Montana State’s College of Letters and Science dean stepping down in December

BOZEMAN — Montana State University announced this week that Yves Idzerda will step down as dean of theCollege of Letters and Science at the end of the fall 2025 academic semester.

Idzerda, who took on the dean’s role in 2020, plans to return to teaching and research in the college’s Department of Physics. As a full professor of physics, Idzerda will concentrate on his research and leverage his leadership skills as director of the MonArk Quantum Foundry, a $24 million research program funded by the National Science Foundation in 2021. He will also serve as president of the Applied Quantum CORE, a newly established $26.7 million research program funded by the U.S. Air Force in 2024.

“I am proud to have been able to serve Montana State and the College of Letters and Science these past four years as dean,” said Idzerda. “I look forward now to continuing to advance MSU’s mission in the classroom and our laboratories.”

During Idzerda’s time as dean, the College of Letters and Science saw multiple accomplished professors elected to national academies, early-career scientists earn National Science Foundation CAREER awards and students win prestigious awards like the Goldwater and Udall scholarships, as well as the awarding of millions of dollars in grants to support research on topics ranging from quantum computing and gravitational waves to mountain geology and the human gut microbiome.

“I am grateful to Dr. Idzerda for his exemplary work as dean of the College of Letters and Science and pleased that he will remain with MSU as a faculty member in the Department of Physics. His talents will continue to benefit our students, offering them opportunities to learn and engage in relevant research that will prepare them for exciting and rewarding careers,” said Robert Mokwa, MSU provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

Idzerda joined MSU as associate professor of physics in 2000. From 2004 to 2009 he served as associate director of the MSU Center for BioInspired Nanomaterials. He was named head of the physics department in 2013 before assuming the position of dean in July 2020. Before MSU, Idzerda was a staff scientist and served as head of the artificially structured materials non-linear physics section at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. He has a doctorate in physics from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in physics from the University of Washington and bachelor’s degrees in physics and electrical engineering, both from Washington University.

Idzerda’s research focuses on quantum materials that have use in quantum information technology and energy applications. His work has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Energy.

While at MSU, Idzerda has received numerous awards for his work, including the Charles and Nora L. Wiley Award for Meritorious Research in 2003, the Deans’ Award for Meritorious Research in the College of Letters and Science in 2004 and the Cox Family Fund for Excellence Award in 2007. In addition, he was named a fellow of the American Physical Society in 2008.

The university will begin a national search in September with the goal of hiring a new dean to lead the college by Jan. 2, 2025.