GREAT FALLS — Great Falls College Montana State University has named Leanne Frost as its next CEO and dean, ushering in a new chapter of leadership focused on student success, workforce development and community partnerships.
Frost has served as executive director of instruction and student success at Great Falls College MSU since 2020 and has been with the college in various leadership roles since 2011. Frost was selected after a national search.
Frost said she intends to continue Great Falls College’s focus on delivering high-quality academic programs and workforce training, strengthening partnerships with business and industry, and ensuring students have the support they need to thrive in their classes and beyond.
“I am honored to serve as CEO and dean of Great Falls College,” Frost said. “This institution changes lives every day by helping students discover opportunities, develop skills and achieve their goals. I look forward to working alongside our dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners as we expand access to education and create pathways to success. My goal is to make Great Falls College a place where students want to learn and people want to work.”
“Dr. Frost’s dedication to students and her deep knowledge of Great Falls College MSU make her exactly the right leader for this moment,” said Brock Tessman, president of Montana State University. “I’m thrilled to see her step into this role, and I’m confident she’ll continue building on the college’s strong tradition of access and opportunity for students across our region.”
Great Falls College has experienced eight straight semesters of enrollment increases and has grown about 25% since 2021, going from 1,180 to 1,490 students while also increasing full-time equivalent enrollment from 709 to 884. Full-time equivalency is calculated by dividing the total credits taken by all Great Falls College students by 15, the number of credits that constitutes a full-time course load. It is a sign that students are making progress through their degree programs.
The college’s Career and Technical Education-Validated Skills Training also has increased its footprint dramatically in that time, with hundreds of people earning credentials such as Certified Nursing Assistant and Commercial Driver’s License certifications. The department also launched programs such as short-term structural welding and floor installation to help local industry fill critical workforce shortages.
In 2025, Great Falls College partnered with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses after being named the program’s Mountain West hub, providing free, 12-week training for entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Arizona.
The Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation also announced a partnership with Great Falls College to offer the nation’s first-ever on-campus, simulation-based grid operator training program. The first cohort is expected to start in early 2027.
“We are on a really good trajectory,” Frost said. “It has taken a lot of hard work by our amazing faculty, staff and industry partners, and we don’t want to lose momentum. I’m really excited to take on this new role. Whenever I’ve had the opportunity to accept a promotion, it’s with the idea that I can do more good, help more people.”
Frost succeeds the retiring CEO and dean, Stephanie Erdmann, and will begin her new role on Aug. 2.