Stefani Hicswa Will Be the First Woman Chancellor of Montana State University Billings

Stefani Hicswa has been selected as the new chancellor for Montana State University Billings. When she assumes the chancellorship of Montana State University Billings on January 11, she will be the first woman to hold the position since the university’s founding in 1927.

Montana State University Billings enrolls just over 4,000 undergraduate students and nearly 400 graduate students according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data. Women make up 65 percent of the undergraduate student body.

Dr. Hicswa currently serves as president of Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, a position she has held since 2013. Under her leadership, Northwest College has achieved the highest completion rate in its history, completed significant capital projects, and launched comprehensive strategic visioning, enrollment management, and facilities master plans. Prior to Northwest College, Hicswa served for seven years as president of Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana.

“Coming to MSU Billings feels like an opportunity to come home,” Hicswa said. “It is powerfully evident the faculty, staff, and Billings community really care about students. That’s part of what drew me to the job and working with them to help students succeed is a big part of what I’m looking forward to.”

Dr. Hicswa holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from the University of Montana. She earned a master’s degree in adult, community, and higher education from Montana State University and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin.