The One Thing Montanans Need to Know About New MSU Pres

BUTTE, MT - Brock Tessman is coming home.

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The former Montana University System executive and current president of Northern Michigan University has been tapped as the next president of Montana State University in Bozeman.

The move, announced earlier this week, signals not only a major transition for the state’s flagship university but also a potentially explosive new chapter in Montana higher education.

Tessman’s background reads like a blueprint for a higher ed leader: a former professor and administrator, he's held high-level positions within the Montana University System, including deputy commissioner for academic, research and student affairs.

His move to Michigan in 2023 came as a surprise to some, but his swift return raises one unavoidable question: why now?

Well, there's one thing you need to know...

First: A Campus Under Pressure

When Tessman officially steps into the president's office at MSU, he won’t just be inheriting a title, he'll be stepping into a boiling pot.

In recent years, MSU Bozeman has found itself embroiled in controversy.

A 2023 Daily Montanan report revealed growing discontent among students and faculty, who say that politics and money have clouded the university’s judgment on “anything controversial.”

Concerns over MSU’s handling of sexual assault cases, academic freedom, and administrative transparency have put pressure on the institution’s leadership to respond, but critics say the answers have been thin.

Investigations and Oversight

Adding fuel to the fire are ongoing investigations into MSU’s administrative practices.

While the specifics remain sealed to the public, the backdrop includes Title IX scrutiny, accusations of political interference, and questions about budget priorities.

For Tessman, navigating these challenges will mean balancing transparency with leadership, all while earning the trust of a campus community still nursing old wounds.

Faculty and student leaders have already signaled they want a president who listens. Whether Tessman is that person remains to be seen—but the stakes are high, especially at a time when public confidence in higher education is teetering nationwide.

The Price Tag That Comes With the Job

And now I've finally come to it—the one thing Montanans should know about Brock Tessman, and the detail that may raise the most eyebrows.

If Tessman’s contract matches that of outgoing MSU President Waded Cruzado, he’ll be in line to earn half a million dollars per year—making him the highest-paid public official in the state of Montana.

Cruzado’s salary rose to over $500,000 following a series of annual raises, and according to the Daily Montanan, top Montana University System officials recently received $14,000 salary increases in a single stroke.

That kind of compensation might seem excessive in a state where the median household income hovers just under $65,000.

But university officials argue that MSU needs elite leadership to stay competitive nationally, and Tessman, with his Montana roots and national experience, might be the candidate to deliver.

Final Thoughts

Brock Tessman’s return to Montana State University is more than a personnel change—it’s a referendum on what Montanans want from their top academic institution. With a divided faculty, skeptical student body, and public scrutiny at an all-time high, Tessman will have to lead with clarity, compassion, and—perhaps most critically—courage.

Whether his $500,000 paycheck is seen as a wise investment or a tone-deaf extravagance will depend on what he does next.

Montana is watching.

Summary:

Brock Tessman, former Montana University System official and current president of Northern Michigan University, has been named the next president of Montana State University in Bozeman.

As he prepares to take office, Tessman faces a campus fraught with controversy, including ongoing investigations and criticism over political influence and administrative transparency.

Students and faculty are calling for stronger leadership and a renewed commitment to academic values.

If his salary matches that of his predecessor, Waded Cruzado, Tessman could become Montana’s highest-paid public official, earning around $500,000 annually.