Notable Alumni in Public Service

Biraj Bista '00

Biraj Bista '00
Elected member of Parliament in Nepal

John Brandl

John Brandl '59
Professor and dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota (1997-02); SJU distinguished professor of public policy; Minnesota state senator (1987-90), Minnesota state representative (1977-78, 1981-86)

Dave Durenberger

Dave Durenberger '55
Chair of the National Institute for Health Policy; senior U.S. senator from Minnesota (1978-95) and chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence; author

Mike Hennessy

Mike Hennessey '70
Eight-term sheriff of San Francisco, holding the elected position since 1979

Mark Kennedy

Mark Kennedy '79
U.S. congressman from Minnesota (2001-07); former CFO Department 56, Federated Department Stores and Pillsbury; President of University of North Dakota (2016-present)

Neal Lawrence

Neal Lawrence, OSB SOT '60
American Diplomat to Japan; poet; recipient of Japan's "Order of the Rising Sun" Award

Eugene McCarthy

Eugene McCarthy '35
U.S. representative (1949-1959) and senator (1959-1971) from Minnesota and presidential candidate (1968, 1972, 1992); author and poet

Dennis McDonough

Denis McDonough '92
White House Chief of Staff under President Obama (2013-2016)

Rick Nolan

Rick Nolan '66
U.S. congressman from Minnesota (1975-81, 2013-present); Minnesota State Representative (1969-1970); past president, Minnesota World Trade Center

Roger Scherer

Roger Scherer '58
Three-time gubernatorial appointee to the Twin Cities' Metropolitan Council; Minnesota State Representative (1966-72); past chair Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce board of directors

Bob Shafer

Bob Shafer '54
Permanent observer of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the United Nations; former vice president, Pfizer

George Sinner

George Sinner '50
Governor of North Dakota (1985-92) and state legislator (1962-66); former member North Dakota State Board of Education; past president, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association.

David Steil '64

David Steil '64
Retired member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1992-2008)