University officials announce withdrawal of new Montana Tech chancellor

Two weeks after the Montana University System announced the appointment of a new chancellor at Montana Tech, MUS and University of Montana officials announced her withdrawal.

In a news release Friday, Karen Marrongelle, the Chief Science Officer of the U.S. National Science Foundation, said she is withdrawing from consideration for the chancellor position.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must withdraw from consideration as chancellor of Montana Technological University, for circumstances beyond my control during these unprecedented times,” Marrongelle said in a statement.

Marrongelle was set to lead Montana Tech in Butte starting Aug. 4.

“Montana Tech is a special place, and I am deeply grateful to everyone in the Butte community who so warmly welcomed my family and me during our visit,” Marrongelle said. “Montana Tech deserves a great leader, and I am disappointed that it will not be me. I wish the faculty, students and staff nothing but the best as they continue their search for a Chancellor.”

The news release did not provide details, and MUS spokesperson Galen Hollenbaugh could not be immediately reached Friday for additional information.

UM President Seth Bodnar said he was disappointed Marrongelle would not be at the helm of the Butte campus with some 2,500 students. Montana Tech is connected to UM.

“Dr. Marrongelle is an exceptional and talented leader and would have been an outstanding chancellor for Montana Tech,” Bodnar said in a statement. “While we are disappointed that she won’t be joining the MT Tech community, we wish her every success.”

Marrongelle could not be immediately reached Friday through a message left with her office.

The news release said Commissioner Clayton Christian, Bodnar, and chairperson of the Search Advisory Committee Deputy Commissioner Tyler Trevor will discuss with the Search Advisory Committee options to re-engage the search process.

In a news release earlier this month, Marrongelle said she was honored to be selected, and she and her family were looking forward to joining the Butte community.

Commissioner of Higher Education Christian earlier said Marrongelle’s leadership would help expand the university’s nationally ranked engineering, science and health care programs.

“Dr. Marrongelle’s extensive STEM and research background is a perfect fit for Montana Tech,” Christian said earlier this month.

The news release Friday said Montana Tech was originally chartered as the Montana State School of Mines and provides a “world-class science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, preparing graduates for impactful careers.”