Montana Board of Regents unanimously approves Shinn as UM President

The Montana University System Board of Regents convened for a brief session this morning to formally approve Boise State interim president Dr. Jeremiah Shinn as the University of Montana’s new president.

“We approached this search with a clear commitment to a thoughtful, thorough and nationally competitive process,” said Clayton Christian, Montana’s commissioner of higher education at the meeting.

“As we evaluated candidates, Dr. Shinn consistently rose to the top. I believe he understands and reflects the value, culture and trajectory of this institution.”

The unanimous vote from the regents comes on the heels of an endorsement of Shinn from the presidential search advisory group, which was formed as a result of former UM president Seth Bodnar stepping down in January to run for the U.S. Senate.

Shinn brings extensive experience in higher education administration to Missoula as well as experience in the Mountain States from his almost 13 years at Boise State. Prior to his interim presidential appointment, he had served as vice president of student affairs in Boise as well as at Louisiana State University before that, according to his LinkedIn.

Christian said that Shinn had been selected from a pool of more than 70 candidates in an expedited national search. Christian had previously said that the process of homing in on Shinn was conducted quickly due to the number of open university president jobs at flagship schools in neighboring states.

Other regents were effusive in their praises of the president-to-be.

“I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Shinn a couple of times and each conversation was more remarkable than the last,” said Carter Jasper, the student representative on the board. “[He] will be an excellent leader for the University of Montana.”

Shinn will be paid an annual salary of $467,197 with a deferred compensation of $76,875. Bodnar made $455,802 in 2025, though the 2.5 percent annual raise approved by the Montana legislature in last year’s House Bill 13 would have paid him the same as Shinn in 2026.

Shinn will take over on July 1, with Christian handling presidential duties until then.