15 Famous Alumni From The University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Have you ever been curious about the notable alumni that have walked the campus long before you have? Well, here you go. From actors and musicians to professional athletes and presidents, there are plenty of famous alumni from The University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Will you be on this list one day?
1. Erick Decker
After four seasons as a Denver Bronco, Eric Decker is currently a wide receiver for the New York Jets. Not only did he succeed in football at Minnesota, but he also played on the baseball team and was eventually drafted by both the NFL and MLB.
2. T.R. Knight
T. R. Knight is well-known for his previous role on ABC’s hit television show Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. George O’Malley. Knight briefly attended Minnesota before dropping out to focus on his acting career.
3. Bob Dylan
It depends on who you ask, but singer and musician Bob Dylan reportedly enrolled at the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1959 but dropped out after one year. He was a part of the Jewish-centric fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu and quickly became involved in the Dinkytown folk music circuit.
4. Lindsay Whalen
Professional women’s basketball player Lindsay Whalen attended the University of Minnesota from 2000 to 2004 and was soon known as one of the best players to have ever come out of the program. In 2004, she became Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer. Whalen’s jersey number 13 was retired in 2005 at Williams Arena. When it comes to athletes, she’s one of the most famous alumni at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
5. Herb Brooks
Who would’ve known that hockey legend Herb Brooks went to the University of Minnesota? Well, it probably wasn’t hard to guess considering Minnesota is the state of hockey. Many years after playing hockey at Minnesota from 1955 to 1959, Brooks went on to lead the 1980 U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in Lake Placid against the Soviet Union.
6. Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey served as the 38th Vice President of the United States years after graduating from the U of M in 1939 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to earn a master’s degree from Louisiana State University in 1940. In addition to his time at Minnesota, he was a member of the Phi Delta Chi Fraternity.
7. Jessica Lange
Oscar Award and Golden Globe Award winning actress Jessica Lange received an art scholarship to study art and photography at the University of Minnesota in 1967. After her marriage in 1971, Lange left Minnesota to travel the United States and Mexico with her husband.
8. Marion Barber III
Former Dallas Cowboy and Chicago Bear Marion Barber III played football for
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers before he was drafted into the NFL. At
Minnesota, Barber was an All-Big Ten selection in 2003.
9. Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl Strayed is an author known for writing memoirs, fiction, and personal essays. Strayed transferred to the University of Minnesota after her freshman year at the University of St. Thomas. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree while graduating magna cum laude with a double major in English and Women’s studies. One of Strayed’s greatest works was her novel Wild which was adapted onscreen in 2014.
10. Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy went from being a University of Minnesota football quarterback to playing in the NFL. He went on to coach multiple professional football teams including his most recent stint coaching the Indianapolis Colts from 2002-2008. In his football career, he was a 2x Super Bowl champion.
11. Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States from 1977-1981 under President Jimmy Carter. Many years before serving as VP, Mondale graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1956 after previously earning a B.A. in political science in 1951.
12. Nick Clegg
From 2010 to 2015, Nick Clegg served as the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Lord President of the Council in the UK. Clegg, a Liberal Democrat politician, studied at the University of Minnesota for one school year on a scholarship after he completed school at Cambridge University.
13. Kris Humphries
Kris Humphries may be a professional basketball player, but his 72-day marriage to reality television star Kim Kardashian West can’t be forgotten. Humphries played basketball for the Gophers and was named the 2004 Big Ten Freshman of the year. He only played one season for Minnesota before declaring for the NBA draft.
14. Brock Lesnar
After attending his freshman and sophomore years at Bismarck State College, Brock Lesnar transferred to the University of Minnesota on a wrestling scholarship. At Minnesota, he won the 2000 NCAA Division 1 heavyweight wrestling championship during his senior year. Later, he went on to become a professional wrestler and WWE champion.
15. Roy Wilkins
Roy Wilkins was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement and was the executive direction of the National Associated for the Advancement of Colored People from 1955-1977. During his time at the University of Minnesota, Wilkins worked for The Minnesota Daily as a journalist and then the editor of The Appeal.
