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Longtime MSU faculty member, administrator Ron Larsen to serve as interim chancellor at MSU Billings

Montana State University President Waded Cruzado announced today the appointment of MSU Associate Provost Ron Larsen as interim chancellor of MSU Billings.

Contacts:

Tracy Ellig, (406) 994-5607, tellig@montana.edu

University Relations, 657-2266

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Montana State University President Waded Cruzado announced today the appointment of MSU Associate Provost Ron Larsen as interim chancellor of MSU Billings.

Larsen will replace Mark Nook, who on Tuesday was named president of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

Larsen will begin his duties as Interim Chancellor on Feb. 1.

“MSU Billings is a remarkable institution in a vibrant community,” Larsen said. “I am very excited to work with students, faculty, and staff during this interim appointment. I am honored to have this opportunity to advance this important educational institution.”

Cruzado said Larsen is well-positioned to lead MSU Billings.

“Dr. Larsen is superbly qualified for this position,” Cruzado said. “He has devoted his entire professional career to serving the people of the state of Montana, and he is deeply knowledgeable regarding our state’s higher education opportunities and challenges. With his extraordinary leadership skills, Dr. Larsen will ably serve Montana State University Billings and the wider Billings community.”

Since 2011, Larsen has served as MSU associate provost, where he has been a key member of the senior management team in the MSU Office of Academic Affairs. As part of the position, he also has served as the university's accreditation liaison officer with the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities, responsible for the successful regional accreditation of MSU in Bozeman. Larsen has also been responsible for assessment, program review, curriculum, state initiatives, the MSU academic catalog and union negotiations.

Larsen also served as interim dean of the MSU Graduate School in 2012-2013.

Before assuming the associate provost position, Larsen served as a MSU faculty member since 1985 and as head of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering since 2002. He also was chair of MSU's Faculty Council in 2000-2001. He has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from MSU and a doctorate in chemical engineering from Pennsylvania State University. As head of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Larsen wrote the department’s self-study report for two accreditation visits, and he has participated as a member and chair of NWCCU accreditation teams.