Hardy Named Dean at Montana Technological University
03/23/2021
Michele Hardy Ph.D. has been named the dean of the College of Letters, Sciences & Professional Studies (CLSPS) at Montana Technological University. Hardy will begin her new role on July 1, 2021. She will replace Karen VanDaveer, who has served in the role on an interim basis since 2020.“The CLSPS dean search committee did a great job. We want to thank the members of the committee for all their hard work. We are thrilled with the outcome of this search, and we look forward to working with Dr. Hardy,” said Amy Kuenzi and Katie Hailer, co-chairs of the search committee.
The search process saw 36 candidates and was narrowed down to the top four who were interviewed in February of 2021.
“We are excited that Dr. Hardy has decided to join us as the next dean of the College of Letters, Sciences, & Professional Studies. Her leadership experiences, as well as those as a faculty member at MSU and Washington State University, have prepared her well to support the faculty and staff in CLSPS,” noted Steve Gammon, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs/Provost.
As dean, Hardy will oversee a diverse number of programs which include biological sciences, business, chemistry, geochemistry, interdisciplinary arts and sciences, mathematical sciences, and nursing.
“I am so excited to be joining CLSPS and Montana Tech,” added Hardy. “I’m looking forward to working closely with faculty, staff, and students to see the college reach its full potential. The future is bright and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Dr. Hardy earned a PhD at Texas A&M University and did her postdoctoral work at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, with fellowships in molecular virology and pediatric gastroenterology. She spent 17 years on the faculty at Montana State University building a successful research program on viruses that cause significant gastrointestinal disease in both children and adults. She has been active in undergraduate and graduate education, developing program curricula at both levels, and training students in the classroom and in the laboratory. In 2013, Dr. Hardy was recruited to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine as Chair of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology. She returned to MSU as Director of Research for the American Indian/Alaska Native Clinical and Translational Research Program and served as Assistant Dean for Research Development in the College of Agriculture.
For more information about the College of Letters, Sciences & Professional Studies at Montana Tech, please visit https://www.mtech.edu/clsps/.