The University of Montana Western has named Matt Raffety as its Chief of Staff and Director of Communications, effective beginning October 6, 2026. The combined role will support the Chancellor’s Office and oversee accreditation, institutional research, marketing, and communications, while leading the establishment and ongoing coordination of the university’s first Staff Senate.
The University of Montana Western invites all community members to attend the Chancellor’s Convocation on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The event is an opportunity to gather in celebration of Montana Western’s past, present, and future, the leadership of Montana Western’s 24th Chancellor, Dr. Estee Aiken, and the recently completed renovation of Block Hall.
The University of Montana Western has named Roxanne Engellant as Interim Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance and Stacie Watkins as Interim Executive Director of the Montana Western Foundation beginning October 19, 2026.
Montana Western Athletics, in collaboration with the UMW Foundation and Alumni Office, is excited to announce the 2026 Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring A.J. Wilson, Ben Snipes, Brandon Brown, Josh Shrum, Kevin Engellant, Glen Johnson, and the 2001–02 and 2002–03 Montana Western Women’s Basketball Teams.
The University of Montana Western is proud to announce that Professor Emeritus O. Alan Weltzien has received the Heritage Keeper Award from the Montana Historical Society.
The University of Montana Western is pleased to welcome alumnus Dr. Dilan Starkel as the guest speaker for the 2026 Legacy Plaza Celebration, held in conjunction with Convocation on Thursday, August 13. The annual celebration welcomes Montana Western's newest students while recognizing the beginning of their journey as Bulldogs.
In Professor Bill Janus’s general education course on artificial intelligence, students investigate AI from five broad perspectives: its place in the history of machines and technology; its philosophical implications; its impact on society; its influence on higher education; and its representation in popular culture.
What began as a class assignment during her freshman year has grown into published scientific research for University of Montana Western student Neleh Bergstrom. Bergstrom, a biology major on the pre-med track, recently co-authored a peer-reviewed research paper in “Plant Signaling & Behavior” with Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Paul Helfrich. Their study examines how electrical signals move through the Venus flytrap, offering new insight into one of the plant's most fascinating characteristics.
The University of Montana Western is excited to welcome new students to campus during New Student Orientation, taking place Thursday, August 13, through Sunday, August 16.
The University of Montana Western and the Women's Resource Center (WRC) are partnering to present "After the Quiet", a community monologue production that explores life after leaving domestic violence. As part of the project, survivors are invited to anonymously share their experiences to help shape the performance.
The University of Montana Western is proud to celebrate a new publication from geology professor Robert C. Thomas. His book, "Montana Rocks! A Guide to Geological Sites Under the Big Sky", sets out to walk readers through Montana’s geologic past by way of 60 standout locations across the state.
The University of Montana Western is proud to announce the creation of the Land, Water and Sky (LWS) Center, a new interdisciplinary hub for experiential education, undergraduate research, and community-based natural resource stewardship.
The University of Montana Western Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Cheeki Skrub Scholarship by Isaiah Powell, Class of 2026.
The University of Montana Western will celebrate its 129th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Bulldog Stadium on the UMW campus.
The University of Montana Western’s P.A.T.H. (Peers Advocating Towards Health) and the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) invite the campus and local communities to participate in Walk a Mile in Her Shoes on Thursday, April 30, at 3:30 p.m. at the Roe House on the UMW campus.
The University of Montana Western has established the KG Environmental Sustainability Action Scholarship in memory of Kimberly “KG” Giannone, honoring her commitment to environmental action, hard work, and science communication.
The University of Montana Western is proud to announce the hiring of Jason Ferris as its next Director of Athletics & Development Officer.
The University of Montana Western will honor two outstanding community members, Sandi Sloan and Charlene Loge, along with several students during the 2026 Dr. Jane Helm Maddock Service Awards on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
University of Montana Western alumna Brigid Reedy, an interdisciplinary artist whose work bridges poetry, music, horsemanship, and visual art, has announced the release of “Seeds,” her first book of original poetry and artwork.
The University of Montana Western, in partnership with the International Block and Intensive Learning and Teaching Association (IBILTA), is pleased to invite attendees and presenters from around the world to the IBILTA 2026 International Conference, a fully virtual event bringing together educators, researchers, and practitioners to explore innovative approaches to learning and teaching. The conference will take place September 29–30, 2026.
University of Montana Western professor Dr. Spruce Schoenemann has led a team of researchers that has uncovered new details about one of the most abrupt climate events of the last 12,000 years. The study, recently published in "Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology", focuses on the 8.2 ka Event, a sudden cooling that occurred roughly 8,200 years ago during the final stages of the last major ice age.
The University of Montana Western Fine Arts Gallery is honored to present “Forget Me Not,” a film installation by Montana-based artist and educator Cindy Stillwell. A professor of film at Montana State University whose work has screened internationally, including at Sundance and the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Stillwell is known for her richly textured films created using 16mm and Super 8 formats. The exhibition will open on Friday, February 27 and will feature an opening reception from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Gallery located in Main Hall.
The University of Montana Western is proud to announce Heather Hoyer, Board of Regents Member and Superintendent of Great Falls Public Schools, as the Commencement speaker for its 129th Annual Commencement Ceremony to be held Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Bulldog Stadium.
The University of Montana Western Education Department and Alumni Office, in partnership with Stockman Bank, are proud to present the 13th Annual Night of Stars Education Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The University of Montana Western Foundation is excited to announce that Dr. John Micha, and his wife, Vicki, have transferred ownership of the historic Andrus Hotel to the Foundation.
