Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Dragon Stories

Meet Dayna Del Val, a proud Dragon with strong ties to MSUM and a passion for the arts in our community. The 1995 theatre graduate is the President & CEO of The Arts Partnership and has served on the MSUM Foundation board of directors since June 2020.

MSUM serves as a regional hub for art and music education. Here we foster the next generation of artists and help their passions and talent turn into a meaningful career. 

The School of Art’s Art-a-Fair celebrated a little bit of everything on Friday, Jan. 28, with the highlight of awarding ‘Best of Awards’ to 10 area high school students in nine categories. We also recognized the Best North Dakota Exhibition - Grand Forks Central High School and Best Minnesota Exhibition - Underwood High School. Congratulations to all of our winners!

Bismarck High School graduate Chase Scherr was interested in pursuing a journalism career and knew Minnesota State University Moorhead had a solid journalism program.

Directly across from the campus gates, at the site of the former Newman Center, the sign marks a spot for the future Alumni Center, which will be a hub for thousands of Dragons who call MSUM their alma mater.

To This We’ve Come, an operatic production in three Acts will be performed live Sunday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Gaede Stage at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Katie Lorenson, a 2002 graduate, has been named president and CEO of Alerus Financial Corporation.

Choosing a college is a big decision. Moorhead High School Senior Nathan Helgeson says MSUM had everything he was looking for—affordable and close to home. After being admitted to MSUM, Nathan received the University Scholarship, which totals $10,000 over four years.

Troy Nelson graduated from MSUM with a degree in finance in 1998. He credits MSUM with giving him resilience and the right tools needed to start his career amidst initial rejection.

Xavier Reed secured a corporate job before he graduated from MSUM. A year later, he quit and pursued his second career and first passion: education.

In 1962, while attending a junior college in his hometown of Fergus Falls, Minn., Joseph Kise (of infamous MSUM fame) was a visiting professor in one of Hollis Nelson’s classes. Kise spoke of the opportunities at MSUM, including programs and scholarships, and after some conversation, Hollis decided to transfer to Moorhead.

Alumni Pete and Tanya Dickinson are strong advocates of the Dragon wrestling program.