Montana State University announced on Mar. 25 that Elizabeth Burroughs, head of the Department of Mathematical Sciences, will serve as interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs starting June 1.
Burroughs will succeed Robert Mokwa, who is retiring from the provost’s office to return to a faculty position in the Department of Civil Engineering. The appointment comes as Montana State University continues its role as Montana’s land-grant institution and leading research university in Bozeman, offering extensive academic programs and public service initiatives according to the official website.
“It is a privilege to serve the faculty and students at Montana State University, where together we shape the future of our state and nation through our scholarship and engagement with the world,” Burroughs said. “I am proud to be part of our land-grant mission because I believe in higher education as a public good.”
MSU President Brock Tessman said, “Dr. Burroughs is an outstanding leader who has shown a deep commitment to student success, academic excellence and service to our state, and I am excited that she was willing to take on this important role for our university. I look forward to working closely together to advance the academic success of our students and the excellence of our faculty and instructors.” Tessman also acknowledged Mokwa’s leadership: “I also want to express my gratitude to Bob Mokwa for his exceptional leadership as provost and for his commitment to supporting a smooth and thoughtful transition process in the months ahead.”
Burroughs joined MSU’s mathematics faculty in 2007 after teaching at Humboldt State University. Her research centers on mathematical modeling in classrooms, connections between undergraduate mathematics courses and high school courses, as well as teacher preparation. She has authored or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, contributed significantly through professional associations such as serving on committees focused on degree persistence or orientation issues at MSU, chaired regional sections of national mathematics organizations, received mentoring awards like the Women’s Faculty Caucus Distinguished Mentor Award in 2019, participated in international scholarship programs including being a Fulbright Scholar (2014-15), secured National Science Foundation funding—including a recent $1 million grant—and edited key publications about teacher preparation.
Montana State University enrolls approximately 17,165 students split evenly between residents and nonresidents according to its official website. The university leads research funding within Montana with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million according to its official website. It ranks among the top five percent of global universities per rankings by external organizations cited by its official website.
The university extends its influence beyond campus through volunteer efforts aimed at improving lives across communities statewide according to its official website.
As Burroughs prepares for her new role beginning June 1st—bringing decades of experience from teaching high school math in Atlanta through advanced research—university leaders say they anticipate continued progress toward advancing MSU’s educational mission.