Office of the President

Welcome to the University of Montana! There are few universities in the world that combine the quality of people, breadth of programming, tremendous stakeholder support, and stunning beauty of the University of Montana. Those of us who work and learn here are truly fortunate. It is a university that has a distinctive spirit at its core, a spirit that drives opportunity, impact, responsibility, and vitality.

The University of Montana is an affiliation of four institutions: the flagship campus in Missoula, the University of Montana Western located in Dillon, Montana Tech of the University of Montana in Butte, and Helena College of the University of Montana. Each has its own emphasis, character, and learning environment. Collectively, these institutions provide outstanding education, scholarship, and service. We pride ourselves on serving our community—from the Rockies to the world.

It is a privilege to serve as the President of the University of Montana. Every day, I see students who discover something new about the world around them, faculty members who dedicate themselves to the disciplines they love and to their students, staff members and leaders who work tirelessly to serve the University, friends and alumni who give generously to support the next generation of students, and community members who take part in the excitement of the academic, cultural, and athletic events.

Our world needs great universities. The challenges and opportunities before us call for creative thinkers and leaders. Those are the people associated with the University of Montana.

Royce C. Engstrom
President

News

Picasso Masterpiece on Display at UM President’s Office through August 22, 2013

Pablo Picasso’s Tete de Femme ("Woman's Head") is now on display in the reception area of the President’s Office. The 1903 painting is on loan to the Montana Museum of Art & Culture from a private collector. This special loan is accompanied by Le Picador, a 1961 Picasso lithograph from MMAC’s permanent collection. The public is welcome to stop by during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) to view these works.

Tete de Femme is from Picasso’s Blue Period, a stylistic phase that lasted roughly from 1900 to 1904, coinciding with the artist’s move to Paris. The Blue Period is typified by heavy black lines and somber shades of blue and green. Paintings from these years depict the poorest residents of the city's Montmartre district and brought Picasso little success at the time they were created. Many are now considered among his most popular works.

Tete de Femme was first owned by the Modernist French poet Guillaume Apollinaire, who championed the new art of Cubism.

(Above: Head of a Woman / Tete de femme, 1903. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of a Private Collection.)

(Below: Le Picador, Pablo Picasso. Collection of the Montana Museum of Art & Culture)