2016-2017 Montana State University Graduate School Annual Report by Montana State University

Montana State University Graduate School Annual Report Academic Year 2016-2017

Creating Knowledge, Elevating Discovery, Striving for Innovation

2Contents

3 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 18 21 22 24 25 26 27

About The Graduate School

Greetings from the Dean Each year, The Graduate School’s annual report offers the chance to reflect on graduate education accomplishments for the past academic year. This year, the reflection is more poignant as Montana State University moves towards a landmark in its history, its 125th anniversary.

Graduate Education in the News Graduate School News

Students who earned graduate degrees in the early years at MSU, would, today, find an unrecognizable university and world. The classroom, the technologies, and disciplines that were unfathomable decades ago are a reality and they have changed the way we live. New discoveries are emerging every day, but for these discoveries to be impactful, it is necessary to improve upon and teach these discoveries to others. This is where graduate education is most invaluable, as the incubator to advance or create new fields of study.

Administration Comings & Goings Commitment to Research

Student Commitment to Excellence

At The Graduate School, we work to keep pace by pioneering new approaches, developing state-of-the-art technologies, and creating unique educational experiences. Regardless of ongoing changes in the world and the challenges in attaining these lofty goals, the quality of the graduate experience—creating knowledge, elevating discovery, and striving for innovation—remains foremost in our strategic thinking.

Commitment to Native Student Success Catching Up with Alumni Faculty Commitment to Excellence The Graduate Student Network Philanthropic Commitment Fall 2016 Enrollment Degrees Awarded 2016-2017 Academic Year The Graduate School “By the Numbers” Montana Hall Lore

Dr. Karlene A. Hoo

As The Graduate School evolves, we do so with purpose and intention guided by MSU’s strategic plan. For example, we have more women, under-represented minorities, and international students pursuing advanced degrees at MSU. Thus, the graduate education experience becomes enriched and the cultural competence of everyone on campus is increased. In this annual report, we profile a variety of individuals whose dedication and hard work have allowed us to make important progress towards achieving these goals. You will hear from a sampling of our diverse graduate student body, faculty members who are leaders in their fields; and alumni, donors, and staff who share their time, resources, and knowledge to help graduate students succeed. While these individuals come from a variety of disciplines and possess distinctive talents they share one key purpose, their commitment to graduate education excellence. While I can’t predict what graduate education at Montana State University might look like 125 years from now, I know it will evolve in ways that are undreamt of today. Our extraordinary team of students, faculty, staff, and friends will assure graduate education at MSU continues to advance knowledge and enable innovation placing graduate students at the frontier of discovery and unimagined possibilities. Sincerely,

Karlene A. Hoo, Ph.D. Dean, The Graduate School P.S. Montana State University will honor its 125th anniversary on February 16, 2018, highlighted by several signature events on the Bozeman campus. Visit www.montana.edu/125/ for details. I invite you to join us!

About The Graduate School Vision: The Graduate School strives to foster an environment that produces outstanding graduate scholars who contribute new ideas and knowledge using creative and innovative approaches to solve challenges in an evolving world. Mission: The Graduate School enriches the graduate student experience by providing excellent service, timely oversight, and relentless advocacy for student success.

Graduate School at a Glance

Montana State Quick Facts

☛☛ Montana State awarded its first master’s degree in 1902 and its first doctoral degree in 1956.

☛☛ Founded: 1893

☛☛ The Graduate School staff is comprised of the Dean and ten professional staff members. ☛☛ Montana State’s Graduate School is a member of the Western Association of Graduate Schools.

Graduate School Staff Dr. Karlene A. Hoo, Dean Office of Fiscal Management Kathy Marcinko Office of Admissions Krista Baziak Melis Edwards Amber Fischer Office of Student Services Donna Negaard

Office of Degree Programs & Certificates Amanda Brown Lauren Cerretti Office of Analytics & Systems Management Laura Collins Megan Maier Ann Vinciguerra

University Graduate Council The Graduate School relies on the recommendations about graduate education policies from University Graduate Council (UGC). UGC membership consists of representatives from each academic college, faculty senate, and the graduate student body. UGC’s primary purpose is to advocate for graduate education as an essential component of MSU’s mission.

☛☛ Accreditation: Regional accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities ☛☛ Affiliation: Public unit of the Montana University System; Montana’s Land-Grant University

☛☛ Fiscal Year 2017 Research Expenditures: Over $130 million ☛☛ Carnegie Classification: R2: Doctoral Universities— Higher Research Activity ☛☛ Fall 2016 Enrollment: 16,440 students total including 2,040 graduate students

4“I believe that all graduate students should commit part of their time to improving the community at Montana State, whether that’s focusing on efforts within your department or serving on a committee. Strong communities don’t just appear. They require strategy and input from all of us.”

Ten Minutes with Kristin K. Smith Ph.D. Student, Earth Sciences University Graduate Council Student Representative Kristin Smith wanted to attend graduate school to further develop her research skills and build expertise in rural development. She chose MSU’s Ph.D. program in earth sciences to become part of Dr. Julia Haggerty’s Resources and Communities Research Group. Kristin studies how communities in northeastern Montana and northwestern North Dakota have responded to impacts from energy development, and how municipal decision-making impacts long-term community and economic resilience. Despite the demands of her research, Kristin has found time to engage with several groups across campus including the University Graduate Council (UGC). She believes strongly that volunteering helps build a thriving MSU community and encourages other graduate students to become involved.

In Her Own Words What inspired you to serve on University Graduate Council? I wanted to learn more about MSU’s operations and decision-making processes. After I graduate, I want to work in higher education. Prior to serving on UGC, I did not have a good understanding of the administrative side of being a faculty member. UGC helped to deepen my knowledge of how a research university operates, from the day-to-day operations to more long-term strategic planning. Why should other graduate students become involved with UGC? Serving on UGC is both a professional development opportunity for students and a way to make your opinions heard on campus. As students, we often hear about decisions from the administration, but we may or may not understand why they were made. Serving on UGC is a way to understand the context, thought process, and official procedures that go into decisions. Serving on the UGC allows you to voice student concerns while also empowering you to serve as an important conduit between UGC and the graduate student body thus increasing transparency. What is your advice to future graduate students? Be an active member of our MSU community. Volunteer. Serve on committees. Organize a ski day for your department. It’s easy to overlook the networking and professional development opportunities that arise outside of your lab or research site, so seek them out. My graduate experience has been deeply enriched by my participation in groups like the Earth Sciences Student Colloquium, the Graduate Women in Sciences & Engineering Network, and UGC.

Graduate Education in the News MSU Program to Recruit, Educate American Indian School Leaders Receives $1.3 Million

New Space at Bozeman hospital Provides Growing Room for MSU’s WWAMI Medical Education Program

Excerpted from the MSU News Service

A Montana State University program that recruits, educates, and inducts American Indian educators into school leadership positions in Montana and neighboring states has received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

A new facility at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital is providing much-needed growing room for the WWAMI Medical Education Program. WWAMI is a cooperative medical education program that allows students from Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho to pay in-state tuition while earning medical degrees from University of Washington’s top-ranking School of Medicine. Before completing their degrees with training at UW’s Seattle campus, Montana students spend 18 months receiving instruction from MSU professors as well as physicians at Bozeman Health.

The Indian Leadership Education and Development Project, or I LEAD, a collaboration between MSU and Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency. The grant marks the fourth time that I LEAD has received funding from that agency since the program began in 2006. The four-year grant will allow I LEAD to achieve the goal of placing 25 American Indian educators in leadership positions in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, according to Dr. William Ruff, associate professor of educational leadership in MSU’s College of Education, Health and Human Development and the I LEAD Project’s administrator. “The vision is to continue to build the capacity of schools serving American Indian communities,” Ruff said. According to Ruff, in 2006 only around a dozen American Indians were licensed as Montana school administrators; and schools serving American Indian communities tended to be rural, underserved and have a high rate of administrative turnover. Today, more than 100 American Indian educators are licensed as school administrators in Montana, and about 90 percent of these administrators are I LEAD graduates that serve in key leadership positions.

Two large classrooms, several offices and other facilities in the Highland Park 5 Medical Office Building will be the new home of the program. The new facility roughly doubles the space available to Montana WWAMI students and faculty. Investments made by MSU and generous donors have made possible the $2.1 million interior buildout of the space, according to MSU WWAMI Director Martin Teintze. “This expansion demonstrates Montana State University’s continued commitment to medical education that stretches back to WWAMI’s beginnings in Montana,” said Bob Mokwa, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “We are proud to be partners with WWAMI and Bozeman Health in advancing this important program for Montana.”

Graduate School News

The Graduate School expanded its social media footprint in 2017 by adding a Twitter profile (@MSU_Grad_ School). You can find us there as well as on Facebook (#MontanaStateGradSchool). Follow all of the news about students, alumni, faculty, and staff, and share news of your own!

Megan Maier joined The Graduate School Graduate School Dean Karlene Hoo staff as its new Formatting Advisor. co-chaired the "Graduate Student Megan comes to MSU from Portland, OR, Admissions and Degree Completion where she worked in the legal field. Her Task Force." MSU President Waded background in writing and her experience Cruzado created the task force in an in academia motivates Megan to provide effort to meet strategic plan goals in students with comprehensive guidance as learning and discovery, and to help they format their theses and dissertations. MSU become a stronger research Megan has BA and MA degrees in Classics university. The group made 28 and is in the process of completing her law degree. recommendations in four areas: recruitment, admissions, retention and Kathy Marcinko joined The Graduate completion, and community School as the Fiscal Manager and building. Their recommendations resulted in additional Assistant to the Dean. She is a MSU funding for graduate student stipends, signing bonuses for new alumna with a B.S. in math and a minor students, and continued funding for the annual graduate student in physics. Kathy spent the previous seven recruitment weekend. years working for the Vice President of Research and Economic Development, most recently as the Budget/Fiscal and Leased Properties Manager. Kathy is enjoying learning the graduate education aspect of MSU, especially working with students. Graduate School staff member Ann Vinciguerra participated in Leadership MSU, a nine-month program focused on building knowledge about the university, networking with campus leaders, gaining a better understanding of how units work together, and developing leadership skills. “Leadership MSU was a meaningful and rewarding experience,” she stated. “The chance to network with faculty and staff across campus and grow professionally will help me in my daily work at The Graduate School.”

Ann Vinciguerra (center) with MSU President Waded Cruzado and Vice President, Administration & Finance, Terry Leist.

Administration Comings & Goings (Excerpted and modified from MSU News Service) Mokwa Named MSU’s Next Provost Robert “Bob” Mokwa has been named Montana State University’s new executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, MSU officials announced. In his role, Mokwa serves as the second-highest ranking administrator at the university after President Waded Cruzado. He will oversee MSU’s 10 college and school deans, the university’s academic programs, faculty hiring and development, numerous centers and institutes, the WWAMI Medical Education Program and the university’s on-line course offerings through Extended University.

Wichita State Administrator Selected as Dean of MSU’s College of Arts and Architecture Royce Smith, a contemporary art historian, curator and critic who is the director of the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries at Wichita State University, has been selected as dean of the Montana State University College of Arts and Architecture. An award-winning professor and self-described creative thinker, Smith has innovated international service learning experiences for his students and has curated exhibitions in Paraguay, Cuba, Brazil, and Australia. He is a recipient of the 2015 Wichita State University President’s Innovation Award. Smith said he has emphasized providing unique applied learning opportunities for Wichita State students and implementing an immersive curriculum that prioritizes travel and cultural discovery. Such approaches, Smith said, give students the chance to work collaboratively with their professors in new contexts, as well as to incorporate cultural diversity and sensitivity into their creative processes.

Longtime Faculty Member Named Dean of MSU’s College of Education, Health and Human Development A longtime faculty member in the Montana State University Department of Health and Human Development has been selected as dean of the MSU College of Education, Health and Human Development. Alison Harmon, a professor of food and nutrition and sustainable food systems who also has been serving as interim dean of the college since July 1, 2015, was named dean after a national search. Provost Robert Mokwa said Harmon is a “shining star” who has a high level of support from faculty, staff and students in the college, as well as from the wider university community.

MSU Extension Director Announces Retirement Jeff Bader, director of Montana State University Extension, has announced his retirement. With Extension offices serving all 56 Montana counties, Bader became one of MSU’s most well-known administrators. During his time at MSU, Bader solidified funding for MSU Extension’s Local Government Center, led MSU Extension to use its statewide reach to help lessen the incidence of suicide by partnering with MSU’s Center for Mental Health Research and Recovery, oversaw the successful implementation of the MSU Extension Climate Science Team, and took on regional and national Extension leadership roles including: chair of the Western Extension Directors Association and chair of the National 4-H Congress board of directors. Photos (top to bottom): Bob Mokwa, Royce Smith, Alison Harmon, Jeff Bader.

Commitment to Research Western Transportation Institute

Ben Triano and Nolan Platt collect survey and hydrology data for a fish passage study on the Big Hole River in Montana.

The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) at Montana State University is the largest university-based transportation research center focused on rural transportation. WTI’s research encompasses a broad range of topics including safety, infrastructure design and construction, road ecology, public transportation, winter maintenance, deployment of advanced technologies, and systems integration. In partnership with the College of Engineering, as well as numerous departments on campus, WTI leads unique, multi-disciplinary research projects with an emphasis on advancing effective and implementable solutions to current transportation challenges. WTI provides graduate students opportunities to gain handson experience assisting with research projects in campus

facilities, in laboratories, and in the field. From 2014 -2017, twenty-six graduate students assisted with WTI projects. In addition, students develop valuable professional skills by preparing research papers, attending conferences, and making presentations. Some WTI students have gone on to careers in public transportation agencies and private industry, while others have earned fellowships for advanced graduate studies and pursued teaching and research careers. Recent accomplishments by graduate students include: Samantha Becker (Research Advisor Eric Austin) completed a master’s in public administration in spring 2016. Through her work with WTI’s Small Urban and Rural Livability Center, she had the opportunity to conduct research on “Complete Streets,” a planning approach designed to enhance safety for all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders. WTI provided guidance and mentored her “Complete Streets” research, which she incorporated into her master’s thesis work. Samantha conducted a qualitative study to better understand what factors lead to the successful implementation of a “Complete Streets” approach in three different communities. Sam Micka (Research Advisor Brendan Mumey), Ph.D. student in computer science, received one of the top student presentation awards at the 2016 international Highway Engineering Exchange Program (HEEP) conference. HEEP is an international organization that promotes advances in transportation engineering through the exchange of knowledge and information technology. Sam received the second-place award for his presentation on “Efficient Monitor Placement for Multipath Traffic Flows.” The MSU Ecohydraulics Research Group is a multi-disciplinary partnership, which includes researchers from WTI, the College of Engineering, the Department of Ecology, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The research team conducts studies at MSU, at the Bozeman Fish Technology Center, and in the field, exploring factors that prevent, limit, and allow successful fish passage for various species. Nolan Platt (Research Advisor Katey Plymesser), a master’s student in civil engineering, and Ben

9 Triano (Research Advisor Tom McMahon), a master’s student in ecology, are assisting with a fish passage study on the Big Hole River in Montana to inform and improve conservation efforts for the Arctic Grayling.

Montana Research & Economic Development Initiative Montana Research & Economic Development Initiative (MREDI) aims to solve Montana problems with Montana solutions, create private-sector jobs, and grow emerging and important research sectors that contribute to the diversity of Montana’s economy. Through this program, The Montana University System received an appropriation of $15 million in state funds from the Montana Legislature to serve as seed money to leverage university-based research into strategic advancements for Montana’s economy. Montana State University researchers competed for MREDI funding on the merits of their research productivity and potential to move Montana’s economy forward and provide jobs. To date, MSU has received over $8 million in research support for the following projects: Youth Aware of Mental Health: Dr. Matthew Byerly, Director, Center for Mental Health Research & Recovery. Youth Aware of Mental Health is a youth suicide prevention intervention program designed to enhance mental health resiliency in youth will be provided in schools across Montana. The program teaches both mental health awareness and risk factors that are associated with suicide, as well as a set of skills for dealing with adverse life events. Increasing Profitability by Improving Efficiency of Montana’s Farm & Ranch Lands: Dr. Barry Jacobsen, professor, plant sciences & plant pathology. Agricultural research into using pulse crops and cover crop mixes to replace fallow acres in rotation with wheat. Other aspects of the grant include developing and using new computational tools, ground and space-based sensors to develop field-specific precision

Dr. Joseph Shaw

agriculture prescriptions for fertility, and pest control to improve durum wheat productivity. Optics & Photonics Research for Montana Economic Development: Dr. Joseph Shaw, Director, Optical Technology Center. Optics and photonics research for compact optical sensors that could be used in everything from precision agriculture to advanced imaging for detecting skin cancer. Enhancing Montana’s Energy Resources: Research in Support of the State of Montana Energy Policy Goals: Dr. Lee Spangler, Director, Energy Research Institute. Research focusing on overcoming regulatory and environmental hurdles to access Montana’s oil and coal reserves. Reducing the Impacts of Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases on Animal and Human Health: Drs. Jovanka Voyich, Mark Jutila & Mark Quinn, faculty members, department of microbiology & immunology. Funding supports studies to understand regulation of immune responses during inflammation and to discover and improve existing therapies to reduce antibiotic use.

“The MREDI funding provided a fabulous opportunity for graduate students and faculty to work in the gap that almost always exists between research and commercialization. This was an extremely valuable opportunity for students to work on projects addressing current challenges right here at home in Montana, aiming for commercialization in local companies.“ ~ Dr. Joseph Shaw

Student Commitment to Excellence Graduate Students Awarded Prestigious Fellowships The following graduate students received funding from the National Science Foundation:

Other graduate students receiving important funding include:

Jacob Gardner (Research Advisor David Varricchio), Ph.D. student in earth sciences, received an NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes fellowship to research the evolution of dinosaur locomotion and paleogenomics in Beijing, China.

Elizabeth Corbin (Research Advisor Edward Dratz), Ph.D. student in chemistry and biochemistry, received a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship to support her research on fatty acid supplementation of stem cells.

Casey Kennedy (Research Advisor Erik Grumstrup), Ph.D. student in chemistry and biochemistry, received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to investigate solar cell materials.

Michael Coryell (Research Advisor Seth Walk), Ph.D. student in microbiology and immunology, received a Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual Predoctoral National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health.

Catherine Kirkland (Research Advisor Sarah Codd), Ph.D. student in environmental engineering and current NSF Graduate Research Fellow, received funding through NSF’s Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide program to study granular sludge technology at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.

“Exposure to both world-renowned research labs and industry contacts is invaluable as I now continue to work on my research here at MSU in the Center for Biofilm Engineering and Magnetic Resonance lab in the College of Engineering.” ~ Catherine Kirkland

Isaac Miller (Research Advisor Matthew Fields), Ph.D. student in molecular bioscience program, received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to investigate the bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that live inside the gastrointestinal tracts of fish. Matthew Weingart (Research Advisor David McWethy), master’s student in earth sciences, received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to study the ecological past of Montana’s Flathead Reservation. Matt also is a Sloan Indigenous Graduate Program (SIGP) scholar.

Maureen Kessler (Research Advisor Raina Plowright), Ph.D. student in ecology, was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study giant fruit bats in Australia to better understand how pandemic diseases begin and spread. Sarah Mailhiot (Research Advisor Ron June), Ph.D. candidate in the mechanical and industrial engineering, was one of 11 students nation-wide to be named a Whitaker Scholar. The award will fund a year-long stay in Sweden, where she will continue her research on new applications of magnetic resonance imaging. Emery Three Irons (Research Advisor Scott Powell), master’s student in land resources and environmental sciences, received a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences fellowship to support his research examining water quality on Montana’s Crow Reservation. Emery also is a Sloan Indigenous Graduate Program (SIGP) scholar.

11 Graduate Student Summit & Research Rendezvous The Graduate Student Summit and Research Rendezvous took place on September 14 and 15. The focus of the event was to provide students with professional development training to complement their graduate education and research experience. The Summit drew over 120 graduate students and featured panels and workshops on fellowships, career development, and more. Panelists and workshop leaders represented a variety of academic disciplines and work sectors. Twenty-six faculty, staff, and community members participated as workshop presenters and six graduate students participated as panelists. The Research Rendezvous is a poster session and competition featuring the research of graduate students from all academic colleges. The event drew 34 graduate students and provided a fantastic opportunity for them to grow professionally and for the public to learn about the innovative research being conducted at MSU. Twenty-one faculty, staff, and community members participated as Research Rendezvous judges.

Research Rendezvous Winners Architecture, Arts, & Humanities First place: Nancy Mahoney (American Studies); Research Advisor: Michael Neeley Second place: Sarah Coletta (American Studies); Research Advisor: Robert Rydell

“I sincerely thank The Graduate School for organizing the Graduate Student Research Rendezvous. This event provides a great opportunity to showcase our research as well as to learn different skills required during and after graduate school. It was a great pleasure to participate and to win first prize at the Rendezvous, which helped me attend a national conference that would not have been ~ Subodh Adhikari possible otherwise.”

Natural Sciences, Agriculture, Nursing, Health & Human Development First place: Subodh Adhikari (LRES); Research Advisor: Fabian Menalled Second place: Nar Ranabhat (LRES); Research Advisor: Fabian Menalled Social Science, Education & Business First place: Cassandra Balent (Political Science); Research Advisors: Jerry Johnson, Jordy Hendrikx, & Elizabeth Shanahan Second place: Julie Gameon (Psychology); Research Advisor: Monica Skewes Mathematics, Physical Sciences & Engineering First place: Amanda Byer (Chemistry & Biochemistry); Research Advisor: Joan Broderick Second place (Tie): Logan Battrell (Chemical & Biological Engineering); Research Advisor: Ryan Anderson & Drew Norton (Civil Engineering); Research Advisor: Adrienne Phillips

Career Pathways panelists discussed their career trajectory at the 2016 Graduate Student Summit. L-R: Caroline Byrd (Greater Yellowstone Coalition), Sarah Olson (Wildlife Conservation Society), Theo Lipfert (MSU faculty), John Sackler (National Park Service), Matt Caires (MSU Dean of Students), Roberta Amendola (MSU faculty), and Doug Craig (Consulting & Public Service). Missing: Brian Kassar (MSU psychologist).

12 “I was extremely fortunate to be chosen to be a Sloan Indigenous Graduate Program scholar. The program has helped guide my graduate studies in many ways. It has created a tremendous network of students and mentors. These networks extend not only between Sloan scholars and their mentors at MSU, but between scholars at our various sister institutions, including Montana Tech, the University of Montana, Purdue, and others. This network has become an awesome support system that encourages its fellows, motivates them, relates to them, and provides feedback on research as well as career development throughout their graduate career. I am excited to see these relationships continue to develop, and believe the program has a lot to offer incoming students.” ~ Dionne Zoanni

Commitment to Native Student Success In an effort to increase Native American participation in higher education, Montana State University is a partner institution in two programs focusing on increasing the number of Native American students earning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduate degrees. These programs have attracted an extraordinary group of Native American graduate students who are pursuing STEM degrees in areas close to the hearts of Indigenous peoples.

Montana University System Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership (SIGP) SIGP is a scholarship program supported by the A.P. Sloan Foundation. Since 2012 Native students in eligible STEM degree programs at MSU have benefited from these competitive scholarships to supplement their graduate research/teaching stipends with six students earning advanced degrees. The SIGP grant renewal this year was successful and the program will be funded from 2017 to 2020. Currently there are seven graduate students in the program working on either master’s or doctoral degrees, and an eighth student has been accepted to begin graduate studies in fall 2017. SIGP students with notable accomplishments during the 2016-2017 academic year include: Robert Dorsey (Research Advisor David Claudio), master’s student in industrial and management engineering, was the 2016-17 recipient of the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Native American Graduate Fellowship. Audrey Harvey (Research Advisor Jane Mangold), master’s student in Land Resources and Environmental Science (LRES), is the recipient of the 2016-2017 American Indian Graduate Center Fellowship. Additionally, she placed second in the 2017 LRES Graduate Student Research Colloquium oral presentation contest. Anita Moore-Nall (Research Advisor David Lageson), the first Sloan Scholar at Montana State to earn a Ph.D., graduated in May 2017 with a degree in earth sciences. Her dissertation was titled “Physical and chemical characterization of brecciation and uranium vanadium mineralization in the Madison Limestone and adjacent units, Big Pryor Mountain Mining District, Montana - Little Mountain Mining District, Wyoming.” Emery Three Irons (Research Advisor Scott Powell), master’s student in land resources and environmental sciences, received a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Fellowship to support his research examining water quality on Montana’s Crow Reservation. Matthew Weingart (Research Advisor David McWethy), master’s student in earth sciences, received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to study the ecological past of Montana’s Flathead Reservation.

13 Dionne Zoanni (Research Advisor Jamie McEvoy), master’s student in earth sciences, gave a research presentation, “Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Water Governance on Fort Peck Reservation, MT” at the 2017 American Association of Geographers Annual Conference in Boston. She was one of the presenters in a session on “Decolonizing Water: Indigenous Water Politics, Resource Extraction and Settler Colonialism.”

Pacific Northwest Circle of Success: Mentoring Opportunities in STEM (PNW-COSMOS) PNW-COSMOS is an alliance funded in 2014 by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate – Transformation (AGEP-T) program. The common goal of this alliance is to increase the number of American Indian/Native Alaskan students who complete STEM graduate programs. All SIGP students and their faculty mentors are invited to participate in PNW-COSMOS activities such as the Indigenous Knowledge Field Camp, a cultural immersion experience recognizing the intersections of Native traditional knowledge and Western science, hands-on workshops preparing students to apply for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (Robert Dorsey received an Honorable Mention and Matthew Weingart received a fellowship), and the Indigenous Mentoring Program with MSU co-PI and assistant professor of education, Sweeney Windchief to prepare STEM faculty to be more informed and effective mentors to Native graduate students. The NSF site visit for the AGEP grant took place the week of April 24 with the grant’s program officer and his team traveling from Washington D.C. to visit PNW-COSMOS Alliance institutions, assess progress on grant objectives, and provide feedback. At MSU, the NSF team had discussions with students, faculty, and members of the Institutional Steering Committee about how grant activities contribute to positive experiences and outcomes for Native students in STEM. Since 2014, the Alliance partners have organized events to enable participants to meet face-to-face. The culminating event of the PNW-COSMOS grant will be a Summit that will take place at MSU on Oct. 12–14. With a theme of “Research in Community,” the event will be an opportunity for PNW-COSMOS participants across the Alliance institutions to listen to student research presentations, attend workshops, hear from experts in indigenous knowledge, and network with one another. The Graduate School’s participation in SIGP and PNW-COSMOS helps to create a supportive community for students and their faculty mentors, and demonstrates a commitment to the academic and degree achievements of Native American students.

“Anita Moore-Nall was one of my undergraduate students when I first became an MSU faculty member in the early 1980s. She subsequently had a career as a consulting geologist while raising a family in Bozeman. I was delighted to welcome Anita back to MSU in 2010 when she entered graduate school. Anita overcame great odds as an older, female, Native American student to excel in a scientific discipline traditionally dominated by white Caucasian males. Her doctoral dissertation is a wonderful piece of work that furthers our knowledge about the geology of the Pryor Mountains of southern Montana. Anita is an incredible athlete and is highly respected by people both on and off campus. It was a great honor to mentor her throughout her academic journey.” ~ David R. Lageson, Professor, Earth Sciences

14 Five Minutes with a Recent Graduate Monica Whitaker M.S., Electrical Engineering, 2016

“I’ve been working for Hewlett Packard Enterprise since January 2017 and it has been an incredible experience. Coming into this job I felt more than prepared because of my internship experiences and because of my education from MSU, where I learned technical skills along with how to collaborate and function in a team environment. The career fairs at MSU enabled me to meet recruiters and build relationships that led to interviews and eventually job offers. I’m grateful for the support of my department, The Graduate School, and the university as I pursued my goals!”

Catching Up with Alumni Checking in with Tony Chang Ph.D., Ecology & Environmental Sciences, 2017 With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, a master’s in environmental science and policy, and work experience in ecological restoration, fire management, and field research, Tony Chang already possessed a strong skill-set. While he enjoyed his work, a growing desire to understand the ecological ramifications and scientific reasoning behind what he was doing motivated him to enroll in Montana State’s Ph.D. program in ecology and environmental science. In 2015, he received a NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship that allowed him to fund his research on the die-off of whitebark pine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Chang completed his degree in summer 2017. With a Ph.D. now on his list of credentials, Chang possesses a rare and exceptional combination of skills that helped him win a preeminent international fellowship for his post-doctoral work. Chang was one of five recipients of a 2017 David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship. The award will allow him to collaborate with researchers at Conservation Science Partners Inc., Colorado State University, and NASA where he will conduct an innovative research project on forest disturbances and how they affect water supplies across the West.

In His Own Words About His Fellowship I was awarded the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship, the premier international conservation biology postdoctoral fellowship that provides support for early-career scientists to expand their research skills and develop a better link between conservation science/theory and policy/management.

My time at MSU helped prepare me for this opportunity by providing me the network and resource pool of experts to explore my scientific interests to their fullest. Why graduate school? I never dreamed that I would attend graduate school when I was an undergraduate seeking an engineering degree. I did not believe I had the constitution to fully immerse myself in a singular research topic. However, after working various federal and non-federal positions in field ecological restoration, fire management, and field research I found myself unsatisfied with the how little control I had despite loving what I did. I constantly questioned the rationale for what I was doing and was never provided good scientific reasons. The defining moment was when I was working as a wildland firefighter. I witnessed an entire landscape being destroyed with little understanding of the ecological ramifications. It was an experience that left me knowing that if I wanted answers to my questions, I would have to find them myself. Graduate school was the answer. Montana State University was an obvious choice because not only does it have world class faculty, but also because it has everything for someone who is interested in spending time in the natural world. It’s important to live in a place that inspires you daily and helped remind me why I am interested in the field of ecology and conservation biology. If I knew then what I know now…advice to future graduate students: Focus. Think about a question that you really believe in and stay on track with that question. If there are recommendations from outside, ask yourself, does that answer my question? If not, think hard before diverging from your original inquiry.

Scannella Named John R. Horner Curator of Paleontology for Museum of the Rockies (Excerpted from the MSU News Service) The Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University announced that Dr. John Scannella (Ph.D., Earth Sciences, 2015) has been named the John R. Horner Curator of Paleontology. In his new role, Scannella will have responsibility for setting the paleontology department’s research agenda that includes conducting field research, curating the paleontology collection, developing exhibits and participating in education and outreach activities. His first original exhibition, Dinosaur Dynasties: The Evolution of Montana’s Dinosaurs, opened at the Mifune Dinosaur Museum in Kumamoto, Japan, in July, and he returned to his Triceratops research site in Makoshika State Park over the summer. “Montana State University is one of the best places in the world to study paleontology. I’m very excited to be the John R. Horner Curator of Paleontology at Museum of the Rockies and look forward to applying all that I’ve learned during my time as a graduate student at MSU to making new discoveries about dinosaurs and sharing this information with the world.”

16 Getting to Know Nicholas Hether Ph.D., Biochemistry, 1983 While bricks and mortar are an important part of any college campus, MSU alumnus Nicholas “Nick” Hether, believes “the really hard part is creating the opportunity to develop our human capital.” This belief has inspired he and his wife Carol Belohlavek to establish the Carol Belohlavek and Nicholas Hether Fellowship in a bequest from their estate. These five, five-year graduate fellowships are a chance to offer promising students “assistance in life’s adventure” while giving back to a university that gave them the foundation on which to build good lives and successful careers.

Nick Hether in 1984 (above) and 2016.

After Nick retired as Director of Product Safety at the Gerber Products Company, he and Carol returned to Bozeman where, despite an active life traveling and enjoying the outdoors, he dedicates time to participate in Graduate School activities including serving on the career pathways panelist at Graduate Student Summit, serving as a judge at the Research Rendezvous, and presenting a business communications workshop. “That is how the human chain of opportunity and education works,” he said. “Help from one person to the next down the years.” With pragmatism and candor, Nick shared with us his thoughts on surviving graduate school, finding career success, and the importance of giving back.

In His Own Words Why did you want to attend graduate school? I wanted to attend graduate school because I wished to improve myself and increase the probability of better economic returns through life. I cannot say

biochemistry was “my passion.” It was, and remains, intensely interesting, but my true reason for pursuing it was much more calculated than simply following a passion. I seriously considered medical school, but having already had a 15-year career in an ancillary medical profession I realized I did not like sick people and concluded such feelings would not contribute to a successful medical career. Thus, biochemistry. What is a fond memory of your days as a graduate student? How did your graduate degree prepare you for your career? I recall the wonderful feeling I had when I realized I could manipulate and characterize amazingly complex molecules that I couldn’t even see and of which I had only a few milligrams of relatively pure material. I still regard it as almost witchcraft. Graduate school helped develop my skill at analytical thinking which was probably the key tool I needed for a successful career since my career diverged remarkably away from biochemistry. Graduate school taught me that I could assimilate large amounts of technical material fairly rapidly. It also prepared me to integrate information from diverse fields which was critical to my later success in industry. If I knew then what I know now…advice to future graduate students. Graduate students should know that the possibility exists they may be afflicted by what used to be called “Graduate Student Syndrome.” This is depression, anxiety etc. about ever being able to get the thing done. Talk to people, seek some counseling, and you will get past it. Read widely and deeply outside your professional discipline and on matters with which you may disagree. Read a good newspaper at least once a

17 MSU Alumna Wins Postdoctoral Fellowship to Further Gravitational Wave Research week. Travel as widely as you can. These things will expand your world and broaden your experience. Have a life while in graduate school. Although I often lived in the lab, my days on the river and the days I spent high above tree line gave time for reflection and decompression. I was pretty pragmatic, flexible and open to new possibilities in my career and certainly did not insist to myself that I had to do biochemistry to consider myself successful. That paid off well. Although the advice you often get to “follow your passion” is nice, sometimes you just need to make a living. You have been involved with MSU as a donor and in Graduate School activities. What inspires you to give back? Why should others do the same? Carol and I both come from blue collar backgrounds and are the first in our families to achieve graduate professional educations. Carol depended on scholarships to complete her undergraduate degree and she worked part time, and I spent four years in the military to get the G.I. Bill benefits to complete college. We think it is important to help people of backgrounds like ours ease the way through college and graduate school. That is why we have structured graduate fellowships in a bequest from our estate. Others should do the same because it is the human capital that makes us better. You make a personal connection to human beings who benefit and can improve their lives. It is far better than having your name on a plaque in some building lobby that no one reads.

Excerpted from the MSU News Service Laura Sampson, who earned a Ph.D. in physics in 2014, was named a 2016 Women in Science Fellow by the L’Oréal USA For Women in Science fellowship program. The award provides Sampson with funding to advance her postdoctoral research in the field of gravitational wave astrophysics. Sampson is one of five winners of the fellowship, which is awarded to women scientists based on evaluations of their intellectual merit, research potential, scientific excellence and commitment to supporting women and girls in science. The fellowship program also requires that awardees be committed to serving as role models for younger generations. Sampson, is currently pursuing postdoctoral studies at Northwestern University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA). Her research focuses on developing data analysis algorithms to learn about the physical processes that lead to the systems that produce gravitational waves in the universe.

18 “The Department of Defense really likes acronyms, so we named our team “VIPER,” Viral Interdiction through Population Engineering and Restructuring. Two graduate students, Humberto Sanchez and Geoffrey Zath, join my team in studying the evolutionary population dynamics of influenza virus using drop-based microfluidics. Specifically, we are interested in the Defective Interfering Particles (DIPs) of the virus. Influenza virus is made up of eight genomic sequences within its capsid shell. DIPs are virus particles that are missing some of these genomic segments and are thus able to steal resources from the wild-type virus. The work will revolutionize our understanding of how viral population structure and dynamics give rise to emergent behaviors and how selection for these emergent behaviors can be taken advantage of in the development of effective therapeutics.” ~ Connie B. Chang

Faculty Commitment to Excellence Dedicated faculty are one of the pillars that elevate Montana State University to excellence. By making important contributions that advance their field, they bring prestige to the university and provide a constant source of inspiration for graduate students. Each year, faculty are recognized for their accomplishments in research, creative activity, mentoring, and service. The Graduate School wishes to recognize the following faculty for their achievements during the 2016-2017 academic year: Connie B. Chang, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, received $1.3 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), an independent agency of the U.S. Department of Defense that funds “highrisk, high-reward” projects. She will study a new approach for treating flu and other fast-evolving viruses that resist traditional vaccines. Ross Carlson, professor of chemical and biological engineering, received a three-year, $655,000 U.S. Department of Defense grant from the U.S. Army Research Office (ARO) to further his research on the role different species of bacteria play in microbial communities. The research has the potential to impact society by creating new strategies for liquid fuel production and improving outcomes for wounded soldiers. Michelle Flenniken, co-director of MSU’s Pollinator Health Center and assistant professor of plant sciences and plant pathology, received a $500,000 NSF CAREER Award. This is NSF’s most prestigious award that supports early-career faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through research, education, and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organization. She will investigate the mechanisms honey bees use against viral pathogens. Erik Grumstrup, assistant professor of chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science, is one of

Erik Grumstrup

eight people to receive a 2017 Young Investigator Award from the Arnold O. and Mabel Beckman Foundation. The award gives him $750,000 over four years, allowing him to develop an instrument for examining nanomaterials in new ways. Jovanka Voyich, associate professor of microbiology and immunology, received a National Institutes of Health grant to explore health disparities in native communities in Alaska and Montana. Dr. Voyich’s role is to foster development of sustainable partnerships between communities, project leaders, and the program cores to balance the priorities of the communities with advancement of knowledge.

19 Theo Lipfert, professor of film, has been named the director of the MSU School of Film and Photography in the College of Arts and Architecture. Robert Rydell, professor of history, received the Mary C. Turpie Prize. A group of his students nominated him for the prestigious award, which is run by the American Studies Association and recognizes outstanding abilities and achievement in teaching, advising, and program development at a local or regional level. Paul Stoy, associate professor of land resources and environmental sciences, is Co-PI with Ben Poulter (Former MSU faculty) on a $6 million National Science Foundation grant to develop new innovations at the intersection of food, energy, and water systems while training the next generation of scientists. They lead a team consisting of MSU’s Selena Ahmed, Jack Brookshire, Julia Haggerty, Perry Miller, Brent Peyton, and Lee Spangler to coordinate a massive effort to address questions about whether biofuels and carbon capture technologies can be sustainable. Blake Wiedenheft, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, has won a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). This is the highest honor the United States government bestows to science and engineering professionals in the early stages of research careers. Charlene Winters, professor in the College of Nursing, has been elected president of the Western Institute of Nursing.

Meet a Research Team The Grumstrup Research Group uses lasers producing pulses of light that are shorter than a millionth of a millionth of a second to investigate the fundamental processes that reduce efficiency in novel solar cell materials. Their efforts have provided new insight into how electrons behave in materials like lead-halide perovskites and organic polymers. Three graduate students are part of this team: ◆◆ Andrew Hill continues to investigate charge carrier transport in Methylammonium Lead Halide Perovskites, with publications appearing in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters and in Proceedings of the SPIE. ◆◆ Casey Kennedy published her recent studies of Cesium-based Lead Halide Perovskites in ACS Energy Letters. She also was awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. ◆◆ Eric Massaro continues to develop new approaches for nonlinear superresolution microscopy while studying exciton transport in organic polymers. His efforts have yielded three publications in ACS Photonics, Optics Express, and an invited article in Photonics.

20 Meet a Department Head: Mary Hubbard, Earth Sciences Mary Hubbard is a structural geologist who has conducted research on mountain belts in Nepal, Pakistan, New Zealand, Senegal, Namibia, Switzerland, France, and several locations in the U.S. Inspiration for her career came from a childhood spent with vacations to mountain destinations, summer camps in the Rocky Mountains, and Saturday mornings spent at her father’s business where he produced teaching materials for K-12 science education. Prior to coming to MSU, she served as department head, dean, and vice provost at other land grant universities for a total of 13 years. She joined the MSU earth sciences department in 2015.

In Her Own Words What inspired you to want to become head of the earth sciences department? Being the department head allows one to keep active in their discipline while also being involved in activities related to higher education more broadly. The beauty of a university environment lies in the mix of disciplines and talents across campus. I find reward in the combination of teaching, geology research, and in the broader challenges and opportunities of higher education on a college campus. What aspirations do you have for the graduate students in the earth sciences department? Earth sciences is a natural choice for Montana State University. Graduate students come here from across the country and around the world and we can offer them stunning field sites and research questions that range from our local environment including Yellowstone National Park and the greater Rocky Mountains, to world class sites across our planet. We strive to provide them cutting edge education on relevant research questions about the science of geologic processes and/ or societal response to issues of our times. We provide training in methodologies that allow our graduate students to move on beyond their degrees with the tools they need for successful careers in the earth sciences.

Can you tell us about this year’s Earth Sciences Student Colloquium? Graduate students in the earth sciences department organize an annual Earth Sciences Student Colloquium. This day-long event includes student research presentations, a career panel, a research poster session, and a banquet with a keynote speaker. Twelve students participated this year with oral presentations and twenty-nine students shared their research on posters. Over 100 people attend the banquet including students, faculty, alumni, friends, and family of the department. The featured speaker was local avalanche expert, Doug Chabot. Five years from now, where do you see graduate education in earth sciences? We are currently hiring young faculty with impressive research credentials. I anticipate we will have an earth sciences graduate community that includes a larger number of graduate research assistants. Given that our undergraduate enrollment remains high and there is a growing demand for earth sciences courses, the growing need for instructors should also yield more teaching assistants. Our applicant pool for graduate students includes some of the top undergraduates from around the country. All of these factors point toward growth in graduate education in the earth sciences. What legacy do you want to build? I envision graduate studies in earth sciences being a valued

Mary Hubbard

component of research and education in the broader area of the MSU programs in earth and the environment. This strength will be recognized nationwide and even internationally and is consistent with MSU’s location in the heart of the Northern Rocky Mountains where our natural world connects with our cultivated and developed landscapes. MSU’s department of earth sciences has a somewhat unique blend of the geological sciences with physical and human geography. This combination makes our faculty important collaborators for related projects in the physical, natural, and social sciences across campus. I would like there to be a growing recognition of, respect for, and support of this strength in earth sciences graduate education and what it brings to our campus.

The Graduate Student Network Founded in 2016, the Graduate Student Network works to help students thrive academically, professionally, and socially, and serves as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;faceâ&#x20AC;? of The Graduate School. During the 2016-2017 academic year, 40 members of the Graduate Student Network came forward to produce workshops, assist at orientation, and volunteer in the community. The Graduate School wishes to thank the following graduate students who took a leadership role in Graduate Student Network events. Their hard work and dedication are truly appreciated. Subodh Adhikari

Jon Eckberg

Dustin Kidd

Kim Roush

Nick Bergmann

Nnamdi Ezike

Madison Martin

Jeff Simkins

Lola Betiku

Julie Gameon

Cooper McCann

Kristin Smith

Mina Botros

Fermin Guerra

Elizabeth McDaniel

Brett Tallman

Keenan Brame

Kelsey Hawkins

Hannah McKinney

Monica Whitaker

Jessica Burgess

Cheryl Hendry

Julie Muretta

Robin Wilder

Arianna Celis

Bennett Hisey

Ashley Nettles

Kate Cowart

Ethan Hoerr

Gregory Prussia

James Cwick

Jici Huang

Nar Ranabhat

Madie Willis Jennifer WoodcockMedicine Horse

Ryan Davies

Catherine Johnson

Mandi Roe

Neerja Zambare Anna Zelaya On April 21, 2017, The Graduate School held a Doctoral Celebration for all spring graduates. Students, faculty, and staff came to celebrate, and Graduate School Dean Karlene Hoo made a few remarks before holding a hooding demonstration.

Above: Betsy Gaines Quammen and Gary Sims celebrate earning their Ph.D. in history with professor Michael Reidy. Below: 2017 English graduates Quentin Miller & Kelly Lewis.

Support Graduate Education Philanthropic support for graduate education provides funding that goes above and beyond state and research dollars. Unrestricted support will help provide an academic setting that inspires innovation and discovery, and will help to assure MSU can continue to recruit topnotch graduate students. Graduate school is a place where tomorrow’s leaders gain expertise in their field. Today’s students will carry with them lessons learned in graduate school to their life beyond. As the scientists, engineers, nurses, educators, agronomists, artists, and architects of tomorrow, a graduate education will help them develop What it Takes to use creative and innovative approaches to solve challenges in an evolving world. Your gift in support of graduate education is an important investment in the future.

Philanthropic Commitment to Graduate Education Campaign Update What it Takes, the Campaign for MSU aims to raise unprecedented support for the people, places, and programs of Montana State University. Since publicly launching the campaign in 2015, nearly 1,700 generous donors have made gifts, grants, and other commitments totaling $253,000 in support of MSU’s Graduate School. Additionally, over $1.5 million in gifts have been made to colleges and departments across campus to support students pursing graduate education. Such generosity has positively impacted MSU’s graduate students and will continue to do so well into the future.

The donor list found above was provided by the Montana State University Alumni Foundation and includes all gifts received between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. If there is an error or if your name has been omitted, please contact the Alumni Foundation at 800-457-1696.

When you support graduate education at Montana State University, you are saying “Yes!” to Creating Knowledge, Elevating Discovery, Striving for Innovation. Your thoughtfulness today will have an impact on the world of tomorrow. Donate on-line at: montana.edu/gradschool/give_now.html To find out more about making a gift, contact The Graduate School: 406-994-5729

Fall 2016 Enrollment

Total graduate enrollment for Fall 2016 was 2,040 graduate students, which included 599 doctoral students, 1,074 masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s students, and 367 certificate/ non-degree students. The biggest increase in enrollment was in doctoral programs, up 8.5% from Fall 2015. Graduate certificates have also seen a significant increase in enrollment.

International enrollment By College

Number of students:

College of Education, Health & Human Development 403

College of Agriculture 205

College of Arts & Architecture 106

161

Number of countries: College of Engineering 214

College of Business 36 The Graduate School 294

College of Nursing 97

College of Letters & Science 685

Top 3 countries:

India, Turkey, China

Degrees Awarded 2016-2017 Academic Year College of Agriculture

Master Doctoral

College of Arts & Architecture

Master

College of Business

Master

College of Education/HHD

Master

2 37 24 141 15

Doctoral

Certificate College of Engineering

Master 16

Doctoral College of Letters & Science

Master 33

Doctoral 12

Certificate College of Nursing

Master Doctoral

The Graduate School

3 18 107

Master Certificate

Degrees Awarded Total number of degrees awarded:

647

Male / Female:

279 / 367 International students:

The Graduate School “By the Numbers” In an effort to promote graduate education and student success, The Graduate School aims to create an environment conducive to collaboration and teamwork. Working in partnership with students, faculty, and staff across campus, Graduate School staff presents numerous workshops throughout the year and provides the day-to-day support services. The following activities took place during the 2016-2017 academic year:

Professional development

Training

$1,400

Prize money awarded at the Graduate Student Research Rendezvous

Professional Development Workshops held

Just for Fun

77/11/2

Graduate Student Recruitment Weekend: Number of students,Number of STEM departments/ Number of STEM programs

148

Pounds of pasta bagged at the Gallatin Valley Food Bank volunteer day

Electronic thesis & dissertation CollegeNET trainings workshops for for faculty & staff students (in partnership with the library)

Coffee Talks for administrators

Outreach

Students participated in Professional Development Workshops

DegreeWorks workshops for faculty & staff

University Graduate Council meetings

New Student Training & Orientations

Self-care kits distributed at Marie Nelson’s workshop

325

Hamburgers & vegi burgers flipped at the fall orientation picnic

Montana Hall Lore: Remembering Robert Pirsig For some, Montana Hall is merely another location on campus, a building that is home to The Graduate School and various administrative offices, as well as a place for students, faculty, and staff to take care of the everyday business of higher education. For others, it’s an evocative destination. Each year fans of Robert Pirsig, former Montana State English faculty member and author of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” visit Montana Hall to retrace the steps of his famed motorcycle trip and gain better insight into a man whose work continues to inspire. These “Pirsig Pilgrims” seek out the Montana Hall location, now a storage room, believed to be Pirsig’s old office. From here, they gaze over the Bridger Mountains and contemplate the hard to define concept of quality as he once did. Montana State was the place where a random comment from a colleague, “I hope you are teaching Quality to your students,” got Pirsig thinking and played a vital role in the development of “Zen.” Prisig wrote the book to “set out to resolve the conflict between classic values that create machinery, such as a motorcycle, and romantic values, such as experiencing the beauty of a country road.” It is a fictionalized autobiography exploring theories of science, the metaphysics of quality, and other weighty topics. Published in 1974, “Zen’s” philosophical musings resonated with the counter-culture of the time, quickly making it a best-seller. Pirsig, who earned an honorary doctorate from MSU in 2012, passed away in April 2017 at the age of 88, yet his spirit lives on in Montana Hall. Pirsig would be happy to know that The Graduate School is committed to quality in every thing we do. Each day we provide quality service to graduate students so they can gain the skills needed to become leaders in their fields. Our Montana Hall location, with its history, traditions, and stories, provides a constant source of inspiration as we work towards our goals.

Commitment to Graduate Education

P.O. Box 172580 | Bozeman, MT 59717-2580 | 406-994-4145 | 800-255-7962 Visit us at: www.montana.edu/gradschool