University of Montana leader touts enrollment gains, record research and Grizzlies’ economic role

Dr. Lesie Webb, speaking at the Missoula Area Chamber's State of Missoula event, previewed the university’s leadership transition and highlighted recent gains in enrollment, research and the economic impact of Grizzly athletics.

Webb announced that Dr. Jeremiah Shin will become the university’s president on July 1 and praised his expected focus on community partnerships. "President Shin is a strong community partner, a strong decision maker, and a strong leader who will prioritize our students and our state," she said.

Webb said the university has added more than 500 students since 2021 — a roughly 16% increase — and has improved its first‑to‑second‑year retention rate by 9 percentage points since 2018. She connected those gains to investments in orientation, student financial services and career supports that aim to keep students enrolled and employed locally.

The university also reported a record year for sponsored research. "Last fiscal year we brought in $150 million in research expenditures, an all‑time record," Webb said, and noted research growth of 173% since 2014. She framed that activity as a source of both quality‑of‑life improvements — citing rural medicine and wildlife research — and new business‑formation opportunities.

Webb emphasized the regional economic contributions of athletics. Citing statistics from the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, she said Grizzly events generate about $94 million in annual spending in the Missoula area, add $58 million in county gross domestic product and support roughly 728 jobs on game days. "When we fill Washington Grizzly Stadium for a football game or a concert, it provides a tremendous boom to our community," Webb said.

Why it matters: Webb tied university growth to Missoula’s labor supply and business vitality, urging continued collaboration between higher education, local employers and community partners so that students can become a stable workforce for the region.

What’s next: Webb said the community can expect continued outreach from the university to expand scholarships and employer partnerships and welcomed the incoming president’s engagement with local business leaders.