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10 Dorm Essentials to Pack for Your First Year at USM

The countdown to move-in day is on, and if you’re anything like me, getting ready for your first year of college might make you want to pack everything you own — just in case you need it — but space in a dorm is limited, so it’s worth focusing on the essentials instead. Keep reading to find the items that made my room comfortable, organized and ready for college life.

Monthly Roundup: August

August Monthly Roundup Welcome to 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! During the summer, we feature community festivals and local events happening acrossRead More

10 Things to do Before Labor Day in Southern Maine

Memorial Day might mark the unofficial start of summer, but plenty of Mainers will tell you it doesn’t really feel like summer until the Fourth of July, when the rain tapers off and the water finally warms up. Keep reading to discover 10 ways to make the most of Southern Maine before Labor Day sneaks up and it’s time to head back into the classroom.

Monthly Roundup: July

July Monthly Roundup Welcome to 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! During the summer, we feature community festivals and local events happening acrossRead More

Monthly Roundup: June

June Monthly Roundup Welcome to 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! During the summer, we feature community festivals and local events happening acrossRead More

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

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.