UM College of Business names first woman as dean

A former business professor, department chair and interim dean at the University of Montana has been named the new dean of the UM College of Business.

Suzanne Tilleman, who has been interim dean at the business college since May 2019, will begin her duties immediately. She is the first woman to serve as permanent dean of the college.

“I look forward to continuing working with our faculty, alumni and partners as we evolve a curriculum that leverages data, analytics, value-added business and human processes,” Tilleman said.

Born and raised in Havre, Tilleman has been a faculty member teaching management at UM since 2010. She has earned Outstanding Management Faculty honors multiple times and served as the management department chair from 2017 to 2019 before serving as interim dean following the departure of Dean Chris Shook.

Tilleman holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in management from Tulane University and a Ph.D. in strategy and entrepreneurship from the University of Oregon.

Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Tilleman spent seven years working in industry and another four years teaching at Montana State University-Northern, where she discovered her love of teaching and developing students.

Her industry experience includes working for some of the largest players in the natural resources arena: General Electric, Exxon and Monsanto.

“I care deeply about our state,” Tilleman said. “The UM College of Business provides transformative learning experiences that help our students achieve better lives. Through the efforts of faculty, staff and our alumni, we foster economic development in the entire state and region.”