Boise State Interim President Named Finalist for Montana Job

Boise State continues search for new leader after previous president's departure.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:06pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print of a university campus building, repeated in a grid pattern with bold, neon-like colors and heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the changes and uncertainty surrounding Boise State's leadership.The ongoing leadership transition at Boise State University is reflected in the pop art-inspired imagery of its iconic campus buildings.Boise Today

Boise State University's interim president, Dr. Jeremiah Shinn, has been named the finalist to become the next president of the University of Montana. This comes as Boise State continues its own search for a new permanent president, a process that has stalled in recent months.

Why it matters

The departure of Boise State's previous president and the ongoing search for a new leader has created uncertainty for the university. Dr. Shinn's potential move to the University of Montana would further complicate Boise State's leadership transition.

The details

Dr. Jeremiah Shinn will visit the University of Montana campus next week to participate in meetings with university leadership, faculty, staff and students as part of the finalist process. Meanwhile, Boise State's own presidential search has been paused and then resumed, with the Idaho State Board of Education now anticipating considering finalists in May and announcing a sole finalist in mid-June.

  • Dr. Shinn was named interim president of Boise State in April 2025, a month after former president Marlene Tromp announced her departure.
  • In October 2025, Boise State's presidential search committee paused the search, saying it did not have five finalists to present to the Idaho State Board of Education.
  • On March 9, 2026, Boise State announced it would resume the search for a new president, and that Dr. Shinn would be removed from the search committee.

The players

Dr. Jeremiah Shinn

The interim president of Boise State University who has been named the finalist for the president's job at the University of Montana.

Marlene Tromp

The former president of Boise State University who departed in March 2025 to become president of the University of Vermont.

Boise State University

A public research university located in Boise, Idaho, that is currently searching for a new permanent president after the departure of its previous leader.

University of Montana

A public research university located in Missoula, Montana, that has named Dr. Jeremiah Shinn as the finalist for its president's position.

Idaho State Board of Education

The governing body responsible for overseeing Boise State University's search for a new president.

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What they’re saying

“When the search began, it was not expected that he would be carrying full presidential responsibilities for this duration while also participating in the search process.”

— Boise State University

What’s next

The Idaho State Board of Education anticipates considering finalists for Boise State's presidency in May and announcing a sole finalist in mid-June. The board also plans to discuss an update on the search at its April 16 meeting.

The takeaway

Boise State University's ongoing leadership transition has created uncertainty for the institution, with the potential departure of its interim president, Dr. Jeremiah Shinn, to the University of Montana adding further complexity to the search for a permanent president.