Beronda L. Montgomery, PhD (she/her) is MSU Foundation Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at Michigan State University. She is also a member of the Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory. Dr. Montgomery will soon move to Grinnell College to serve as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean.

Montgomery conducts research on the means by which plants and cyanobacteria are able to monitor and adjust to changes in their external environments. The ability of these largely immobile organisms to adapt to dynamic environments increases their survival and maximizes productivity. She also conducts scholarship and training initiatives on effective research mentoring, research management, and academic leadership, including issues related to mentoring diverse scholars, as well as faculty development. Dr. Montgomery received an NSF CAREER Award and was an American Society for Microbiology Distinguished Lecturer. She has been elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 2018, the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2020, the American Society of Plant Biologists in 2021, and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Montgomery served as assistant provost for faculty development from 2016-2020 at MSU with responsibility for supporting all faculty and academic staff in the areas of research, scholarship, and creative activities. She currently serves as associate vice president for strategic initiatives and operations in the office of research & innovation at MSU. She is author of the book Lessons from Plants (Harvard University Press, 2021) and was recently awarded the Adolph E. Gude, Jr. Award from the American Society of Plant Biologists for outstanding service to the science of plant biology.