University of North Dakota - Notable People and Alumni

Notable People and Alumni

Alumni of the University of North Dakota have become notable in a variety of different fields including politics and government, business, science, literature, arts and entertainment, and athletics. Eight Governors of North Dakota were educated at UND, including Fred G. Aandahl, Louis B. Hanna, Lynn Frazier, William Langer, John Moses, Ragnvald A. Nestos, Allen I. Olson, and Ed Schafer, who was also the US Secretary of Agriculture from 2008–2009. Many U.S. Senators and Representatives of North Dakota were also graduates of UND, including former Senator Byron Dorgan and former Representative Earl Pomeroy. Former United States House of Representatives Majority Leader Dick Armey is a UND graduate. Ronald Davies, a UND graduate and former federal judge, became a part of history when he ordered the integration of Little Rock Central High School during the American Civil Rights Movement. UND alumni who went on to notable careers in the business world include current president and CEO of Cargill Gregory R. Page, current president and CEO of the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant chain Sally J. Smith, current CEO of Forum Communications William C. Marcil, former Las Vegas casino owner and UND philanthropist Ralph Engelstad, former President and CEO of Jossey-Bass Publishers Lynn D. W. Luckow,Founder and President of Summit Brewing Company Mark O. Stutrud, and former CEO of American Skandia and founder of WealthVest Marketing Wade Dokken.

In the realm of science, notable UND alumni include important contributor to information theory Harry Nyquist, pioneer aviator Carl Ben Eielson, Arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, engineer and 2008 IEEE-USA president Russell Lefevre, NASA astronaut Karen L. Nyberg, and leading NASA manager John H. Disher

Alumni who have become notable through literature include the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author Maxwell Anderson, Rhodes scholar and poet Thomas McGrath, essayist and journalist Chuck Klosterman, and novelist Jon Hassler. UND graduates have become editors of major magazines: Carroll Eugene Simcox of The Living Church, former Ebony editor Era Bell Thompson and former LIFE editor Edward K. Thompson. Alumni who have become notable in arts and entertainment include actor Sam Anderson and America's Next Top Model winner Nicole Linkletter. Former UND students who have gone on to notable careers in athletics include former NBA player and current NBA coach Phil Jackson, ice hockey player who played in the 1980 Winter Olympics "Miracle on Ice" game Dave Christian, NHL professional ice hockey players Ed Belfour, Tony Hrkac, Jonathan Toews – captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, Zach Parise – New Jersey Devils, Travis Zajac – New Jersey Devils, T.J. Oshie – St. Louis Blues, Ryan Bayda – Pittsburgh Penguins, Drew Stafford – Buffalo Sabres, Brian Lee – Ottawa Senators, Matt Smaby – Tampa Bay Lightning, Matt Jones – Toronto Maple Leafs, Mike Commodore – Columbus Blue Jackets, Jason Blake – Anaheim Ducks, Ryan Johnson – Vancouver Canucks, NFL professional football players Jim Kleinsasser – and Dave Osborn, both of the Minnesota Vikings, CFL professional football players Weston Dressler, David Griswold – Saskatchewan Roughriders.