68 Notable alumni of
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Updated:
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is 1000th in the world, 366th in North America, and 344th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 68 notable alumni from the University of Nebraska at Omaha sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
-
Peter Fonda
- Occupations
- film actorscreenwriteractorproducerfilm director
- Biography
-
Peter Henry Fonda was an American actor. He was the son of Henry Fonda, younger brother of Jane Fonda, and father of Bridget Fonda. He was a prominent figure in the counterculture of the 1960s. Fonda was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Easy Rider (1969), and the Academy Award for Best Actor for Ulee's Gold (1997). For the latter, he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. Fonda also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for The Passion of Ayn Rand (1999).
-
Conor Oberst
- Occupations
- singer-songwritermusicianguitarist
- Biography
-
Conor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, the Faint (previously named Norman Bailer), Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Monsters of Folk, and Better Oblivion Community Center. Oberst was named the Best Songwriter of 2008 by Rolling Stone magazine.
-
Chuck Hagel
- Enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Studied in 1971
- Occupations
- business executivenews presentertalk show hostbankerpolitician
- Biography
-
Charles Timothy Hagel is an American military veteran and former politician who served as the 24th United States secretary of defense from 2013 to 2015 in the administration of Barack Obama. He previously served as chairman of the president's Intelligence Advisory Board from 2009 to 2013 and as a United States senator representing Nebraska from 1997 to 2009.
-
Destiny
- Occupations
- professional gameronline streamertelevision producer
- Biography
-
Steven Kenneth Bonnell II, known online as Destiny, is an American live-streamer and political commentator. He was among the first people to stream video games online full-time and received attention as a pioneer of the industry. Since 2016, he has garnered further attention for streaming political debates with other online personalities, in which he advocates for progressivism and liberal politics. The New York Times has described Bonnell as a Liberal while Bonnell has described himself as "a very big social democrat".
-
Shaquil Barrett
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Shaquil Akeem Barrett is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Nebraska Omaha before transferring to Colorado State University, and was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2014. After five seasons with the Broncos, including winning Super Bowl 50, Barrett signed with the Buccaneers. His level of play increased, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in 2019 after leading the league in sacks, and in 2021 won Super Bowl LV.
-
Jake Ellenberger
- Occupations
- military personnelmixed martial arts fighter
- Biography
-
Jake Ellenberger is an American retired mixed martial artist and former United States Marine who was known for competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor from 2005–2018, Ellenberger has also formerly competed for the Quad Cities Silverbacks of the IFL, Bodog Fight, and King of the Cage.
-
Zach Miller
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Zachary Scott Miller is a former American football tight end. He played quarterback and tight end in college at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
-
Jake Guentzel
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Jake Allen Guentzel is an American professional ice hockey left wing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He was drafted by the Penguins in the third round, 77th overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Guentzel won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2017.
-
Roger Donlon
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
-
Roger Hugh Charles Donlon was a United States Army officer. He was the first person to receive the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, as well as the first member of the United States Army Special Forces to be so honored.
-
Anthony Stolarz
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Anthony Stolarz, is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks.
-
Leo K. Thorsness
- Occupations
- military officerpolitician
- Biography
-
Leo Keith Thorsness was a colonel in the United States Air Force who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the medal for an air engagement on April 19, 1967. He was shot down two weeks later and spent almost six years in captivity in North Vietnam as a prisoner of war. After his military service, Thorsness served one term in the Washington State Senate.
-
David L. Sokol
- Occupations
- businessperson
- Biography
-
David L. Sokol is an American business executive. He is a Chairman of Teton Capital LLC, headquartered in Wilson, Wyoming. He served as chairman, president, and CEO of NetJets, as well as a chairman of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, of which Berkshire Hathaway holds a 100% and 89.8% stake respectively.
-
Karrin Allyson
- Occupations
- pianistsongwritersingerjazz musician
- Biography
-
Karrin Allyson is an American jazz vocalist. She has been nominated for five Grammy Awards and has received positive reviews from several prominent sources, including the New York Times, which has called her a "singer with a feline touch and impeccable intonation."
-
Greg Zuerlein
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Gregory Zuerlein ZURR-line; is an American football placekicker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, he played college football at Nebraska-Omaha and Missouri Western. He previously played for the St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys.
-
Jayson Megna
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Jayson Megna is an American professional ice hockey forward playing for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Megna was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but grew up in Northbrook, Illinois where he started to play hockey at the age of 7.
-
Andrej Šustr
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Andrej Šustr is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman for the Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Previously he played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Anaheim Ducks. An undrafted player, Šustr made his NHL debut with the Lightning in 2013 after playing three seasons of college ice hockey with the University of Nebraska Omaha.
-
Josh Archibald
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Joshua Archibald is a Canadian-born American professional ice hockey right winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent. Archibald was selected by the Penguins in the sixth round (174th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
-
Roman Hruska
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
-
Roman Lee Hruska was an American attorney and politician who served as a Republican U.S. senator from the state of Nebraska. Hruska was known as one of the most vocal conservatives in the Senate during the 1960s and 1970s.
-
James J. Lindsay
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
-
James Joseph Lindsay was a United States Army four-star general, and served as the first commander of the United States Special Operations Command.
-
J. James Exon
- Enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Studied in 1939-1941
- Occupations
- chief executive officerpoliticianbranch manager
- Biography
-
John James Exon was an American businessman and politician who served as the 33rd Governor of Nebraska from 1971 to 1979, and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1979 to 1997. A member of the Democratic Party, Exon never lost an election, and was the only Democrat ever to hold Nebraska's Class 2 U.S. Senate seat. He was elected governor in 1970, re-elected in 1974, elected to the Senate in 1978, and re-elected to that seat in 1984 and 1990. He is the only Nebraskan other than George W. Norris, the architect of Nebraska's unicameral legislature, to win five consecutive statewide elections.
-
David C. Jones
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
-
David Charles Jones was a United States Air Force general and the ninth chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this capacity, Jones served as the highest-ranking uniformed officer of the United States Armed Forces. He previously served as the ninth Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and fifteenth commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe.
-
Mike Rostampour
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
-
Mike Rostampour is an Iranian-American professional basketball player for the Iranian national team.
-
Darrell Mudra
- Occupations
- player of American footballAmerican football coach
- Biography
-
Darrell E. Mudra Sr., nicknamed "Dr. Victory", was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Adams State College (1959–1962), North Dakota State University (1963–1965), the University of Arizona (1967–1968), Western Illinois University (1969–1973), Florida State University (1974–1975), Eastern Illinois University (1978–1982), and the University of Northern Iowa (1983–1987), compiling a career college football record of 200–81–4. Mudra was also the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) for one season in 1966. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2000.
-
Joshua Becker
- Occupations
- writerblogger
- Biography
-
Joshua Becker is an American author, writer, and philanthropist.
-
James H. Kasler
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
-
Colonel James Helms Kasler was a senior officer in the United States Air Force and the only person to be awarded the Air Force Cross three times. The Air Force Cross ranks just below the Medal of Honor as an award for extraordinary heroism in combat.
-
Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
-
Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen was a United States Air Force officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.
-
Nick Seeler
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Nick Seeler is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the fifth round, 131st overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to turning professional, Seeler played for the University of Nebraska Omaha and University of Minnesota.
-
David E. Grange, Jr
- Years
- 1925-2022 (aged 97)
- Enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts in historiography
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
-
David Ellsworth Grange Jr. was a lieutenant general in the United States Army.
-
Vicki Trickett
- Occupations
- actor
- Biography
-
Vicki Trickett was an American actress best known for several film roles in the early 1960s. She is probably best known for her role as Diane Quigley in the film The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962).
-
Jaycob Megna
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Jaycob Megna is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 7th round (210th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
-
Laurie S. Fulton
- Occupations
- lawyerdiplomat
- Biography
-
Laurie Susan Fulton is an American attorney, diplomat and the former United States Ambassador to Denmark. She was sworn in on July 15, 2009, and presented her credentials to the Queen of Denmark on August 3, 2009. She resigned effective February 15, 2013. In March 2013, she returned to Williams & Connolly LLP until July 2014.
-
Johnnie E. Wilson
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
-
General Johnnie Edward Wilson is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as Commanding General, United States Army Materiel Command from 1996 to 1999. He also served as the 25th Chief of Ordnance for the United States Army Ordnance Corps.
-
Tyler Cloyd
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Tyler James Cloyd is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, and Miami Marlins and in the KBO League for the Samsung Lions.
-
Robert Kingston
- Enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts in education
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
-
Robert Charles Kingston was a United States Army general who served as the commander of U.S. Central Command.
-
Sunita Jain
- Occupations
- children's writerwriterpoet
- Biography
-
Sunita Jain was an Indian scholar, novelist, short-story writer and poet of English and Hindi literature. She was a former professor and the Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. She published over 80 books, in English and Hindi, besides translating many Jain writings and some Hindi literature into English. She is featured in the Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English and was a recipient of The Vreeland Award (1969) and the Marie Sandoz Prairie Schooner Fiction Award (1970 and 1971). The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 2004. In 2015 she was awarded the Vyas Samman by the K.K. Birla foundation for outstanding literary work in Hindi. In 2015 she was awarded an honorary D.Litt. from the University of Burdhwan, West Bengal.
-
Greg Zanon
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Gregory M. Zanon is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman who played almost 500 games in the National Hockey League (NHL).
-
Chris Holt
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Christopher Holt is a Canadian-born American former professional hockey goaltender who last played with the Braehead Clan of the Elite Ice Hockey League. He also played for the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League, Dinamo Riga, HC Donbass of the Kontinental Hockey League and Orli Znojmo of the Austrian Hockey League.
-
Theresa Thibodeau
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Theresa Thibodeau is an American politician who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature 2017 to 2018. In November 2021, Thibodeau entered the Republican primary for Governor of Nebraska.
-
Jeff Hoggan
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Jeffrey Allan Hoggan is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
-
Bill Thomas
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
William Thomas is an American professional ice hockey player. He currently plays right wing for Anyang Halla, member of the Asia League Ice Hockey (AL).
-
Joe Arenas
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Guadalupe Joseph Arenas, also known as "Lupe Joe" Arenas and "Little Joe" Arenas, was an American football player. He was a halfback and defensive back for the San Francisco 49ers from 1951 to 1957. He was best known as a kickoff and punt returner. His 4,572 career kick and punt return yards was the best in NFL history at the time of his retirement, and his career average of 27.3 yards per kick return remains ninth best in NFL history. Arenas was, along with Tom Fears and Eddie Saenz, among the first Mexican-American players to achieve significant success in the sport of American football.
-
Abdul Salam Azimi
- Occupations
- politicianjudge
- Biography
-
Abdul Salam Azimi is an Afghan judge who was the Chief Justice of Afghanistan and, as such, the head of the Afghan Supreme Court from August 2006 to October 2014, when he resigned his position.
-
Jack L. Treadwell
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
-
Jack LeMaster Treadwell was a United States Army colonel and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration for valor—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. At the time of his retirement, Treadwell was believed to be the most decorated man in the United States Armed Forces.
-
Jeff Koterba
- Occupations
- cartoonist
- Biography
-
Jeffrey Koterba is an American editorial cartoonist based in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the editorial cartoonist for the Omaha World-Herald from 1989 until September 2020 and his work is syndicated nationwide to over 850 newspapers by Cagle Cartoons.
-
John L. Piotrowski
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
-
General John Louis Piotrowski is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), from 1985 to 1987; and Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE), from 1987 to 1990.
-
Jack N. Merritt
- Enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Graduated with Bachelor of General Studies in military science
- Biography
-
Jack Neil Merritt was a United States Army four-star general who served as U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP) from 1985 to 1987.
-
Mohammad Asef Rahimi
- Occupations
- civil servant
- Biography
-
Mohammad Asif Rahimi is an Afghan politician serving as ambassador to the Netherlands. He was previously the governor of Herat Province and Minister of Agriculture. An ethnic Tajik, he was raised in Kabul, and obtained a bachelor's degree from Kabul University in 1981 before completing post-graduate studies in Management of Development Programs in 1989 at Omaha University in Nebraska, United States. Rahimi moved to Canada in 2001, and returned to Afghanistan in 2005, where he joined the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, spearheading rural development and infrastructure regeneration. He was appointed to his current posting in October 2008 and was confirmed by the National Assembly of Afghanistan. Part of his Ministry's efforts have been focused on reducing opium production in Afghanistan, which is seen as critical to Afghanistan's development.
-
Tre'Shawn Thurman
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
-
Tre'Shawn Thurman is an American professional basketball player for BC Wolves of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). He played college basketball for the Nevada Wolf Pack and the Omaha Mavericks.
-
Dan Ellis
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Daniel Ellis is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently a goaltending scout for the Chicago Blackhawks.
-
Terry Broadhurst
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Terry Broadhurst is an American professional ice hockey forward. He is currently an unrestricted free agent who most recently played with Augsburger Panther in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
-
Merv Riepe
- Years
- 1942-.. (age 82)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Mervin Merle Riepe is an American politician from the state of Nebraska. In 2014, he was elected to the Nebraska Legislature, representing a district in the Omaha metropolitan area. In 2018, he lost re-election to Democrat Steve Lathrop, but in 2022 after Lathrop decided not to seek re-election, Riepe was again elected to the Nebraska Legislature.
-
Joey Martin
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Joey Martin is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for UK Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) side Cardiff Devils. He most recently iced with IceHL side Graz 99ers and was also previously with the Stavanger Oilers in Norway's GET-ligaen.
-
Dan Hacker
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Daniel Hacker is an American former professional ice hockey center who last played for the Schwenninger Wild Wings in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. He previously played in the ECHL for the Idaho Steelheads, in the American Hockey League for the Iowa Stars, and in the Finnish SM-liiga for SaiPa, Ilves and HIFK. He initially joined the Schwenninger Wild Wings when they were competing in the German 2nd Bundesliga. On May 20, 2015, Hacker announced his retirement from professional hockey after 10 seasons.
-
Jim Nash
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
James A. Nash is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2015. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Nash represents District 48A in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Waconia, Victoria, and Chaska, and parts of Carver County.
-
Joseph Berg Esenwein
- Occupations
- lecturerjournalistwriter
- Biography
-
Joseph Berg Esenwein was an American editor, lecturer and writer. He was noted for contributions to the Library of the World's Best Literature.
-
Thomas M. Ryan, Jr
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
-
Thomas Martin Ryan Jr. is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the commander of Air Training Command (COMATC) from 1981 to 1983 and as Commander in Chief of the Military Airlift Command (CINCMAC) from 1983 to 1985.
-
Bryce Lampman
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Bryce James Lampman is an American former professional ice hockey Defenseman who played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers.
-
Bryce Poe II
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
-
Bryce Poe II was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC) from 1978 to 1981.
-
James P. Mullins
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
-
James P. Mullins is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC) from 1981 to 1984.
-
Alfred J. Eggers
- Occupations
- aerospace engineerengineer
- Biography
-
Alfred J. Eggers, Jr. was NASA's Assistant Administrator for Policy. He devoted efforts to determine the influence of aviation technology in world peace and lectured widely.
-
Mark Elworth Jr
- Biography
-
Mark Gerald Elworth Jr. is an American freelance musician, businessman, cannabis rights activist, perennial candidate for public office, and rockhound. Elworth was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of Nebraska in 2014 and was the Legal Marijuana Now candidate for Vice President of the United States in 2016.
-
Glenn Cunningham
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Glenn Clarence Cunningham was an American Republican politician.
-
Melvin O. McLaughlin
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Melvin Orlando McLaughlin was an American Republican Party politician.
-
Russell C. Davis
- Occupations
- military officerlawyer
- Biography
-
Russell C. Davis is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who served as commander of the District of Columbia National Guard and Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
-
Peter G. Burbules
- Enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science in military science
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
-
Lieutenant General Peter George Burbules is a retired US Army general who received the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster) and was inducted into the U.S. Army Ordnance Hall of Fame.
-
James C. Smith
- Enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Graduated with Bachelor of General Studies in military science
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
-
James Cliffton Smith Jr. was a major general in the United States Army who served as commander of the United States Army Aviation Center and commandant of the Army Aviation School from 1976 to 1978. He previously served as commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division from 1971 to 1973.
-
Ryan Walters
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
-
Ryan Walters is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Utah Grizzlies in the ECHL.
-
Vincent Falter
- Enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Graduated with Bachelor of Education in military science
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
-
Vincent Eugene Falter is a retired major general in the United States Army. He served as Commanding General of the United States Army Military Personnel Center. He enlisted in the Army in May 1953 and was commissioned in May 1954 after graduating from Field Artillery Officer Candidate School. He later completed a B.Ed. degree in military science at the University of Nebraska Omaha in 1963 and earned a M.P.A. degree from Shippensburg State College.
