People distinguished in a variety of fields have graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Arts
Alison Aune - artist Jim Brandenburg - National Geographic nature photographer Manila Luzon - drag queen, comedian, recording artist, and television personality Joel McKinnon Miller - actor on the comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine and HBO's Big Love Lorenzo Music - actor and voice actor; the voice of Garfield; Carlton the doorman on RhodaForgotten Duluthians. Ouse, David. Duluth, Minnesota: X-presso Books. 2010. Janelle Pierzina - contestant on seasons 6, 7, and 14 of Big Brother John R. Reed - academic and majored in music at Duluth Kathleen Ridder - philanthropist, educator, writer, women's equality activist Ann Royer - painter and sculptor
Military Bruce A. Carlson - former director of the National Reconnaissance Office and former four-star general in the Air Force
Politics Tom Bakk - former majority leader of the Minnesota Senate (2013–2017) Ralph Doty - state senator representing Duluth (1971–1976) and community college administrator Eric Eskola - journalist and television personality well known for his coverage of Minnesota politics and government Mike Hatch - former Minnesota attorney general (1999–2007); 2006 candidate for governor Emily Larson - mayor of Duluth (2016–2024) John Linder - former nine-term congressman representing Georgia's 4th, 7th, and 11th districts Don Ness - mayor of Duluth (2008–2016) Yvonne Prettner Solon - lieutenant governor of Minnesota 2011–2015 Elwyn Tinklenberg - former Minnesota Department of Transportation commissioner; 2008 congressional candidate for Minnesota's 6th Congressional District
Science and engineering Brian Kobilka - 2012 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry David Madson - architect, LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS activist Amit Singhal - former senior vice president at Google
Business Bill Aho - former CEO of ClearPlay; played an instrumental role turning around Red Lobster while senior vice president for Darden Restaurants David Oreck - founder of the Oreck Corporation Robert Senkler - chairman and CEO of Securian Financial Group
Sports Bob Davidson - Major League Baseball umpire since 1982 (attended, but did not graduate) Dan Devine - head football coach with the Missouri Tigers, Green Bay Packers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish Korey Dropkin - Olympic curling medalist Jay Guidinger - center with the Cleveland Cavaliers Tod Kowalczyk - UW - Green Bay and Toledo head men's basketball coach Scott LeDoux - professional boxer Ted McKnight - NFL running back with the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills Jeff Monson - grappling and MMA fighter Dick Pesonen - NFL player John Shuster - Olympic curling medalist David Viaene - NFL player with the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers
Men's hockey Greg Andrusak - NHL player with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and San Jose Sharks Pat Boutette - NHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Hartford Whalers, and Pittsburgh Penguins J. T. Brown - NHL player with the Tampa Bay Lightning Chad Erickson - NHL player with the New Jersey Devils Justin Faulk - NHL player with the Carolina Hurricanes Jesse Fibiger - NHL player with the San Jose Sharks Rusty Fitzgerald - NHL player with the Pittsburgh Penguins Justin Fontaine - NHL player with the Minnesota Wild Jason Garrison - NHL player with the Florida Panthers Curt Giles - NHL player with the Minnesota North Stars, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers John Harrington - member of 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey gold-medal team that beat the USSR in the Miracle on Ice game Brett Hull - NHL player with Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Phoenix Coyotes; 3rd all-time in the NHL with 741 goals Alex Iafallo - NHL player with the Los Angeles Kings Adam Johnson - NHL player for the Pittsburgh Penguins Jim Johnson - NHL player with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals, and Phoenix Coyotes Tom Kurvers - Hobey Baker Award winner in 1983; NHL player with the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Dave Langevin - WHA player with the Edmonton Oilers; NHL player with the New York Islanders, Minnesota North Stars, and Los Angeles Kings Junior Lessard - Hobey Baker Award winner in 2004; NHL player with the Dallas Stars, Atlanta Thrashers, and Tampa Bay Lightning Chris Marinucci - Hobey Baker Award winner in 1994; player with the Los Angeles Kings, and New York Islanders Bob Mason - NHL player with the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Quebec Nordiques, and Vancouver Canucks Bryan McGregor - Czech Extraliga player with HC Oceláři Třinec Rick Mrozik - NHL player with the Calgary Flames Matt Niskanen - NHL player with the Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins Evan Oberg - NHL player with the Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers Mark Pavelich - member of 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey gold-medal team that beat the USSR in the Miracle on Ice game; played in the NHL with the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, and San Jose Sharks Mike Peluso - played in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks; not to be confused with Mike Peluso, who also played with the Blackhawks Derek Plante - NHL player with Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, and the Philadelphia Flyers Shjon Podein - NHL player with the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues; Stanley Cup winner in 2000–01 with Colorado Avalanche Mason Raymond - NHL player with the Vancouver Canucks Glen "Chico" Resch - NHL goalie with the Colorado Rockies, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils Jon Rohloff - NHL player with the Boston Bruins Jay Rosehill - NHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs Alex Stalock - NHL goaltender with the Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks Tim Stapleton - NHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Thrashers, and the relocated Atlanta team Winnipeg Jets Dennis Vaske - NHL player with the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins Bill Watson - Hobey Baker Award winner in 1984; NHL player with the Chicago Blackhawks Craig Weller - NHL player with the Phoenix Coyotes, and Minnesota Wild Larry Wright - NHL player with the Philadelphia Flyers, California Golden Seals, and the Detroit Red Wings
Women's hockey Haley Irwin Kim Martin Caroline Ouellette Tuula Puputti Maddie Rooney Maria Rooth Jenny Schmidgall-Potter Hanne Sikio Saara Tuominen
References