Montana’s higher education system is now losing not just its commissioner at the end of this year, but its longest-serving member of the board of regents Lynn Hamilton of Havre

The Havre native and Montana State University-Northern advocate announced this afternoon that she had notified Gov. Brian Schweitzer of her immediate resignation, less than two years away from the end of her second seven-year term.

"I'm comfortable knowing I did my best, and I'm confident the board and our system leaders are well prepared for the fiscal and political challenges ahead, ” Hamilton said in a press release. “I plan to continue to be an advocate for both K-12 and higher education because, along with so many Montanans, I believe great public education is a key to our success as individuals, as communities, and as a State."

Hamilton was at Northern on Wednesday with retiring Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns to collect ideas for the upcoming regents’ search for Stearns replacement.

Stearns lamentation of the loss of Hamilton was also included in the release.

"The state of Montana will deeply miss Lynn's institutional knowledge and expertise in the governance of higher education," Stearns said. "Lynn is a strong advocate for all the units of the Montana University System. I thank her for all her support."

First appointed by Gov. Marc Racicot in 1999, then reappointed by Schweitzer in 2006, Hamilton said she is stepping down “because she views her leadership goals in higher education as completed and she wants to enjoy more time with her family. ”