2014-2015 The MSU Graduate School Annual Report

The Graduate School Annual Report Academic Year 2014-2015

photo by Tim Evanson

Creating Knowledge, Elevating Discovery, Striving for Innovation

Contents

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Greetings from the Graduate School Dean About the Graduate School Graduate Education in the News Celebrating Student Excellence Celebrating Faculty & Staff Excellence Welcoming New Administration Celebrating Philanthropy Annual Giving Graduate Education Statistics Fall 2014 Enrollment Degrees Awarded 20142015 Academic Year

photo by Kelly Gorham

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Greetings from the Dean

A

s my staff and I worked to create the annual report, I reflected on the many achievements in graduate education over the past year. Success spans all academic colleges across campus, and this report highlights the impressive work of Montana State University graduate students, faculty, and staff.

Now in my second year as Graduate School Dean, I find that Montana State and Bozeman continue to amaze me. As I contemplated a way to express this sentiment, the words of Reed Knappe, a graduate student in history, came to mind: “Montana State University embodies a remarkable combination of strengths in the sciences and humanities, combining the practicality and modesty of a state school with the prestige of a Carnegie research-university, all in what might be the most beautiful and inspiring setting of any college in the U.S.” I couldn’t agree with him more. Mr. Knappe completed his master’s in the spring and is headed to Harvard University with a doctoral fellowship in history. When I hear of student success such as this, it reconfirms my belief in the strength of Montana State’s graduate programs and our ability to recruit, retain, and graduate talented students such as Mr. Knappe.

The 2014-2015 year was again outstanding for graduate education and research at Montana State. With continued growth in enrollment, increased graduation rates at the Ph.D. level, and two new Ph.D. programs approved by the Board Dr. Karlene A. Hoo of Regents, we are making steady progress towards meeting the strategic plan goals for graduate education. Research continues to flourish with $106.9 million in research expenditures for the academic year. The scholarship of skilled graduate students fuels this enterprise and has helped Montana State earn and maintain its “very high research activity” ranking by the Carnegie Foundation. This top-tier ranking confirms excellence and is something we are all proud of.

Graduate education is a collaborative effort. Success takes the dedication of many talented students, faculty, and staff working together to create knowledge, elevate discovery, and strive for innovation. At Montana State, graduate education is being led by an extraordinary team and I eagerly look forward to guiding us into an illustrious future. Please, join me in celebrating what we have achieved and dreaming of what is to come.

Sincerely,

Karlene A. Hoo, Ph.D. Dean, The Graduate School

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About the MSU 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 Staff Dean: Dr. Karlene A. Hoo Office of Fiscal Management: Maya Bronston Office of Admissions: Melis Edwards, Krista Baziak Office of Student Services: Donna Negaard Office of Degree Programs & Certificates: Amanda Brown, Lauren Cerretti Office of Analytics & Systems Management: Laura Collins, Ann Vinciguerra, Jennifer Miller

Graduate School at a Glance ➠➠ Montana State awarded its first master’s degree in 1902 and its first doctoral degree in 1956. ➠➠ The Graduate School staff is comprised of the Dean and ten professional staff members. ➠➠ The University Graduate Council, a key component to The Graduate School, serves to advise the Dean on matters of policy. Its key activities are to make recommendations to the Dean about graduate programs and curricula, to promote all aspects of graduate education, and to put in place policies that result in the success of graduate students. ➠➠ Montana State’s Graduate School is a member of the Western Association of Graduate Schools.

Did you know . . .

Montana State holds more than 250 active technology licenses. In addition, 91 patents and 36 plant variety certificates have been issued for Montana State discoveries with many more pending.

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Graduate School News Graduate School Hires its First Recruiter In an effort to recruit more STEM graduate students, The Graduate School hired Krista Baziak as its first STEM recruiter. Ms. Baziak has been working with STEM departments to assess their needs, and will be traveling to academic conferences to promote these programs and to recruit potential students.

Additionally, she will organize the annual graduate recruitment weekend held at Montana State each spring.

Ms. Baziak already has put her artistic talent to work designing both printed and electronic promotional materials. She holds an MFA from Montana State and a bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University. Bozeman became home after she fell in love with Montana and everything it has to offer. A warm welcome to Ms. Baziak!

Graduate School Sponsors Montana Science Olympiad In an effort to promote science and technology education and inspire promising young scientists, The Graduate School became an official sponsor of the 2014 Montana Science Olympiad. The event aims to enhance science education around the state and to inspire young students interested in STEM-related disciplines.

The annual event was hosted by Montana State’s Science and Math Resource Center and winning teams advanced to compete in the National Science Olympiad. The 2014 event drew 1,031 students from 71 different schools across Montana who participated in rigorous individual and team events.

A big congratulations to the students from Fergus High School, one of this year’s winning teams. They advanced to compete in the Wright Stuff National Science Olympiad in May and brought home a third place medal!

Graduate School Staff are Pure Gold!

The Office of the President developed the Pure Gold program to spotlight members of the Montana State community for their outstanding contributions to the university. In October, The Graduate School team of Laura Collins, Melis Edwards, and Amanda Round received this award for their work in implementing CollegeNet®, an electronic application system that streamlines the admissions process for graduate students.

This undertaking took over a year, as it required customization of over 110 different programs. The team of Ms. Collins, Ms. Edwards, and Ms. Round conducted multiple meetings with faculty and staff to troubleshoot and develop individualized applications and designed and conducted training workshops for administrators and graduate coordinators. Their efforts demonstrate their commitment to The Graduate School and to Montana State; and for that they are Pure Gold!

Recruitment Weekend Brings Potential Graduate Students to Campus The Graduate School, the Office of the Provost, and the Deans of Agriculture, Engineering, and Letters & Science worked together to provide recruitment funding for 17 STEM programs offering Ph.D. degrees. Thirteen programs participated in these efforts bringing 42 potential graduate students to the Bozeman campus during Graduate Recruitment Weekend. During their visit, the students had the opportunity to meet with existing graduate students, visit with faculty, and tour the campus and labs. The Graduate School is committed to supporting graduate recruitment efforts in 2016. Historical data shows that potential graduate students who participate in Graduate Recruitment Weekend have been much more likely to carry out their graduate studies at Montana State. We can only conclude that when immersed in our environment, the appeal of a mountain community with a Carnegie ranked research institution is difficult to refuse.

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Graduate Education in the News Engineering Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) In February, seven graduate students from the College of Engineering competed in a Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition. The finalists were chosen from disciplines across the College and were tasked with condensing their thesis or dissertation research down to a 180 second presentation. The judges declared Paul Nugent, who discussed his project designing sensors to better understand the Arctic climate and ultimately model the Earth’s future climate, the Overall Winner, and Catherine Kirkland, who discussed her work using bacteria to clean, monitor and protect groundwater, won the People’s Choice Award.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland, Australia. The competition format challenges students to effectively describe the merit and impact of their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. Since the first event in 2008, the competitions have grown in popularity and are now held at over 200 universities worldwide.

What Alumni Say. . .

“I’ll never forget the exquisite memories or how vividly my life changed after one phone call to The Graduate School in 1990. I wish I could do it again!” ~ G. Stan Meloy, M.S., 1992, Marriage & Family Therapy Counselor to Soldiers & Military Families “Supporting graduate education is a win–win situation for you, the community, and the students who are helped. There are few endeavors in life that give so much to both an individual and society as making graduate education more accessible for every student that has the desire and the aptitude.” ~ Randall Mullen, Ph.D., 2012, Ecology & Environmental Sciences Statistician & Researcher, E&J Gallo Winery photo courtesy of Bozeman Daily Chronicle

7 Graduate Counseling Programs Re-accredited

Montana State Quick Facts...

Excerpted from MSU News Service

➠➠ Founded: 1893

Three graduate counseling programs in the department of Health and Human Development were recently re-accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, and school counseling were all re-accredited for eight years.

A specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, CACREP sets standards for educational programs. Dr. Rebecca Koltz, assistant professor of marriage and family counseling and CACREP liaison, noted that CACREP recently adopted new standards that focus on assessing and documenting student learning outcomes. The program’s benchmarks are now intentional and tangible, Dr. Koltz stated, which helps students understand not only what they are learning, but also why.

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, call: 406-994-5729; 800-255-7962

➠➠ Affiliation: Public unit of the Montana University System; Montana’s Land-Grant University ➠➠ Carnegie Classification: RU/VH, Research University/Very High ➠➠ Accreditation: Regional accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities ➠➠ Fall 2014 Enrollment: 15,521 students total including 2,050 graduate students ➠➠ Fiscal Year 2015 Research Expenditures: $106.9 million

Renowned Nurse Economist Joins College of Nursing Excerpted from MSU News Service

Peter Buerhaus, a renowned nurse economist, has joined the College of Nursing faculty. A former faculty of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Dr. Buerhaus brings extraordinary experience and expertise to Montana State University.

Dr. Buerhaus chairs the National Health Care Workforce Commission, which is charged with identifying barriers limiting health care workforce production and encouraging innovations that can address the current and future personnel requirements of the U.S. health care system. In addition, he maintains an active research program involving studies on the economics of the nursing workforce.

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Celebrating Student Excellence Ph.D. Enhancement Awards In an effort to increase research capacity and Ph.D. productivity, The Graduate School and the Office of the Provost provided STEM departments the opportunity to compete for Ph.D. Enhancement Awards. These awards, vetted by the University Graduate Council, support graduate students with competitive stipends. Since its inception over 24 students have been supported in three colleges.

Graduate Research Grants The Graduate School was pleased to team with the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the Office of the Provost in offering grants to support graduate student research activities. Over $30,000 was awarded to 23 students across a variety of academic disciplines. These projects are aligned with the student’s current thesis, dissertation, and studio objectives, with students completing their research by fall 2015.

Meet a Graduate Research Grant Recipient:

Meghan Livers, Art History Meghan Livers, an M.A. student in Art History, received Graduate Research Grant funding to support on-location study in Sweden to research and document the frescos painted by the fifteenth-century German artist Albertus Pictor. In Medieval Sweden, the largely illiterate populous would gather in churches surrounding Lake Mälaren to listen to mass and look upon elaborate biblical frescos. These vividly painted frescos with rich symbolic content are preserved in over 30 churches. Since the bulk of contemporary scholarship on Pictor is written in Swedish, this limits its inclusion in a larger dialog on Medieval studies. Ms. Livers’ thesis will incorporate archival material with her own analytical study, exposing Pictor’s work to a wider audience and introducing an interpretation of the frescos to an English speaking audience. Ms. Livers shared these thoughts on her trip: “The main goal of my research trip was to visit the medieval churches containing murals painted by Albertus Pictor’s workshop. I was able to visit 32 out of the 36 churches, plus a few others for comparison… A secondary goal was to establish communication with other Albertus Pictor scholars…. The contacts I made while travelling along the Swedish countryside will aide me in my thesis research and future pursuits.

From my trip, I have surmised that I am possibly the only person conducting current research on Albertus Pictor and his workshop. I intend to take a new approach when analyzing the murals that previous scholars have not touched upon. …

Words of encouragement from my contacts abroad have led me to believe that I have ample data to work with in producing

Graduate students Kara DeLeon, left, and Kristen Brileya prepare soil samples in a CBE laboratory led by Matthew Fields (center) for transport to a research site. (MSU Photo by Kelly Gorham)

substantial research to aid the discipline of art history.”

9 2015 Student Research Celebration Thirty five graduate students from departments across campus participated in the 2015 Student Research Celebration. Students presented posters on a wide range of research topics, delivered oral presentations, and participated in numerous panel discussions. The free event was open to the public and highlighted the diversity of innovative research being conducted by Montana State’s graduate students.

Graduate Students Receive Prestigious Fellowships Tony Chang, Ph.D. student in Ecology, received a prestigious Earth and Space Science Fellowship from NASA. The fellowship will allow him to expand his research on the death of whitebark pine.

Four graduate students received National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships: ➠➠ Nate Looker, M.S. student in Biological Science. His research examines how trees in the subalpine forest adjust to variations in water availability and the implications for drought vulnerability. ➠➠ Justin Martin, Ph.D. student in Ecology & Environmental sciences. His research investigates tree growth responses to climate variation.

Priyanka Kudalkar, an M.S. candidate in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, is studying life in extreme environments, specifically microbes in Antarctic ice. She is part of Professor John Priscu’s research team that received funding from the National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs.

➠➠ Julie Muretta, Ph.D. student in Materials Science. Her research seeks to discover engineering composite materials that mimic natural structures such as bone and teeth. ➠➠ Flynn Murray, Ph.D. student in Civil Engineering. Her research examines concrete-filled tubes with the aim of making a guide for people who might design such tubes.

John Scannella inspects a Triceratops in Eastern Montana’s Hell Creek Formation.

His research has uncovered important data on the species and reveals new insights into the evolution of the Triceratops.

10 The Graduate School appreciates the varied perspectives and backgrounds of its students. A diverse student body enriches graduate education by helping create a dynamic intellectual environment where students become exposed to new views.

When established beliefs are tested, it provides the setting where new ideas and innovative research can flourish. Meet Montana State students and alumni who embody this spirit.

Conversation with a Current Graduate Student Michael Marie Munson Ed.D. Candidate, Educational Leadership Honors: Indian Leadership Education & Development Program (I LEAD); Dennis & Phyllis Washington Native American Graduate Fellowship Dissertation Title: Perceptions from Our Sqelixw Community: Building a Framework for Sqelixw Education In Her Own Words: “I LEAD and the Washington Fellowship are amazing.

Both have provided me the opportunity to study without having to work full-time.”

About Her Research

Why Graduate School?

“As a member of the communities of The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, I have been taught it is my duty to contribute to the well-being of my community. As a sovereign tribal nation, we have the opportunity to revitalize our culture and language, and redefine education to ensure youth are successful, contributing members of the communities. My dissertation investigates perceptions Sqelixw Elders’ and youth hold about important linguistic, cultural, and academic elements to integrate into the education system. The developed framework will utilize Sqelixw life ways to develop an education system that strengthens identity, revitalizes language and culture, preserves sovereignty, and provides a foundation for youth to lead The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes into the future.”

“In a previous job, I saw first-hand how the dominant education system in tribal communities was neglecting to meet the educational needs of American Indian students in Montana. I came to realize tribal communities must be more involved in their children’s education and that it was time to learn more about how to help facilitate that process.”

photo by Kelly Gorham

Career Aspirations “It is my goal to continue to serve Salish Kootenai College and the larger Sqelixw communities to build an education system that prepares Seliš and Qlispé children to be successful in anything they wish to do.”

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Meet an Alumna Afaf Nasseer Ph.D., Plant Sciences, 2015 Afaf Nasseer always wanted to be a scientist. After earning her bachelor and master’s degrees from Baghdad University, she did what is customary in Iraq before pursuing a Ph.D. degree and worked for two years. What followed was something she had never imagined, a chance to study in the United States. Dr. Nasseer finished her Ph.D. in Plant Sciences in Spring 2015 and is the first Iraqi student to graduate from Montana State University with a Ph.D. Dr. Nasseer’s excellent performance in her master’s program qualified her for funding from the Ministry of Higher Education. All she had to do was to select a country, gain admission into a Ph.D. program, and submit the application paperwork to the ministry.

Dr. Nasseer selected India but the minister encouraged her to consider the United States and Montana State University. At first she was hesitant about attending school in the U.S. Many of her perceptions came from movies, which often portrayed cities leading her to wonder if it would be safe.

After giving it some thought, Dr. Nasseer decided to apply to U.S. universities. She was accepted into Montana State’s plant sciences Ph.D. program. Dr. Nasseer arrived in Bozeman on a very cold evening in January 2011 and wondered what she had gotten herself into. Once settled, Dr. Nasser found a safe and quiet town with friendly people. Soon the shock of the weather and a new culture wore off and Dr. Nasseer found Montana State to be “a very nice place to study.”

While at Montana State, Dr. Nasser worked under the direction of Dr. Luther Talbert, an advisor she found to be very supportive. Her dissertation research investigated drought tolerance and how understanding the effects of drought can assist with increases in crop yield. This knowledge is indispensable to understanding a desert landscape.

“I wish everyone could come study at Montana State,” she said.

“While I look forward to starting my career back home in

“The presence of international graduate students enables Montana State to raise its international academic reputation and realize its commitment to addressing the world’s greatest challenges.” ~ Dr. David DiMaria, Associate Provost for International Programs Iraq, I will miss Montana and the support I received from my professors. There will be no Dr. Talbert at my new job so I will need to be independent. My studies at MSU have prepared me for that challenge.”

After graduation, Dr. Nasseer returned to Iraq to take a position with the Ministry of Agriculture researching wheat and wheat breeding.

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Meet an Alumnus Alexander Aston M.A., History, 2014 When you ask Alexander Aston to name his hometown, he lists Planet Earth. Given his background, that’s a pretty accurate description. Mr. Aston is the son of an Irish/ Zimbabwean father and an American mother. Before coming to Bozeman for graduate school, he lived in Zimbabwe as a child, finished high school in Maryland, and spent his undergraduate years at University of Indianapolis–Athens (Greece) Campus. Come this fall, he will add Oxford, England to the list of places he has called home. A 2014 graduate of Montana State with a master of arts in history, Mr. Aston will begin a Ph.D. program at Oxford University in the Archeology Department’s Creativity, Cognition & Material Culture program.

A lifetime of exposure to different cultures instilled in Mr. Aston a curiosity about people, history, and philosophy. This upbringing ultimately led him to study history with the goal of teaching at the university level and earning a master’s degree at Montana State was the first step in the process. He speaks highly of his time at Montana State and credits it with his readiness to study at Oxford, one of the world’s preeminent universities.

When asked about what was so special about Montana State, Mr. Aston responded, “The scale of the university was conducive to my ability to make connections and perform interdisciplinary research.

I found the faculty to be extremely encouraging of my goals, and my desire to experiment with historical theory and methodology.”

His thesis, Flame of the Red Flag: Cognitive Ecologies of the Paris Commune, examines “the relationship between environment, cognition and social organization. The thesis reinterprets a well-known historical event by analyzing historical processes as developmental continuities of human evolution and ecological dynamics.”

While working on his thesis, Mr. Aston came across a text that was paramount to his research and instrumental in leading him to Oxford. Lambros Malafouris, a research and teaching fellow in Oxford University’s Cognition, Creativity, and Material Culture research cluster, is author of How Things Shape the Mind: A Theory of Moral Engagement. Upon discovering this text, Mr. Aston came to a turning point in his research as he had found what he called “the missing piece in my argument that drew everything together.”

With his research coming together and graduation nearing, Mr. Aston began thinking about Ph.D. programs. He recalled talking with his advisor, Dr. Brett Walker, about where to apply and remembered sheepishly saying, “Well, there’s this really cool program at Oxford. Maybe I could apply there.”

Dr. Walker’s response was resoundingly positive. “This brought about a total 180 in my thinking and expectations,” said Mr. Aston.

“At that point I realized anything could happen. It if hadn’t been for Dr. Walker, I would have not had the courage to go for it.”

Mr. Aston applied to Oxford and as the saying goes, the rest is history. While he looks forward to beginning his Ph.D. studies, he will miss Montana State and Bozeman. The warm community and mountain lifestyle suited him well, and he called his choice to attend graduate school at MSU “the best decision I have made as an adult.”

Mr. Aston encourages graduate students to, “do your research for the love of the subject and not for some desired end goal. If you are passionate about what you do and work hard, your mentors and peers will notice and the end goal will sort itself out.”

As for Mr. Aston, it looks like the end goal sorted itself out nicely.

The Graduate School wishes him the best of luck in his Ph.D. studies.

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Celebrating Faculty & Staff Excellence James Wilking, assistant professor of chemical & biological engineering, received the NSF Young Investigator CAREER Award. This is a five-year grant that will allow Dr. Wilking and his team to investigate the physical and material properties of biofilms.

Nicolas Yunes, assistant professor of physics, received the Young Scientist Prize administered by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. The prize recognizes the outstanding achievements of scientists who are in the early stages of their career and who are involved in relativity and gravitation research.

Faculty Award Highlights from Spring Convocation These awards recognize excellence in research, teaching, outreach and creative projects. A complete list of honorees can be found at: montana.edu/news/15301/Msu-honors-top-faculty-and-staff William Inskeep, professor in land resources and environmental sciences: Provost’s Award for Graduate Research/Creativity Mentoring Coleen Kaiser, director of the Montana dietetic internship: Rufus T. Firefly Award for Innovative Service Scott Powell, assistant professor in land resources and environmental sciences: Excellence in Online Teaching Award

Joseph Shaw, professor in electrical and computer engineering & OPTEC Center: Vice President for Research Meritorious Science/Technology Award Linda Young, professor in political science: Women’s Faculty Caucus Distinguished Mentor Award

Meet a Faculty Member Elizabeth Burroughs, Mathematics Education Elizabeth Burroughs and her collaborators (Harvey Mudd College, Pomona, CA, and George Mason University, Fairfax, VA) are investigating mathematical modeling in elementary grade classrooms through the NSF-funded “Immersion Project.”

Mathematical modeling is an open-ended, cyclic process used by mathematicians and statisticians to answer questions using quantitative tools. A focus on modeling inclusion in elementary grades mathematics instruction is new and is part of the nationwide movement toward greater student proficiency in critical thinking in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This summer Dr. Burroughs and doctoral candidate Elizabeth Fulton introduced this concept to 26 Bozeman School District elementary teachers. Results of this research will lead to better understanding of how teachers enable students to use mathematics to solve problems encountered in the workplace and life.

Dr. Burroughs started her career as a high school mathematics teacher in the Atlanta, Georgia area, before earning a Ph.D. in applied mathematics. Her work in mathematics education, has provided a venue for fulfilling work that impacts teachers and students nationwide.

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Welcoming New Administration Excerpted from MSU News Service

Charles Boyer, Vice President & Dean of Agriculture

Programs, will chair the Montana State International Programs Advisory Council, and will be responsible for implementing the internationalization objectives of Montana State’s strategic plan.

Charles Boyer formerly of California State University, Fresno, became Montana State University’s Vice President and Dean of Agriculture. In this position, Dr. Boyer will lead the College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station.

Kellie Peterson, Legal Council

“As the state’s land-grant university, MSU is committed to enhancing and strengthening our partnership with agriculture, the No. 1 industry in the state,” said Montana State President Waded Cruzado.

Dr. Boyer will work to build strong partnerships between Montana State and the agriculture community throughout the state. “These partnerships will benefit us all as we work together to find new ways to serve the agricultural community of Montana,” Dr. Boyer said.

David Di Maria, Associate Provost for International Programs David Di Maria was selected as Montana State University’s associate provost for International Programs.

As associate provost, Dr. Di Maria oversees Montana State’s student and faculty exchange and study abroad programs and recruitment and support of international students who study in Bozeman. Dr. Di Maria will manage the Office of International

Montana State University hired Kellie Peterson, an attorney in private practice in Flagstaff, Ariz., as its new legal counsel. As legal counsel, Peterson will manage the institution’s legal affairs, including advising on legal rights, obligations and related matters. Peterson also will provide legal advice to the Commissioner of Higher Education, campus president and chancellors/CEOs of the three affiliated campuses—MSU Billings, Great Falls College MSU and MSU Northern—as well as the Montana Agricultural Experiment Stations, Extension Service and Fire Services Training School.

She serves on the Montana University System five-member legal staff and reports to the Chief Legal Counsel located in Helena, as well as to the Montana State president.

In Her Own Words...

Why MSU? “After living in Arizona for twelve years, we decided it was time to look for opportunities to move back to Montana so our children could be closer to our families. Having worked in education law since 2004, I could not have imagined a better opportunity to continue doing the work I love in the place I wanted to be.”

Initial Impressions of Campus: “Every day I am impressed by the passion and commitment of MSU employees. Although my office is in Montana Hall, I work with nearly every department on campus.”

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Celebrating Philanthropy Partnership Aims to Raise $1 Million in Graduate Student Fellowships The Montana Stockgrowers Association Research, Education and Endowment Foundation and the Montana State University Alumni Foundation are working together to raise $1 million for graduate student fellowships in animal and range sciences. The fellowships, which will cover tuition and other fees, along with the newly established Nancy Cameron Faculty Chair in animal and range sciences, will support research tied to the livestock industry.

“Nancy Cameron’s gift provided important, initial funds for a dedicated faculty researcher focusing on cattle production in Montana,” said John Grande, chairman of the Montana Stockgrowers Research, Education and Endowment Foundation.

“As a group, we want to help bolster this generous gift by raising additional support for dedicated graduate fellowships. Our state needs faculty and graduate students to lead industry-driven projects that directly benefit the Montana livestock industry.”

Graduate School Teams with the Alumni Foundation In a university-wide effort to engage college deans in fundraising, The Graduate School furthered its relationship with the Montana State Alumni Foundation during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Efforts began as staff worked together to prepare for the year’s annual fund drive. Over 5,300 alumni with advanced degrees from Montana State were called during the phone-a-thon and over 1,300 alumni were reached through the annual fund mailing and email campaigns. Graduate School staff member Ann Vinciguerra and the Dean of The Graduate School worked to further cultivate and steward relationships with important graduate education donors and designed and delivered a seminar to the Alumni Foundation about graduate education.

photo by Tim Evanson

Excerpted from MSU News Service

Ways to Support Graduate Education Individual and corporate giving provides support for graduate education that enhances state and research funding. Unrestricted support will help nurture an academic environment that inspires creativity, innovation and discovery, and will offer opportunities for graduate students in all academic departments. There are several ways you can make a difference.

You can make a gift directly to The Graduate School. Current Graduate School funding priorities include: ➠➠ Fellowships: Merit-based fellowships will be made available to outstanding graduate students from all academic colleges ➠➠ Travel Awards: Provide funding to graduate students presenting research at academic conferences ➠➠ Competitive Research Grants: Support research activities related to a student’s thesis or dissertation When making a gift to a specific department or college, you can designate all or part of it to graduate education and graduate fellowships.

You can help Montana State University dream big! A $10-12 million gift will name The Graduate School.

Annual Giving The Graduate School recognizes the following alumni and friends who made donations in support of graduate education during the 2015 fiscal year.

Donna & Roy Aafedt s Everett & Loralee Aarestad s David Adams s Jean & George Adams s David & Marilyn Aden s Alvin Adkins s Miriam & Stephen Adkins s Advanced Performance & Rehab. Services, Inc. s Roger & Marcia Ala s Audrey & Tracy Alfson s Dale & Tomi Alger s All Weather Tech Inc. s Andrew Anderson Jr. s Colleen & Willard Anderson s Eva Anseth s Apex Foundation s Balan & Akila Aravind s Scott & Sarah Armstrong s Susan Asher s Martin & Joan Atwood s Azcam Enterprises s Anand Bagga s Marion & John Bailey s Sandra Bailey s Mary Baird s Ronalee & Mike Baker s Lucille Balfour s Arthur Bangert s Katheryn & Gerald Bark s Bonnie Barkemeyer Dallas s William & Billie Beadle s Marguerite Beatty s Brian & Barbara Beaudrie s Shirley Beck s William & Nanette Beyer s James Watson & Carol Bibler s Daniel & Sherry Biggerstaff s Ronald & LouAnne Biggerstaff s Elizabeth Bird s William & Laura Bishop s Kari Bjelland s Gerry Blackman s Boeing Company s Rachel Bohach-De Yat s Mary & Kevin Bohnenblust s Craig & Teresa Borrenpohl s Bruce & Diane Bourne s Dean & Sharon Branson s Anita Brawner s Roger Brewer s Patricia Britton s Ruth & Kent Brocklebank s Richard & Stacy Bronec s Joe Jr. & Tracey Brookshier s Winferd & Rita Ann Bruhl s Herschel & Patricia Buck s Buffalo Bump Pizza s Thomas Buller s William & Barbara Bunker s James & Twila Burdick s Jeremy Burleigh s James Buska & Josephine Feyhl s Thomas & Gayle Butler s Tommy & Nancy Butler s Carmen Byker s Roy Byrd s Linda & Ward Cambridge s Jason Campbell s Anne & Randy Camper s Jioanna Carjuzaa s Carol StabenBurroughs Counseling s Earl Cassidy Jr. s Theresa Cassidy s B. Evelyn Casterline s Joseph Cavanaugh s Cebulla Associates s Charles & Kay Cebulla s Tyler Cegler s Martha & Robert Cetina s Anjali Chandran s Julie Chelmo s Joan England & Orla Christensen s Suzanne Christopher s John Chuchel s Christopher Clairmont s Jennifer Clark s Patricia & Donald Clark s Janis Clemis s Carol & James Clepper s Ellen & Paul Clifford s Judith Coats s Erin & Matthew Colfax s Ralph & Ruth Conone s Willis Conover Jr. s James & Ann Courtney s Kalani Cowles s Margaret Cowley s Shane Crabtree s Elizabeth Craft s Margaret Craft s Amanda Crandall s Stuart & Rebecca Crane s David & Kristi Crawford s James Crosslin s Kevin & Terri Curry s Dallas Dallman s Carol Daniel s Edward & Lynn Darfler s Dennis & Mary Davis s Joseph Day Rider s George & Loretta Day s Noble & Jane Dean s Gordon & Kathryn Decker s William & Nancy Decou s Elizabeth & Kevin Dennehy s Robert & Andrea Denning s Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation s Harry & Jenette Denson s Timothy Derosier s Dinesh Desai s Janice Desi s David Dewey s Ann & James DiBerardinis s Terry & Raymond Dickinson s Matthew Domek s Linda Donovan s Jayne Downey s Kadene Drummer s Duane Oberquell Architects, Inc. s Scott & Vickie Dubbs s Carmie & Rick Dunbar s John III & Jerry Dunckel s Lawrence Sr. & Vivian Durland s Amanda Edwards s Patricia & Paul Edwards s Charles & Carolyn Egan s Ethan & Joyce Elliott s Thomas & Diane Erickson s Excel Physical Therapy, Inc. s Gregory Fox & Christine Fastnaught s Thomas & Maxine Ferguson s William & Phyllis Feusahrens s Judith Fiedler s First Interstate Bank - MSU Office s Greg Evans & Susan Fletcher-Evans s Sharon Flower s Artina Foster s Kenneth & Lynn Franz s Nichole Fredrick s William Freese s Richard French s Beau & Susan Freund s Jane Frye s Carol Fulton s Harvey & Marla Funk s Erin & Jason Furr s Ronald & Julie Furstenau s David & Donna Gaarder s Joseph & Ellen Galligan s Nichole & Trint Gamas s Robert Garber s Sofie Garcelon s William Gavin s Yuan Ge s Leandra Gebhardt s General Electric Company s Tim Germeraad s Lisa & Bradley Giese s Kevin & Sheila Gilbertson s Patrick & Julia Glancy s Tymon & Brianna Gleason s Carol & Louis Goosey s Granger Angus s James & Elizabeth Granger s Colleen Gray s Laurita Green s Taylor Green s Bernard Gregoire Jr. s Earl & Dorothy Griffith s Timothy Grimes s David & Kelley-Jean Griswold s Paula Guy s Carl Gysler s Charles & Josette Hackett s Janet & Arthur Hall s Bryan & Johnna Hall s Mark Halvorson & Cindy Osland s David & Lou Ann Hansen s Craig Hall & Mary Anne Hansen s Janet Hanson s Clifford Jr. & Sheila Hanson s Alison Harmon s Carol Harper & John Laird s Helen Hart s Tyler Hartanov s Ronald & Sandra Haugan s Robert & Colleen Hauswirth s Deanna Hay s Judy Hayden-Gardenier & Keith Gardenier s George & Deborah Haynes s Marty & Nicole Hecock s John & Bonnie Heimbach s Patrick & Meagan Heinen s David Henderson s Randy & Kay Henjum s Molly & Gary Hepper s Michael & Amy Heppler s Joyce Herbeck s Jess McGee & Laura Hickey s Lisa Hilling-Carpenter s Darlene Hindoien s John & Terry Hinman s Tyler Hinshaw s Nicole Hobbs s Barbara Hogan s James Jr. & Sarah Holland s Homes 4 Rent, Inc. s Julie & Del Hopewell s Reed & Elaine Howald s Raymond Hua s Michael Hudson s Michael & Cynthia Hufnagel s Ronald & Sandra Hults s Holly Jo Hunts s Lawrence Hutchinson s Barbara Hvizdak s Peggy & Mike Iba s Patricia & Wendell Ingraham s Greg Iverson s Rick & Julie Jackson s Roxane Jacobson-Shammel & Floyd Shammel s Russell Jacquet-Acea s Jeffrey Jarvi & Beth Dayton s James & Diane Jenks s Terry Jensen s David & Mary Jochim s Carla & Philip Johnson s Catherine & John Johnson s Derrick & Stephanie Johnson s Howard & Janece Johnson s Jon & Janet Johnson s Richard & Paula Johnson s Stephanie & Ted Jones s Leonard & Catherine Joppa s Philip Kaatz s Miranda Kacer s James & Esther Kalitowski s William & Patricia Kamrath s Ann Kapernick s Jason Karls s Richard & Kathryn Karp s Wayne Kasworm s Martha Kauffman s Cherie Keil s Harsh Kejriwal s William Kelly s Kenneth Gibson & Lynn Kelting-Gibson s Sandra Kempa s Hannah Kim-Rohrer & Jeffrey Rohrer s Diana Kingfisher s Lisa & Richard Klemmensen s Kay & Terry Klepey s Donald & Joann Klinko s Frank & Debbie Kohlenstein s Linda & Joe Konesky s Michael Kopczyk Jr. s Kathryn & Tom Kotynski s Della & Robert Kramlich s Volker Krasemann & Beth Kraseman s Kenneth & Karen Kress s Katie Kuchinsky s Judith Kuhl s Rajiv Kumar s Gerald & Catherine Kuntz s Daniel & Kay LaFrance s Ross Lane s Richard & Dorothy Lang s Esther & Reuben Lantz s Jeffrey & Tana Larson s Neva Larson s Jennifer LaVanchy s William & Patricia Law s Claire LeDuc s Opal & Ralph Lee s Russel & Susan Leland s Robin & Robert LeNeve s Richard & Robin Lennemann s Thomas LeProwse s Lynn Lindgren-Shreuder & Maarten Schreuder s Scott Lindsay s Jun & Ruowen Liu s John & Barbara Livingston s Marilyn Lockhart s Thomas & Kristina Luhrsen s Ernest Luikart & Wendy Herrick s Fenqjen Luo s Gary & Mary Jo Lusin s Jeffrey & Santral Lusin s Richard & Barbara Mackie s Sandra & Merrill Main s Mark & Dawn Major s Stephen & Sunny Mandeville s Michael Manger s Frank Manseau s Virginia Manseau s William Marchese s Christine Martin s Peter Martin s Sherrie Martin s Dennis & Kay Martinen s Jane & D. Lynn Mason s Robert & Andrea Mayer s Robert & Andrea Mayer s Richard Jr. & Pamela McBee s Linda McClanahan s Kimberli & Steven McCullough s Lance McDowell s John McEwen & Mary Musil s Jess McGee & Laura Hickey s Jonathan McIntyre s Clark McKee s Allen McNeal s Arthur & Donna McRae s Heather McWhorter s Carol Melby s Micron Technology, Inc. s Mary Miles s R. & Stewart Miller s Sherry Miller s Tonya Miller s Daniel Mills s Pranab & Soma Mishra s Rex Moats & Eliza Whitman s Christopher Monsour s Eric Moog s Brad & Sheri Moore s Joan Moyle s Raymond Mueller s Mary Mulcaire-Jones s Patrick Munson s William & Edna Munson s Carrie Myers s Jean Nedrud & Ed Nordby s Victoria Ness s Todd & Kimberly Nichols s John & Cheryl Nilsen s Katherine & Alec Nisbet s David & Barbara Nostrant s Duane & Linda Oberquell s Timothy & Joann O’Brien s Kayleen Offringa s Brian Ohs s Deborah & Robert Olig s Dale & Anne Olson s James & Barbara Oriet s Charlotte Orr s Lori Ostberg s Karen Ostermiller-Galbraith & Scott Galbraith s Dorothy Otte s Joel & Carol Padmore s Ronald & Nancy Paige s Emily Palmer s Robert Palmer s Mary & Chris Pappas s JoAnn Parini s Wayne & Sally Park s Tamar Parker s Justin & Jean Patton s Lynn Paul s Delbert Peck Jr. s Julia Peila s John & Martha Peters s Janice Peterson s Loween Peterson s Susan Phillips s Dan & Mari Pickering s Harold Picton s Laura & Randy Pierce s Leslie Pierson s Pioneer Hi-Bred International s Michael Pipp s Wayne & Bette Pitzer s Karen & Dorvan Polson s Sharon Powell s Roberta & John Prange s William & Lucille Prenevost s William & Lucille Prenevost s James & Marjorie Pribyl s Selma Price s Elizabeth Quintana s Md Zillur Rahman s Thiruvarangan Ramaraj & Anitha Sundararajan s Maarika Rang s Lynda Ransdell s Kari Ratliff s Debra & Michael Redburn s Gregory & Barbara Reed s Mark Reinsel s Jonathan Reveal s RF Smith & Sons s Deanna & Bert Rice s Jereen Rice s Mary Jo & Dixon Rice s Abigail & Lee Richards s James Richter s Raymond & Susan Ricketts s Bruce & Peggie Riley s John Jr. & Kay Robertson s Roxlyn Robinson s John & Marilyn Rogers s Dale & Melanie Rowlison s Monica Ruiz s Constance Rumely s Sheila Rutherford s Barb & Marty Sackman s Susan Sager s Christine Salstrom s Michael Sanford s Daniel Santin s Sather Eye Clinic & Optical, P.C. s Thomas & Jacqueline Sather s Leonard & Marlene Saunders s Charles & Janet Saxton s Patricia & Floyd Sayler s James & Paula Schilke s Gordon & Cheryl Schlepp s Christopher Wilson & Sarah Schmitt-Wilson s H. & Jacqueline Schmitz s Catherine Schuck s Milana Lazetich & Michael “I would never have made it through the Schwarzkopf s William & Cheryl Schwarzkoph s Todd & Theresa Schwendeman s Margaret Secrest s Kevin & Francine Segrud s Tricia Seifert s Virginia & Richard Semler s program without financial support in Stephanie & Alan Shammel s Justin Shanks s Maggie Sherrill s Marty & Laurie Sickler s Darryl Siemer s Michael & Mary Ann Sierz s Dawn Silva s Jeffrey Sinnott s Chester Skilbred s Heber Slabbert s Guy & MaryJo Smith s Russell Smith s Bruce & Virginia Sorensen s Gene & Margaret Spangrude s Ryan Sparks s David Spaulding & Mollie Squires the form of teaching and s Sharon Spicher s Keith Springer s Peggy Springer s Owen St Clair s Carol Staben-Burroughs & Grant Burroughs s Wallace & Kay Stadtfeld s Christine & Brad Stanton s research assistantships.

Michael & Molly Stenberg s Jo & Dwight Stevenson s Nicholas & Theresa Stevenson s Quentin & Angie Stober s Jonathan & Sarah Storvick s Kathryn Stowell s Structural Engineering Design PC s John Sulgrove s Robert & Patricia Sullivan s Susan Sullivan s Larry & Ronna Sundell s Sheryl Swanson s Jon & Hanne Swenson s Vicki & Lionel Tapia Every dollar you give to s Dennis Taplin s Donna & Thomas Tarantino s Sharon Tate & Theodore Freeman s Peggy Taylor s Harold Taylor s David & Beth Ann Theiste s Amy Thompson s Audrey The Graduate School Thompson s Paul & Kathleen Thompson s Dale Tischmak s Brian Tocher s Margaret Towne EdD s James & Margaret Troske s Glen & Leola Tusler s Emily Tutvedt s Constance Undem s Mary Ungaretti s Ted Ungricht s Barbara Van Cleave s Richard Vanden Boom s Eugene & Peggy Vennes s Tena Versland s Dale & Janet Veseth s Tom & Jeanne Vogel has the potential to s John Vollertsen s Mark & Elizabeth Waddington s Katherine Wagner s Randy Wall s Christina Waller s John Rausch & Annette Walstad s Shoou-I & Jeanny Wang s Shari make a positive impact.”

Ward s Tim & Denise Warner s Andrew Warren s Ginger & Frank Warren s Sue & Edward Warren s Christy & John Wasem s Richard Jr. & Carolyn Watkins s Gary Wegher s Joseph Weixelman s Thomas Wellnitz s Geoffrey Wendt s Wertheimer Ranch s Paul & Janet Wertheimer s William Wertman s Robert & Sandra Western s A. & Joanne Weston s Mary Whitham s David & Janet Wichman s Mikelle Wiley s Kelli Williams s Christopher Williams s Randy Williams s Robert & Glynis Williams s Kenneth & ~ Jeannette Wolak, Carolyn Wilson s Howard & Laurel Wilson s Peter Wilson s Robert & Brenda Witters s Andrea & James Woodley s Christopher Wright s Yihan Xiong s Xiaohu Xue s Ph.D., Earth Lih-An Yang & Andrew McKean s Colin Young s Janette Young s Ypsilon Associates s Brenda Zirkelbach s Gordon Zollinger s Linda Zygmond

Sciences, 2011

The donor list found above was provided by the Montana State University Alumni Foundation and includes all gifts received between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. If there is an error or if your name has been omitted, please contact the Alumni Foundation at 800-457-1696.

17

Graduate Education Statistics

Did you know. . .

Graduate School Makes Progress Towards Montana State’s Strategic Plan Goals The strategic plan aims to increase the number of graduate students to 2,350 by 2019. In an effort to reach this goal, The Graduate School has been working with departments across the campus to create new degree and certificate programs in established and multi-disciplinary areas. During the 20142015 academic year, the Board of Regents approved new Ph.D. programs in education and psychology with students starting in these programs in fall 2015.

The master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation of nearly every graduate student since 1902 is now on ScholarWorks, the Montana State library’s open access repository of intellectual work. Recent efforts to digitize old documents bring the collection to almost 7,500 items! To search for a specific work or to browse the collection, visit scholarworks.montana.edu/

Graduate Student Headcount

Graduate Degrees Awarded

Doctoral Degrees Awarded

2012-2013

2012-2013

2013-2004

2014-2015

2014-2015

Up 8.5% since 2012

Up 18% since 2012

Up 69% since 2012

1,888

576

2012-2013

2,030

562

2013-2004

56

2,050

682

83

2013-2004

2014-2015

Degrees awarded by gender 2014-2015 academic year

49

male

335

female

341

18

Fall 2014 Enrollment Graduate certificate programs have seen a significant increase in enrollment. Students have historically enrolled in these programs as a stand-alone objective to broaden their knowledge base and further enhance their career. Increasingly, degree-seeking students are enrolling in certificate programs to complement their primary degree.

By College

International enrollment Number of students:

139

Agriculture Arts & Architecture Business Education Health & Human Development Engineering

Number of countries:

49

Letters & Science

Top 3 countries:

Nursing

China, India, Canada

The Graduate School

By Degree Type

Certificate Doctor of Education Doctor of Nursing Practice Doctor of Philosophy Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 1st year Education Specialist Master Master of Arts Master of Education Master of Engineering Master of Fine Arts Master of Nursing Master of Science Non Degree Professional Master 0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

19

Degrees Awarded 2014-2015 Academic Year

By College College of Agriculture College of Arts & Architecture College of Business

College of Education Health & Human Development College of Engineering College of Letters & Science College of Nursing The Graduate School 20

0

40

60

80

120

100

120

140

160

180

200

By Degree Type Certificate Doctor of Education Doctor of Philosophy Education Specialist Master Master of Arts Master of Education Master of Engineering Master of Fine Arts Master of Nursing Master of Science Professional Master 0

40

80

160

200

240

280

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

Celebrating Graduate Education