Notable Alumni of Montana State University

Steve Daines 1962–

U.S. senator from Montana

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1984

Lincoln Chafee 1953–

Former Rhode Island governor and US senator

Also attended: Brown University

Father: John Chafee (Yale University, Harvard University)

Greg Gianforte 1961–

25th Governor of Montana

Doctor of Philosophy · Computer science · Class of 2007

Also attended: Stevens Institute of Technology

Brian Schweitzer 1955–

23rd Governor of Montana

Also attended: Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Mike Mansfield 1903–2001

Montana senator and Senate Democratic leader

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, The University of Montana

Lee Metcalf 1911–1978

U.S. senator and representative from Montana

Also attended: The University of Montana, Stanford University

Ron Marlenee 1935–2020

Republican U.S. representative from Montana

Also attended: The University of Montana

John W. Bonner 1902–1970

13th Governor of Montana

Also attended: The University of Montana

Zales Ecton 1898–1961

US Senator from Montana, 1947 to 1953

Also attended: University of Chicago

Washington J. McCormick 1884–1949

U.S. representative from Montana

Also attended: University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, The University of Montana

LeRoy H. Anderson 1906–1991

U.S. representative from Montana

Also attended: California Institute of Technology

Elouise P. Cobell 1945–2011

Blackfoot activist, lead plaintiff in Cobell v. Salazar

Sidney Runyan Thomas 1953–

Senior judge of the Ninth Circuit

Also attended: The University of Montana

Joseph P. Monaghan 1906–1985

Democratic U.S. representative from Montana

Also attended: Carroll College

Bill Cadman 1960–

Former Colorado state legislator

Swede Vejtasa 1914–2013

Navy officer and World War II flying ace

Also attended: The University of Montana

James R. Browning 1918–2012

Judge of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Also attended: The University of Montana

Paul E. Funk II 1960–

Retired four-star US Army general

Bachelor of Arts · Speech communication

Also attended: Central Michigan University

Father: Paul E. Funk (Montana State University)

Hauwa Allahbura

Nigerian entrepreneur and media producer

Also attended: Harvard University

Maurice Hilleman 1919–2005

Microbiologist who developed over 40 vaccines

Also attended: University of Chicago

Loren Acton 1936–

Physicist and astronaut on Space Shuttle STS-51-F

Also attended: University of Colorado Boulder

Segenet Kelemu 1957–

Ethiopian molecular plant pathologist

Master's degree · Plant pathology · Class of 1985

Also attended: Kansas State University

Mary Higby Schweitzer 1955–

Paleontologist who found soft tissue in dinosaur fossils

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1995

Also attended: Utah State University

George Baker Cummins 1904–2007

Mycologist and authority on rust fungi

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Irving Weissman 1939–

Stanford professor of pathology and developmental biology

Bachelor of Science · Pre-medical · Class of 1961

Also attended: Stanford University

George Horse-Capture 1937–2013

Museum curator, anthropologist and Native American activist

Master of Arts · Study of history

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Chen Yu-chie 2000–

Taiwanese chemist and university professor

Doctor of Philosophy

Chet Huntley 1911–1974

Co-anchor of NBC's Huntley–Brinkley Report

Also attended: Cornish College of the Arts, University of Washington-Seattle Campus

John Dahl 1956–

Film and television director of Red Rock West

Also attended: American Film Institute Conservatory, The University of Montana

Sarah Vowell 1969–

Writer, historian and radio personality

Also attended: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Femi Odugbemi 1963–

Nigerian filmmaker and producer

John Barnes 1957–

American science fiction author

Peter Voulkos 1924–2002

Greek-American ceramic sculptor

Also attended: California College of the Arts

Craig Kilborn 1962–

TV host and former ESPN SportsCenter anchor

Reagan Wilson 1947–2026

Model, actress and Playboy Playmate

Also attended: The University of Montana

Kathy Tyers 1952–

Science fiction author

Rob Nelson 1979–

Biologist, documentary filmmaker and YouTuber

Also attended: University of Miami, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Donald McCaig 1940–2018

Novelist, poet and sheepdog trainer

Frank Barkow 1957–

Architect, co-founder of Barkow Leibinger

Also attended: Harvard University

Rudy Autio 1926–2007

Sculptor known for figurative ceramic vessels

Also attended: Washington State University

Josef Stiegler 1937–

Austrian alpine skier and Olympic gold medalist

Lance Deal 1961–

Hammer thrower, 1996 Olympic silver medalist

Johanna Talihärm 1993–

Estonian biathlete, 2014 Winter Olympian

Jan Stenerud 1942–

NFL placekicker, mainly with Kansas City Chiefs

Harald Frey 1997–

Norwegian professional basketball player

Divaldo Mbunga 1985–

Retired Angolan basketball player

Also attended: Peninsula College

Alex Lowe 1958–1999

Mountaineer known for difficult ascents worldwide

Heather McPhie 1984–

Freestyle moguls skier at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Kari Swenson 1962–

Biathlete and veterinarian

Also attended: Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Dennis Erickson 1947–

Football coach, former Miami head coach

Tyler Hall 1997–

Basketball player, last with the Texas Legends

Fred Ingaldson 1932–2011

Canadian basketball player at the 1964 Olympics

Chris McNeill 1954–2011

Ski jumper at the 1980 Winter Olympics

Jesse Marunde 1979–2007

Strongman, 2005 World's Strongest Man runner-up

Cass Bauer-Bilodeau 1972–

Former WNBA and ABL basketball player

Child: Tyler Bilodeau (University of California-Los Angeles, Oregon State University)

Keljin Blevins 1995–

Professional basketball player for Sharjah SC

Also attended: University of Southern Mississippi

Troy Andersen 1999–

Professional American football linebacker

Agricultural science

Quadre Lollis 1973–

Basketball player

Christopher Langan 1952–

Horse rancher claiming extremely high IQ

Also attended: Reed College

Howard Lyman 1938–2026

Farmer and animal rights activist

Bachelor of Science · Agronomy · Class of 1961