44 Notable alumni of
North Dakota State University
Updated:
North Dakota State University is 945th in the world, 348th in North America, and 326th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 44 notable alumni from North Dakota State University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Ilhan Omar
- Enrolled in North Dakota State University
- Graduated with bachelor's degree in political science and international studies
- Occupations
- politiciancivil servantpolitical stafferpolicy advisoractivist
- Biography
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Ilhan Abdullahi Omar is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district since 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before her election to Congress, Omar served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019, representing part of Minneapolis. Her congressional district includes all of Minneapolis and some of its first-ring suburbs.
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Carson Wentz
- Enrolled in North Dakota State University
- Studied in 2011-2016
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Carson James Wentz is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Wentz played college football at North Dakota State University, where he won two consecutive NCAA FCS national championships as the starter. He was selected second overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2016 NFL Draft, making him the highest drafted FCS player.
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Bob Backlund
- Enrolled in North Dakota State University
- Studied physical education
- Occupations
- actorprofessional wrestleramateur wrestler
- Biography
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Robert Louis Backlund is an American retired amateur and professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in the World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation from 1976 to 1984 and in the 1990s, where he held the WWWF/WWF Championship on two occasions. His 2,135-day reign is recognized as the second longest in the championship's history. Backlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.
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Humayun Ahmed
- Occupations
- film directorscience fiction writerwriterscreenwriter
- Biography
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Humayun Ahmed was a Bangladeshi novelist, dramatist, screenwriter, filmmaker, songwriter, scholar, and academic. His breakthrough was his debut novel Nondito Noroke published in 1972. He wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books. He was one of the most popular authors and filmmakers in post-independence Bangladesh. Dawn referred to him as the cultural legend of Bangladesh.
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Doug Burgum
- Occupations
- politicianbusinesspersonangel investor
- Biography
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Douglas James Burgum is an American businessman and politician serving since 2016 as the 33rd governor of North Dakota. He is among the wealthiest governors in the U.S., with an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion. A member of the Republican Party, Burgum was a candidate in the 2024 United States presidential election.
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Gus Bradley
- Occupations
- player of American footballAmerican football coach
- Biography
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Paul Casey "Gus" Bradley is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He came to prominence as the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks from 2009 to 2012, where he was the original playcaller of the team's Legion of Boom secondary. Bradley later served as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013 to 2016. Following his dismissal from Jacksonville, he returned to assistant coaching and became the Colts' defensive coordinator in 2022.
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Brad Rheingans
- Occupations
- coachprofessional wrestleramateur wrestler
- Biography
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Bradley Bert "Brad" Rheingans is an American former Greco-Roman wrestler and professional wrestler. He was a member of the United States' Greco-Roman wrestling teams for the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics, as well as winning two gold medals in the 1975 and 1979 Pan American Games and a bronze medal in the 1979 World Wrestling Championships.
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Billy Turner
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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William Mason Turner is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Dakota State.
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Warren Magnuson
- Occupations
- United States Attorneylawyersecretaryprosecutorpolitician
- Biography
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Warren Grant Magnuson was an American lawyer and politician who represented the state of Washington in Congress for 44 years, first as a Representative from 1937 to 1944, and then as a senator from 1944 to 1981. Magnuson was a member of the Democratic Party. He was Washington state's longest-serving senator, serving over 36 years in the Senate. During his final two years in office, he was the most senior senator and president pro tempore.
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Amy Olson
- Occupations
- golfer
- Biography
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Amy Olson née Anderson is an American professional golfer on the LPGA Tour. She turned professional in 2013 after her collegiate career at North Dakota State University where she won an NCAA record 20 collegiate events.
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Kyle Emanuel
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Kyle Emanuel is a former American football linebacker. He won the Buck Buchanan Award in 2014. He played college football for North Dakota State University where they won four straight FCS championships. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft.
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Cody Mauch
- Born in
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United States - Enrolled in North Dakota State University
- Studied agricultural technology
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Cody Mauch is an American football guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota State.
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Rick Berg
- Enrolled in North Dakota State University
- In 1981 graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- politicianbusinesspersonbusiness executive
- Biography
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Richard Alan Berg is an American businessman and politician who served as the U.S. representative for North Dakota's at-large congressional district from 2011 to 2013. Berg served on the House Ways and Means Committee. He is a member of the Republican Party. Before his election to Congress in 2010, he served in the state North Dakota House of Representatives, with stints as majority leader and speaker. On May 16, 2011, Berg announced his run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Kent Conrad but lost narrowly to Democrat Heidi Heitkamp on November 6, 2012.
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Gary Tharaldson
- Occupations
- entrepreneur
- Biography
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Gary Tharaldson is an American entrepreneur and founder of the Tharaldson Companies. As of 2019, Tharaldson is the wealthiest individual in North Dakota, and the state's only billionaire.
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Steve Nelson
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Steven Lee Nelson is an American former professional football player and high school coach. He played as a linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1987. He served as the head coach at Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts from 1998 to 2005, compiling a record of 64–22.
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Craig Dahl
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Craig Dahl is a former American football safety who played nine seasons in the National Football League. He was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at North Dakota State.
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Derrek Tuszka
- Enrolled in North Dakota State University
- In 2019 graduated with bachelor's degree in weed science
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Derrek Tuszka is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at North Dakota State.
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Milton Young
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Milton Ruben Young was an American politician, most notable for representing North Dakota in the United States Senate from 1945 until 1981. At the time of his retirement, he was the most senior Republican in the Senate.
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Mark Andrews
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Mark Andrews was an American politician from the state of North Dakota. He was a member of the Republican Party who served in both chambers of the United States Congress, the United States House of Representatives from 1963 to 1981 and the United States Senate from 1981 to 1987.
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Dillon Radunz
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Dillon Jeffrey Radunz is an American football guard for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota State and was drafted by the Titans in the second round in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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Joe Mays
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Joseph Lamont Mays is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at North Dakota State and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Mays also played for the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.
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Neil Wagner
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Neil Kannas Wagner is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
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Ben Woodside
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Benjamin Michael Woodside is an American former professional basketball player who spent the majority of his eight-year career playing in Europe.
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Loren D. Hagen
- Occupations
- soldier
- Biography
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Loren Douglas Hagen was a United States Army Special Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Vietnam War as Recon Team (RT) leader of a small special reconnaissance unit "RT Kansas", manned by USASF Green Berets and highly trained Montagnard commandos from Task Force One Advisory Element aka Command & Control North, a division of Studies and Observations Group in the Vietnam War. Hagen was the last member of the U.S. Army to earn a Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War.
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William L. Guy
- Occupations
- university teacherpoliticianmilitary officer
- Biography
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William Lewis Guy was an American politician who was the governor of the U.S. state of North Dakota from 1961 to 1973. Guy was North Dakota's longest-serving governor in state history, serving two consecutive two-year terms and two four-year terms in office.
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Earl Mindell
- Occupations
- writerhomeopathnutritionist
- Biography
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Earl Lawrence Mindell is a Canadian-American writer and nutritionist who is a strong advocate of nutrition as preventive healthcare and homeopathy.
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Rod Rohrich
- Years
- 1953-.. (age 71)
- Occupations
- plastic surgeon
- Biography
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Rod J. Rohrich, F.A.C.S. is a Dallas-based plastic surgeon, author and educator. He is the editor-in-chief of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and a founding member of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute and the Alliance in Reconstructive Surgery.
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Charles F. Wald
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Charles F. Wald is a retired United States Air Force general and former Deputy Commander of United States European Command. He retired on July 1, 2006, and was succeeded by General William E. Ward.
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Arthur A. Link
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Arthur Albert Link was an American politician and farmer of the North Dakota Democratic Party, and later the Democratic-NPL. He served as a U.S. Representative from 1971 to 1973 and as the 27th Governor of North Dakota from 1973 to 1981.
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Glenn Caruso
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Glenn Caruso is an American football coach. He is the head football coach at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, a position he had held since the 2008 season. Caruso served as the head football coach at Macalester College from 2006 to 2007. He has been awarded the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award for NCAA Division III three times: 2010, 2011 and 2012.
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Ralph Herseth
- Occupations
- farmerpoliticianbusinessperson
- Biography
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Ralph Edmund Herseth was the 21st governor of South Dakota from January 6, 1959, to January 3, 1961. He was a Democrat and was the patriarch of the prominent Herseth family of South Dakota.
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Payton Otterdahl
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Payton Otterdahl is an American male shot putter who competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
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Roger Moe
- Occupations
- politicianteacher
- Biography
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Roger Moe is an American politician who served as a member and majority leader of the Minnesota Senate. He was the Democratic nominee for governor in the 2002 Minnesota gubernatorial election.
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Dennis Walaker
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Dennis Walaker was an American politician who served as 34th mayor of Fargo, North Dakota. He was elected to a four-year term on June 13, 2006, and took office on June 28, 2006. He was re-elected twice during municipal elections held on June 8, 2010, and June 10, 2014. Walaker died in office during his third term as mayor. His deputy mayor, Tim Mahoney, served as mayor for the remainder of Mayor Walaker's final term.
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Ryan Smith
- Occupations
- Canadian football player
- Biography
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Ryan Smith is a former American professional Canadian football wide receiver who played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for North Dakota State University.
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Tyson Ward
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Tyson Christopher Ward is an American professional basketball player for Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro A and the EuroCup. He played college basketball for North Dakota State.
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Paul Johnsgard
- Enrolled in North Dakota State University
- 1949-1953 graduated with bachelor's degree in zoology
- Occupations
- university teacherzoologistornithologist
- Biography
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Paul Austin Johnsgard was an ornithologist, artist and emeritus professor at the University of Nebraska. His works include nearly fifty books including several monographs, principally about the waterfowl and cranes.
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Steve H. Murdock
- Enrolled in North Dakota State University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- sociologistuniversity teacher
- Biography
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Steve H. Murdock was an American sociologist and the former director of the United States Census Bureau. He held named professorships in sociology at Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at San Antonio and Rice University. Murdock served as the first official Texas State Demographer.
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Jean Guy
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Elizabeth "Jean" Guy was an American First Lady of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The longest serving First Lady in North Dakota's history, she served from 1961 to 1973 during the tenure of her husband, former Governor William L. Guy, the longest-serving governor in the state's history. Described as a highly influential behind the scenes, Jean Guy has been credited with persuading William Guy to run for office, reviving the Democratic Party and the North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party in the state during the mid-20th Century.
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Colleen Kiko
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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Colleen Duffy Kiko is an American attorney and government official who, until January 2021, served as Chair of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). Prior to assuming her current role, she was a Judge of the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board in the United States Department of Labor. Kiko worked in the predecessor agency to the FLRA and first joined the newly created agency in 1979 in order to investigate unfair labor practices. In 2005, she became general counsel of the FLRA. Kiko has also held various roles in the United States Department of Justice, served as an associate counsel to the United States House Committee on the Judiciary, and engaged in the private practice of law.
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Ryan Taylor
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Ryan M. Taylor is an American politician. A member of the Democratic-NPL Party, he served as the North Dakota State Senator from the 7th district from 2003 to 2013. Taylor spent his final two years as minority leader. He left the North Dakota Senate to run for the governorship, but was defeated by incumbent Republican Jack Dalrymple in the general election.
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Pam Gulleson
- Years
- 1947-.. (age 77)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Pam Gulleson is a former member of the North Dakota House of Representatives for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, representing the 26th district from 1993 to 2009. She is now Vice President of Public Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.
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Verne J. McCaul
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Verne James McCaul was a lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps who served as the Director of Aviation and the 7th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.
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Gary L. Sayler
- Years
- 1950-.. (age 74)
- Occupations
- military leader
- Biography
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Gary L. Sayler served as Idaho's Adjutant General from January 2010 to November 2017.
