This is a list of notable people associated with Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Alumni
Academics and education +NameNotabilityReference(s)Barbara FisterLibrarian, professor at Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSteve GehrkeProfessor of fine arts at University of Texas-Austin, poetJudith KusterProfessor of speech-language pathologyMichelle LaRueConservation biologist and ecologistShirley Ardell MasonArt teacher, subject of 1973 book SybilNancy B. OlsonLibrarian and educator; founder, Online Audiovisual Catalogers (OLAC)William A. SederburgSenior scholar, American Association of State Colleges and Universities; former president, Utah Valley UniversityGwen WalzEducator, public school administrator, and 39th First Lady of MinnesotaSuzanne WhiteProfessor at community college and debate coachYang Chao-hsiangPresident, Fo Guang University; former Minister of Examination and Minister of Education of TaiwanDean ZimmermanProfessor of philosophy at Rutgers University
Arts and entertainment +NameNotabilityReference(s)Adrienne ArmstrongRecord producer, clothing designer, and wife of Billie Joe Armstrong of the band Green DayBarbara FisterAuthor, blogger and librarianBecca KufrinWinner of the twenty-second season of The Bachelor and the lead on the fourteenth season of The BacheloretteAndrew KusterWriter, composer, and conductorJosh LiljenquistSocial media personality and philanthropistMyron MedcalfSenior College Basketball Writer at ESPN, Radio HostVicki MyronLibrarian, author of Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the WorldBrad NesslerSports commentator, ESPN/ESPN on ABCMelissa PetermanActress, RebaRob ShanahanRock & roll photographer, Ringo Starr's personal photographerMona SmithNative American artist, storyteller, and documentary producerMark WithersActor, DynastyCedric YarbroughActor, Reno 911! and The Boondocks
Athletics NameNotabilityReference(s)David BackesProfessional and Olympic hockey playerAdrian BattlesProfessional football playerKevin BirrCurler, USCA bronze medalistTeddy BluegerLatvian professional hockey playerJerilyn BritzProfessional golfer, Minnesota State Mavericks Athletics Hall of FameLaMark BrownProfessional football playerLarry BrownProfessional football playerRyan CarterFormer professional hockey playerJohn CastañedaUFC bantamweight mixed martial artistJim DillingHigh jumper, 2007 USA Outdoor ChampionAaron FoxProfessional hockey coach and former playerBrandon Girtz2007 NCAA All-American wrestler, Bellator mixed martial artistRandall HerbstHead men's basketball coach for the Minot State BeaversTim JackmanProfessional hockey playerJon KalinskiProfessional hockey playerConnor MackeyProfessional hockey playerEmmanuel Matadi2016 Olympic 100m and 200m sprinter, flag bearer for Liberia in the 2016 Parade of NationsDryden McKayProfessional hockey goaltenderTravis MorinProfessional hockey player and American Hockey League MVPJoel NielsenSports administratorZach PalmquistProfessional hockey playerMalavath PurnaIndian mountaineer, youngest Indian and youngest female to scale Mount EverestChris ReedProfessional football playerGrant StevensonProfessional hockey playerC.J. SuessProfessional hockey playerAdam ThielenProfessional football playerDarren TigheHead men's basketball coach for the Mary MaraudersSteven WagnerProfessional hockey playerShane ZylstraTight end for NFL Detroit Lions
Business and leadership NameNotabilityReference(s)Albert T. AnnexstadFormer president and CEO, Federated MutualLou BellamyFounder, Penumbra Theatre CompanyKris LindahlRealtor known for large advertisements showing himself with outstretched armsRiemenschneider, Chris (January 7, 2020). "Meet Kris Lindahl, the nice-guy Realtor behind the 600 annoying billboards". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 20, 2026.Tom J. SheaBusinessman for Shea Company Inc and Steele County, former member of the Minnesota House of RepresentativesGlen TaylorFounder, Taylor Corporation; owner, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx
Law, politics, government, and military NameNotabilityReference(s)Ben BakebergMember of the Minnesota House of RepresentativesBob BarrettMember of the Minnesota House of Representatives; director of market research for the Hazelden FoundationJessica BenhamMember, Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesBob BirdAlaskan politician and organizerCharnelle BjelkengrenJudge for Spokane County Superior Court David BlyMember of the Minnesota House of RepresentativesLarry BuendorfFormer Navy aviator and Secret Service agentLyndon CarlsonPolitician and former member of the Minnesota House of RepresentativesPat GarofaloPolitician and former member of the Minnesota House of RepresentativesTheresa GreenfieldDemocratic candidate for 2020 U.S. Senate in IowaLt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik (USMC)Commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and Marine Forces CommandJohn JasinskiMember of the Minnesota SenateDavid M. JenningsFormer speaker of the House, Minnesota House of RepresentativesPatrick D. McGowanFormer member of the Minnesota Senate and sheriff of Hennepin CountyScott NewmanAttorney and former member of the Minnesota Senate and Minnesota House of RepresentativesBrian PfarrFormer member of the Minnesota House of RepresentativesMark PiephoFormer member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota SenateChristian RosenmeierMinnesota SenatorGary J. SchmidtAssemblyman, Wisconsin State AssemblyStephanie SchriockFormer president, Emily's List; former campaign manager for Senator Al Franken (D-MN)Rod SearleMinnesota state representative and speaker of the House Minnesota House of Representatives Roy F. SchulzFormer member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and farmerGreg StevensFormer member of Iowa House of RepresentativesSteve StrachanFormer member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, former sheriff of King County, WashingtonArthur S. ThomasChief of chaplains of the U.S. Air ForceMohamed Aden TiiceeyFounder and former president of unrecognized autonomous state, Himan and HeebTim Walz41st governor of Minnesota, 2024 Democratic nominee for vice president of the United StatesAndy WeltiRepresentative, Minnesota House of RepresentativesSamuel B. WilsonFormer chief justice, Minnesota Supreme CourtJohn M. ZwachFormer U.S. representative, MN-06
Other +NameNotabilityReferencesMinnie F. AbramsMissionary to India; "the most prominent veteran female missionary in the holiness movement who identified with Pentecostalism"Jeanne Audrey PowersLeader I the United Methodist Church, advocate for women and LGBTQ+ people in the church, and one of the first women ordained in the denomination
Faculty NameNotabilityReference(s)William ArtisSculptor, professor of ceramicsDavid G. BronnerBusinessman, professor of business and financeBarbara K. Charbonneau-DahlenPembina Chippewa advocate, professor of nursingHarry CoonceProfessor of mathematicsTerry DavisNovelist, professor of EnglishCathy DayNovelist, short-story writer, professor of EnglishEber HamptonFormer president, First Nations University of Canada; professor of psychologyTodd HoffnerHead football coachClark JohnsonFormer member, Minnesota House of Representatives; professor of social sciencesJudith KusterProfessor of speech-language pathologyCharlotte LachsSoprano singer, professor of vocal musicAgnes LarsonHistorian, professor of historyFrederic LillebridgePianist, composer, professor of instrumental musicRichard RobbinsPoet, professor of EnglishJulia SearsAcademic, suffragist, first woman to head a public college in the United StatesKathy SheranFormer member, Minnesota Senate; assistant professor of nursingHafiz SiddiqiProfessor of business managementSeiji TakakuPsychologist, professor of psychologyRichard TerrillAuthor, jazz musician, professor of fine artsNancy WickerProfessor of art history
Presidents
The following persons have served as president of Minnesota State University, Mankato:
+ImagePresidentTerm startTerm endPrincipals of the Mankato State Normal School (1868–1880)1George M. Gage186818722Julia A. Sears187218733David C. John18731880Principals of the Mankato State Normal School (1880–1921)4Edward Searing188018985Charles H. Cooper18981930President of the Mankato State Teachers College (1921–1957)6Frank D. McElroy193019467Clarence L. Crawford19461965President of the Mankato State College (1957–1975)actingMelvin G. Scarlett196519668James F. Nickerson19661973actingKent Alm197319749Douglas R. Moore19741978President of the Mankato State University (1975–1998)actingEdward McMahon1978197910Margaret R. Preska19791992actingJohn B. Davis, Jr.1992199211Richard R. Rush19922001President of the Minnesota State University, Mankato (1998–present)InterimKaren Boubel2001June 30, 200212Richard DavenportJuly 1, 2002June 30, 202113Edward InchJuly 1, 2021present
References