Board of Regents appoints Jeremiah Shinn as new UM president

Jeremiah Shinn will be the next president of the University of Montana.

In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the Montana Board of Regents approved Shinn, interim president of Boise State University, to step into the leadership role at UM on July 1.

Board Chairperson Todd Buchanan said Shinn, who has a doctorate in educational leadership and background in student affairs, would help steer UM “to even higher levels of distinction.”

“The enthusiasm I personally feel about this next chapter at the University of Montana is extremely high, and we’re very excited about welcoming Dr. Shinn and his wife back into Montana,” Buchanan said.

Shinn had conducted a program review at the Missoula flagship in 2025, and on a campus visit last week, he said he learned about UM and appreciates its sense of community.

Shinn competed in a pool of more than 70 applicants in the expedited search. At its meeting Tuesday, the Board approved an annual salary of $467,197 and deferred compensation of $76,875.

Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian said the search yielded an exceptional caliber of candidates, and Shinn “consistently rose to the top.”

“He … demonstrates a clear and consistent commitment to student success,” Christian said.

Christian announced the short timeframe for the search after former UM President Seth Bodnar resigned in January and later filed to run for the U.S. Senate as an independent.

Tuesday, Buchanan reiterated the intention of the Montana University System leadership to move quickly in appointing a president.

“U of M is growing and on a strong strategic course for success, and we did not want any vacancy in leadership to disrupt that momentum,” Buchanan said.

Christian said Shinn received unanimous support from shared governance leaders on the presidential search advisory group.

Shinn was the only finalist candidate Christian and the search team brought to campus for a final vetting.

In a press conference last week, Christian said the hiring landscape for university presidents has changed, finalists are helping shape it, and they don’t want a process that’s too drawn out.

As such, Christian said finalists would be presented “one at a time.”

At the meeting Tuesday, Christian said the team’s evaluation of applicants was rigorous and comprehensive, which underscored his recommendation to appoint Shinn.

“I believe he understands the value, culture and trajectory of this institution,” Christian said.

Regent Carter Jasper, a UM student, said he talked with Shinn a couple of times and “each conversation was more remarkable than the last.”

“Dr. Shinn is an excellent candidate and will be an excellent leader for the University of Montana,” Jasper said.