Good afternoon, University of Montana.
On behalf of the Presidential Search Advisory work group, I am pleased to share that the group and I have made a unanimous decision to advance the candidacy of Dr. Jeremiah Shinn to the Board of Regents for its consideration.
Dr. Shinn’s on-campus visit earlier this week affirmed our belief that he was an exceptional candidate who had, throughout the search process, repeatedly risen to the top of what we considered to be an outstanding and diverse field of applicants.
The quality of the talent pool from which we were able to choose and our confidence in selecting Dr. Shinn to recommend to the Board authenticates our approach to this task, which began with a firm commitment to an expedited yet comprehensive search. While bringing forward a single finalist during the campus visit stage of the search may feel different from more traditional approaches, it is consistent with the current national landscape for presidential searches and was an important factor in our ability to attract a superior and highly competitive pool of candidates. We are grateful for the campus community’s understanding as we balanced these considerations.
The process recognized the unprecedented number of open presidential positions at neighboring flagship universities, which required us to move swiftly to secure top candidates. Our goal from the outset has been to sustain UM’s momentum and positive trajectory while ensuring a stable transition to an extraordinary leader who embodied UM’s values, unique culture, and vision for the future.
We began by engaging AGB Search, a nationally recognized firm affiliated with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. The firm’s expertise was instrumental in soliciting input across the campus community to help us build a leadership profile and in recruiting more than 70 accomplished leaders from across the country to apply.
While the timeline was accelerated, thoroughness was uncompromised. Our close partnership with the search firm guaranteed adherence to the high standards and broad engagement expected of a national presidential search.
I am grateful to the members of the work group, representing UM’s shared governance leadership and university partners, who recognized the gravity of the task and who committed to intensive vetting of every application, interviews, and discussions to ensure that the finalists aligned with UM’s strategic priorities. The members were:
- Valerie Moody, Faculty Senate Chair
- Dominic Beccari, Staff Senate President
- Buddy Wilson, ASUM President
- John DeBoer, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
- Paul Lukacs, Associate Vice President for Research and Creative Scholarship
- Greg Sundberg, Deputy Director of Athletics
- Joyce Dombrouski, Community Member and Former Regent
I am also grateful to all of you who participated and shared your perspectives and feedback. Your contributions helped guide our decisions and discussion every step of the way.
I am confident that this presidential search has successfully balanced efficiency with excellence, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to collaborative leadership and continued momentum.
Clayton Christian
Commissioner of Higher Education
The Board of Regents will convene a special meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. to consider a presidential hire for the University of Montana. The
meeting agenda is available on the Board webpage.
www.shelfreflection.com
