Cathy Conover to retire from VP post at Montana State U.
Montana State University
October 15, 2010
Cathy Conover, the Montana State University vice president of communications and public affairs who has served as the university's chief spokesman and lobbyist for 13 years, has announced her retirement at the end of the year.
"This is a great time for me to retire," Conover said. "I have been able to work through the exciting first year of Waded Cruzado's presidency and I am now looking forward to refocusing on a variety of activities I enjoy with my family. I'm ready for the next chapter."
In announcing Conover's retirement, MSU President Waded Cruzado said that Conover has been an extraordinary public servant who has served the university and the people of Montana well for nearly 30 years.
"For many Montanans, particularly those involved in the legislature, Cathy Conover was the face of Montana State University," Cruzado said. "The areas of higher education, higher education funding, agriculture, public television, funding for student scholarship and more are all better for her dedicated and tireless work."
Cruzado also complimented Conover's professionalism, composure and accessibility as the university's long time spokesman.
A native of the Denver, Colo. area, Conover first joined MSU as a personnel officer and specialist in Human Resources in 1981 when she and her family moved to Bozeman from New York City seeking a lifestyle change that would take them back to the Rocky Mountain West. Drawing upon her skills, experience and training as the former Director of Corporate Manufacturing in the U.S. for Avon Products, Conover first handled labor relations for MSU. She also taught courses as an adjunct instructor in both the MSU College of Engineering and the MSU College of Business.
