August 15, 2022

Dear UM Students, Faculty and Staff,

It is with great sadness that we learned today of the passing of Missoula Mayor John Engen.

From his days as a UM student writing for the Montana Kaimin to his leadership in City Hall, Mayor Engen had a tremendously positive impact on UM. He was always a fierce advocate for his alma mater, and he never wavered from his belief that the success of UM and the Missoula community go hand in hand. His influence and his impact on our university will be felt for years to come.

I will be forever grateful for the many things I learned from John. He was a terrific listener, a skilled leader and a compassionate advocate for every member of our community. And as anyone who spent even just a few minutes with him quickly learned, he had a wonderful sense of humor and a unique ability to make everyone around him feel welcome and at ease. Like many of you, I am going to miss his one-of-a-kind wit and straight-to-the-point conversations. His uncompromising care for our community and his commitment to serving others inspired me to be a better leader and Missoulian.

Dedicated public servants like Mayor Engen are what make Missoula such a special place to call home. For the past five months as John battled pancreatic cancer, he continued to radiate a contagious desire and energy to do good for all. To the very end of his life, his focus remained on serving those around him and helping our entire community reach its full potential. I am grateful for the friendship I shared with John, and I am forever thankful for his tireless work on behalf of our campus and students.

Seth