In an effort to deliberately focus its academic strengths, the University of Montana is launching fall semester with two new colleges led by two new interim deans.
The largest collection of academic units at UM – the venerable College of Humanities and Sciences – has been divided into two new units: the College of Science and a college of humanities and social sciences.
“These two new colleges will elevate our academic impact and sharpen our ability to tell UM’s story,” UM President Seth Bodnar said. “This revised structure will allow us to more loudly tout and build upon UM’s academic strengths in a more focused, deliberate way.”
UM will conduct national searches for permanent deans of the new colleges during the 2025-26 academic year. Until those positions are filled, Bruce Bowler will serve as interim dean of the science college and Christina Yoshimura will lead as interim dean of the humanities college.
The College of Science will house biological sciences, chemistry and biochemistry, computer science, math, and physics and astronomy.
The college of humanities and social sciences will encompass the departments of English, history, philosophy, world languages and cultures, anthropology, Native American studies, economics, communication studies, psychology, political science, and sociology and criminology. Officials will select an official name for the college with Montana Board of Regents approval during the coming academic year.
Dr. Bowler is a UM professor of chemistry and biochemistry. The accomplished scientist joined UM in 2006, and he leads the University’s federally funded Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, which supports research and core instrumentation for several departments and colleges across campus.
“I’m excited to help establish the new College of Science,” Bowler said. “In particular I’m eager to promote our strong academic and research programs in the sciences and to increase awareness of our excellence both within Montana and beyond. My goal is to help drive increased enrollment and opportunity for students across all science disciplines.”
As a protein chemist, Bowler studies the physical forces that stabilize protein structures and guide folding mechanisms. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and has helped land more than $16 million in grants for UM.
He also has played a leading role in science curriculum development. Bowler spearheaded the creation of UM’s Biochemistry Program in 2009, which launched Montana’s first B.S. in Biochemistry, as well as graduate programs in biochemistry and biophysics.
Dr. Yoshimura is a UM communication studies professor trained in both communication studies and clinical mental health counseling. She joined UM as a faculty member in 2006 and brings an interdisciplinary lens to her work that combines scholarship, teaching and practice.
Her research focuses on how families navigate challenging experiences, including bereavement, interpersonal violence and mental health diagnoses. Her recent publications examine cross-cultural exchange, father-child socialization and work-family tensions.
“I am honored to bring my experience and respect for both the social-scientific and humanistic intellectual traditions to this year’s collaboration in building a new college,” Yoshimura said. “I look forward to working with faculty, students and staff to develop a strong college identity – one that we can communicate proudly within and beyond the University.”
Yoshimura recently completed a term as chair of UM’s Faculty Senate and has been involved in campus leadership throughout the planning for the College reorganization. She also recently completed the presidency of her discipline’s academic association, and brings to her new role over a decade of organizational leadership experience.
By: UM news service