After nearly 40 years in higher education, Montana Technological University Chancellor Les Cook will step down after the 2024-25 school year.
Montana Tech officials announced his retirement Wednesday. Cook will retire on June 30, 2025.
The chancellor has been at Montana Tech since 2019, steering the institution through significant growth and development as one of the nation’s premier STEM universities.
Prior to his position at Montana Tech, he spent 16 years at Michigan Technological University serving in numerous leadership positions. He also held positions at the University of the Pacific, University of Utah, and Salt Lake Community College.
“Serving as the chancellor of Montana Tech is and will remain the pinnacle of my career in higher education,” said Cook. “I am humbled and truly grateful to those who have made Montana Tech the incredible institution it is today.”
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According to a news release, during Cook’s tenure, the university placed a strong emphasis on growing enrollment and enhancing student success. Applications for admission to the university have doubled with the incoming class for fall 2023 being the largest since 2014.
The university also launched efforts to build a robust academic advising/student success model, dedicated the Student Success/Living Learning Center, celebrated six Goldwater Scholars, and implemented an outdoor tech program focused on health and well-being. In addition, the dining hall underwent a major $1 million renovation, campus celebrated the largest number of students living on campus, and recorded some of the highest retention numbers in history.
