This is a list of notable people associated with Minnesota State University, Mankato. Alumni Arts and entertainment Adrienne Armstrong – record producer, clothing designer, and wife of Billie Joe Armstrong of the band Green Day Barbara Fister – author, blogger and librarian Becca Kufrin – winner of the twenty-second season of The Bachelor and the lead on the fourteenth season of The Bachelorette Melissa Peterman – actress, Reba Cedric Yarbrough – actor, Reno 911! and The Boondocks Athletics David Backes – professional and Olympic hockey player Adrian Battles – professional football player Jerilyn Britz – professional golfer, Minnesota State Mavericks Athletics Hall of Fame LaMark Brown – professional football player Ryan Carter – professional hockey player Jim Dilling – high jumper, 2007 USA Outdoor Champion Brandon Girtz – 2007 NCAA All-American wrestler, mixed martial artist Tim Jackman – professional hockey player Jon Kalinski – professional hockey player Connor Mackey – professional hockey player Malavath Poorna – Indian mountaineer, youngest Indian and youngest female to scale Mount Everest Travis Morin – professional hockey player and American Hockey League MVP Brad Nessler – sports commentator, ESPN/ESPN on ABC Zach Palmquist – professional hockey player Chris Reed – professional football player Grant Stevenson – professional hockey player Adam Thielen – professional football player Steven Wagner – professional hockey player Business and leadership Lou Bellamy – founder of Penumbra Theatre Company Glen Taylor – founder, Taylor Corporation; owner, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx Law, politics, government, and military Bob Barrett – member of the Minnesota House of Representatives; Director of Market Research for the Hazelden Foundation Bob Bird – Alaskan politician and organizer David Bly – member of the Minnesota House of Representatives Theresa Greenfield – candidate for 2020 U.S. Senate in Iowa Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik (USMC) – commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and Marine Forces Command David M. Jennings – former Speaker of the House, Minnesota House of Representatives Christian Rosenmeier – Minnesota Senator Gary J. Schmidt – Assemblyman, Wisconsin State Assembly Stephanie Schriock – former president, Emily's List; former campaign manager for Senator Al Franken (D-MN) Steve Strachan – former Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, former Sheriff of King County, Washington Arthur S. Thomas – Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Air Force Tim Walz – 41st governor of Minnesota Andy Welti – Representative, Minnesota House of Representatives Faculty Julia Sears – academic, suffragist, first woman to