June
Students send satellites skyward (Sun Journal): The annual event organized by USM brings together middle and high school students from across Maine to learn about space by launching their own microsatellites.
May
An appreciation at graduation: Jean-Daniel Liwanga (Mitchell Institute): For a junior Computer Science major, the relationships he built with fellow Mitchell Scholars have contributed greatly to his success in college.
They made it here (Portland Press Herald): A degree from USM is part of the American dream for many asylum seekers who settle in Maine.
Men and women use parental leave differently. They’re judged differently for it, too (TIME): A study by Drs. Elizabeth Parks-Stamm and Derek Tharp shows how implicit gender biases influence the perception of parents as productive workers.
How a US debt default could impact your wallet here in Maine (WMTW): Failure to raise the debt ceiling will be especially hard on people who depend on Social Security and Medicare, warns Dr. Jono Anzalone of USM’s Economics program.
‘Night of the Living Rez,’ ‘Trailed’ among Maine Literary Award winners (Portland Press Herald): After being showered with numerous national awards, Stonecoast MFA alum Morgan Talty also earns recognition for his writing in his home state.
Memorable words from 2023 graduation speakers (Bangor Daily News): The sentiments voiced at USM’s Commencement by student speaker Nadine Bravo about persevering through the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic stood out to the BDN Editorial Board in its overview of Maine’s graduation season.
Scholastic newspaper awards 2022-2023: First place (American Scholastic Association): An investigative report by the Free Press wins first place against national competition.
Data breaches impact more Mainers as cyber criminals get more savvy (WGME): Security measures need to keep up with technology, warns Dr. Lori Sussman, Assistant Professor of Technology and Cybersecurity.
Poland high school senior plans to turn passion for helping animals into a career (Sun Journal): Affordability was a major factor in Nicholas Garey’s decision to study biology at USM.
Middays with Mannix & Mannix: Rob Whitten (96.3FM Big Jab): Track Head Coach Rob Whitten talks up standout athletes including Riley Reitchel, Anna Reny, and Ben Drummey as they prepare for the Division III National Championship meet.
SoPo Fire Department advances interim chief (Mainebiz): Philip Selberg graduated from USM with a degree in applied technical leadership.
CTL student makes top twelve in mapmaking contest (Boothbay Register): For her submission to the Osher Map Library’s annual mapmaking contest, Lucie Hollan created “A Dragon’s Map of Pantala,” inspired by the Wings of Fire series of fantasy books.
Take a walk through Lewiston’s Franco history (Sun Journal): An app developed by USM’s Franco-American Collection teaches the history behind many of Lewiston’s most prominent landmarks.
‘Grotesque catch-22’ — Sickest rural adults are the least likely to be able to pay for healthcare (The Daily Yonder): The expiration of COVID-era health provisions may exacerbate the problems that were identified in a study co-authored by Dr. Erika Ziller, Chair of Public Health at USM.
History of the Children’s Theatre of Maine, the nation’s longest-running institution of its kind (Portland Press Herald): While studying Theatre at USM in the 1970s, Tony Shalhoub also lent his talents to the Children’s Theatre of Maine.
Future tourist guides receive a training stay in the USA (Sermitsiaq AG): A delegation from USM’s Tourism and Hospitality program visited Greenland to gather information from locals about their experience with tourists and how they’d like to see that relationship progress.
What to know about ticks and vector-borne diseases, and how to protect yourself from them (Maine Public): Adjunct faculty instructor Chuck Lubelczyk lent his expertise as a field biologist and vector ecologist to a panel discussion about the upcoming tick season on Maine Calling.
Thousands awarded degrees as college graduation season begins in Maine (Portland Press Herald): “Get ready to be vigilant about yourself. Get ready to be your own best proofreader, your own best fact-checker. Get ready to be your own best editor,” said New York Times journalist Neil Genzlinger in his speech to graduates.
Former USM pitching standout moves from the diamond to the cage (Portland Press Herald): Dalton Rice is applying the same competitive drive to his MMA training that allowed him to set USM’s career strikeout record.
College roundup: Zoe Barnes named Little East field athlete of the year (Sun Journal): Capping off a season in which she set USM records in shot put and discus, Barnes again broke records in those events at the Little East Conference championship meet.
University of Maine System launches new college of engineering, computer science (NEWS CENTER Maine): The collaboration between USM and UMaine addresses a statewide need for more workers with specialized technical skills.
USM student overcomes brain injury, is set to graduate this weekend (NEWS CENTER Maine): Bailey Hartill had to relearn to walk and talk while also earning her B.A. in Leadership and Organizational Studies.
Maine native part of team that found planet engulfed by its star (Portland Press Herald): A childhood trip to Southworth Planetarium supercharged Morgan MacLeod’s interest in astronomy and helped set the course for his future career.
Author Jennifer Clement and journalist Ravish Kumar receive Honorary Title for Freedom of Expression (Vrije Universiteit Brussel): Using the skills she honed at USM’s Stonecoast MFA program, Clement would go on to write such acclaimed books as “Prayers for the Stolen.”
Tyler Delorme inducted into Little East Conference Hall of Fame (Saint Albans Messenger): Almost 20 years after graduating from USM, Delorme returned to the campus baseball field to accept his LEC Hall of Fame ring in front of a cheering crowd of Husky fans.
Lawmakers should give the gift of paid leave this Mother’s Day (Bangor Daily News): In an opinion article, Dr. Kimberly Simmons argues for a change in public policy to help working mothers overcome the challenges of balancing their families and jobs.
April
USM guitar teacher scores big, as Buffalo orchestra premieres his concerto (Portland Press Herald): “It’s a nice environment because so much of the emphasis is on performance,” José Manuel Lezcano said of the Osher School of Music. “I think that’s the heart of the matter. A music program should be about performance.”
The AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance welcomes incoming class of aspiring presidents (AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education): Incoming USM Provost Georita Frierson is one of 27 people nationwide selected to attend a leadership symposium in Washington, D.C.
D3 Women: Why Catriona Gould has been able to thrive for Southern Maine (New England Soccer Journal): In the same season that ended with the women’s soccer team winning the LEC Championship, Gould won individual honors as 2022 LEC Offensive Player of the Year.
BirdSafe Maine presents at regional conference (Maine Audubon): The Northeast Natural History Conference in Burlington, Vermont, featured a presentation by USM biology professor Chris Maher on behalf of the bird-strike awareness group BirdSafe Maine.
Otisfield students produce living history reenactment (Portland Press Herald): Otisfield Elementary School teacher Pamela Marshall drew on her USM coursework to make history come alive for her students.
A spring semester thanks to intern Maggie Norris (Gorham Times): An internship at the hometown newspaper of the Gorham Campus gave Maggie Norris experience covering town government and other community events.
Maine lawmakers to weigh bill exploring barriers foreign-trained physicians face (NEWS CENTER Maine): Axels Samuntu was a practicing physician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In order to use those skill in the U.S., he is working toward his certification through USM’s public health program.
D3 Men: Why Jim Hopkins left Bridgton to take over at Southern Maine (New England Soccer Journal): Before accepting the job as head coach of the men’s soccer team, Jim Hopkins contributed to the program as a player and associate head coach.
Boyne Family Advanced Simulation and Interprofessional Education Center officially opens with ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour
USM grad returns to Maine as conductor on national tour of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ (Portland Press Herald): “Those years at USM were very developmental in becoming who I am today,” said Jonathan Marro ’12.
Vassalboro resident earns Eagle Scout rank (Sun Journal): Now a USM student, Benjamin Reed fulfilled his Eagle Scout requirements in 2020, but had to wait years to celebrate the honor due to COVID restrictions.
Red dress exhibit aims to recognize violence against Indigenous women (NEWS CENTER Maine): Members of the Women and Gender Studies Program worked through the rain to hang the red dresses from trees outside Luther Bonney Hall in Portland.
Car dealer markups helped drive inflation, study finds (Wall Street Journal): The automotive industry’s role in the recent inflation surge is detailed in research by Michael Havlin, who graduated from USM with an Economics degree in 2014.
‘Every day should be Earth Day’: Celebration, rally held in Portland (Portland Press Herald): Members of the University’s Student Alliance for Indigenous Peoples helped organize a rally in support of Earth Day at Monument Square in Portland.
USM Baseball to honor ‘all-time great’ with first ever number retirement (WGME): The family of Vinnie Degifico describes how much it means to them to know that the number he wore will occupy a special place of honor in USM Athletics history.
Maine Voices: ‘Never again’ is not heeded by genocidal regimes (Portland Press Herald): As the son of Holocaust survivors, Adjunct Professor Abraham Peck shares his thoughts on the importance of Yom Hashoah, the Holocaust day of remembrance.
The impact of tuition waivers for free community college (Maine Educator Online): USM President Jacqueline Edmondson and Dr. Paul Johnson make the case to rethink funding for the University of Maine System in light of changing enrollment patterns as students took advantage of free tuition at Maine’s community colleges.
The Spirit of Radio: 50 years on, WMPG still puts it in your ears (Portland Phoenix): Station Manager Jim Rand credits WMPG’s willingness to change with the times for its continued relevance as a voice for the USM campus and surrounding community.
Laura Wittmann named 2023 ESOL Teacher of the Year (Maine DOE Newsroom): The award presentation was a highlight of the annual Educators for a Multilingual Maine conference, hosted by USM’s Department of Linguistics.
Branching out: Free forestry program now includes training for commercial driver’s license (Mainebiz): The need for more qualified forestry workers, as highlighted in a USM report, is being addressed by a new community college training program.
Cumberland library gets grant for shell middens project (Portland Press Herald): Softshell clam samples that were collected between 1978 and 1980 will be analyzed to understand past climates as part of USM’s Casco Bay Archaeological Project.
Maine State Science Fair celebrates bright, young scientists and engineers (Maine DOE Newsroom): For their presentations at the science fair, seven students earned scholarships to USM covering their full tuition for four years.
Maine’s ‘new space’ industry set to blast off (Mainebiz): USM is a founding partner of Maine Space 2030 which seeks to expand economic and educational opportunities around the space industry.
Former Maine teacher ‘Ms Rachel’ posts educational videos for the masses (NEWS CENTER Maine): Before she became a household name to the preschool set, Rachel Griffin-Accurso was a student at the University of Southern Maine.
The climate migrants are coming!…Maybe? (The Maine Monitor): A presentation by Assistant Professor Vanessa Levesque at the 2023 Maine Sustainability and Water Conference tracked recent trends in state migration activity.
Commentary: The year that opened my eyes to the best and worst we can do (Portland Press Herald): University President Jacqueline Edmondson reflects on the lessons we can learn in 2023 from the events of 1989.
How to prepare for next year’s total solar eclipse in Maine, and what celestial events are happening soon (Maine Public): Hear Southworth Planetarium Director Edward Herrick-Gleason share his insights about the upcoming eclipse on the Maine Calling radio show.
Poland school celebrates Maine Principal of the Year recognition (Sun Journal): Shawn Vincent graduated from USM in 2012 with a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and he continues to serve on the EDL Advisory Board for the School of Education and Human Development.
USM Athletic Director on N.I.L. rules in college athletics (WMTW): Al Bean explains how the rules have changed in college sports, opening up new opportunities for athletes to make money.
Submariner earns first student veteran athlete award (G.I. Jobs): “Once I transferred to USM I not only found my academic groove but also gained some fantastic support systems within the athletic and veterans services departments,” said Trevor Engling (see full story on pages 22-23).
March
USM athletes preach mental training: ‘To be 100%, you have to train everything’ (WGME): Mental performance coach Jim Karcanes helps Huskies keep their heads in the game.
New Maine College of Engineering and Computing gets green light (Mainebiz): The new college will consist of about 2,250 students and 90 faculty, drawing on resources from both USM in Gorham and the University of Maine in Orono.
‘No question about it:’ Portland houses sinking, residents hope for solution (WGME): Dr. Rob Sanford advises homeowners on some of the environmental signs that their foundations might be shifting.
Mainers gather to celebrate La Francophonie month in Maine (NEWS CENTER Maine): Even the newscasters assumed a Gallic accent to report on a gathering of French-speaking Mainers, hosted by the Franco-American Collection.
Michael J. Dumont appointed interim president of California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime News): Since graduating from USM in 1984, Dumont rose to the rank of Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy Reserve and served as deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command.
USM gets approval to build new arts center on its Portland campus (Maine Public): “It’s going to transform the life of the campus,” said USM Foundation President and CEO Ainsley Wallace.
NAMI experts say young Mainers can text 207-515-TEXT for mental health help (WGME): One of the people who answers those requests for help is Grace Brenner, a student in USM’s Social Work program.
New mural in Portland aims to support women and protesters in Iran (NEWS CENTER Maine): Building off the momentum of a speaking engagement on the Portland Campus, USM alum Shahin Khojastehzad finds an artistic outlet to raise awareness about Iran’s ongoing protest movement.
Mainers will be able to see five planets in the sky next week (WGME): Staff at Southworth Planetarium have tips for stargazers to get the best view of a rare alignment of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus.
USM Theatre presents Eurydice Rising in theatre, opera, and dance (Broadway World): Although modern in its trappings, a new spin on the ancient myth of Orpheus reinforces time-tested themes of loss and resilience.
The 2023 Trusted CI Fellows (Trusted CI): Included among the NSF Cybersecurity Center of Excellence’s latest class of Trusted CI fellows is Assistant Professor Lori Sussman.
Study: Young adults are overrepresented in Maine’s criminal justice system (Portland Press Herald): The report by the Catherine E. Cutler Institute recommends addressing the incarceration problem by, among other things, expanding diversion and treatment programs.
The 10 best beach towns to retire in the U.S. (U.S. News & World Report): The University of Southern Maine’s educational and cultural offerings were a major factor in Portland’s ranking at the top of the list.
Maine baseball coach earns historic win (WMTW): A victory over Johns Hopkins earned Baseball Head Coach Ed Flaherty his 1,100th career win, a feat only accomplished by 11 coaches in Division III history.
Francophone Mainers gather at Burundi Star (Amjambo Africa): Co-hosted by the USM Department of Linguistics, the event gave French-speakers an opportunity to interact with each other in a social setting.
Twenty-five years of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program: The past as prologue (The Journal of Rural Health): John Gale, Senior Research Associate with the Catherine Cutler Institute, analyzes trends in rural healthcare to arrive at recommendations for the future.
All-Americans Jake Craig, Jake Peavey shine for USM wrestling team (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel): Long before the two Jakes were teammates, they were family friends who supported each other’s championship dreams on the wrestling mat.
Meet one of USM’s plow operators, making sure outdoor sports can happen (WMTW): Several inches of snow that fell on Hannaford Field overnight were gone in time for an afternoon lacrosse game thanks to the hard work of plow driver Matt Hirsch.
USM’s Ben Drummey overcomes injury to repeat as NCAA Division III pole vault champion (Portland Press Herald): Drummey won the title by clearing a height of 16 feet, 6 3/4 inches, which was the same height as his winning jump last year.
To combat declining enrollment, a new bill would offer a tuition discount at state universities (Maine Public): Among the speakers testifying in favor of the bill at a public hearing were Geography Professor Lydia Savage and Assistant Professor of Economics Michael Cauvel.
Photos: La Francophonie at USM Lewiston-Auburn College (Sun Journal): Hosted by the Franco-American Collection, the panel discussion about French speakers in Maine included contributors from such far-ranging countries as Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, France, and Rwanda.
On the Record: At USM in Portland, institute offers lifelong learning for older adults (Mainebiz): Students of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute can expect an interactive environment that values their professional experience, according to Director Donna Anderson.
Foreign-trained health professionals could be part of the solution to a workforce shortage (The Maine Monitor): Associate Dean Brenda Petersen talks about the work being done at the School of Nursing to make professional training more accessible to multi-language learners.
Two USM wrestlers head to nationals (WGME): Jake Peavey and Jake Craig look forward to matching their skills against some of the best wrestlers in the country.
February
Teaching Black history in Maine, how it’s changing, and how students respond (Maine Public): With Black history classes being challenged in certain parts of the country, Assistant Professor Larissa Malone joined a panel discussion to examine Maine’s track record on the subject.
These Maine college journalists let their website go dark to focus on print (Bangor Daily News): The Free Press staff compare their devotion to newsprint with the nostalgic resurgence of vinyl records.
Laser ablation tomography (LATscan) as a new tool for anatomical studies of woody plants (New Phytologist): An an alternative to the traditional method of sectioning and staining sample tissues, the LATscan method eases the researcher’s workload by capturing hundreds of high-quality images per minute.
Free college tuition program pulls Maine students back to higher ed (Portland Phoenix): A partnership between USM and SMCC helps address a decline in enrollment by providing students with a pathway to obtain their degree.
Cajun Cookin’ Challenge returns as a Maine celebration of Mardi Gras (WGME): Visitors to WMPG’s annual New Orleans-style party left with beads around their necks and bellies full of food.
Retired philosophy professor gifts $300,000 to fund lecture series (Daily Nous): Funded by Robert Louden, the new lecture series will kick off on October 23 with a presentation titled “The Value of Humanities.”
AI sparks plagiarism concerns among Maine educators (headline written by ChatGPT) (WGME): As the Director of USM’s Center for Collaboration and Development, Dr. Heidi Parker says new technology always demands adjustments from faculty and students in order to ensure academic integrity.
The romantic Valentine’s Day: It’s not for everyone (Portland Press Herald): People who feel excluded from the traditional definition of romantic love can find meaning in other ways beyond chocolates and flowers, says Assistant Professor of Social Work Rachel Casey.
Hidden Stories featured at University of Southern Maine (Portland Press Herald): By challenging viewers to see the meaning behind their imagery, artists Kate Cheney Chappell and Annie Lee-Zimerle hope the people who visit their exhibition will apply the same scrutiny to symbols in the world outside the USM Art Gallery.
Maine Basketball Hall of Fame announces its Class of 2023 (Portland Press Herald): Joanna Brown is one of several Huskies to be tapped for enshrinement at the next induction ceremony in August.
As teacher departures rise, solutions could be a year or more away (The Maine Monitor): Dr. Flynn Ross explains how a teacher residency program at the University of Southern Maine is working to ease a staffing shortage at schools across Maine.
What justice means to communities affected by nuclear testing (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists): As related by Dr. Rebecca Davis Gibbons, life has never been the same for the Marshallese people after nuclear weapons testing poisoned their lands and waters.
Millworker’s grim 19th-century murder was a cautionary tale for girls (Bangor Daily News): A book talk hosted by the Osher Map Library reveals the dangers faced by women who dared to challenge gender norms about working outside of the home during the heyday of the textile industry.
January
CMP parent company to fund sustainability-oriented position, scholarship at USM (Maine Public): The Muskie School of Public Service will benefit from a $1.2 million gift, given by the Avangrid Foundation in honor of David Flanagan.
Mapping the history of New England’s once-booming textile industry (Sun Journal): An exhibit at the Osher Map Library shows the economic and cultural impact of textile mills on their host communities, including Lewiston.
Actor Tony Shalhoub announces donations to USM arts center, credits college for launching his career (Portland Press Herald): As honorary chair of the fundraising campaign, Tony Shalhoub will help to remake the campus where he studied Theatre in the 1970s.
Additional coverage of the Shalhoub announcement:
Nope’s social demons (Blog of the APA): Philosophy Professor Jason Read examines what the films of director Jordan Peele have to say about the power dynamics of human interaction.
This Maine home can stay 70 degrees without a furnace, even when it’s freezing outside (Maine Public): The new residence hall under construction in Portland stands out as a prominent example of the growing trend toward passive housing.
Maine scholarship ensures all students get opportunity to succeed (NEWS CENTER Maine): Jean-Daniel Liwanga is working toward a degree in Computer Science thanks in part to financial support from the Mitchell Scholarship.
USM hockey star making a difference both on and off the ice (WGME): The competitive spirit that senior Tanner McClure brings to his hockey career is matched by the community spirit that he brings to his work with the Best Buddies program.
‘Night of the Living Rez’ a finalist for national prize (Portland Press Herald): The latest kudos for Stonecoast faculty member Morgan Talty add to a long list of awards and honors for his lauded short story collection.
Research: Screening lack for infectious diseases among Medicaid users with opioid use disorder (NEWS CENTER Maine): Dr. Katherine Ahrens, an associate professor at the Muskie School of Public Service, discovers a blindspot in the health records of a vulnerable population.
Game On: USM soccer standout Huntress shows creativity on the pitch and with a new product line (Portland Phoenix): When Kiki Huntress isn’t wearing her USM soccer jersey, she keeps busy by screenprinting her artwork onto t-shirts for other people to wear.
Looking Ahead at 2023: Portland leaders share their hopes and dreams for the new year (Portland Phoenix): University President Jacqueline Edmondson signals a turning point for the Portland Campus that has been years in the making.
2022
Beyond ‘Sectional Superiority’: Memorializing Black History in Northern New England (The New England Quarterly): Retired English Professor Eve Raimon analyses the message that New England communities hope to communicate about their role in advancing civil rights by focusing on the way public monuments portray Black history.