Meet the Middletons
UND Honors Tom and Konnie Middleton with School Naming
The University of North Dakota (UND) honored alumni Tom and Konnie Middleton on Jan. 28, 2021, when the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education voted to name the School of Entrepreneurship & Management in their honor. The Middletons’ $5 million gift provides major support for the School, its programs, and its students.
Tom Middleton, a 1972 UND graduate, grew up in Bowesmont, North Dakota. Konnie Middleton (Peach) graduated from Central High School in Grand Forks and earned her education degree from UND in 1975. The couple is now retired and lives in Arizona, but they continue to stay closely connected to UND and the state.
“With their generous gift, Tom and Konnie Middleton made a strong show of support for the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration,” said DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. “They wanted their philanthropy to have a meaningful impact on UND students, and we are grateful for the trust they placed in us.”
Tom Middleton shared the couple’s excitement about the gift. “Konnie and I were excited, honored, and humbled to partner with UND and the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration,” he said. “We have been fortunate in life, and we believe in giving back. This gift allows us to support the University, its faculty, and its students now and in the future.”
Tom Middleton built his career in sales, sales management, and marketing with Johnson & Johnson and its pharmaceutical companies. Konnie Middleton worked as a clothing buyer for retail department stores before focusing on raising their two daughters, Nicole and Lindsay.
UND President Andrew Armacost highlighted the lasting impact of the Middletons’ gift. “While buildings help shape our campus, it is the programs inside them that prepare students and faculty to lead and serve,” he said.
He added that the Middletons’ North Dakota roots and interest in entrepreneurship align closely with the College’s mission. Their gift helped establish the Middleton School of Entrepreneurship & Management within the Nistler College and will support a stronger and more diverse economy in the state.
The Middleton School of Entrepreneurship & Management is the first named school within the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration.
“The Middleton School of Entrepreneurship & Management reflects who we are and who we want to become,” said Dr. Amy Henley, dean of the College. “Thanks to Tom and Konnie Middleton, we have strengthened our role as a leading center for entrepreneurship education in the Midwest.”
The School offers six majors, two minors, and a certificate program. Students study business fundamentals and management while also building entrepreneurial skills such as creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking—skills that are essential for future entrepreneurs.
