2025 Alumni Honors: Lisa Persuitti-Huber, ’05, ’08

Alumna honored with the 2025 Young Alumni Achievement Award.

Lisa Persuitti-Huber’s professional title may place her at a rival institution — Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association — but her loyalty to the University of North Dakota runs deep.

So deep that she and her husband named their daughter Dakota, a tribute to the place where they met, launched their careers, and built a life rooted in shared values. “Names mean a lot to us,” Lisa said. “I’ve always believed the names you carry and the names you use matter. Dakota is proud of her name — she knows what it means, and she shares that story all the time. UND is always part of it.”

Lisa’s connection to UND is anything but symbolic. As a student, she dove headfirst into campus life — from the Public Relations Society of America to a full-time role in the UND Athletics Sports Information Office — determined to graduate not just with a degree, but with a portfolio of experience. Her job in Athletics also brought her into the orbit of fellow alum Max Huber, ’08, now her husband and co-founder of their travel-focused side venture, The Magic Travel Guy. Together, they’re raising two children with names that reflect deep meaning and connection. Their daughter Dakota’s name honors their UND roots, and their son Rocco — “our sparky little first grader,” as Lisa describes him — carries a name passed down through family. “They both carry importance,” she said.

It was another UND connection that would help launch her career. On a class trip to Minneapolis, Lisa heard from Dave St. Peter, ’89, then-president of the Minnesota Twins, who shared advice that would shape her path. “I went up to him after and said, ‘I want to work in sports. What should I do?’ And he told me, ‘When you get back to campus, walk into the Sports Information Office and say you’ll do anything.’ And I did.”

That moment planted the seed for a philosophy she’s carried with her ever since — start where you can, work hard, and say yes. “Dave’s story changed my life. It taught me that entry-level jobs are where you learn how to lead — empathetically, strategically, and financially. You can’t understand what it takes to run an organization unless you’ve done the work.”

Though she didn’t originally set out to work in higher ed, Lisa found herself drawn back to the university world after a stint in tourism. “I didn’t expect to land at the U of M. But the opportunity to lead there was one I jumped at.” Nearly a decade later, she leads a team dedicated to strengthening resources that deepen alumni engagement and impact." One of her proudest accomplishments is launching the Minnesota Alumni Market, an online and in-person store featuring alumni-owned businesses. What started with just 14 businesses has now grown to more than 250, shipping products across the country and elevating alumni entrepreneurs. “It’s just the beginning,” she said. “We’re barely scratching the surface.”

She’s a respected leader, gives generously, and has the ear of some of the most admired voices in the Twin Cities.Max Huber, ’08

Lisa’s drive to innovate and connect reflects not just her competitive background — a childhood spent playing softball, basketball, and figure skating — but her deep belief in the full value of the higher ed experience. “I’m a big believer in the whole package,” she says. “It’s not just one thing — it’s what you put in, and what you take with you.”

For Lisa, the recognition as a Young Alumni Achievement Award recipient is a full-circle moment. “This event has always stood out to me as a time to pause, get dressed up, and recognize alumni doing incredible things. It’s such an honor to be on that list. This is another chapter in my life story, and I’m so excited to share it with my family.”

As for the person who nominated her? That was Max — the fellow UND alum she met working in the Sports Information Office. “Lisa is the quintessential success story from UND,” he wrote. “She’s a respected leader, gives generously, and has the ear of some of the most admired voices in the Twin Cities.”

Lisa might credit her success to hustle, hope, and a deep love of connection. But those who know her best would tell you: it’s leadership born of loyalty — to people, to purpose, and to the place that started it all.