List of Minnesota State University, Mankato people explained

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
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	^[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]
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
Jerilyn Britz	Professional golfer, Minnesota State Mavericks Athletics Hall of Fame
LaMark Brown	Professional football player	^[16]
Ryan Carter	Professional hockey player
John Castañeda	UFC bantamweight mixed martial artist
Jim Dilling	High jumper, 2007 USA Outdoor Champion
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
Travis Morin	Professional hockey player and American Hockey League MVP	^[20]
Zach Palmquist	Professional hockey player
Chris Reed	Professional football player	^[21]
Grant Stevenson	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

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
Glen Taylor	Founder, Taylor Corporation; owner, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx	^[28] ^[29]

Law, politics, government, and military

Name	Notability	Reference(s)
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
David Bly	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]
David M. Jennings	Former Speaker of the House, Minnesota House of Representatives
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]
Rod Searle		^[34]
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]

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]
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. Web site: 2016-10-31 . about me . 2023-03-26 . barbara fister . en.
2. Web site: 2011-06-07 . Lannan Foundation - Steve Gehrke . 2023-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607215251/http://www.lannan.org/lf/bios/detail/steve-gehrke/ . 2011-06-07 .
3. Web site: 2007-02-12 . Internet-Picture It! Free Art for Therapy Materials . 2023-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070212094856/http://www.speechandlanguage.com/article/june2003.asp . 2007-02-12 .
4. Web site: Dr. Michelle LaRue - About . 2023-03-26 . scientist-site . en.
5. Web site: Brown . Curt . The Minnesotan behind Sybil, one of America's most famous psychiatric patients . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
6. Web site: Remembering the life of Nancy B. Olson . 2023-03-26 . obituaries.mankatofreepress.com . en.
7. Web site: 2017-11-12 . Zimmerman, Dean . 2023-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171112065306/http://www.philosophy.rutgers.edu/people/faculty/640-zimmerman-dean . 2017-11-12 .
8. Web site: Billie Joe Armstrong's Family Shocked at His Admission Into Rehab . March 16, 2015 . CELEBUZZ!.
9. Web site: Meet Adrienne Nesser: Billie Joe Armstrong's Wife! . 23 September 2012 . March 16, 2015 . CelebDirtylaundry.
10. Web site: writer . Tim Gallagher, Journal staff . The book on Dewey: He's one cool cat . 2023-03-26 . Sioux City Journal . 8 May 2005 . en.
11. Web site: Beautiful . Family . 2016-10-19 . Rock & Roll Photographer Legend ROB SHANAHAN . 2023-03-26 . Family Beautiful . en-US.
12. Web site: Willms . Jan . Memory maps: Mona Smith finds stories about the past in order to create a better future . 2023-03-26 . Twin Cities Daily Planet . 13 February 2012 . en-US.
13. Web site: Cedric Yarbrough IMDB Profile . March 16, 2015 . Internet Movie Database.
14. Web site: David Backes Professional Player . March 16, 2015 . NHL.
15. Web site: Adrian Battles . February 10, 2011 . Green Bay Packers: Adrian Battles . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150714081655/http://www.packers.com/team/roster/Adrian-Battles/9c3ddf09-fdaa-42a5-a444-549a88acfab2 . July 14, 2015 . July 14, 2015 . Packers.com . mdy-all.
16. Web site: LaMark Brown . Minnesota Vikings: LaMark Brown . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150714093053/http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/lamark-brown/e395c533-96e0-45b7-8370-6f05f2345749/ . July 14, 2015 . July 14, 2015 . Vikings.com . mdy-all.
17. Web site: March 6, 1985 . Brandon "Cold Roll" Girtz MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography . July 14, 2015 . Sherdog.com.
18. Web site: Connor Mackey Stats .
19. Web site: Emmanuel Matadi - Track & Field . 2023-03-26 . gocards.com .
20. Web site: AHL Player Profiles .
21. Web site: Chris Reed Stats . 24 March 2022 . Sports Reference.
22. Web site: Adam Thielen Player Profile . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402184009/http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/Adam-Thielen/THI510348 . April 2, 2015 . March 16, 2015 . Minnesota Vikings . mdy-all.
23. Web site: 'Mankato Flash' Thielen making case to make Vikings . March 16, 2015 . FoxSports.
24. Web site: Steve Wagner Professional NHL Profile . March 16, 2015 . National Hockey League.
25. Web site: Steve Wagner Bio . March 16, 2015 . Hockey Hall of Fame.
26. Web site: Pupic . Tamara . 2022-10-17 . Keep Growing, Keep Giving: Maha Abouelenein . 2023-03-22 . Entrepreneur . en.
27. Web site: Annexstad Biography Annexstad Family Foundation . 2023-03-22 . annexstadfamilyfoundation.org . en-US.
28. Web site: Glen Taylor biography . March 16, 2015 . Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees Profile.
29. Web site: From farm boy to billionaire, Glen Taylor steers his own course . March 16, 2015 . StarTribune.
30. Web site: Barrett, Bob - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present . August 8, 2016 . Leg.state.mn.us.
31. News: October 5, 2020 . Theresa Greenfield, U.S. Senate for Iowa . The Gazette . October 18, 2020.
32. Web site: September 24, 2014 . Previous Award Recipients – Distinguished Alumni Awards – Alumni Association – Minnesota State University, Mankato . July 14, 2015 . Mnsu.edu.
33. Web site: EMILY's List . July 14, 2015 . Emilyslist.org.
34. Web site: Minnesota Legislature .
35. Web site: Chaplain (Major General) Arthur S. Thomas . March 16, 2015 . United States Air Force.
36. Web site: Arthur Sam Thomas – Major General . March 16, 2015 . Arlington National Cemetery.
37. Web site: 2014-02-01 . QALIN NEWS ONLINE - qalin.net . 2023-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201213114/http://www.qalin.net/view.php?id=242 . 2014-02-01 .
38. Web site: Andy Welti NHL Minnesota Legislator Record . March 16, 2015 . Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
39. Web site: State Rep. Andy Welti, youngest member of Minnesota House, receives 2008 Distinguished Young Alumni Award . March 16, 2015 . MNSU News Highlights.
40. Book: Hyde . Cornelius Willet Gillam . 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 . Lounsberry . Clement Augustus . Stoddard . William . 1901 . Minneapolis Journal . en.
41. Web site: Bioguide Search . 2023-03-26 . bioguide.congress.gov.
42. Web site: William Artis, Sculptor born . 2023-03-19 . African American Registry . en.
43. Web site: Terry Davis . 2023-03-19 . Terry Davis.
44. Web site: 2016-05-06 . Cathy Day: From the Circus to the Workshop - Ball State University . 2023-03-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160506171434/http://cms.bsu.edu/about/administrativeoffices/sponsored-projects-administration/trainingandeducation/research/archive/fall-2013/cathy-day . 2016-05-06 .
45. Web site: A Pioneer in Indigenous Education . 2023-03-19 . Westmont College . en.
46. Web site: Johnson, Clark - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present . 2023-03-19 . www.lrl.mn.gov.
47. Web site: 2007-02-12 . Internet-Picture It! Free Art for Therapy Materials . 2023-03-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070212094856/http://www.speechandlanguage.com/article/june2003.asp . 2007-02-12 .
48. Web site: The Mankatonian, 1898-08, Page 03 Arch: University Archives Digital Collections . 2023-03-19 . arch.lib.mnsu.edu . en.
49. Web site: The Mankatonian, 1898-08, Page 03 Arch: University Archives Digital Collections . 2023-03-19 . arch.lib.mnsu.edu . en.
50. Web site: 2006-09-03 . Richard Robbins Home Page . 2023-03-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060903083051/http://english2.mnsu.edu/robbins/index.html . 2006-09-03 .
51. Web site: Richard Robbins . 2023-03-19 . Poets & Writers . 28 May 1981 . en.
52. Book: Pengilly, Joan Forssmark . 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 . 1996-04-10 . en.
53. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System . 2023-03-19 . Vote Smart.
54. Web site: Rashid . Mamun . 2010-08-09 . An early inspirer of today's leaders . 2023-03-26 . The Daily Star . en.
55. Web site: 2011-08-24 . Richard Terrill TriQuarterly Online . 2023-03-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110824142608/http://triquarterly.org/bios/richard-terrill . 2011-08-24 .
56. Web site: Presidential History . January 26, 2015 . Minnesota State University, Mankato.