Doctorate ‘preferred,’ not required, for University of Montana president

Sheila Stearns, interim president at the University of Montana, holds a doctoral degree, an Ed.D. in educational leadership.

Former UM President Royce Engstrom, her predecessor, holds a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry.

The late George Dennison led UM before Engstrom, and he earned a Ph.D. in history and received honorary doctorates, too.

The leaders of the Montana flagship achieved the highest degrees possible at an institution of higher education before leading one.

But the next UM president may not have as many letters after her name – or more likely, his name, according to data on university presidents from the American Council on Education.

KEILA SZPALLER [email protected]

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/doctorate-preferred-not-required-for-university-of-montana-president/article_760f34f3-23ba-5e4e-a24c-141c0c7cc10a.html