University Communications and Marketing
Governor taps MSU Billings graduate as next student regent
May 6, 2009
Contacts:
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269
MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Two days after receiving his college degree, Rob Barnosky was called upon for a new educational challenge: statewide leadership.
Barnosky, who received his psychology degree from Montana State University Billings on Saturday, has been chosen by Gov. Brian Schweitzer as the next student representative on the Montana Board of Regents.
The governor made the official announcement Tuesday afternoon during a bill-signing event in Billings.
“This is a very important position,” Schwietzer said. “It oversees a $1.2 billion budget, representing the interests of 35,000 students.”
A 22-year-old from Whitehall, Barnosky will continue his education this fall in the
master’s program in psychology at MSU Billings. He is the third student from Billings
to be selected to serve as student regent on the governing body of the Montana University
System. The last student regent from MSU Billings was Christian Hur, who served from
July 2001 until June 2004. Kim Cunningham served from June 1998 to May 1999.
Barnosky said he “excited by this opportunity” and said he wants to do what he can in his newest leadership role.
“I look forward to an exciting year and doing what’s best for the people of Montana,” he said.
In a press release announcing the appointment, Schweitzer said Barnosky “has shown an outstanding commitment to the students of the state of Montana and is especially committed to keeping college affordable to all our students.” The governor also noted that Barnosky “has shown great leadership on many issues affecting students on our campuses.”
Barnosky finished his undergraduate career as study body president of the Associated Students of Montana State University Billings and was active in many university causes. He worked with the Environmental Awareness Club to develop a student-led comprehensive university recycling campaign and served on a dozen committees as student representative.
He also worked with others on student government to establish the ASMSUB Future Leaders Endowed Scholarship. Their collaborative efforts generated $13,000 so the scholarship fund could be endowed through the MSU Billings Foundation.
He said he is especially proud of that work because enough perpetuates and encourages future leadership. The scholarship provides $350 for books to a COT recipient and a $500 regular scholarship to a student on the main campus. Barnosky wanted to make sure students who received the scholarship were involved and willing to give back. Recipients must participate in at least one campus clean-up and provide a letter at year end describing their involvement on campus.
Barnosky, who has 14 brothers and sisters, chose MSU Billings because it is located between his hometown of Whitehall, where his mother, Kitty Reed, still lives and Miles City, where his father, Eric Barnosky, lives.
He begins his one-year term on the Board of Regents on July 1. He replaces Mitch Jessen, a student from the University of Montana Western in Dillon.
Photo above: Rob Barnosky shakes hands with Gov. Brian Schweitzer after being named next student representative to the Montana Board of Regents on Tuesday.