Montana State University announced this week that Craig Ogilvie, dean of the Graduate School and associate vice president of research, will step down from his administrative role at the end of December. Ogilvie, who has led the Graduate School since 2019, will remain at MSU as a faculty member in the Department of Physics within the College of Letters and Science, focusing on nuclear physics research and teaching.
“We will miss Dr. Ogilvie’s leadership as dean of the Graduate School, but I’m pleased that Craig will continue to be an integral part of our academic community,” said Robert Mokwa, MSU’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.
Mokwa highlighted Ogilvie’s contributions to advancing graduate education, fostering student success, and supporting MSU’s research and teaching missions during his tenure. “His leadership has been instrumental in strengthening our academic programs and partnerships, and we are grateful for the impact he has made,” Mokwa added.
Reflecting on his time as dean, Ogilvie expressed gratitude for the university’s commitment to its graduate students. “Thanks to all the people at Montana State for their work with our incredible graduate students — the faculty who teach and mentor, the staff who do so much to support our students, especially the staff in the Graduate School,” Ogilvie said. “I have learned so much from our students; they are developing advanced skills and knowledge to make a difference in Montana’s communities. They are amazing, and all of MSU is proud of their accomplishments.”
Before joining MSU, Ogilvie served as assistant dean of the Graduate College at Iowa State University and held academic positions at institutions including Michigan State University, GSI in Germany, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Iowa State. He holds a doctorate in physics from the University of Birmingham, England, and a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.
Deborah Haynes, former head of MSU’s Department of Health and Human Development and interim vice provost for global engagement, will serve as interim dean of the Graduate School starting in January.
MSU plans to conduct a national search for a permanent dean, with details to be announced at a later date.