A Finalist Emerges As Next University of Montana President

With a strong lineup of applicants, the search for UM’s next president is heating up.

MEET DR. SHINN

UM News Service tells us that the University of Montana and the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education today (Friday) announced presidential finalist Dr. Jeremiah Shinn will visit campus Monday and Tuesday, April 6-7.

Dr. Shinn is currently the interim president of Boise State University. He will participate in a series of meetings, including an open forum and community reception during his visit.

Montana Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian was quoted as saying, “The search for UM’s next president has been robust, with a high volume of strong applicants. We are excited to reach this stage of the search, and we encourage faculty, staff, students and the community to participate in this on-campus visit.”

FINALIST'S SCHEDULE

During his visit, Dr. Shinn will meet with UM’s leadership team, faculty, staff and the Associated Students of the University of Montana, as well as other campus groups and organizations. The public is invited on Monday, April 6, to the third floor of the University Center at 3:30 p.m. for a public forum and a community reception at 5:00 p.m.

READ MORE: Meet the Marine Sniper Turned University of Montana Graduate

FROM PRESIDENT TO POLITICS

The search for a new University of Montana president was necessitated by the announcement made January 21 by then-president Seth Bodnar, informing the school and the public that he would be stepping down after eight years leading the state’s flagship institution.

Shortly after that announcement was made, former President Bodnar declared his candidacy for one of Montana's U.S. Senate seats, running as an Independent.

Dr. Shinn’s curriculum vitae and a more detailed schedule of his campus visit can be found here.