Seth Alexander Bodnar (born February 2,1979) is an American academic administrator,veteran,and business executive who is the 19th president of the University of Montana.[1] He is a graduate of West Point and was a Rhodes Scholar with master's degrees from the University of Oxford.[2] He remains an active military officer in the Montana National Guard. In January 2026,it was reported that Bodnar would resign his post as president of the University of Montana and run for U.S. Senate in 2026,challenging incumbent Republican Senator Steve Daines.
Bodnar served in the 101st Airborne Division and as a Green Beret in the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Group. He commanded a Special Forces detachment on multiple deployments and served as Special Assistant to the Commanding General in Iraq.[4] From 2003 to 2004,he was deployed to Iraq and served in the 101st Airborne Division. Bodnar later served in the 1st Special Forces Group and commanded a detachment during additional overseas deployments. In 2008,Bodnar was deployed to Baghdad,Iraq.[4]
Following his deployments,Bodnar returned to West Point,where he served as an assistant professor,taught economics,mentored cadets,and published research on economic development in conflict areas.[5] As of 2022,Bodnar remained a Lieutenant Colonel in the Montana National Guard.[6][7]
General Electric
In 2011,Bodnar joined General Electric (GE),eventually becoming a senior executive in GE’s transportation division.[8] As GE Transportation’s chief digital officer,Bodnar oversaw the development of General Electric's "digital hub",which was responsible for developing locomotive and railway technology.[9]
University of Montana
Seth Bodnar assumed the role of President of the University of Montana in January 2018. During his tenure,Bodnar initially experienced enrolment declines in his first few years. However,by the 2024 academic year,the University recorded a 5.6% increase in first-year students,which was the largest year-over-year enrolment jump since 2009.[10] It was further reported that the University of Montana had recruited its highest-ever number of concurrently enrolled Native American students.[11]
On January 14, 2026, it was reported that former United States senator Jon Tester had successfully convinced Bodnar to run as an independent candidate for Montana's Class 1 Senate seat, facing off against Republican incumbent Steve Daines in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.[13] The news broke after a text message, allegedly sent by Tester to a confidant, was leaked to the Missoulian in which Tester criticized the Democratic Party, calling it "a poison in his attempts to get re-elected". The sender of the text message, purported to be Tester, further argued that Bodnar would have a stronger chance at defeating Daines running as a political independent than Democratic state legislator Reilly Neill, who was the then-frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.[14]
In response to subsequent questions from the media, a spokesperson for Bodnar confirmed that he was indeed planning to resign from his presidential post and enter the race, but that he would wait to discuss further details until he was ready to make a formal campaign announcement.[13]
Montana Democrats were critical of Tester's text and of Bodnar's plans to run as an independent. Former Democratic Governor of Montana Brian Schweitzer said that the text message urging a Bodnar run "helps Steve Daines and the Republican Party" and that Jon Tester's own 2006 senate campaign was proof that in the right circumstances, a Democratic state legislator such as Neill could unseat a sitting Republican incumbent.[13]
Personal life
Bodnar is married to Dr. Chelsea Bodnar, a pediatrician. The couple has three children and resides in Missoula, Montana.[15]
Aside from his role at the University of Montana, Bodnar also serves on the board of directors of the Missoula Economic Partnership.[16]
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