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Hometown: Casselton, North Dakota 
NDSU Degree: BS ’10 Mass Communication and Broadcast Journalism 

On Nov. 8, 2022, Michael Howe ’10 was elected as the 15th secretary of state for North Dakota. At age 36, he would be the youngest serving secretary of state in the country. 

“Earning the trust and confidence of North Dakota citizens is an extremely humbling experience and the honor of a lifetime,” Michael said of his election. 

A fifth-generation farmer, Michael began his path to this milestone event at his family farm in Casselton, North Dakota, where his passion for agriculture began to take root. After graduation, he served as a legislative assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives, served as the director of legislative affairs and communications director for the ND Corn Growers Association, and was elected by the ND Grain Growers Association as first vice president before being elected to the District 22 House of Representatives where he served for six years. 

As North Dakota’s secretary of state, he is a rising political leader at the state capitol, overseeing North Dakota’s elections, managing business registrations, and serving on a variety of executive branch boards. In his second legislative session, Michael was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee, which plays a vital role in ensuring responsible and effective use of taxpayer dollars in North Dakota’s government operations. 

As a leader in agriculture, business, and state government, he continues to be a responsible steward of North Dakota agriculture and champion for NDSU’s mission, particularly in securing funding for the Peltier Complex and Sugihara Hall. 

“He embodies the best that North Dakota has to offer,” Mark Hardy, executive director of the ND State Board of Pharmacy and one of Michael’s nominators, said. “I can think of no one more deserving than Michael to be recognized for his accomplishments, which are so impressive for a man of his age.” 

Michael fondly remembers his time at NDSU — he was actively involved in the NDSU radio station, Thunder Radio, where he hosted a weekly sports talk radio show. He was also a reporter for NDSU’s newspaper, The Spectrum. These experiences gave him a front-row seat for some of the biggest moments in NDSU’s Division I infancy, the perfect place for a die-hard NDSU Athletics fan. 

His connection to NDSU remains strong thanks to the Bison alumni network, including former congressman Rick Berg who provided his first job opportunity after graduation and agriculture leaders like Neal Fisher ’73, ’76, ’22, Dan Wogsland ’80, Greg Lardy ’91, and Keith Peltier ’75, ’77. 

“It seemed like at every turn on my journey after graduation and leaving campus I had NDSU alums supporting me in ways that I will never be able to say thank you enough,” he said. “Being a Bison is part of who I am and who I will continue to be.” 

From trips to NDSU for basketball double-headers with his grandparents to teaching his almost-one-year-old son, James, how to throw up the horns, Michael still bleeds green and yellow.