Provost

Nilo Bill earned his Ph.D. in Geology from Oregon State University's College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences in Corvallis, OR, in the field of paleoclimatology, where his doctoral fieldwork brought him to Antarctica. He has been a National Geographic Explorer and Teaching Professor of Earth Sciences at Quest University in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada.

Dr. Adam Bozman earned his BA and MBA from Gonzaga University in Spokane and his MS and PhD from Washington State University. At WSU, his research centered on empirical corporate finance, particularly M&A. He's glad to be in Missoula, where he's spent the summer teaching, researching, fishing, and sitting on a pub patio with his partner and their dog, Guinness.

Gina Caffrey, PA-C, CDR, USCG (Ret.), is an Assistant Professor in the University of Montana College of Health’s Master of Physician Associate Studies program. A graduate of the Interservice PA Program and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, she brings nearly a decade of clinical experience in primary care, aeromedicine, and occupational medicine, alongside 20 years of distinguished military service. Gina is dedicated to preparing future PAs through fostering critical thinking, compassionate care, and professional leadership, drawing upon her unique background to build resilient healthcare providers.

Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Crouse was raised in South Dakota. She worked in public accounting & in the tax department of an alternative investments fund manager before obtaining her Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. Becky, her husband, and 5-year-old son are excited to be in Missoula. They look forward to getting to know the community & doing some hiking, paddling, and fishing in the area.

Graham Gage serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Gage received his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2019. Dr. Gage stayed at USC and completed an orthopedic physical therapy residency the following year. At the University of Montana, Dr. Gage will be leading students during the Integrated Clinical Experience in the UMPT Clinic, teaching orthopedic physical therapy content within the DPT curriculum, and directing the UMPT orthopedic physical therapy residency program.

Forrest Graves is an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Montana's Alexander Blewett III School of Law. He teaches classes related to transactional law and estate planning, but his research interests primarily revolve around federal tax policy issues and estate and gift tax laws. Forrest received his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law and his J.D. with high honors from the University of Montana. He received his B.A. with distinction from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Lisa Hathaway, MPAS, PA-C, RD, is a physician assistant and registered dietitian with a diverse clinical background spanning neurology, urgent care, occupational health, home health, street medicine, aesthetics, and integrative medicine. She is passionate about preventive medicine, patient education, and evidence-based care, while also going "off script" sometimes to support her patients. Lisa currently practices aesthetics and primary care in Missoula, while also serving as adjunct faculty where she teaches preventive medicine and pharmacology and integrates clinical reasoning and point-of-care ultrasound into PA education. 

Education:

BS in Education

Doctorate in Physical Therapy

Experience:

Adjunct professor at UM Physical Therapy department since 2017

Served in various clinical and leadership roles in physical therapy clinics

Heather Johnson is the Boone and Crockett Endowed Chair of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Montana (UM). She holds a PhD in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana, an MS in Wildlife Science from the University of Arizona, and a BS in Ecology from the University of California, San Diego. Prior to joining UM, Heather conducted research on large mammals for the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Polly Lauer is an Assistant Professor of Native American Studies. An historian who partners with Indigenous media makers in Latin America, she undertakes collaborative research to understand how Indigenous journalists respond to and overcome crisis. She is currently writing a book about the history of the oldest and longest-operating Maya K'iche' radio station in Guatemala. Her research and teaching center Indigenous perspectives and solidarities across the hemisphere, linking experiences between South, Central, and North America and the Caribbean. She was previously a Klarman Fellow at Cornell University and holds a Ph.D. in History from Yale University.

Ryan J. Marker, PhD, DPT completed his Doctor of Physical Therapy (2011) and PhD in Rehabilitation Science (2015) at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. During this time, he investigated the neurophysiologic mechanisms of stress-induced muscle activity and neck pain. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center working with the BfitBwell Cancer Exercise Program, investigating an exercise intervention for pancreatic cancer survivors undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and preparing for surgery. His current research focus is the evaluation and implementation of an innovative telehealth exercise intervention designed for rural survivors of cancer experiencing cancer-related fatigue.

A Richmond, Virginia native, Madelyn Pinkerton is an experienced educator who has helped inspire lower-income 4th graders in Richmond and taught right here in Frenchtown, Montana. As a proud JMU alumnus, completing both her undergraduate and masters degrees from the university, she prides herself in creating inclusive learning environments for all students, incorporating social emotional learning and mindfulness practices into every day and is excited to share her experience with the next generation of educators. 

When Madelyn isn’t teaching in the classroom or planning her next lesson, you can find her floating the Clark Fork, hiking up a mountain or just enjoying a good book at camp somewhere deep in Montana’s beautiful outdoors. Madelyn also has a Breathe for Change yoga certificate and LETRS reading certificate from Henrico County Public Schools.

Dr. Andrew Smith joins the University of Montana School of Music, Theatre, and Dance as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Trumpet. As an educator, he has led clinics across the United States, Japan, China, and Australia, and has been on faculty at the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Baptist University. His performing career spans jazz, pop, and classical, including national tours of Kinky Boots, 42nd Street, and Ringling Bros. Circus, and seven years as jazz trumpet soloist with the Tony Award-winning Blast! across North America and Japan. Other credits include the Phoenix Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and Norman Philharmonic.

Ada Smith is a social scientist focused on the human dimensions of conservation and natural resource management across the changing landscapes of the American West. My research spans topics ranging from rancher values and decision-making to human–wildlife conflict and coexistence, always with the goal of connecting rigorous research to real-world solutions that support both people and the landscapes they depend on.

Dr. Nicole Tatman is the inaugural Director of the Center for Hunting and Conservation at the University of Montana, a partnership between the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. A hunter for almost 20 years, she spent more than a decade managing big game programs (elk, mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and javelina) for the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish. Nicole came to hunting through wildlife science rather than a family tradition, a perspective she brings to CHC’s mission of connecting conservation and the hunting community.

John Veillette received his PhD in Psychology, concentrating in Integrative Neuroscience, from the University of Chicago in 2025. His new lab, the Embodied Neural Computation and Awareness Lab (embodied-neuro.github.io), studies how the brain-body axis constrains human perception, cognition, and action – rather than treating the brain as a standalone computer, as in much cognitive neuroscience research. John also develops statistical methods/software for behavioral and neuroimaging data, which are generally applicable to all sorts of high-dimensional data. Outside of research and teaching, John is currently enjoying picking up “Missoula hobbies” like hiking and trail running, and he’s looking forward to ski season.