UPDATED: Jeremiah Shinn named University of Montana president

The Montana Board of Regents voted unanimously Tuesday morning to approve the contract for finalist candidate Jeremiah Shinn to be the University of Montana’s next president.

Shinn, current interim President of Boise State University, will start at UM on July 1, according to a UM press release. 

“I am honored to be named the 20th president of the University of Montana and eager to get started,” Shinn in the release. “I am inspired by the remarkable students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who make UM so special, and I look forward to joining this extraordinary team to build on its strong foundation and shape a bright future together.”

Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian and the presidential search advisory work group did an expedited search with a third party contractor to find the replacement for former President Seth Bodnar.

Bodnar announced in January he would be stepping down as president of UM amid rumors he was planning to run for U.S. Senate. In March, Bodnar filed as an independent in the race.

Board Chair Todd Buchanan said on Tuesday UM is growing and on a course for success, “and we did not want any vacancy in leadership to disrupt that momentum.”

“This board is so confident about the student successes being presented at the University of Montana, we felt like we needed to strike fast and are excited about this process,” Buchanan said.

More than 70 candidates applied and six were interviewed for the position, but Shinn was the only finalist announced.

In a letter last week announcing the advisory group’s unanimous support for Shinn, Christian said the high number of university presidential searches going on in neighboring states was a factor in why they expedited a process which typically could go on eight months to a year.

Christian told the board Tuesday morning the level of interest and the quality of applicants “spoke not only to the strength of the process, but to the reputation and the momentum point of the University of Montana.”

“As we evaluated candidates, Dr. Shinn consistently rose to the top,” he said. “He aligns closely with the qualities that we identified through that process, brings a depth of academic and administrative experience and demonstrates a clear and consistent commitment to student success.”

Shinn visited campus last week and conducted an open forum with the community and took questions from students.

Regent Carter Jasper said he spoke with Shinn a few times last week “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.

According to the agenda posted on Friday for the special meeting, Shinn would receive an annual salary of more than $467,000 for a three-year contract including a university-owned residence, as well as a monthly car and phone allowance.

This would mark a nearly $11,400 increase from former UM President Bodnar’s salary posted by the Regents in May 2025, with an annual deferred compensation of nearly $77,000.

The increased salary reflects the 2.5% raise for contracted university employees approved by the 2025 Legislature through House Bill 13. Had Bodnar stayed in the position he would have also received this raise, according to Galen Hollenbaugh, spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

The process involved hiring AGB Search, which is affiliated with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.

The contract with AGB Search was $60,000, according to Hollenbaugh. The previous contract with AGB Search during UM's 2017 presidential search was $72,500, Hollenbaugh said.

The contract also allows Shinn to move into the President’s House, which has been on the market, but would be taken off for Shinn and his family to occupy, Hollenbaugh said.

The housing is offered “pursuant to Board of Regents policy with the expectation that a reasonable number of university-related events and university business shall be conducted there,” the outline of the contract reads.

Buchanan said the Board of Regents looks forward to welcoming Shinn “soon,” adding he’s enthusiastic about UM’s next chapter.

“We're very excited about welcoming Dr. Shinn and his wife back into Montana and get to work with him and his team as we collectively foster continued excellence in the MUS as he promotes U of M's culture and vision and steers the institution to even higher levels of distinction,” Buchanan said.