November
USM opens new cybersecurity classroom on campus (WGME): A new, state-of-the-art Security Operations Center (SOC) classroom on USM’s Gorham campus is designed to give students and professionals real-world experience in confronting cybersecurity threats — helping Maine meet the fast-growing demand for skilled cyber workers.
Maine center guiding local opioid settlement spending says data will be public early next year (The Maine Monitor): The Maine Opioid Settlement Support (MOSS) Center, housed in USM’s Catherine Cutler Institute, is helping local municipalities spend opioid settlement money appropriately and maintain data on where it’s going.
USM’s Office of Commercialization featured on Maine Business Show (Maine Life Media/WCSH6): USM’s public-private partnership with the New England Ocean Cluster helps support blue economy startups, like Viable Gear, a company that uses a seaweed based bio-plastic to replace traditional plastics for food harvesters. Segment runs from 6:20-10:30.
July
USM’s Office of Commercialization turns research into real world products (arc Maine): In this interview, Patrick Arnold shares how USM and the New England Ocean Cluster (NEOC) have recently launched a new public-private partnership focused on commercialization, applied research, and economic transformation in Maine. Going forward, Patrick shares his hopes for the Office of Commercialization in opening many doors between the university and the community in the future…starting even now with conversations over a cup of coffee.
June
In the public eye: JSMS principal strives to foster a positive learning environment (Windham Eagle): Michelle Brann received both a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s degree in American and New England Studies from USM, then returned to secure her teaching credentials.
Summer enrollments skyrocket at Maine’s public universities (Mainebiz): USM appeals to a wide range of educational interests by offering more than 500 summer courses.
Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty followed in his father’s footsteps but added his own spin (Chicago Sun-Times): By letting his young son tag along to the Huskies’ home field in Gorham, former USM head coach Ed Flaherty laid a foundation for Ryan’s success in Major League Baseball.
Portland author has collected his dream library of books — and most of them don’t exist (Portland Press Herald): The exhibition will go on display at USM’s Glickman Library in January.
Woolwich selectmen meet in 1837 Town House (Wiscasset Newspaper): As summer intern for for the select board, Muskie School of Public Service student Japhet Els will work to improve the town’s website, newsletter, and outreach efforts by the newly formed Climate Resilience Committee.
If Portland’s going to have music for July 4th, the symphony needs help from the community (NEWS CENTER Maine): In his role as conductor of the Casco Bay Wind Symphony, Dr. Will Kinne of the Osher School of Music said of last year’s July 4th performance, “To provide the soundtrack to that and bring smiles to people’s faces was really something special.”
Amare Cantare to pass baton to new director at June 22 concert (Portsmouth Herald): Filling the role made available by Kitty Beller-McKenna’s retirement is Dr. Kyle Nielsen, director of USM’s Osher School of Music.
Preble Street celebrates 50 years of service (WMTW): A desire to gain real-world experience led USM Social Work students to start the nonprofit organization which today provides help to people facing homelessness, hunger, and poverty.
Astronomy for All (Group Tour Magazine): USM’s Southworth Planetarium was mentioned alongside the Charles Hayden Planetarium at Boston’s Museum of Science and Van Vleck Observatory at Wesleyan University as must-see stops for tourists interested in stargazing.
On the road with Maine band Rigometrics (NEWS CENTER Maine): The friendship that formed between Derek Haney and Keenan Hendricks at USM was a big step in the band’s formation.
Finding a fulfilling career with flexibility and room to grow (Portland Press Herald): Dr. Emily Stultz found career fulfillment through her work as principal investigator for Behavioral Health Workforce Initiatives at USM’s Catherine Cutler Institute.
What stops the bleeding? Health care gets harder to find in northern New England (Federal Reserve Bank of Boston): In her paper about the prevalence of ambulance deserts, Dr. Yvonne Jonk of USM’s Muskie School explains the seriousness of the situation facing communities that rely on ambulance workers as their chief care providers.
Janna Ahrndt solo exhibition (CICA): “Archives of Digital Mourning: DeadWeb Lacrymatory” by Janna Ahrndt, assistant professor of Art at USM, will be on display at the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art in South Korea from June 18 to 22.
LGBTQ+: History, Places & Pride Month (Maine Public): Professor Wendy Chapkis and librarian Megan MacGregor explain the many ways that Maine’s LGBTQ+ community supported each other in times when being open about their sexuality was uncomfortable or even dangerous.
May
Rumford woman named Oxford County Teacher of the Year (Rumford Falls Times): A master’s degree in Literacy from USM helped Sarah Marshall establish a strong foundation for her teaching career.
In a world of digital photos, these Maine photographers embrace the old-fashioned (Portland Press Herald): The skill at film development that Troy Bennett gained at USM was crucial a crucial step toward his career as a photographer.
Portsmouth High School shines in Model UN (Portsmouth Herald): Delegates from Portsmouth High School received four awards at the closing ceremony of the conference held on USM’s Gorham campus.
Seven sports standouts named to Wilton-Lyndeborough Hall of Fame (Monadnock Ledger-Transcript): The honorees included former USM track and field head coach Ryan Harkleroad, under whose leadership the Huskies were nationally ranked for five consecutive years.
New England Ocean Cluster teams up with USM on ‘commercialization’ effort (Mainebiz): One of the new office’s major goals is to create pathways for faculty research and student-led ventures in the commercial marketplace.
Interdisciplinary group to develop new strategies for reducing the nuclear threat (Union of Concerned Scientists): Dr. Rebecca Gibbons of USM’s Political Science Department sits on an advisory board that will contribute to and review the project’s work.
‘Hell Upon Earth’ Memorial: The story behind Georgia Civil War drawing (Atlanta Journal-Constitution): Dr. Ashley Towle, an assistant professor of History at USM, explains why Thomas O’Dea’s illustration of a Confederate prison is useful as a teaching tool.
How one Maine district worked with researchers to stop restraining kids (Maine Morning Star): State programs to resolve student behavioral problems are hampered by inadequate infrastructure, says Dr. Sarah Wilkinson, assistant professor of Special Education at USM.
Telling the story of mapping history (University of Wisconsin-Madison): A project to document the history of cartography that USM’s Dr. Matthew Edney joined as a graduate student is nearing completion after 50 years of work.
Rep. Jared Golden announces run for reelection in Maine CD2 (WMTW): Dr. Ron Schmidt, head of USM’s Political Science Department, breaks down at potential race between Rep. Jared Golden and former governor Paul LePage.
Educate Maine names new director of educator engagement (Mainebiz): Jodi Mezzanotte received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Educational Leadership from USM, and she serves on the USM Educational Leadership Advisory Board.
Women’s pro-am soccer team becomes more ‘Maine’ in third season (Portland Press Herald): Maine Footy’s new head coach, Paul Baber, and his assistant coach, Todd Sniper, have experience working together on the coaching staff of the USM men’s soccer team.
Stamp of a young girl: Lucia Wadsworth goes global (Maine Historical Society): The U.S. Postal Service owes its newest stamp to an image that was uploaded to the Osher Map Library’s website.
Review: Seth Rogoff’s ‘The Castle’ picks up where Kafka left off (Portland Press Herald): “A beguiling kaleidoscope of variations upon metaphysical variations” is how the reviewer describes the new novel by Dr. Seth Rogoff, who works part time on the faculty of the USM History Department.
Maine DOE, Educate Maine announce 2025 County Teachers of the Year (Maine Department of Education): The class of 16 honorees includes two Huskies — Sarah Marshall whose USM credentials include a graduate degree in Literacy Coaching and a Literacy Specialist Certification, and Monica Malcomson who got her TESOL certificate from USM.
Novelist Ron Currie’s new book brings to life a female Franco crime boss in Waterville (Portland Press Herald): “The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne” is the first in a three-book series, which means lots more writing for Ron Currie, who also teaches with USM’s Stonecoast MFA program.
Tapestry Singers welcome instrumentalists for two concerts (Lincoln County News): Gary Wittner, who serves on the Artist Faculty at USM’s Osher School of Music, will perform on guitar.
USM’s Promise Scholars are brains from Maine who show the value of investing in education (Portland Press Herald): The program provides mentorship, leadership, career development, and more to help students succeed.
Behind the scenes: Maine Playwrights Festival 2025 (NEWS CENTER Maine): In addition to her teaching duties at USM’s Theatre Department, Liz Carlson is also overseeing the festival at Portland Stage.
The fast track to a nursing degree (Bangor Daily News): The rigorous pace of USM’s Accelerated Baccalaureate in Science of Nursing program allows students to earn their degree in about 15 months rather than the standard of four years.
Ms. Curit leads JMG students on Career Discovery Trip to USM (Deering High School): Eleventh-grade students explored the opportunities available to them on USM’s Portland campus to show them that their goals are attainable with the right planning.
Going to a Hearts of Pine game? Here’s what to expect (Portland Press Herald): Team management encourages fans to make the six-minute walk for parking at the USM campus garage.
University of Southern Maine to celebrate 145th Commencement on May 10 (Bangor Daily News): About 1,100 graduates are slated to participate in the ceremony.
Introducing Maine’s first pro soccer team (Down East): From the roster to the coaching staff, the Hearts of Pine find fertile scouting grounds at USM’s soccer field in Gorham.
April
Meet the Mainers behind Renys’ ubiquitous, 4-word jingle (Sun Journal): Out of hundreds of recordings, the version of the jingle performed by USM music students is especially beloved by the man who wrote the melody.
Maine Baseball Hall of Fame names 11 inductees (Portland Press Herald): Keith Morang helped establish the baseball dynasty at USM as a key contributor the team that started the Huskies’ streak of 15 consecutive NCAA Division III tournament appearances.
USM recognized as ‘military-friendly’ school (Mainebiz): Among the services and resources offered through the Military-Affiliated Student Hub are a peer mentorship program, a designated lounge and workspace, and the Veteran Completion Scholarship.
2025 BFA/BA Art Exhibit at USM, a Senior Showcase (Gorham Times): The artists who contributed to the exhibit include Emily DeTroy, Cecilia Marie Drysdale, Emma Estes, Alyssa McNally, Jayda Ray-James, Katie Riley, Ryan Stresky, Madeline Twombly-Wiser, Laima Vince Sruoginis, and Danna Wiggins.
USM Theatre presents Spring Dance Concert in Gorham (Gorham Weekly): Twenty students are set to perform, up from nine at last year’s concert.
Digging the Isles of Shoals (New Hampshire Magazine): Over a series of archeological digs, USM’s Dr. Nathan Hamilton and a team of students unearthed artifacts dating back to colonial and even prehistoric times.
Mainers mark 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride (Portland Press Herald): Dr. Libby Bischof, professor of History at USM, recited the famous opening lines of Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride” at a public reading in Portland’s Eastern Cemetery.
Romantic notes discovered at University of Southern Maine date back to the 1800s (People): USM’s Coordinator of Special Collections Susie Bock is working to preserve and digitize the notes that were found during renovations to the Academy Building.
Alan Bray: Inhabited Landscape (Fine Art Connoisseur): Soon to be exhibited in New York, the USM alumnus’ paintings are rendered in casein, a milk-based tempera that dries quickly to a matte, velvety surface.
Former Miss Maine Basketball Jaycie Christopher transferring to USM (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel): In her sophomore season, Christopher was part of the UMaine team that won the America East title.
How to buy concert tickets — and avoid getting scammed (Portland Press Herald): As album sales declined in favor of streaming, musicians increasingly came to depend on concert tours as their primary revenue stream, according to Dr. Michael Cauvel of USM’s Economics program.
Eggs are how much? News outlets launch grocery price trackers (Nieman Lab): USM and Maine Public are working together to gauge inflation by routinely comparing prices at supermarkets in Portland, Bangor, Farmington, and Caribou.
University of Southern Maine gathering for daylong ‘Thinking Matters’ symposium on Friday (Bangor Daily News): The showcase for student-faculty research collaborations covers such wide-ranging topics as an analysis of COVID vaccines, mapping coastal estuaries, and the role of video games in shaping perspectives on nuclear weapons.
University of Southern Maine finds hidden-away notes from students in the 1800s (WMTW): The notes were found at the Academy Building during a renovation project that won an award from Maine Preservation.
USM’s Colin McDonald named Pitcher of the Week (Gorham Times): The Huskies won 12-2 over Rhode Island College thanks to a dominant start by McDonald during which he rang up seven strike outs and allowed only one earned run on six hits.
Portland Sea Dogs’ home opener: Here’s what fans need to know (NEWS CENTER Maine): The University of Southern Maine allows fans to park at the campus garage on Bedford Street for $3 per game.
New construction leaders tackle workforce shortages with progressive strategies and strong teams (Mainebiz): Consigli Construction, Co., Inc., pointed to its work on the Crewe Center for the Arts as a prime example of its successful method of doing business.
Brunswick eighth grader named a finalist in USM science competition (Times Record): Joseph Stratman designed a miniature satellite to investigate the effects of radiation on electron ionization and the geomagnetic field’s influence on irradiance.
How does your physical fitness stack up against police officers? (WMTW): Portland Police staged their challenge at Costello Sports Complex in partnership with USM’s Criminology Club and the Recovery Oriented Campus Center.
Discover heartache and hope with ‘Little Women’ musical at USM (WGME): Taylor Ciotti, Karoline Brechter, Emma Hall, and Kiki Belanger star as the March sisters in a joint production by the Department of Theatre and the Osher School of Music.
Windsor’s Young extends success at Southern Maine (Valley News): Huskies Track and Field Head Coach Rob Whitten says of Janiah Young, “She’s very charismatic and carefree and always brings great big smiles to everything.”
Meet Jacqueline Edmondson (CanvasRebel): To better serve the University of Southern Maine, President Edmondson reads extensively about all things Maine to continually improve her understanding of the state’s history, people, and culture.
These 2 companies create on-demand TV for people living with dementia (Vermont Public): When picking entertainment for people with dementia, complicated plots and fast-paced dialog can be confusing, according to Dr. Tammy Bickmore of USM’s Department of Occupational Therapy.
Former Ellsworth High stars shine as USM outslugs Husson (Ellsworth American): Peter Keblinsky was the hero for the Huskies with a run-scoring double in the eighth inning and a grand slam in the ninth.
Explore stars and planets at USM’s Southworth Planetarium (WGME): An exploding star to the left of the Big Dipper is one of the many sights that planetarium manager John Haley is excited to share with visitors.
March
Ron Currie on his latest novel, ‘The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dione’ (NPR): A French-speaking neighborhood of Waterville, Maine, is the setting of the latest novel by Rob Currie, who teaches creative writing for USM’s Stonecoast MFA program.
A familiar face and set of hands during pandemic press briefings in Maine (NEWS CENTER Maine): “I was glad that I had the ability to be there and that they were willing to accept a deaf-hearing interpreting team, which is a huge breakthrough,” said Dr. Regan Thibodeau, interim coordinator of USM’s ASL/English Interpreting Program.
Paula D. Hodgdon TrailblazHER event (Gorham Times): The fundraising walk for women’s athletics is named for the longtime USM coach who fought to break through gender barriers in college sports.
Blackstones is Portland’s only gay bar, again (Portland Press Herald): Even as alternative meeting places for the LGBTQ community proliferate, gay bars still serve an important function, according to USM’s Dr. Wendy Chapkis, professor of Women and Gender Studies and Sociology.
State of the Art: Tina Davis (Maine Public): A Fulbright Scholarship made it possible for USM’s Tina Davis to spend the past year in Germany studying how piano performance evolved over the course of centuries along with the instrument’s design.
Musician from Central Maine returning home to perform in Waterville this Saturday (WABI): Steph Gilbert graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from USM and now sings with the Connecticut-based Pink Floyd tribute band, Floydian Trip.
Yarmouth filmmaker talks about Portland radio documentary (Portland Press Herald): USM will host back-to-back screenings of documentaries about campus radio station WMPG and the futsal games at Kennedy Park in Portland.
Lawmakers aim to tackle the teacher shortage from multiple angles (Maine Monitor): Financial and career support for teachers is essential to expanding their ranks in Maine, according to Dr. Flynn Ross, professor Teacher Education at USM and director of the Maine Teacher Residency.
Middays with Mannix & Mannix: USM Huskies Wrestling (96.3FM Big Jab): Coach Mike Morin recaps the season, which resulted in All-American selections for Colby Frost and Jake Craig.
La rondalla Vila de As Pontes presume de la voz emergente de una cantante estadounidense (El Progreso): Osher School of Music alumna Bella StCyr (’24) incorporates music into her work of teaching English at a school in Spain.
USM Gorham presents ‘Little Women, the Broadway Musical’ (Gorham Weekly): To fans of the beloved book upon which the show is based, director Danny Hutchins offers his reassurance that “the actors are delivering beautiful, touching, and heartbreaking performances.”
Historic Portland fire inspires new musical work (NEWS CENTER Maine): Twenty-five years after they met as teacher and student at USM, ChoralArt Musical Director Bob Russell is helping to bring Travis Ramsey’s oratorio to the stage.
John Sutyak joins USM as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation
Maine women’s history (Maine Public): USM historians Libby Bischof and Ashley Towle shine a light on the women who deserve more attention for their contributions to culture and society.
Got a suspicious text from your bank? Here’s what to do next (NEWS CENTER Maine): Turning off your phone at least once a week clears dynamic memory which can harbor malware, according to Dr. Lori Sussman of USM’s Department of Technology.
Lucy Wiles earns two Rookie of the Year honors with USM (WABI): The Little East Conference and New England Women’s Basketball Association recognized Wiles for a standout freshman year during which she led the Huskies with an average of 13 points per game.
Falmouth historian writes tale of mill town youth (The Forecaster): The support that Larry Dyhrberg received from the fiction workshop at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute allowed him to write “Sutton Tales.”
USM wrestlers aim for national title in Providence (WGME): The two Huskies in the competition are Colby Frost from Steep Falls and Jake Craig from Norridgewock.
USM shot put stars redefining excellence and breaking records (NEWS CENTER Maine): Zoe Barnes set the record for women’s indoor shot put at USM with a throw of 13.14m, and William Carrolton threw for 15.67m to set the men’s record.
Reverberations – USM’s 2025 Juried Student Exhibition (Gorham Times): Featured artists were selected based on expertise in a variety of media and their diverse backgrounds.
USM radio station WMPG hosts annual Mardi Gras celebration (WGME): The event featuring Cajun cuisine and New Orleans-style jazz music has been a campus tradition for 31 years.
Mainers took different paths to D-III indoor track nationals (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel): The four athletes from USM who qualified for the competition are Ben Drummey, Ethan Shain, Khalysa Hammith, and Joey Richards.
Prices in Maine increasing faster than the national average (Maine Public): Data collected by USM Economics students under the direction of Dr. Michael Cauvel found that eggs were a major driver of rising grocery expenses for Mainers.
USM Theatre to present ‘Little Women,’ the Broadway musical (Broadway World): One of the show’s innovations will be to dramatize the memories that characters would normally share with standard dialogue.
Best psychiatric nurse practitioner programs in Maine (online & campus) — 2025 (NursingProcess.org): Boasting an accomplished faculty, international mission work, and graduate assistantships, USM claimed the No. 1 ranking on the list.
We’re still learning from ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’ just not in high school (Portland Press Herald): Dr. Adam Schmitt, an assistant professor of Teacher Education at USM, cites a shift to primary sources as one reason why Harriet Beecher Stowe’s classic novel has largely disappeared from required reading lists.
Award-winning sportswriter pens ‘Floor Burns,’ a book on NAIA college basketball (SeacoastOnline): Terri Nelson shared memories of her years playing at USM (1979-83) with author Mike Whaley.
February
Mardi Gras spirit spreads to Maine with Cajun Cooking Challenge (WGME): The spread of free food and entertainment is organized by campus radio station WMPG.
Maine Basketball Hall of Fame announces 2025 inductees (Portland Press Herald): The new class includes Husky notables Todd Miranda, Ben Palubinskas, and Dan Costigan.
Maine Public launches project in collaboration with USM to track statewide grocery prices (Maine Public): Economics students of Dr. Michael Cauvel are buying the same groceries at multiple stores to see how the prices compare.
The best theatre colleges in every state: Maine (OnStage Blog): A wide range of productions from classics (“A Winter’s Tale”) to contemporary (“John Proctor Is the Villain”) made USM’s Theatre program stand out.
USM theater department opens stage adaptation of ‘The Birds’ (Times Record): The audience for each show is limited to 40 guests, who are seated in the midst of the action on stage to ratchet up the tension.
He’s been performing on Maine stages since he was 5. Now, he’s written a book about it. (NEWS CENTER Maine): “My time at USM was some of the greatest years of my life,” said Zac Stearn. “I enjoyed every show I worked on over there. It gave me all the skills that I could use in my professional life.”
USM Gorham opens haunting adaptation of ‘The Birds’ (Gorham Weekly): The play is based on the same book by Daphne du Maurier that inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film adaptation, starring Tippi Hedren.
Auburn artist and educator uses life-saving power of art to inspire students (Sun Journal): Matthew Peinado’s exhibit of surrealist paintings is on display at the Atrium Gallery of USM’s Lewiston campus.
Northern State Center for Excellence has tackled remote learning, artificial intelligence, more (Aberdeen Insider): USM President Jacqueline Edmondson visited South Dakota to talk about the urban-rural divide in education.
University of Southern Maine hosts ‘Life Forms’ sculpture exhibit (WGME): The four artists whose work is displayed at the USM Art Gallery kick off a four-part series of exhibitions, with each one featuring different members of their art collective.
New River Room show at River Arts: ‘Perspectives’ (Wiscasset Newspaper): The featured artists include USM alumna Elizabeth Caton Pardoe with her crisp, black and white monotypes.
USM hosts celebration of Gorham native who introduced baseball to Japan
What businesses Mainers want to see set up shop (Portland Press Herald): Sluggish workforce recruitment makes large companies skittish about expanding into Maine, according to Dr. Hirotoshi Takeda, associate professor of Business Analytics and Information Systems at USM.
Maine groundhog expert reveals 5 secrets Punxsatawney Phil won’t tell (Bangor Daily News): Dr. Christine Maher, dean of USM’s College of Science, Technology, and Health, has been studying the same Falmouth-based group of groundhogs for almost 30 years.
‘Misery for dinner’ and other facts that lifted my Franco pride (Sun Journal): As part of a six-week course at USM’s Lewiston campus, Camden Martin explains how French Canadians were able to maintain their culture after immigrating to New England.
January
First look at USM’s future Crewe Center for the Arts (Mainebiz): Designers customized the building to meet the needs of the Osher School of Music including a 200-seat performance hall, 23 practice rooms, and a central gallery with oversized windows and a soaring ceiling.
Mainers commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day (WMTW): “Become somebody who’s committed from the very streets that you live in, the neighborhood that you live in, to actually becoming a supporter of a group that is facing genocide,” said Dr. Abraham Peck, an adjunct professor of History at USM and a child of Holocaust survivors.
Here’s how common earthquakes are in Maine, as quake off coast is felt around New England (WMTW): Dr. Mark Swanson of USM’s Geography-Anthropology Department explained the natural forces behind the earthquake that rocked Maine on January 27.
Portland philosophy professor compiles 18 years of pop culture analysis (The Forecaster): Dr. Jason Read revisited and recontextualized ideas from his blog for his new book, “Unemployed Negativity.”
Life Forms: Grow opening reception tonight at USM Gorham (Gorham Weekly): The artists behind the exhibition discuss their various interpretations of growth ranging from biological development to the expansion of knowledge across cultures.
Sanford alum sets new sprint standards at USM (Sanford School Department): Ethan Shain holds or shares program records in four track events: 55-meter dash, 60-meter dash, 100-meter dash, and indoor 200-meters.
Ghostriders’ MacDuff strives to make impact for USM Huskies (KIJHL News): One of the big adjustments that Ethan MacDuff had to make for the college game was getting to know his former junior hockey rival as a roommate.
USM Foundation names new president and CEO (Mainebiz): Corey Hascall’s career spans over two decades in political strategy, communications, and fundraising.
Toddler-famous Maine YouTuber inks big-time Netflix deal (Bangor Daily News): One-time Husky Ms. Rachel, a.k.a. Rachel Accurso, has more than 13 million YouTube subscribers and millions more fans on Instagram and TikTok.
‘La Bohème’ and Monét X Change on Portland stages this weekend (Portland Press Herald): The opening reception for the Life Forms: Grow exhibition at the USM Art Gallery adds to a busy week of cultural events across the region.
Audio drama company makes Maine sound scar(ier), even without a camera (Portland Press Herald): Dagaz Media was co-founded by USM alumnus Fred Greenhalgh.
Former Hampden star Bryce Lausier revitalizes career at University of Southern Maine (WGME): “Having the trust from my teammates and my coaches to be able to be successful has been great,” said Lausier, who is averaging 23 points per game for the men’s basketball team.
Mainers express fears and hopes as Trump prepares for inauguration (WGME): President Trump may face constitutional obstacles in his effort to enact some of his campaign promises, according to Dr. Ron Schmidt, head of USM’s Department of Political Science.
Kanawha Ambulance Authority OKs about 200%+ service rate hikes to fix $4M deficit (Charleston Gazette-Mail): As county leaders in West Virginia took stock of their local ambulance service’s financial situation, they referred to the data in a USM report on the national problem of ambulance deserts.
Following outcry, Maine health department waters down proposed staffing ratios (Maine Monitor): The challenges facing Maine’s elder care industry were highlighted in a report by the Cutler Institute that found clients were older and more likely to have dementia in residential care facilities than those in nursing homes.
USM Foundation challenge raises $6M for program to aid students (The Forecaster): The fundraising push began last October when two anonymous donors pledged to give $2 million dollars for the Promise Scholars endowment if the USM Foundation succeeded in raising $4 million from other sources by the end of the year.
USM Civil War project looking for help (Gorham Times): History students under the guidance of Dr. Ashley Towle are seeking information about the veterans whose names grace the memorial that stands in front of the USM Art Gallery.
University of Southern Maine transforms its Portland Campus (Urban Land): The McGoldrick Center, Portland Commons, and the Bean Green combine to form a hub for student life in Portland that the University of Southern Maine never had before.
Hearts of Pine’s Khalid Hersi fulfills family’s dream of playing professional soccer (Sun Journal): A season at USM contributed to Hersi’s growth as a player, along with stints in New York and Spain.
Naples author set to launch second novel (Bridgton News): “I figured I should take advantage of the mentorship. And I’m so glad I did! Writing a novel is hard, and without the structure of having to turn in work regularly and complete a thesis to graduate, I probably would have given up,” said Jennifer Dupree, who holds an MFA from USM’s Stonecoast program.
Census suggests a new richest Portland suburb, fewer French Mainers (Portland Press Herald): Many students refer to their grandmother as Meme despite not identifying as French, noted Anna Faherty, archivist at USM’s Franco-American Collection.
Franco-American Collection to offer free class (Sun Journal): The subject matter will cover the history of New France, Franco-American New England, and Franco-American Lewiston-Auburn.
Interactive learning program teaches Maine students about Aroostook County winters (WAGM): Emma Brearley, a student in USM’s Tourism and Hospitality program, learned how to start a campfire with flint among other survival skills.
Former Lewiston, USM star is first Maine player to join Hearts of Pine soccer team (Portland Press Herald): Khalid Hersi was a midfielder for the 2023 Huskies squad.
Survey finds more than half of New Mexicans have experienced sexual violence (Source New Mexico): The information gathered by researchers from USM’s Catherine Cutler Institute gives New Mexico its first survey data of sexual violence crime victimization in almost 20 years.
How Southworth Planetarium became the stage for a new play (Portland Press Herald): The production of “REDshift” by Chalmers Hardenbergh will use the planetarium’s dome to project images such as an exploding star and the Hubble Deep Field.
Cyberattack targets South Portland schools (NEWS CENTER Maine): Because of their limited funding for cybersecurity, schools are popular targets for hackers, according to Dr. Lori Sussman, an assistant professor in USM’s Department of Technology.
Life Forms: Grow opening reception at USM Gorham (Gorham Weekly): The artists behind the exhibition hope the experience will deepen their relationships with each other, reveal new connections through their creative work, and engage the public in conversation.
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