Seed grants awarded to Montana State, community projects across Montana

BOZEMAN - Five Montana State University projects with statewide impacts will receive seed grant funding this year from MSU's Outreach and Engagement Council.  

The seed grants will help kick-start collaborative projects between MSU and Montana organizations to promote community engagement and address Montana residents' needs. Each project could receive up to $8,000 in funding. The council has awarded a total of $328,000 in seed grants since the grant program began in 2015.

"MSU's Outreach and Engagement Council is thrilled to award seed grant funding to these innovative projects," said council chair Kim Obbink. "As a land-grant university, this type of engagement is essential to fulfill our mission and help meet the needs of the communities we serve. These seed grants represent the high quality of engagement work at MSU that continues to support our Carnegie classification."

The university received a national Carnegie Community Engagement Classification this year for its outstanding work with external partners.

The 2026-27 projects receiving seed grant funding are as follows: 

"Wide Horizons: Co-Designed Cancer Information Pathways for Pediatric and Adolescent and Young Adult Patients in Rural Montana"

Primary project coordinator: Elizabeth Johnson, assistant professor, Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing

Primary external partner: Sarah Krüg, executive director, CANCER101

Children, adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer often experience lasting physical, psychosocial and behavioral effects that extend well beyond treatment and require long-term supportive care. The project will create a foundation for accessible, relevant and community-centered cancer information support for rural Montanans ages 0-39.

"Improving Vaccine Literacy and Uptake in Gallatin Valley through Community-Engaged Education"

Primary project coordinator: Emma Loveday, assistant professor, Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology

Primary external partner: Lori Christenson, health officer, Gallatin City-County Health Department

Public trust in vaccines has declined significantly in recent years, and vaccine uptake in Montana has followed suit. Loveday and community partners will design an outreach program to improve vaccine literacy, combat misinformation and increase vaccine uptake in the Gallatin Valley.

"Future Ready Leadership: A Statewide Incubator for Principals and Superintendents"

Primary project coordinator: Laura Schlottman, assistant professor of educational leadership, College of Education, Health and Human Development

Primary external partner: Rose Jones, regional leadership executive, Capturing Kids' Hearts

Future Ready Leadership is a statewide incubator designed to strengthen Montana's pipeline of future principals and superintendents, with a focus on rural communities. Led by MSU's Department of Education, the program will engage 24 educators - 12 teacher leaders and 12 current principals- in an eight-month, practice-based leadership experience.

"Strengthening Partnerships Between Certified Nurse-Midwives and Recovery Doulas to Support Pregnant Individuals with Substance Use Disorder in Montana"

Primary project coordinator: Tracy Hellem, associate professor, Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing, Missoula campus

Primary external partner: Pamela Ponich, perinatal program manager, One Health

Pregnant individuals with substance use disorders face significant barriers to prenatal care and treatment in Montana. The project proposes that recovery doulas, trained in birth support and peer recovery support, represent a promising community-based workforce. In collaboration with One Health and the Montana Area Health Education Center, MSU will connect doulas with practicing certified nurse-midwives and midwifery students, expanding opportunities to complete training requirements while increasing support for pregnant individuals.

"Media Mavericks Immersive Tours at Montana PBS and KGLT"

Primary project coordinators: Nikki Vradenburg, director of education, Montana PBS, and Ann Bernard, youth media specialist, Montana PBS

Primary external partner: Sheila Mei Pocdol, Media Mavericks club adviser, Hardin School District

Media Mavericks is an outreach program for middle school and high school students with the goal of amplifying the voices of Montana teens. Supported by Montana PBS Education, Media Mavericks clubs across Montana can visit Montana PBS and KGLT studios on the MSU campus during the school year to work with producers and create media.