IN THEIR OWN WORDS: WOMEN'S VOICES

*Titles/affiliation are listed for identification purposes only; all individuals are speaking as private citizens.

SARAH SWAGER

Former UM Vice Provost for Student Success

"I'm from Sheridan, Montana and worked in higher education for decades. I've seen presidents come and go. Seth was one of the most supportive leaders I have ever worked with. When he arrived, UM had one female dean. When he left, more than half our deans were women. I watched him hire two female provosts, which is the #2 position at the university. He listened to them. I sat at the table and on the executive team, and my voice was always valued. And while I worked to juggle my responsibilities as a leader and my responsibilities as a daughter caring for aging parents, Seth supported me every step of the way."

ARLENE WALKER-ANDREWS

Former UM Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

"I spent more than 45 years in higher education settings: as a secretary, undergraduate, graduate student, professor, administrator, and volunteer. I recognize the difference between saying you support the people in those positions and actually doing so. In the workplace, women, especially, encounter those who discriminate based on age, gender, race, appearance, and education. Universities are not immune to those forces, which call for leadership that meets that challenge. Seth Bodnar did so. He promoted women across UM; he appointed women to higher administrative positions; and he relaunched the Women's Leadership Initiative to empower women and recognize their contributions. I know personally several of the talented women who were recognized and promoted under his leadership."

GRACE GARDNER

UM Associate Dean, Missoula College

"I have been part of the University of Montana community since 2005, serving in a variety of roles while earning all four of my degrees from UM. During that time, I completed my doctorate, became a mother of three, and was entrusted with increasing leadership responsibilities, ultimately being promoted to Associate Dean at Missoula College. As a fifth-generation Montanan, I was raised to value hard work, humility, honesty, and authenticity. I've learned to recognize character, and I also know when something doesn't ring true. Based on my own experience, Seth Bodnar has consistently demonstrated integrity, professionalism, kindness, and genuine respect for the people around him. Throughout every stage of my personal and professional journey, Seth was unwavering in his support. He believed in me as a leader, encouraged my growth, and created an environment where I felt trusted and valued. I have worked with many leaders over the course of my career, and he is among the very best. He leads with humility, works incredibly hard, and invests in people. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have worked under his leadership and for the example he has set for our university community."

MAGGIE BELL

Former UM Student Body President

"I grew up in Great Falls and met Seth Bodnar when I was a student at the University of Montana serving as the student body president. I learned so much about leadership and taking action just by watching Seth. He listened when I brought ideas or issues forward, took noticeable steps toward solutions, and was willing to put in the work on students' behalf. Seth believed in me as a leader and fostered an environment where I was a welcome and engaged participant — even as the youngest or less experienced person in the room. I refuse to let a political opponent who has never worked with Seth try to further divide Montanans with falsities about who he is. Montana needs Seth in Washington. He will be a true representative of Montanans and our ideas, unique problems, and needs. Being a young woman in leadership is hard but Seth believed in me. And he believes in Montana. I know he won't be in D.C. to serve himself; he'll have all of us in mind, always."

MARY KRETA

Former UM VP for Enrollment Management

"Seth is one of the most principled and humble leaders I've ever met. At UM, I had the privilege to serve alongside many women I admire. We were hired, promoted, and supported by Seth. As a leader, he mentored us, yes, but he also asked us to teach and mentor him. He respected and empowered each of us in ways that embraced our entire life story and enabled us to reach our full potential. And he recognized that in order to reach his full potential, he needed to humbly listen to us. Seth and I did not always agree, and we regularly debated. He appreciated it when I pushed back or questioned his thinking, especially when a decision had profound consequences. He respected my ideas, trusted my judgement, and deeply considered my perspective when it differed from his."

RENAE SCOTT

Former UM Chief Information Officer

"I worked closely with Seth Bodnar for a number of years as a member of his executive team. During that time I had his unwavering support both professionally and personally. I always knew his door was open and that I'd find a colleague ready to help me succeed. Characterizations of Seth as anything other than kind, supportive, and ethically oriented do not at all align with what I know to be true of him."

AMY CAPOLUPO

UM Associate VP and Dean of Students

"I worked with Seth for eight years. What you see, hear, and read from Seth is who he is. He is accountable, fair, and open to feedback. What impresses me most is that he genuinely cares about the people he serves. He approaches leadership as a responsibility and a privilege. He works hard to create opportunities for others while remaining grounded in his principles, and he does not compromise his values simply because it is convenient. He listens carefully, seeks out people with deeper expertise, welcomes candid feedback, and makes thoughtful decisions."

MARIA MANGOLD

UM Registrar

"I worked with Seth Bodnar during his UM presidency and witnessed him lead with emotional intelligence and a willingness to hold himself and others accountable. He demonstrated an ability to take criticism, to repair relationships when needed, and to take responsibility for his own mistakes. I personally witnessed this. He quietly modeled this for all of us. He set a silent yet shared standard of integrity. We deserve this type of leadership in Montana. 'Inclusive prosperity' became both UM's motto and his rallying call."

University of Montana Lawsuit Fact Sheet

GREW ENROLLMENT, STUDENT SUCCESS, AND GRADUATION RATES

• Reversed a decade-long enrollment decline, delivering five consecutive years of growth and a record-high first-year retention rate. Improved graduation rates by one-third, achieving an all-time high. 

DROVE RESEARCH & INSTITUTIONAL GROWTH

• Grew research award volume by 92% and earned UM's Carnegie R1 research classification, the highest classification for doctoral universities in the United States. This UM classification was reaffirmed in 2025.

GAINED NATIONAL RECOGNITION

• Named the #1 university in the nation for community and national service three years running.

• Named the #1 Military Friendly university in the nation among tier-1 research institutions.

ACHIEVED FUNDRAISING RECORDS

• Completed the largest fundraising campaign in state history — $450.9 million from more than 34,000 donors — and grew the university's endowment by more than 60%.

GREW WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Launched AccelerateMT, training more than 3,300 Montanans through non-credit, short-term programs that saw a completion and job-placement rate above 90%.

ADVANCED CYBERSECURITY & TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP

• Secured $6 million to launch CyberMontana and establish the state's first four-year cybersecurity degree program.

INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE & CAMPUS RENEWAL

• Spearheaded a $400 million campus infrastructure renewal, the largest in university history, investing in student living and learning spaces, in community spaces, and in core facilities to serve future generations of Montanans.

ACHIEVED FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

• Eliminated a $10 million structural budget deficit and improved the university's net asset position by nearly $60 million.

• Built new revenue streams through efforts like summer concerts in the football stadium, bringing economic benefit not just to the university but also to the local economy.

IMPROVED ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

• Overhauled strategic planning and built an integrated HR function to strengthen recruiting and retention.

DROVE ATHLETIC SUCCESS  

• Delivered major athletic facility upgrades — including the state's first indoor practice facility — and led Grizzly football to its first national championship game since 2009.

IMPROVED INSTITUTIONAL BRANDING

• Oversaw a major institutional branding refresh that authentically captured UM’s identity and injected new energy into UM’s public face.

PROVIDED STEADY LEADERSHIP

• Guided the university through a global pandemic, emerging stronger on the other side.

SETH'S LEADERSHIP FOCUS AT UM: INCLUSIVE PROSPERITY FOR ALL MONTANANS

Bondar’s efforts to drive progress at the University of Montana were all in the service of a larger goal as president: to promote inclusive prosperity for all Montanans through opportunities for all to reach their full, unique potential. This is demonstrated in his success expanding the university's graduate school, dual-enrollment programs, and workforce training initiatives. These efforts aimed to ensure every Montanan would have access to the education and training needed to secure a well-paying job and meaningful career.

Bodnar prioritized several efforts to support this goal, including:

• Native American Students — UM recorded the largest number of Native American students in the university's history and increased enrollment of Native American students by more than 40% from 2018.

• Veterans and Military-Connected Students — UM was ranked the #1 "Military Friendly" college in the country among tier-1 research institutions in 2025, serving roughly 1,000 military-affiliated students.

• First-Generation College Students — Under Bodnar's leadership, first-generation students grew to 33% of the student body by fall 2025.

• Workforce Training — Under Bodnar's leadership, short-term workforce training was a priority. UM served 10,387 individuals through noncredit workforce training programs during the 2024-25 school year alone.