Letter from the Director

In November, Humanities Montana said good-bye to two dedicated and talented staff members.

Samantha Dwyer’s last day with Humanities Montana was November 10. Sam started working at Humanities Montana in 2011. She left in 2016 to live and teach in Oman and returned in 2018 to become Humanities Montana’s program officer. Sam brought creative and innovative programs to Humanities Montana, particularly the Gather Round tool kits. She was vital to keeping our programming strong during the pandemic with popular weekly DIY Humanities emails and virtual programs. Sam has accepted a new position with the Clark Fork Coalition in Missoula.

Ryan McCarty’s last day with Humanities Montana was November 19. Ryan joined Humanities Montana in early 2020 as a development and communications intern when he was a master’s student in history at the University of Montana. He started his position as office and communications coordinator in December 2020. Many of you probably remember Ryan’s DIY “Dear Reader” letters on Black history and culture, or perhaps you received an email from him about a Humanities Montana event or focus group. He has accepted a full-time instructor of liberal arts teaching position at Salish Kootenai College.

We will miss Sam and Ryan, and we hope you will join us in wishing them all the best. In the meantime, Humanities Montana continues our important mission, which you will read about in this newsletter. I hope you enjoy learning about our upcoming December 20 grant deadline, our year-end appeal (and opportunities to give), Montana vaccine researcher Dr. Maurice Hilleman, and the archive of Humanities Montana’s 50-year history. I send you and your loved ones my best wishes for a holiday season filled with rich stories and lively conversation in the spirit of the humanities.

Warmest wishes,

Randi Lynn Tanglen, Ph.D.
Executive Director