2024 Alumni Honors: Mike Jacobs & Suezette Bieri
Mike Jacobs, ’70, and Suezette Bieri, ’69, ’71, ’89, to be honored with the Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership.
Hometown: Stanley, N.D.
Areas of Study: Suezette: Sociology, Counseling, & Space Studies; Mike: Philosophy & Religious Studies
From preschool classmates to distinguished alumni, Mike Jacobs, ’70, and Suezette Bieri, ’69, ’71, ’89, have shared an extraordinary journey together. Their story begins in Stanley, N.D., where they met as children and graduated high school in 1965. Their class of 64 students was the largest until the oil boom years. The couple married in 1971, a union that has spanned over five decades of shared experiences and accomplishments.
When they arrived at UND, both felt like they were stepping into a new and exciting chapter of their lives. “There was a sense of moving on,” Mike recalls. The grandeur of Merrifield Hall and The Chester Fritz Library left a lasting impression on these small-town kids. Their time at UND was filled with memorable experiences and significant connections.
Suezette quickly became involved in student government, a role that took her to a Black Panther rally in Oakland, marking her early engagement with social issues and leadership. Meanwhile, Mike joined the staff of the Dakota Student, eventually rising to the position of editor. Their involvement in these activities introduced them to a network of people who would become lifelong friends and mentors. One of their fondest memories includes a trip to Winnipeg with classmates in theatre studies. “From our time at UND, the thing that is most valuable is the people we have met and had long relationships with,” Mike said.
In the 1970s, the couple lived in several North Dakota towns, including Dickinson, Jamestown, Mandan, and Grand Forks, before settling on 60 acres west of Gilby, N.D. Mike began his career with the Grand Forks Herald in 1981, where he served in various roles, ultimately becoming editor and publisher. His tenure at the Herald was marked by significant contributions, including his involvement when the paper won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service following the 1997 Red River Flood. The flood destroyed the Herald's building, yet the paper didn’t miss a single issue, demonstrating the resilience and dedication of its staff.
Over their 53-year marriage, Mike and Suezette have traveled the country and the world. Suezette has visited all 50 states, while Mike has hit 49. They have also rescued and cared for 17 cats, each with a unique name and personality, from Asa and Pascha to Clio and Cosmo. Photo by Eric Hylden
Suezette’s professional journey was equally impressive. She worked at Job Service ND, J.C. Penney in Dickinson, the South Central Social Services Office in Jamestown, and as director of the Student Union at Bismarck State College. After returning to Grand Forks, she worked at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
In the mid-’90s, a keen “interest in the future” brought Suezette back to UND, where she became one of the first students to earn a master’s degree in space studies. She would become deputy director of the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium, a position that allowed her to introduce students across North Dakota to the wonders of space. She had the privilege of meeting several astronauts, including Buzz Aldrin, Karen Nyberg, and Sally Ride, whom she admired greatly.
Mike and Suezette exemplify the spirit of UND alumni. Their lifelong commitment to each other, their professions, and their community make them deserving recipients of the Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership. “We’re very proud to be honored with it,” Suezette said.
