Ronald Abler, B.A. '63, M.A. '66, Ph.D. '68, former executive vice president and provost at Penn State.

Robert Berdahl, Ph.D. '65, Honorary Doctorate of Science '97, chancellor, University of California at Berkeley

Sherwood Berg, B.S. '40, Ph.D. '51, president emeritus, South Dakota State University and former head of U of M Extension Service

Bob Brown, B.S. '39, former provost of M.I.T.

Jean Illsley Clark, B.S. '48, educator and the author of more than 80 books, articles, newsletters, and training materials on topics of parenting, self-esteem, and group dynamics

Betty Cooke, Ph.D. '88, early childhood educator, parent educator, and family program administrator; serves as the Early Childhood Family Education (EFCE) specialist in the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning; involved at a national level in assisting other states create their own versions of MN ECFE.

Richard Cyert, '43, former president of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (deceased) 

Antoine Garibaldi, Ph.D. '76, president of Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, since 2002.

Endesha Holland, B.A. '79, M.A. '84, Ph.D. '86, award-winning playwright; professor of theater and women's studies at University of Southern California; civil rights activist

Fred Hovde, '29, was president of Purdue University for 28 years

Carol Johnson, M.A. '80, Ed.D. '87, Memphis Public Schools superintendent; former Minneapolis Public Schools superintendent

Jolene Koester, B.A. '71, Ph.D. '80, president of California State University at Northridge

Phyllis Moen, Ph.D. '78, former director of the human developmental Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center at Cornell University, now McKnight Endowed Chair at Minnesota. Read profile (scroll down).

Somwung Pitayanuwat, Ph.D. '76, vice president for research, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand's premier university

Patricia Brandt Spence, M.A. ' 72, University of Minnesota Board of Regents member and former chair; Gov. Arne Carlson and the Minnesota Legislature proclaimed Patricia Spence Day to honor her exceptional service to the state.

David V. Taylor, Ph.D. '77, dean of the University of Minnesota's General College

Tong-in Wosothorn, M.A. '70, Ph.D. '74, president of Sukothai Thammatirat University in Thailand; former Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of University Affairs

James Zumberge, '46, '50, former president of USC and SMU; also a respected geologist; Cape Zumberge in Antarctica is named for him