Grizzlies Take the Stage

UM senior Lauren Schulte transformed a deep curiosity about human behavior into a clear path toward a career in clinical psychology. Through diverse undergraduate research, she discovered how research and practice intersect. Schulte also supported peers as a wellbeing coach and campus leader, strengthening her commitment to helping others feel understood and supported.

The Montana Board of Regents has selected Dr. Jeremiah Shinn to serve as the next president of the University of Montana.

Shinn’s selection follows a national search that drew more than 70 accomplished applicants from across the country.

“I am honored to be named the 20th president of the University of Montana and eager to get started,” said Shinn. “I am inspired by the remarkable students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who make UM so special, and I look forward to joining this extraordinary team to build on its strong foundation and shape a bright future together.”

“Dr. Shinn’s on-campus visit affirmed our belief that he is an exceptional candidate who, throughout the search process, repeatedly rose to the top of an outstanding and diverse field of applicants,” said Montana Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian. “His demonstrated leadership, commitment to student success and collaborative spirit make him uniquely suited to lead the University of Montana.”

The search process – led by Christian with the support of a presidential search advisory work group and the national firm AGB Search – was both expedited and comprehensive, reflecting UM’s commitment to maintaining momentum while securing a visionary leader aligned with the University’s values, culture and strategic direction.

Deborah Agbakwuru is a PhD candidate in the Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UM whose research is focused on the future. By studying cells and how they interact, Deborah is working to understand how cells “talk” to one another, revealing how the immune system receives signals and responds to disease. This work has the potential to lead to improved cancer treatments and better immunotherapies. Through her education at UM, Deborah has developed the expertise to track how cells change during infection and disease and to detect these changes earlier. 

Take a look behind the scenes of Ronnie Avansino, a senior from Reno, Nevada, graduating with their BFA in Design and Technology for Theatre from the College of the Arts and Media. It was performing on the front of the stage that first piqued Avansino’s interest at UM, but through required stagecraft classes and expert tutelage, the transition to backstage felt natural. Now, Avansino is starting their career of supporting and setting the stage for artistic productions. 

After struggling to find her footing during her early college years, recent UM graduate Maddie McCuddy found her focus in long-form, documentary photography. She recently earned first place for news and feature photojournalism in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program for her portfolio that blended personal projects, work from her fellowship at the Missoulian newspaper and images produced during her time at the highly competitive Mountain Workshops in Kentucky.

UM graduate Ryan Fleetwood turned relentless curiosity into a fast-tracked path toward a Ph.D. in systems ecology. Earning dual degrees in environmental science and geography, he immersed himself in hands-on research, from climate modeling and snowpack analysis to national internships with federal agencies.