Published May 24, 2023

Dear MSU Community,

It is with deep sadness that I share with you today news of the passing of longtime Montana education leader Dr. Sheila M. Stearns.

Dr. Stearns, who was a tireless advocate for higher education and who served as Montana Commissioner of Higher Education, died yesterday while hospitalized in Arizona with an illness and with family at her side. She had recently traveled to Arizona to attend a higher education meeting and to watch one of her grandchildren compete in a collegiate athletic event.

Dr. Stearns had a remarkable career in higher education. A Glendive native, she was the first woman to serve as Montana Commissioner of Higher Education, holding the post from 2003 to 2012. In 2012, the Board of Regents conferred on Stearns the title of commissioner emerita.

In addition to her role as Commissioner of Higher Education, Dr. Stearns was vice president and acting president of the University of Montana, provost (president-equivalent at the time) of then-Western Montana College of the UM, president of Wayne State College in Nebraska, and acting chancellor of Montana State University Billings.

As commissioner, her values centered on the importance of the university system as an economic engine for the state as well as the belief that higher education benefits all citizens. She communicated this vision to the state's diverse communities and set about making college accessible to all by working on tuition freezes, fostering retention, building online delivery, increasing dual enrollment and creating access to success initiatives. She was also an unflagging advocate for research at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition to other accomplishments during her time as commissioner, Dr. Stearns pushed to enhance the image of the state's two-year colleges and make it easier for students to earn credits that transfer into four-year campuses.

In recognition of her remarkable career in Montana higher education and her important work benefitting countless citizens of our state, Montana State University also conferred upon Dr. Stearns an honorary doctorate degree in letters in the spring of 2019.

On a personal note, I have a huge debt of gratitude to Dr. Stearns, as she was the Commissioner of Higher Education who, back in October of 2009, offered me the opportunity to serve as President of Montana State University with the start of the new year. In Dr. Stearns I found a spectacular role model and supporter. She was always thoughtful and kind, intelligent and quick-witted, with a keen understanding about the transformative power of higher education in general, and of the land-grant university mission in particular. I will miss her deeply.

Dr. Stearns shaped the Montana University System in lasting ways, and her loss will be felt profoundly. I extend my deepest sympathy to Dr. Stearns' husband, Hal, their family, friends and loved ones, as well as to all of those in our community who had the great fortune of working with her.

Waded Cruzado

Waded Cruzado
President, Montana State University