Dragon Alumni Inspire Pride

Perhaps the most gratifying thing about being a university president is celebrating the accomplishments of our alumni. I’m no longer surprised by the exceptional success of MSUM’s graduates, but I’ll never stop being inspired by everything they achieve with their MSUM education.  Two Dragon alumni who recently achieved milestones in their careers are cases in point.

Troy Nelson, a 1998 graduate in finance, was recently named to the Forbes Top 250 list, a ranking of the nation’s top financial advisors. Following a rigorous screening process and lengthy interview, Troy landed at 125 on the list and is the first person from the state of North Dakota to earn the prestigious rating. While he credits his MSUM education as the foundation for everything he’s accomplished in his career, his success didn’t come overnight. In fact, following his graduation he was turned down by every major investment firm before being hired by Edward Jones, where he’s worked for 20 years.

Like Troy, Katie Lorenson attributes her success to MSUM, where she earned her accounting degree in 2002. And, like Troy, Katie recently achieved a professional milestone when she was named president and CEO of Alerus, where she previously served as executive vice president and chief financial officer. With 852 employees and $32.6 billion in assets, Alerus’s banking and wealth management offices are located in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Arizona.  After being named CEO-elect, Katie was also named one of the 100 People to Know in 2022 by Twin Cities Business magazine. 

Both Katie and Troy have worked hard for their achievements. And they’ve no doubt received considerable support along the way. That’s why it’s especially gratifying to know that—more than two decades later—they both credit the lessons they learned at MSUM as the foundation for their success.

Dr. Anne Blackhurst served as Minnesota State University Moorhead’s 11th president from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2023.