Museum of the Rockies director to step down in Bozeman

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State University (MSU) announced that Museum of the Rockies Executive Director Christopher Dobbs will leave June 30 after nearly eight years to lead a history museum in upstate New York.

Dobbs has led the Bozeman museum since 2018 and oversaw growth in attendance, programming and facility upgrades. MSU said the annual visitation and program participation rose to more than 250,000 from 189,000 during his tenure.

“It has been an incredible privilege to serve Museum of the Rockies,” Dobbs said. “Together, we expanded research initiatives, strengthened and grew the collections, developed groundbreaking exhibitions and educational programs and deepened the museum’s connection to our community. I am deeply proud of what our team has accomplished and confident the museum is exceptionally well positioned for the future.”

According to MSU, the museum also moved through the COVID-19 pandemic while staying financially stable and keeping public engagement going under Dobbs’ leadership. The university said the museum launched a 20-year master plan, earned reaccreditation through the American Alliance of Museums and invested in visitor spaces.

Those projects included updates to galleries, the lobby and the Taylor Planetarium, along with improvements to paleontology labs, an exhibits endowment and a new café.

“Chris and the MOR team have demonstrated exceptional leadership and fiscal stewardship during a time when many museums across the country faced significant operational and financial challenges,” Stephanie Dickson, chair of the MOR Board of Trustees, said. “Because of that leadership, the museum has been able to reinvest in facilities, expand staffing, strengthen programming and continue growing its impact across the region.”

Scott Williams will serve as the interim executive director while the museum committee conducts a national search for the next permanent leader. Williams has been with the museum since 2017 and serves as senior director of exhibitions and planetarium, MSU said.

“I want to thank Scott for his willingness to serve in this interim role,” MSU President Brock Tessman said. “I know he’ll do an outstanding job and keep the momentum going for the museum.”

Williams said he was ready to keep that work going at the Bozeman museum.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and honored to serve in this role. I look forward to continuing the work that Museum of the Rockies does to bring the history and paleontology of our region alive for our visitors,” Williams said.