artis	Sculptor, professor of ceramics	[42]
David G. Bronner	Businessman, professor of business and finance
Barbara K. Charbonneau-Dahlen	Pembina Chippewa advocate, professor of nursing
Harry Coonce	Professor of mathematics
Terry Davis (author)	Novelist, professor of English	[43]
Cathy Day	Novelist, short-story writer, professor of English	[44]
Eber Hampton	Former President, First Nations University of Canada; professor of psychology	[45]
Todd Hoffner	Head football coach
Clark Johnson	Former member, Minnesota House of Representatives; professor of social sciences	[46]
Judith Kuster	Professor of speech-language pathology	[47]
Charlotte Lachs	Soprano singer, professor of vocal music	[48]
Agnes Larson	Historian, professor of history
Frederic Lillebridge	Pianist, composer, professor of instrumental music	[49]
Richard Robbins (poet)	Poet, professor of English	[50] [51]
Julia Sears	Academic, suffragist, first woman to head a public college in the United States	[52]
Kathy Sheran	Former member, Minnesota Senate; assistant professor of nursing	[53]
Hafiz Siddiqi	Professor of business management	[54]
Seiji Takaku	Psychologist, professor of psychology
Richard Terrill	Author, jazz musician, professor of fine arts	[55]
Nancy Wicker	Professor of art history

Presidents

Name	Years [56]
George M. Gage	1868–72
Julia A. Sears	1872–73
Rev. David C. John	1873–80
Edward Searing	1880–98
Charles H. Cooper	1898–1930
Dr. Frank D. McElroy	1930–46
Dr. Clarence L. Crawford	1946–65
Dr. James F. Nickerson	1966–73
Dr. Douglas R. Moore	1974–78
Dr. Margaret R. Preska	1979–92
Dr. Richard R. Rush	1992–2001
Dr. Karen Boubel	2001–02
Dr. Richard Davenport	2002–21
Dr. Edward Inch	2021- present

References

1. "about me". barbara fister. 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
2. "Lannan Foundation - Steve Gehrke". 2011-06-07. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
3. "Internet-Picture It! Free Art for Therapy Materials". 2007-02-12. Archived from the original on 2007-02-12. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
4. "Dr. Michelle LaRue - About". scientist-site. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
5. Brown, Curt. "The Minnesotan behind Sybil, one of America's most famous psychiatric patients". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
6. "Remembering the life of Nancy B. Olson". obituaries.mankatofreepress.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
7. "Zimmerman, Dean". 2017-11-12. Archived from the original on 2017-11-12. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
8. "Billie Joe Armstrong's Family Shocked at His Admission Into Rehab". CELEBUZZ!. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
9. "Meet Adrienne Nesser: Billie Joe Armstrong's Wife!". CelebDirtylaundry. 23 September 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
10. writer, Tim Gallagher, Journal staff (8 May 2005). "The book on Dewey: He's one cool cat". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
11. Beautiful, Family (2016-10-19). "Rock & Roll Photographer Legend ROB SHANAHAN". Family Beautiful. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
12. Willms, Jan (13 February 2012). "Memory maps: Mona Smith finds stories about the past in order to create a better future". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
13. "Cedric Yarbrough IMDB Profile". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
14. "David Backes Professional Player". NHL. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
15. Adrian Battles (February 10, 2011). "Green Bay Packers: Adrian Battles". Packers.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
16. LaMark Brown. "Minnesota Vikings: LaMark Brown". Vikings.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
17. "Brandon "Cold Roll" Girtz MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog.com. March 6, 1985. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
18. "Connor Mackey Stats".
19. "Emmanuel Matadi - Track & Field". gocards.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
20. "AHL Player Profiles".
21. "Chris Reed Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
22. "Adam Thielen Player Profile". Minnesota Vikings. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
23. "'Mankato Flash' Thielen making case to make Vikings". FoxSports. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
24. "Steve Wagner Professional NHL Profile". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
25. "Steve Wagner Bio". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
26. Pupic, Tamara (2022-10-17). "Keep Growing, Keep Giving: Maha Abouelenein". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
27. "Annexstad Biography | Annexstad Family Foundation". annexstadfamilyfoundation.org. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
28. "Glen Taylor biography". Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees Profile. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
29. "From farm boy to billionaire, Glen Taylor steers his own course". StarTribune. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
30. "Barrett, Bob - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
31. "Theresa Greenfield, U.S. Senate for Iowa". The Gazette. October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
32. "Previous Award Recipients – Distinguished Alumni Awards – Alumni Association – Minnesota State University, Mankato". Mnsu.edu. September 24, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
33. "EMILY's List". Emilyslist.org. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
34. "Minnesota Legislature".
35. "Chaplain (Major General) Arthur S. Thomas". United States Air Force. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
36. "Arthur Sam Thomas – Major General". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
37. "QALIN NEWS ONLINE - qalin.net". 2014-02-01. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
38. "Andy Welti NHL Minnesota Legislator Record". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
39. "State Rep. Andy Welti, youngest member of Minnesota House, receives 2008 Distinguished Young Alumni Award". MNSU News Highlights. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
40. Hyde, Cornelius Willet Gillam; Lounsberry, Clement Augustus; Stoddard, William (1901). History of the Great Northwest and Its Men of Progress: A Select List of Biographical Sketches and Portraits of the Leaders in Business, Professional and Official Life. Minneapolis Journal.
41. "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
42. "William Artis, Sculptor born". African American Registry. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
43. "Terry Davis". Terry Davis. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
44. "Cathy Day: From the Circus to the Workshop - Ball State University". 2016-05-06. Archived from the original on 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
45. "A Pioneer in Indigenous Education". Westmont College. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
46. "Johnson, Clark - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
47. "Internet-Picture It! Free Art for Therapy Materials". 2007-02-12. Archived from the original on 2007-02-12. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
48. "The Mankatonian, 1898-08, Page 03 | Arch: University Archives Digital Collections". arch.lib.mnsu.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
49. "The Mankatonian, 1898-08, Page 03 | Arch: University Archives Digital Collections". arch.lib.mnsu.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
50. "Richard Robbins Home Page". 2006-09-03. Archived from the original on 2006-09-03. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
51. "Richard Robbins". Poets & Writers. 28 May 1981. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
52. Pengilly, Joan Forssmark (1996-04-10). The First Female President of a Co-Educational Public Institution of Higher Education: An Historical Examination of the Presidential Tenure of Julia Ann Sears, 1872-1873.
53. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
54. Rashid, Mamun (2010-08-09). "An early inspirer of today's leaders". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
55. "Richard Terrill | TriQuarterly Online". 2011-08-24. Archived from the original on 2011-08-24. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
56. "Presidential History". Minnesota State University, Mankato. Retrieved January 26, 2015.