‘The Revenant’ Author Michael Punke Addresses MSU Freshmen on Character, Challenges

BOZEMAN — Author and attorney Michael Punke, whose novel “The Revenant” became an Academy Award-winning film, addressed Montana State University’s incoming freshmen Tuesday as part of the university’s First Year Student Convocation.

Punke, who lives in Missoula with his wife Traci, a Livingston native, spoke to the Class of 2029 about facing challenges and building character in an era of division.

“We tend to think of the times in which we live as uniquely challenging,” Punke told the students, according to a pre-event interview with MSU News. “But our ancestors confronted their own versions of those challenges, and we can learn from them.”

From Wyoming to Montana Stories

Born in Torrington, Wyoming, Punke has built dual careers as a bestselling author and public policy expert. He currently serves as vice president for global public policy at Amazon Web Services and previously worked as U.S. ambassador to the World Trade Organization from 2010 to 2017.

His connection to Montana runs deep through his research and writing. When Punke and his family moved to Montana in 2003, he wanted to write about local history.

“I read everything I could get my hands on about Montana history, and all roads seemed to lead to Butte,” he said.

That research became “Fire and Brimstone,” his nonfiction account of the 1917 North Butte Disaster, when 168 miners died in what remains the worst hard-rock mining disaster in American history.

Advice for New Students

Punke encouraged the incoming students to expect the unexpected and learn from failure as part of their path to success.

“Challenge yourself continually with hard questions,” he advised. “Remember that the occasional failure is part of the trajectory toward success. When it happens, learn from failure. Adapt your plan and move on.”

He also emphasized the importance of unity in divisive times.

“In the face of the anger and division of the times in which we live, we need strength of character to reject that anger and division,” Punke said. “We need to think of ourselves as fellow citizens, as neighbors, as classmates.”

Looking Ahead

Punke revealed he’s currently working on screenplay projects set in Montana and Wyoming, continuing his focus on Western stories.

When not writing, the author said he hikes with his dog daily and fishes as often as possible.

The complete interview with Punke, conducted by MSU News Service, is available at montana.edu.

MSU’s First Year Student Convocation serves as the university’s formal welcome to incoming students, marking the beginning of their academic journey.