University Communications and Marketing

MSU Billings selects new City College Dean

Vicki Trier, Ph.D. will begin role on January 2, 2019

University Communications and Marketing, 657-2266

Montana State University Billings is pleased to announce Vicki Trier, Ph.D., has been selected as Dean of City College. She will assume her new role on January 2, 2019. Trier was most recently Associate Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore.

“I am excited for Vicki to join our team as she has experience in building coalitions and developing pathways to educational and workforce success at both two-and four-year institutions,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Melinda Arnold. “She brings a wealth of experience in dual enrollment, curriculum development, program alignment, and community engagement, which will serve her well as a leader for City College. She will collaborate with City College faculty to provide opportunities for our students to advance their skills and help strengthen our programs’ connections with regional workforce needs.”

Trier has a doctorate degree in Education, specializing in Higher Education Administration, from the University of Idaho and a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from Indiana University. Her previous academic administration positions include Executive Dean for the School of Professional and Technical Careers at Lane Community College, Dean of Instruction for the Division of Arts and Sciences at Spokane Community College, and Assistant Dean for the College of Graduate Studies at the University of Idaho. Prior to her administrative positions, Trier held a number of progressive positions at the University of Idaho in the areas of student retention and recruiting. She has continued to instruct throughout her career at the university/college and K-12 levels.

Trier will replace the current City College Interim Dean Florence Garcia, who assumed the role in August. The prior Interim Dean Elizabeth Fullon stepped down due to a health condition and later passed. The previous City College Dean Clifford Coppersmith left in May to become President of Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Md.

For the City College Dean search, MSU Billings partnered with Myers McRae, a firm that helps colleges and universities select leaders. The search committee reviewed and evaluated 62 candidates. Seven were selected for WebEx/phone interviews.

Three candidates, Florence Garcia, David Gurchiek, and Vicki Trier, progressed to in-person interviews at City College. Candidates met with faculty, staff, and students in a series of meetings. Open forums were held for these candidates who presented on the topic “What would be your role to expand and solidify City College’s partnership with the University Campus?”  Attendees at the open forums and meetings had the opportunity to provide feedback to the City College Dean Search Committee on the final candidates.

The search committee members included: Bruce Brumley, Stephanie Cowen, Keith Edgerton, Vern Gagnon, Halle Keltner, Kelly McCoy, Brittney Souza, Lisa Skriner, Stacey Teague, Sheri Steiner, Heather Thompson-Bahm, Eileen Wright, and Christine Shearer (chair), as well as Scott Anderson, Principal of the Career Center, and Robert Hietala, Dean of Gallatin College MSU in Bozeman, MT.