University Communications and Marketing

November 15, 2010

Contacts:

Dr. Rolf Groseth, Chancellor, 657-2300
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269

Appointment will go forward for approval to Board of Regents this week

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — A longtime member of the Montana State University family has been named chancellor of Montana State University Billings.

Dr. Rolf Groseth was named Monday by MSU President Dr. Waded Cruzado as the second chancellor of the Billings-based university. Groseth succeeds Dr. Ron Sexton, who had served as chancellor of MSU Billings since 1995. Sexton retired in August.

Groseth was named chancellor after an extensive national search process that yielded more than 80 applicants and narrowed down by a search advisory committee of academic, alumni, administrative, student, business and community representatives.

“Dr. Groseth has a proven track record of dedication to Montana State University and its units across the state,” Cruzado said. “He has the ability to connect to the people and students at our campuses and has proven he can garner support in the communities we serve. I very much look forward to continue working with him to take MSU Billings to the next level of excellence.” Groseth said he was honored by the appointment and said he was eager to get started in his new leadership role.

“I appreciate the confidence shown in me by Dr. Cruzado and look forward to this next step in the advancement of this university in the Billings community,” Groseth said. “There is a lot of work to do and it’s the kind of work that I’m excited to do.”

Groseth, 64, has been serving as interim chancellor at MSU Billings since July. Before arriving in Billings, he was serving as vice president for inter-campus affairs at Montana State University in Bozeman and was interim chancellor at MSU Northern in Havre from January 2008 to August 2009. 

“Universities are living, breathing organisms and I look forward to working with students, faculty and staff on the next stage of growth at MSU Billings,” he said.

Dr. Stacy Klippenstein, vice chancellor for student affairs at MSU Billings and search advisory committee co-chair, said the search process yielded a strong field of candidates to lead MSU Billings and is looking forward to the next chapter.

“We are excited that Dr. Groseth has accepted the position,” Klippenstein said. “We firmly believe that Dr. Groseth will be a wonderful addition to the team and will help MSUB move forward in the future.  His communication style, commitment to shared governance and learner-centered philosophy proves a great match for our institution."

As the inter-campus affairs vice president, Groseth worked to provide coordination among executive officers on the Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls and Northern campuses of the MSU system, the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Montana Board of Regents. He has worked as executive assistant to the MSU President from 1994 to 2004 and had extensive student affairs experience at MSU in Bozeman from 1977 to 1994 and before that at the University of Florida and Georgetown University. Groseth also served two years in the U.S. Army, including a 12-month tour of duty in Vietnam.

He is married to Jaynee Drange Groseth, executive director of the MSU Alumni Association. They have two grown sons.

Located in Montana’s largest city, MSU Billings is a comprehensive regional university with an enrollment of more than 5,300 students. It has more than 80 academic programs in five colleges that provide certificate, two-year, four-year and master’s degree education.

It is one of four universities in the MSU system that serves students and the state through campuses in Bozeman, Billings, Havre and Great Falls.