MISSOULA –

George M. Dennison, president of The University of Montana since 1990, plans to retire.

UM’s longest-serving president announced his intention during a Monday, Jan. 25, Campus Convocation in the University Theatre. Dennison will retire Aug. 15 – or as soon thereafter as the Board of Regents identify a successor – 20 years to the day since he arrived on campus to assume the presidency. He is UM’s 16th president.

“I consider it a high honor and rare privilege to have served as president of a wonderful institution – made so by the people who constitute it,” Dennison said. “I have enjoyed the past 20 years more than words can convey, in large measure because of the quality of people who constitute The University of Montana.

“Make no mistake, presidents come and go, but students, faculty, staff and alumni remain,” Dennison said. “You deserve the credit for making (UM) a remarkable success. I can take my leave knowing that my alma mater remains in good hands and will continue to develop, whatever the challenges before it.”

The search process to identify UM’s next president will begin in the next several weeks. “I will do all I can to assist, but intend to stay out of the way,” Dennison said with a smile.

He plans to write a history of UM during the next three years. He also will consider teaching opportunities as they present themselves.

A historian by training, Dennison received a bachelor’s degree with highest honors in history from UM in 1962. He received a master’s degree from UM in 1963 and a doctorate in history from the University of Washington in 1967.

Dennison came to Montana from Kalamazoo, Mich., where he served as the provost and vice president for academic affairs of Western Michigan University (1987-90). In earlier years, he spent time at the universities of Arkansas and Washington prior to 18 years at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

At Colorado State, he started as a history professor and then served in numerous other positions. He simultaneously held the positions of associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and associate dean of the Graduate School for International Development Studies. He also served as acting academic vice president, associate academic vice president and director of Admissions and Records.

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CBS

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