President Brock Tessman PhotoDr. Brock Tessman is the 13th president of Montana State University. He is known for his energy, his dedication to students, his ability to communicate the value of higher education for America and the world, and his commitment to delivering better outcomes for the university and its students.

President Tessman came to Montana State University on July 1, 2025, from the presidency of Northern Michigan University. There, he led initiatives that accomplished steady enrollment growth at both undergraduate and graduate levels, record retention rates (78%), financial stability with top-tier bond ratings, unprecedented levels of private giving, and the completion of major capital projects. Under his leadership, NMU also developed new mission and vision statements and a new strategic plan.

President Tessman has extensive experience with the Montana University System. Before leading NMU, he served for four years as the Montana Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education for the 45,000 students and 8,000 employees on the system’s 16 campuses. In that role, he drove statewide success across the wide-ranging sectors of academic affairs, student affairs, research and economic development. Dr. Tessman also helped expand college access for rural communities and adult learner populations across Montana.

As deputy commissioner, he oversaw the design and launch of the Montana 10 student success initiative, which employs targeted financial aid, student incentives, comprehensive advising, mental health and academic momentum strategies that dramatically increased retention rates and on-time completion rates for participants. He was also in charge of the $345 million MUS research enterprise and was responsible for the statewide development of new accelerated degree programs, business and industry partnerships, rapid workforce training programs, public-private ventures, and career and technical education operations. He also was the statewide director for Montana’s community colleges.

Prior to his work as deputy commissioner, Dr. Tessman was a professor of political science and dean of the Davidson Honors College at the University of Montana in Missoula. As dean, he launched new programs in the Honors College, including the comprehensive Career Development Program, a community problem-solving think tank, and the Global Experience Fund for Native American Students.

He began his academic career at the University of Georgia, where he earned tenure in the School of Public and International Affairs for his research and teaching on national security, foreign policy, and the relationship between environmental conditions, risk tolerance and leadership decision making. He also served as associate director of the Center for the Study of Global Issues, undergraduate program director and graduate program director.

He has published extensively in political science journals, including the Journal of Conflict Resolution, Security Studies, International Studies Review and Foreign Policy Analysis. He also authored a widely adopted teaching text, “International Relations in Action.”

President Tessman received an undergraduate honors degree in international relations from Brown University. He earned his master’s degree in international affairs and his doctoral degree in political science, both from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

President Tessman is originally from Michigan. He was a multisport athlete in high school and competed in collegiate track and field at Brown and Colorado. He continues to be an avid trail runner.

He and his wife, Kristin, are the parents of two young daughters, Frances and Leona. They are a family of outdoor enthusiasts.

Updated: July 1, 2025