University of Montana

Happening at UM

Salish tribal elder Louis “Louie” Adams speaks during Missoula College groundbreaking

UM to Award Honorary Doctorate to Native American Educator

Salish tribal elder Louis “Louie” Adams has spent a lifetime teaching others the stories, culture and language of his people. Now the University of Montana will honor this tireless educator with an honorary doctorate of humane letters. His nomination was approved by the state Board of Regents on March 6. He will be awarded the honorary doctorate during UM’s 118th Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Read more about Adams.

Today

Campus and Community

Lab technicians work at the U.S. Forest Service National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation

New Missoula Lab Uses DNA to Expose Hidden Wildlife

Technicians in the U.S. Forest Service’s new lab building can spot the presence (or absence) of specific fish in a whole river drainage from a cup of water. They can trace the family tree of a sage grouse from a tail feather. Don’t get them started on what they can tell when a grizzly bear poops in the woods. The new lab at UM can produce those answers at a scale that’s cost-effective, reliable and defensible. Read more about the new lab.

Yesterday

Research

Blackstone Manager Jennifer Stephens talks with entrepreneurs

Blackstone LaunchPad Helps Entrepreneurs Start Businesses

The Blackstone LaunchPad is a program at the University of Montana. It helps students, faculty, staff and alumni turn their ideas into businesses and nonprofit organizations. The LaunchPad has been at the University of Montana for about a year. Over 300 students, alumni and faculty have registered with the LaunchPad, and around 170 ideas have been pitched. All are in various stages of development. KECI-TV reports on UM’s Blackstone LaunchPad.

Yesterday

Campus and Community

Alumni

Tommy Livoti works at a dig site at Fort Missoula

Doctoral Student Envisions Way to Protect Antiquities During Wartime

Walking the ancient streets of Babylon allowed Tommy Livoti to find his path in life. In 2003, the Missoula native and UM grad was a Marine Corps platoon commander in Iraq. Livoti saw a water-treatment system and military headquarters built upon archeological treasure troves. It all felt so wrong. It was then that Livoti became powerfully interested in protecting cultural properties during warfare. Read more how Livoti is combining his military and archeology background into one.

March 4th, 2015

Arts and Culture

Alumni

Forestry School Hires New Native American Program Coordinator

The College of Forestry and Conservation announces the appointment of Ruth Ann Swaney as coordinator of the Native American Natural Resource Program. Swaney is an enrolled tribal member of the Three Affiliated Tribes on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. Swaney also has family from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. She holds a master’s degree in organismal biology and ecology from UM and is working on a doctorate in society and conservation. Read more about Swaney.

March 3rd, 2015

UM to Host Shakespeare’s First Folio Exhibition in 2016

UM has been selected as Montana’s host site for “First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare,” a national traveling exhibition of one of the world’s most treasured books – the Shakespeare First Folio. The Folger Shakespeare Library, in partnership with Cincinnati Museum Center and the American Library Association, is touring the exhibition in 2016. Final touring dates will be announced in April. Read more about UM’s chance to host the First Folio.

March 3rd, 2015

Research

Campus and Community