Our Team
Dean McGovern (he/him)
Executive Director, MontPIRG
CEO, MontPIRG Leadership Fund
Dean McGovern looks for spaces where education and community blend into social impact and learning. He seeks insight and connection with people who want more inclusion, equity, and joy in their world. Since May 2024, Dean has served as executive director of MontPIRG and CEO of the MontPIRG Leadership Fund. He is an associate instructor in the Honors College at the University of Utah. Previously, Dean was executive director of the Lowell Bennion Center for Community Engagement and the Montana Campus Compact. His teaching, scholarship, and service focus on civic leadership and community engagement. He earned doctoral and master’s degrees from the University of Montana and baccalaureate degree from Colorado State University. Dean often finds answers to his persistent questions by running and hiking in the mountains.
Sophie Moon (they/them)
Regional Director (Missoula-Butte), MontPIRG
Sophie has a bit of a MontPIRG obsession. As a student of Environmental Studies and Political Science at the University of Montana, they worked as a MontPIRG intern, lead intern, canvasser, board member, and board chair. They even joined the MontPIRG Leadership Fund after graduating and now serves as our Regional Director (Missoula-Butte). That’s almost a decade with MontPIRG! Sophie is most passionate about helping students and young people explore how their interests intersect with civic engagement and community organizing. They have led statewide campaigns, built non-profits from the ground up, honed their communication skills, served some damn-fine food and wine, and even repped for a local plant-based milk company. In short, they like to play in the nexus of food systems and advocacy - and they love helping others discover their unique intersections with advocacy work, too.
Carl Anderson (he/him)
Regional Director (Bozeman- Billings) , MontPIRG
Carl grew up in Eastern Montana and from an early age, had a passion for protecting the environments and particularly the wildlife of his home state. He obtained baccalaureate degrees in Clinical Psychology and Biochemistry with a minor in Astrobiology as well as a Graduate Degree in Clinical Psychology through the Montana University System. After working in biochemical research for a time, Carl became convinced that his knowledge in the sciences would better serve the world of public policy. In 2018, MontPIRG gave him the opportunity to work with young folks and aid them in learning how to make tangible, positive change in the world around them and he knew that he had found his true passion in life. In his downtime, he founded a local organization that promotes arts and culture in the Gallatin Valley and spends every moment he can with his wife, daughter, and their dogs and cats.
Bryan Miller
MontPIRG
Bio coming soon.
Owen McDaniel
Legislative Fellow, MontPIRG
Owen is studying political science at Montana State University. He is from Helena and a graduate of Helena High School where he was selected as an All-State Musician for his artistry with the violin. In Spring 2024, Owen and his teammates earned a place and represented Helena High School at the National Mock Trial Championships. Owen served as a MontPIRG intern in Fall 2024 and now serves as MontPIRG’s Legislative Fellow. During the 2025 Montana Legislative Session, he is meeting with elected officials and organizational partners at the Capitol to advocate for students and issues important to Montanans. Owen is passionate about building and sustaining healthy communities as well as protecting the beautiful wilderness and open spaces that we have here in Montana. These passions led Owen to join our team here at MontPIRG while working toward his bachelor’s degree.
Heidi Sawitzke
Website Design
Heidi is driven by a belief in “We the People” and the power of civic engagement. Previously a social studies teacher, Heidi has long been committed to helping young people see themselves as active participants in democracy. As web designer, she works to expand access, amplify youth voices, and empower people to understand and use their rights.
Heidi holds a BA in History, a Master’s in Teaching and Curriculum Design, an MFA in Creative Writing, and a certificate in Web Programming and Development. This diverse academic background reflects both a love of learning and a conviction that multiple perspectives strengthen communities.
Beyond professional and academic roles, Heidi finds joy and renewal in dancing, playing board games, and writing fiction that explores varied viewpoints. These passions mirror her larger purpose: inviting others to imagine, engage, and contribute to a future where civic participation is grounded in respect and informed by facts.