List of Northeastern State University alumni explained

The list of Northeastern State University alumni includes notable alumni, faculty, and former students of the Northeastern State University.

Athletics

• Billy Bock, late baseball coach for four high schools, won nine state titles
• Michael Bowie, offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL, Super Bowl XLVIII champion
• Jarrett Byers, former St. Louis Rams wide receiver
• Larry Coker, former head coach at the University of Miami
• Ryan Helsley, current MLB Relief Pitcher
• Bob Hudson, former NFL player
• Ronnie Jones, football coach
• Rosie Manning, former NFL player
• Derrick Moore, former NFL player

Arts and entertainment

• Zig Jackson, photographer
• Dennis Letts, college professor and actor
• Jim Ross, former WWE play-by-play commentator; President of Talent Relations
• Shawntel Smith, Miss America 1996
• Carrie Underwood, American Idol Fox winner; country music star; winner of multiple Grammy Awards; Country Music's reigning Queen
• The Swon Brothers, fourth season NBC third Place; country music duo

Business

• Bob Berry, co-founder and chief executive officer of Tri-B Nursery, Inc.
• Ken Selby, founder of Mazzio's Italian Eatery
• Jeff Storey, president and chief executive officer of Level 3 Communications^[1]

Politics

• Bob Ballinger (B.A. in Social Studies Education), lawyer and Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from District 97+ (Carroll, Madison, and Washington counties)^[2]
• Angela Barker-Jones (1969–2018), Cherokee Nation supreme court justice (2013–2018)
• Glenn Coffee, former Oklahoma Secretary of State and president pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
• Drew Edmondson, former Attorney General of Oklahoma
• James E. Edmondson, current justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court and former Chief Justice of the same court
• Janelle Fullbright (1945–2016), Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor (2007–2015), Deputy Speaker (2013–2015)
• Sandy Garrett, former Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Frankie Hargis (1965–2021), Cherokee Nation Registrar (2018–2021), Tribal Councilor (2011–2018)
• Linda Hughes O'Leary (born 1950), Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor (2003–2007)
• Ted Risenhoover, former U.S. Representative from Oklahoma
• Audra Smoke-Conner (born 1968), Cherokee Nation tribal councilor (2003–2007)
• William G. Stigler, former U.S. Representative from Oklahoma
• John Sullivan, former U.S. Representative from Oklahoma's 1st congressional district
• Janees Taylor, Cherokee Nation Treasurer (2021-present), Tribal Councilor (2013-2019)
• Kimberly Teehee, senior policy adviser for Native American affairs in the administration of President Barack Obama
• Phyllis Yargee, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor (2003–2007)

Science and engineering

• Mary G. Ross, first Native American female engineer; one of the Skunk Works founding engineers^[3]
• Laura Sullivan-Beckers, biologist

Others

• Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ
• Sara Dye, physician and surgeon

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jeff Storey, Lumen Technologies Inc: Profile and Biography . .
2. Web site: Bob Ballinger, R-97. arkansashouse.org. January 7, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140108015509/http://www.arkansashouse.org/member/312/bob-ballinger. January 8, 2014. dead.
3. News: Briggs. Kara. Cherokee rocket scientist leaves heavenly gift. Cherokee Phoenix. December 24, 2008. NMAI Newservice.