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Your go-to blog for tips and stories from our USM campuses and Southern Maine.

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@usouthernmaine

USouthern Maine on Instagram
USouthern Maine on TikTok
USouthern Maine on Facebook
USouthern Maine on YouTube
USouthern Maine on LinkedIn

People

Class of ’26: Meet Najmo Ahmed, USM’s Student Commencement Speaker

Najmo Ahmed smiles in front of a wall of bookshelves.

May 4, 2026

Najmo Ahmed has a lot going on. She’s finishing her bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral sciences at the University of Southern Maine, interning at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and working toward a master’s in public health — all while preparing a commencement address her mother doesn’t even know about. Keep reading to hear how she got here, what drives her, and what she wants people to take away from her story.

Lisa Struebing references a quantum mechanics textbook while writing an equation on a whiteboard in the Dubyak Center on USM's Portland campus.

April 27, 2026

Class of ’26: How One Adult Student Kept Her Promise — and Earned Two USM Degrees Along the Way
A portrait of USM senior Deklin Fitzgerald with illustrated graduation cap and tassel, part of the Class of '26 commencement series.

April 23, 2026

Class of ’26: Where There’s a Will, There’s Deklin Fitzgerald
A USM student smiles in a campus common area wearing a Huskies hoodie, with an illustrated lemon and iced lemondade graphic overlaid on the image.

April 20, 2026

Class of ‘26: Lizzy Fogg on Turning Lemons into Limonata
More people stories
Najmo Ahmed smiles in front of a wall of bookshelves.

May 4, 2026

Class of ’26: Meet Najmo Ahmed, USM’s Student Commencement Speaker
Lisa Struebing references a quantum mechanics textbook while writing an equation on a whiteboard in the Dubyak Center on USM's Portland campus.

April 27, 2026

Class of ’26: How One Adult Student Kept Her Promise — and Earned Two USM Degrees Along the Way
A portrait of USM senior Deklin Fitzgerald with illustrated graduation cap and tassel, part of the Class of '26 commencement series.

April 23, 2026

Class of ’26: Where There’s a Will, There’s Deklin Fitzgerald
A USM student smiles in a campus common area wearing a Huskies hoodie, with an illustrated lemon and iced lemondade graphic overlaid on the image.

April 20, 2026

Class of ‘26: Lizzy Fogg on Turning Lemons into Limonata
Browse all people stories

Browse all people stories

Purpose

5 Ways to Prepare for Your First Summer Internship

A student smiles while navigating a career fair, with a illustrated briefcase graphic overlaid on the image. A student smiles while navigating a career fair.

May 4, 2026

You landed the internship — congrats! Keep reading to find five ways to show up prepared, confident, and ready to make the most of it.

USM President Jacqueline Edmondson smiles, with the text "President Edmondson on Polymath Pathways" overlaid on the image.

April 27, 2026

Meet USM’s Polymath Pathways: President Jacqueline Edmondson on the Degree Built for Career Resilience
Students study together at a picnic table, surrounded by illustrated doodles.

April 20, 2026

5 Study Hacks Tested by a USM Student
Prashiddhi Pokhrel, a graduate student and MIST Lab student employee, in the Maker Innovation Studio at USM. White star doodles overlay the image in the upper right hand corner.

April 13, 2026

Celebrating Student Workers: A Conversation with One of USM’s 900+ Employees
More purpose stories
A student smiles while navigating a career fair, with a illustrated briefcase graphic overlaid on the image. A student smiles while navigating a career fair.

May 4, 2026

5 Ways to Prepare for Your First Summer Internship
USM President Jacqueline Edmondson smiles, with the text "President Edmondson on Polymath Pathways" overlaid on the image.

April 27, 2026

Meet USM’s Polymath Pathways: President Jacqueline Edmondson on the Degree Built for Career Resilience
Students study together at a picnic table, surrounded by illustrated doodles.

April 20, 2026

5 Study Hacks Tested by a USM Student
Prashiddhi Pokhrel, a graduate student and MIST Lab student employee, in the Maker Innovation Studio at USM. White star doodles overlay the image in the upper right hand corner.

April 13, 2026

Celebrating Student Workers: A Conversation with One of USM’s 900+ Employees
Browse all purpose stories

Browse all purpose stories

Place

Class of ’26: A Love Letter to USM

Bridgette Toland smiles in front of a flowering pink tree. Text reads "Dear USM," with an illustrated graduation cap drawn above her head.

May 4, 2026

For four years, USM has been more than just a school — it’s been the place where I found my people, my purpose, and myself. Keep reading to hear what I wish I’d known sooner, and what I’m carrying with me as I go.

A collage of polaroid-style photos layered over the USM Gorham soccer field at sunset, featuring USM women's soccer players photographing the sunset on the field, posing together in a group photo, and smiling at an event with a metallic backdrop.

April 29, 2026

College Decision Day: What to Consider Before Committing to USM
Thumbnail graphic with a blue background and colorful paper scrap overlays featuring three photos: a student photographing the ocean at the beach, the exterior sign for Portland Lobster Co., and Portland Head Light with the ocean in the background. Text reads "One Husky's Local Favorites" with white paw prints in the corner.

April 20, 2026

Class of ’26: My Favorite Places to Go and Things to Do as a USM Student in Southern Maine
Two students smile and talk at an outdoor table on a sunny day during USM freshman orientation, holding papers in hand.

April 13, 2026

5 Things I Wish I Knew as a College Freshman
More place stories
Bridgette Toland smiles in front of a flowering pink tree. Text reads "Dear USM," with an illustrated graduation cap drawn above her head.

May 4, 2026

Class of ’26: A Love Letter to USM
A collage of polaroid-style photos layered over the USM Gorham soccer field at sunset, featuring USM women's soccer players photographing the sunset on the field, posing together in a group photo, and smiling at an event with a metallic backdrop.

April 29, 2026

College Decision Day: What to Consider Before Committing to USM
Thumbnail graphic with a blue background and colorful paper scrap overlays featuring three photos: a student photographing the ocean at the beach, the exterior sign for Portland Lobster Co., and Portland Head Light with the ocean in the background. Text reads "One Husky's Local Favorites" with white paw prints in the corner.

April 20, 2026

Class of ’26: My Favorite Places to Go and Things to Do as a USM Student in Southern Maine
Two students smile and talk at an outdoor table on a sunny day during USM freshman orientation, holding papers in hand.

April 13, 2026

5 Things I Wish I Knew as a College Freshman
Browse all place stories

Browse all place stories

Recent stories

A student smiles while navigating a career fair, with a illustrated briefcase graphic overlaid on the image. A student smiles while navigating a career fair.

May 4, 2026

5 Ways to Prepare for Your First Summer Internship
Najmo Ahmed smiles in front of a wall of bookshelves.

May 4, 2026

Class of ’26: Meet Najmo Ahmed, USM’s Student Commencement Speaker
Bridgette Toland smiles in front of a flowering pink tree. Text reads "Dear USM," with an illustrated graduation cap drawn above her head.

May 4, 2026

Class of ’26: A Love Letter to USM
View down the aisle between rows of standing graduates in caps and gowns at USM commencement. The word "May" overlays the image.

April 30, 2026

Monthly Roundup: May
A collage of polaroid-style photos layered over the USM Gorham soccer field at sunset, featuring USM women's soccer players photographing the sunset on the field, posing together in a group photo, and smiling at an event with a metallic backdrop.

April 29, 2026

College Decision Day: What to Consider Before Committing to USM
A portrait of USM senior Deklin Fitzgerald with illustrated graduation cap and tassel, part of the Class of '26 commencement series.

April 23, 2026

Class of ’26: Where There’s a Will, There’s Deklin Fitzgerald
A USM student smiles in a campus common area wearing a Huskies hoodie, with an illustrated lemon and iced lemondade graphic overlaid on the image.

April 20, 2026

Class of ‘26: Lizzy Fogg on Turning Lemons into Limonata
Thumbnail graphic with a blue background and colorful paper scrap overlays featuring three photos: a student photographing the ocean at the beach, the exterior sign for Portland Lobster Co., and Portland Head Light with the ocean in the background. Text reads "One Husky's Local Favorites" with white paw prints in the corner.

April 20, 2026

Class of ’26: My Favorite Places to Go and Things to Do as a USM Student in Southern Maine
Browse all stories

Browse all stories

View down the aisle between rows of standing graduates in caps and gowns at USM commencement. The word "May" overlays the image.

The Monthly Roundup

Your go-to guide for what’s happening at the University of Southern Maine and across the Greater Portland area each month! From campus performances, concerts and student events to local festivals, cultural happenings and activities throughout the region, this series will keep you connected to what’s new, what’s next, and what’s worth checking out across our Portland and Gorham campuses and beyond.

Explore what’s on

University news

Winnie Wu (left) and David Nelson (right) presenting their research.

May 7, 2026

TechConnect Links Student Researchers With Industry Across the University of Maine System
Attendee of mapping event pointing at a mark of interest on a map of Portland, Maine.

May 7, 2026

Layering the Past: USM Geography Students Analyze Decades of Change Across Portland’s Landscape
Students lining up to receive diplomas at USM's 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

May 1, 2026

Nearly 1,100 Graduates to Receive Degrees at USM Commencement
Janet Mills Address at CTI

April 29, 2026

Where Maine Teachers Are Made: USM Hosts Ceremony Celebrating Pay Increase for Educators
Najmo Ahmed, USM's 2026 student commencement speaker, smiles in front of a wall of bookshelves.

April 29, 2026

Najmo Ahmed Selected as 2026 Student Commencement Speaker
The Exeter Street sign by the University of Southern Maine's Portland campus.

April 28, 2026

USM Honors Veterans Who Once Called Exeter Street Home
Members of the Environmental Science and Policy Student Group doing a Portland Campus clean-up.

April 27, 2026

USM Earth Month Events Connect Classroom Learning with Campus Action
Two people examine a framed pastel drawing of a heart and rainbow, created during a community art workshop as part of USM's 'Even As We Grieve' exhibition at the Crewe Center for the Arts.

April 24, 2026

New Exhibition Unites Eight Portland Nonprofits Around Grief, Art, and Community
Browse all stories

Browse all university news

TechConnect Links Student Researchers With Industry Across the University of Maine System

Winnie Wu (left) and David Nelson (right) presenting their research.

May 7, 2026

The University of Southern Maine (USM) and the University of Maine joined forces on April 24 to host TechConnect, a first-of-its-kind showcase connecting student researchers from across the University of Maine System with industry professionals.  Held at the Maine Center … Read More
Attendee of mapping event pointing at a mark of interest on a map of Portland, Maine.

May 7, 2026

Layering the Past: USM Geography Students Analyze Decades of Change Across Portland’s Landscape
Students lining up to receive diplomas at USM's 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

May 1, 2026

Nearly 1,100 Graduates to Receive Degrees at USM Commencement
Janet Mills Address at CTI

April 29, 2026

Where Maine Teachers Are Made: USM Hosts Ceremony Celebrating Pay Increase for Educators
Browse all news stories