Montana Western Alumnus Dr. Dilan Starkel to Speak at Legacy Plaza Celebration
August 11, 2026
The University of Montana Western is pleased to welcome alumnus Dr. Dilan Starkel as the guest speaker for the 2026 Legacy Plaza Celebration, held in conjunction with Convocation on Thursday, August 13. The annual celebration welcomes Montana Western's newest students while recognizing the beginning of their journey as Bulldogs.
A 2012 graduate of Beaverhead County High School, Starkel earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Montana Western in 2016 before attending the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. After graduating from dental school, he purchased Libby Family Dentistry in 2020 and recently opened Starkel Dental in Dillon, where he currently serves patients in both communities.
During his time at Montana Western, Starkel was a member of the Bulldog football team and served as a resident assistant and assistant hall director in the Residence Life Department. He also worked on the Residence Life janitorial staff during the summers and spent several semesters working in the campus bookstore. Starkel credits Montana Western’s Experience One block schedule, the mentorship of faculty in the Biology Department, and the guidance of his coaches for preparing him for the demands of dental school and his professional career.
“The education I received at Western put me on a level playing field with my peers in dental school, many of whom attended prestigious universities,” Starkel said. “The block system prepared me well for the accelerated pace of learning required in professional school.”
Today, Starkel serves on the New Dentist Committee for the Montana Dental Association. He and his wife, Alyssa, whom he met while attending Montana Western, have two children and enjoy spending time together as a family, reading, playing video games, and supporting Bulldog and Beaver athletics.
The Legacy Plaza Celebration follows Convocation and symbolizes the beginning of each student’s Montana Western journey. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and friends are invited to join in welcoming the newest members of the Bulldog family.
