Marilyn Lockhart is a professor of adult and higher education and director of the Center for Faculty Excellence. Hired in 1998 as a full-time faculty member, for 13 years she tirelessly mentored junior faculty in the department and numerous master’s and doctoral students, many of whom have gone into leadership positions at MSU.  Lockhart was the founding director of the Center for Faculty Excellence in 2011 and has grown the center while serving all MSU faculty. Under her leadership, the center has gained additional staff and conducts over 100 workshops with 1,700 attendees annually. She has created over 20 writing groups, numerous ongoing faculty learning communities and directs the annual President’s excellence in teaching and the teaching innovation awards. Moreover, the center gives annual teaching and scholarship grants to support faculty success. She is a long-standing member of the American Association of University Women and has served as the local branch president and a board member.  Its mission, to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research‚ is also her mission. Additionally, Lockhart, a member of the President’s Commission on the Status of University Women since its inception, chaired the subcommittee that created the Commission’s women and student awards, and she continues to serve on that committee.

Marilyn Lockhart has created a professional milieu that acknowledges women’s crucial contributions, helping to make Montana State the university of choice in Montana.

Marilyn Lockhart