About the Program

Student engagement is at the heart of the Davidson Honors College. In 2017, we launched a Postdoctoral Teaching, Research and Mentoring (TRM) Fellowship Program.

The fellowship brings early career scholars to the DHC for two years. During their tenure, TRM Fellows engage in meaningful advising and mentoring relationships with students, teach courses, and conduct research. Through these activities, the TRM Fellowship Program serves as an innovative way to continually refresh the college's teaching and research strategies. As our Postdoctoral TRM Fellows move on to prestigious research and teaching positions, following their appointments at UM, our students will have unique access to a growing network of influential champions and mentors around the country.

The TRM Fellows program is funded through philanthropy and private support, and we have a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on the leadership gift from Ian and Nancy Davidson.

Current Fellow 

Dr. Holly Riley, Ethnomusicology

Dr. Riley’s research areas include the institutionalization of American vernacular music, cultural changes in current perceptions of violence and safety in country music, and gender, identity, and power structures in music and culture. She also works professionally as a fiddle player, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist and regularly teaches lessons, courses, and workshops relating to multi-genre fiddle styles, improvisation, and stylistic playing.

Past Fellows 

Dr. Lauren Collins, Education (2019-2021)

Dr. Collins taught several courses on community engagement and research methods. She worked with students to support refugees resettling in Missoula and with the university tribal outreach office, which centers on the experiences of Native students at UM, focusing on the pull factors that motivate Native students to attend the University of Montana and how we can leverage their stories to increase Native student enrollment.  She currently serves as Teaching Assistant Professor and Asian Studies Program Director at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Dr. Krista Manley, Psychology and Law (2019-2020)

Dr. Manley taught several honors courses in psychology and research methods and guest taught at local high schools through the We are Montana in the Classroom program.

Dr. Kylla Benes, Ecology (2018-2020)

Dr. Benes taught courses in freshwater ecology and science writing and worked with the Flathead Biostation to provide hands-on research experiences for students and undergraduate mentees. She mentored five DHC students, who conducted research on the ecology and evolutionary biology of marine and freshwater organisms. She currently serves as UM’s Director of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships.

Dr. Rachel Gross, History (2017-2019)

Dr. Gross taught several history, consumerism, and wilderness courses and worked with students to curate a history exhibit at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, “Outdoor Gear Stories in the Treasure State.” Dr. Gross is on the faculty at University of Colorado Denver.

Dr. Eliot Graham, Education (2017-2019)

Dr. Graham taught several education and sociology courses and served on multiple subcommittees of the Diversity Advisory Council, including preparing and delivering a presentation to the Academic Officers. Dr. Graham is pursuing a degree in counseling at the University of Montana.