Glacier Country News

The University of Montana (UM) has been recognized as the number one "Military Friendly" college for tier-1 research institutions in the United States according to a national organization's ranking. This recognition comes from the Military Friendly Schools list, which gathers data from 8,800 schools nationwide through input from student veterans and a Military Friendly survey.

Tanner Liermann, a Marine Corps veteran and wildlife biology major at UM, expressed his satisfaction with the university. "When I think about my decision to come to UM, I’m extremely grateful," Liermann stated. He also acknowledged the opportunities UM has provided him, describing them as "almost unfathomable."

UM's director of the Military and Veteran Services Office, Patrick Beckwith, elaborated on the university's commitment to military-affiliated students. "We feel this Military Friendly recognition is important because it highlights UM’s unwavering commitment to inclusive prosperity," Beckwith said. He emphasized the efforts across different sectors of the campus to support military and veteran families.

UM is currently led by President Seth Bodnar, a veteran and Rhodes Scholar. Both Bodnar and Beckwith are West Point graduates with military experience. Liermann served in the Marine Corps from 2017 to 2021 and shared his experiences during that time, including deployments to the Pacific region.

Liermann's journey to UM was influenced by the university's location and its reputation for wildlife biology. "I didn’t know then I would join one of the greatest Wildlife Biology programs in the United States," he noted.

Liermann has been active on campus, participating in the Davidson Honors College and serving in the Student Veterans Organization. He was recruited by Beckwith to work at the veteran services headquarters, a space dedicated to military-affiliated students.

Liermann has also engaged in research, particularly in fieldwork and genetics. His work has involved studies related to grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, as well as serving as a grizzly bear technician for Idaho Fish & Game.

Reflecting on UM's ranking, Liermann stated, "I feel like this honor is a pat on the back for our entire campus." He credited Beckwith's communication across campus and the focus on graduation and career outcomes for the achievement.

After graduating on May 10, Liermann will enter a doctoral program in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he plans to continue his research involving grizzly bears.

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