Francois Agwala

I am Mr. Francois Agwala but I go by “Frank” on campus. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from the University of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since mid-January 2020, I have worked with the University of Southern Maine in various capacities. At first, I was a part-time employee responsible for monitoring campus buildings, aiding students and community members using campus facilities, supporting fellow employees and assisting with outreach and community efforts.

In 2023, I was promoted to a full-time position as an Administrative Specialist with the Sullivan Gym. In this role, I am responsible for assisting the Administrative Manager and Assistant Director with day-to-day operations and providing administrative support. I am responsible for supervising student employees and managing the facility during evening hours and weekends. As a University employee, my top priority is being diligent as it is my personal goal to give my absolute best to everything I do. 

Beyond my employment with USM, I am also dedicated to my education as I pursue a Master’s degree in History and Government from Ashland University in Ohio. I have traveled all over the world but my favorite country is still the United States. In the decade that I have been established here and naturalized, I have learned many things about American culture. The main thing I have learned is the importance of embracing diversity and respecting other cultures. At our institution, that is also a philosophy that we value. 

I am also outgoing and have a very friendly personality. My personal philosophy is: “We all grow when we respect and learn from others”. I developed this philosophy after interacting with and working with people of different cultures and it has completely changed my life.