November
Support Maine nonprofits on ‘Giving Tuesday,’ while protecting your information (NEWS CENTER Maine): The USM Athletics received $30,000 last year, and department leaders hope donors will continue their support.
2023 NCAA Woman of the Year finalists named (NCAA): Sophia Slovenski is the first student-athlete from both USM and the LEC to advance into the round of nine finalists.
Kennison inducted into Bridgton Academy Hall of Fame (Advertiser Democrat): The Husky Hall of Fame made Kennison a member in 2018 for his outstanding baseball career at USM, during which he set the program record for fewest hits allowed per nine innings (6.12).
Visiting artists bring cultural depth to USM Art Gallery (Gorham Times): Mixed media wall hangings by Jackie Milad share space in the exhibition hall with Libby Paloma’s soft sculptures.
Amran Osman: Change that can save lives (Sun Journal): A 2021 USM graduate, Osman created Generational Noor as a resource to help immigrants who are struggling with substance abuse and other difficult social issues.
Conversations with New Mainers: Prudent Ndihokubwayo went from not speaking English to studying it (Sun Journal): After earning an English degree, Ndihokubwayo is now focused on writing his memoirs while continuing to work for USM janitorial services.
A university lecturer baffles his students, but writer Seth Rogoff captivates readers (Portland Press Herald): Between writing “The Kirschbaum Lectures” and his debut novel “First, the Raven,” Dr. Rogoff also serves as a part-time faculty member in USM’s History Department.
Maine could end 2023 with the lowest annual unemployment rate in its history (Portland Press Herald): The unemployment rate needs to be balanced with other factors like inflation and homelessness to better gauge the overall economy, according to Dr. Rachel Bouvier, head of the USM Economics Department.
One more month to see exhibit at USM Gorham gallery (Gorham Weekly): The artists behind the Embodying Softness/Excavating Delight exhibit “consider the intersection of the lives of objects and language, and the point at which truths otherwise indiscernible manifest.”
Maine author Clif Travers to speak at Lewiston Public Library (Sun Journal): The grave markers in a small Maine town served as the inspiration for a collection of short stories written by a graduate of USM’s Stonecoast MFA program.
Lights Out Gallery reeling in diverse artists, makers, community (Advertiser Democrat): A sculpture commissioned by USM is being crafted from discarded fishing gear with help from volunteers at a gallery in Norway, Maine.
For Tony Shalhoub, the road to acting success began on a college theatre stage in Maine (NEWS CENTER Maine): Advanced acting classes taught by USM’s Tom Power helped set the course for Tony Shalhoub’s successful career on stage and screen.
Thousands kick of craft fair season at USM (Portland Press Herald): Money raised through the annual event at the Costello Sports Complex helps offset athletics costs.
Letter to the editor: USM is on the up and up (Portland Press Herald): Between grand openings and new construction, the USM Foundation board enumerates the many changes to campus over the past year with more still to come.
USM women’s soccer team off to Division III National Tournament (WGME): The Huskies enter the tournament with a 15-1-4 record, which matches up closely with the 14-1-2 record of their opening-round opponent, Rowan University.
Naming the William B. Wise Athletics Learning Center (Gorham Times): The dedication that Bill Wise showed in pairing athletics with academics during his 25-year career at USM is reflected in the facility that now bears his name.
What’s in a website? I-Team finds majority of Maine municipalities lack cybersecurity feature that could put them at risk (WGME): By investing in a “dot gov” URL, local governments can immediately improve the trustworthiness of their websites and the information they provide, according to Dr. Lori Sussman, Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity.
Final stretch for USM Huskies soccer season (Gorham Times): Gorham-grown talent contributed greatly to the programs’ success with Colin Albert and Asa Farley on the men’s side and Erin Castonguay and Julia Kratzer on the women’s team.
USM field hockey team head to NCAA D-3 national tournament (WGME): The Huskies earned their place on the national stage by beating Keene State 1-0 to win the LEC championship.
October
On the Record: Inclusion Maine’s Muhammad Humza Khan helps businesses with DEI (Mainebiz): The knowledge that Khan gained through his studies into Political Science and Finance at USM served him in a different way than he originally intended.
Interest rate on retail credit cards hits 30% as holiday shopping season starts (Portland Press Herald): Dr. Derek Tharp, an associate professor of finance, cautions that the deals promised by retail credit cards are only as good as your ability to promptly pay your monthly bill.
Visit from the University of Southern Maine (Reykjavik University): President Jacqueline Edmondson toured Reykjavik University’s classroom and research facilities with a delegation from USM that also included Assistant Provost for Research Integrity Ross Hickey and Maine North Atlantic Institute Project Manager Tracey Meagher.
USM Women’s Soccer on a roll (WGME): By extending their unbeaten streak to 15 games, the women’s soccer team has set a new school record.
Recovery Warriors (WGME): As combat veterans transition back to civilian life, spending time in natural environments can have a calming effect, according to research by Dr. Elizabeth Vella, chair of USM’s Psychology Department.
Environmental, immigrant groups say state needs to prepare for likely climate migration (Maine Morning Star): Planning will vary by region, according to research by USM’s Dr. Vanessa Levesque, with coastal areas more prone to flooding.
USM Gorham kicks off ’23-’24 season with The Winter’s Tale (Gorham Weekly): Whether you’re more interested in poetic dialogue or bear maulings, Shakespeare’s play has something for everyone.
This Maine mother and son are competing for opposing collegiate cross-country teams (Bangor Daily News): Cyrus Evans runs for USM while his mother, Joy Evans, runs for UMaine Farmington.
Theater review: Follow a budding romance’s slow burn in ‘Fireflies’ (Portland Press Herald): A graduate of USM’s Theatre program, Dalton Kimball carries a badge as a deputy sheriff in a new show at Portland’s Good Theater.
Tony Shalhoub and Dan Crewe report for shoveling duty at the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Crewe Center for the Arts
New exhibit highlights long history of UMaine’s Wilde Stein club (Maine Public): Enough material resulted from research by USM’s Megan MacGregor to support concurrents exhibits at both UMaine and her own home campus.
‘Embrace uncertainty’ and other takeaways from the Mainebiz CEO Forum (Mainebiz): President Jacqueline Edmondson stressed the importance of being a good listener for a successful career in administration.
A season of concert band music (Gorham Times): USM’s Dr. William Kinne will be involved in all four of the featured concerts that will be held in the Gorham area through autumn.
WMPG documentary to premiere at USM (Sun Journal): With “An Extraordinary Place,” filmmaker Tom Bell shines a light on the broadcasters who helped WMPG stay on the air for 50 years.
Portland educator named Maine’s 2024 Teacher of the Year (WGME): A BS in Elementary Education from USM laid the foundation for Joshua Chard’s 31-year career as a teacher.
Middays with Mannix & Mannix: Seth Benjamin (96.3FM Big Jab): With senior Bre Atwood in goal and four fellow seniors patrolling the back line, Coach Benjamin points to the veteran defense as a big reason for the impressive 11-0-2 start by the women’s soccer team.
Commentary: Maine will be a valuable partner to an independent Greenland (Portland Press Herald): University students will have a front-row seat to Greenland’s independence process through their travel courses and international field studies.
Landmarks revealed for Portland, Maine Monopoly edition (NEWS CENTER Maine): USM occupies a green property in the space where Pacific Avenue is located on a traditional Monopoly game board.
An invasive crayfish has reached some Maine waters — likely in bait buckets (Maine Public): Having seen the damage that rusty crayfish caused in Wisconsin, Dr. Karen Wilson of USM’s Dept. of Environmental Science and Policy warns against letting them proliferate in Maine waters.
Commentary: Public higher education enhances our communities in more ways than one (Portland Press Herald): President Jacqueline Edmondson highlights the work of the Side x Side program to help teachers integrate art into their curricula.
USM community mourns loss of 219-year-old tree (Bangor Daily News): A vigil let students, faculty, and staff share their memories of the Portland Campus landmark that was home to ducks and owls.
September
Franco American influence on culture (Maine Public): As fiction editor for the Résonance project, USM adjunct professor Jane Martin highlights the many contributions by Franco American writers to the national literary canon.
Corporate support helped get USM’s McGoldrick Center to the finish line (Mainebiz): A long line of donors and supporters stretched across the facade of the McGoldrick Center to participate in a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Embodying Softness/Excavating Delight (Gorham Times): The USM Art Gallery’s new exhibition by artists Jackie Milad and Libby Paloma features mixed media wall hangings, free-standing soft sculptures, and more.
Author to host reading, book signing to celebrate launch of paperback version of ‘Hester’ (Sun Journal): Stonecoast MFA alumna Laurie Lico Albanese will visit the boyhood home of Nathaniel Hawthorne to read from her book, which puts a new spin on “The Scarlet Letter.”
History of the Wilde-Stein Club (Advertiser Democrat): The Norway Memorial Library welcomes USM’s Megan MacGregor and Jill Piekut-Roy for a presentation about the first gay and lesbian club at the University of Maine.
With USM students now filling McGoldrick Center, Portland developer adds a ‘founding sponsorship’ (Mainebiz): USM named the Prenctice Board Room on the second floor of the McGoldrick Center in appreciation of a $250,000 gift from the Prentice Organization.
Sen. King announces more than $200,000 in funding for Portland non-profit (WGME): Working with USM’s Dr. Kelly Hrenko, Side x Side will use the funding to create a digital guide to help teachers integrate the arts into their curricula.
Some Maine community colleges look to local hotels to house students as on-campus dorms fill up (Maine Public): USM is helping to ease the the housing crunch by allowing a segment of the new Portland Commons dorm to be occupied by students from Southern Maine Community College.
Husky Welcome Initiative (Gorham Times): Gorham shops and restaurants thank USM students for their patronage with special deals and discounts.
USM makes major changes to parking system (Gorham Times): Parking app earns high marks for ease of use.
Some new buildings in Portland would have to be bird-safe, under proposed ordinance (Mainebiz): The latest draft of the ordinance, created with input from USM experts, is up for review by the City Council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee.
Deer Isle is the setting for this Maine short film premiering this weekend (Bangor Daily News): Among the screenings at the Camden International Film Festival is “Bay of Herons,” directed by Jared Lank, who is both an alum and part-time faculty of USM’s Geography-Anthropology Department.
USM’s Folsom, Tuplin earn Little East Conference honors (Sun Journal): The Huskies made a statement to start the field hockey season by winning a trifecta of awards for Rookie of the Week, Goalkeeper of the Week, and Defensive Player of the Week.
Color of Hockey: Pinchevsky set to coach University of Southern Maine (NHL): The beginning of the Pinchevsky era at USM also ends a 30-year drought during which time not a single NCAA men’s hockey program was led by a Black head coach.
Lowell Philharmonic passes the baton to Smith (Inside Lowell): Marshunda Smith holds a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from USM and credits the mentorship she received from Dr. Robert Lehmann as a formative influence on her career.
New labor center in Maine to focus on union organizing, community education (Maine Beacon): The Scontras Center aims to build bridges with immigrant communities so new Mainers are aware of their rights as they enter the workforce.
Lewiston author Suzanne Roy to speak about her books based on local Franco American history (Sun Journal): Some of the research that Roy pursued to better understand Franco American culture is housed in the archives at the USM.
Labor unions on the rise (Maine Public): Among the contributors to a panel discussion about the state of organized labor in Maine was Scontras Center Director Matt Emmick.
Federal funding empowers the Regulatory Training and Ethics Center at USM to study what leads scientists to make unethical research decisions
If you ever thought about teaching, Maine needs you. Now. (Bangor Daily News): With more than 1,000 teaching jobs waiting to be filled across Maine, Flynn Ross wants job seekers to know that training is available at USM (where she serves as chair of the Teacher Education Department) and across the entire University of Maine System.
New labor center in Maine to focus on union organizing, community education (Public News Service): A major goal of the new Scontras Center is to bridge the perceived differences between the labor and environmental movements by showing how their goals intersect.
Commentary: For environmental and racial justice, listen to the voice of labor (Portland Press Herald): Scontras Center Director Matthew Emmick credits organized labor for being forward thinking in the causes that it chooses to champion.
Portland secures federal funds to fight overdoses (Spectrum News): City leaders are working with the Catherine Cutler Institute at USM to develop a standard of best practices by which to implement the grant.
‘Human algorithms’ have powered this Maine radio station for 50 years (Bangor Daily News): From its origins as a pirate station broadcasting out of a dorm room, WMPG established itself over the next half century as mainstay of campus life.
August
New partnership seeks to fill special education staff in Maine school districts (NEWS CENTER Maine): If the apprenticeships at a handful of area school districts prove successful, the program’s leaders hope to expand their model statewide.
Pair of exhibitions opens fall season at UMF gallery (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel): Annie Lee-Zimerle and Brian Zimerle, who both teach at art USM, explore the act of gardening using a range of media from paintings to ceramics to book arts to works on paper.
Invasive Rusty Crayfish Contest held in Rangeley (Sun Journal): Contest organizers sent specimens to USM’s Dr. Karen Wilson to help in her effort to monitor Maine’s crayfish population.
University of Southern Maine students move in to new dorms ahead of school year (WGME): The new Portland Commons complex is full of life with hundreds of residents settling into their dorms just two days before the start of classes.
Maine independent voters share thoughts on Trump’s run for White House (WGME): USM Political Science Professor Ron Schmidt explains the conundrum facing Republican candidates as they try to appeal to their party’s base without turning off moderate voters in the general electorate.
Midcoast Symphony Orchestra announces plans for 34th season (Times Record): The featured performer on Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in the October concerts will be Anastasia Antonacos, artist faculty at the Osher School of Music.
Gunpowder mills of Gorham & Windham documentary to air (Gorham Weekly): Maine Pubic Television will broadcast the program, based on a book by the late USM chemistry professor, Dr. Maurice Whitten.
Paquette to lead Good Shepherd Food Bank (Bangor Daily News): The new president of Maine’s largest hunger relief organization graduated from USM with a BS in Business Administration.
‘Sustainability is often a journey’ and other takeaways from the Mainebiz Small Business Forum (Mainebiz): The triple bottom line of “profit, people, and planet” was central to the panel discussion moderated by Richard Bilodeau from USM’s School of Business.
New bachelor’s degree in Special Education addresses statewide shortage of qualified teachers
USM radio station celebrates 50 years of broadcasting (The Forecaster): Memorable moments from WMPG’s 50-year history will be rebroadcast throughout its golden anniversary year.
2023 MAB Award winning stations (Maine Association of Broadcasters): Campus-based radio station WMPG beat statewide competition to win the award for best website.
Poets Corner presents ‘Obsessions & Harmonies’ reading, book launch (The Courier-Gazette): Teacher and student who first connected at USM will reunite online for a joint reading of their new poetry collections.
College hockey: Matt Pinchevsky ready to restore USM men’s hockey program (Sun Journal): The Huskies’ new coach has a track record of guiding players toward higher-level hockey as the former head coach of the Maine Nordiques.
Second careers for older Mainers (Maine Public): Maine Calling’s panel discussion about late-in-life career changes featured insights from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Director Donna Anderson, along with Fred Brancato who teaches courses at OLLI.
Funding to expand educator apprentice program in Maine (NEWS CENTER Maine): More money for the apprenticeship program means more job training opportunities for USM students who are working toward the next level of education technician certification.
Portland Commons comes to life as first students move into new dorms
Museum of Beadwork aims to elevate niche art form (Portland Press Herald): Before becoming museum director, Kristina Skillin studied classical languages at USM so she could read original documents related to the history of beadwork.
Commentary: Match rhetoric of Indigenous sovereignty in Maine with reality (Portland Press Herald): Dr. David Everson, assistant professor of Sociology, makes the case for expanding Wabanaki sovereignty in Maine on the basis of historical promises, political practicality, and environmental imperatives.
Messalonskee High School alum Sam Dexter embraces unpredictable lifestyle of professional baseball (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel): The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks never before had a team captain until this season when they bestowed the honor on USM Hall of Famer Sam Dexter.
Nevada at top of a bad list: Ambulance deserts (Nevada Current): Research by a team from USM reveals that Nevada has the fewest ambulance stations per 1,000 square miles in the country.
Labor center launches with goal of teaching, protecting workers’ rights (Portland Press Herald): Slated to open this fall, the Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education has been decades in the making.
University of Southern Maine names local dean’s list students (Sun Journal): Honorees are organized by county and town for easy reference by friends and family members back home.
USM finishes $124 million project with opening of first Portland dormitories (Portland Press Herald): Students will integrate into the Portland community like never before as the new dorms open for the fall 2023 semester.
Maine becomes top recipient of Senate earmark funding after Collins gains seniority (Portland Press Herald): Dr. Ron Schmidt, a USM Political Science professor, explains how a relatively small Congressional delegation can maximize its influence to bring federal money back home to Maine, and more specifically the University of Maine System.
Rural Arkansans face long ambulance wait times, nationwide study says (Arkansas Advocate): A shortage of ambulance coverage in rural parts of Arkansas reflects a national problem, according to research by a team from USM.
VA Secretary Denis McDonough joins community leaders at USM in campaign to find homes for unhoused veterans
Chainsaw artist wows crowds at Skowhegan’s River Fest (Sun Journal): A USM graduate, Dan Burns holds a fine arts degree with a focus on painting and sculpture.
Gorham’s USM Art Gallery announces new public artwork (Gorham Weekly): The sculpture made of discarded fishing gear depicts a fantastical, five-legged creature.
UMaine, USM experts form one-stop-shop for aging policy research (Bangor Daily News): The Consortium for Aging Policy Research aims to engage government officials, business leaders, and other difference makers to use their resources in service to older people.
Gardiner’s Daniel Del Gallo set for Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame induction (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel): Expectations ran high in a family of wrestlers, but Del Gallo still exceeded them by winning a national championship at USM.
For 25 years, the legacy runners have never missed Beach to Beacon (Portland Press Herald): Instead of hanging up her running shoes after a hall of fame career at USM, Kelly Bennett Brown kept running in Cape Elizabeth’s annual road race for 25 years.
Witness History: Birth of a new language (BBC): By watching deaf children in Nicaragua create their own form of sign language, USM Professor Emeritus Judy Shepard-Kegl obtained rare insight into the building blocks of interpersonal communication.
Saco & Biddeford Savings commits $50,000 to McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success (Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier): The money will be used to enhance career counseling services, expand internship opportunities, and provide additional resources to help graduates transition into the professional world.
July
Maine needs more female police officers, and a new national initiative wants to help (Spectrum News): Police recruitment can be better about recognizing the strengths that women bring to the job, according to USM Police Chief Gráinne Perkins.
The Portland Phoenix publishes final issue (Portland Press Herald): As an adjunct instructor of professional writing at USM, Sharon Ross explains the importance of cultivating a wide range of diverse local voices for a healthy media landscape.
Amesbury woman credited with rescuing swimmer (Daily News of Newburyport): Upon hearing cries for help, Ella Bezanson — a USM Nursing student and softball player — rushed to the rescue of two swimmers who were caught in a rip current at New Hampshire’s Hampton Beach.
Deep Water: ‘Breathing Room,’ by Michelle Menting (Portland Press Herald): A weekly poetry showcase praises Dr. Menting for the “tender tangibility” of her writing.
Watch list: 7 Division 3 women’s goalkeepers to keep an eye on in 2023 (New England Soccer Journal): Breanna Atwood outpaces her divisional rivals by claiming the cover photo in a preview of the upcoming soccer season.
Vacationland (The New York Review): Stonecoast MFA faculty Morgan Talty earns high praise for his collection of stories about the side of Maine that isn’t shown in tourism brochures.
Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance to induct three into Hall of Fame on Aug. 19 (Sun Journal): Already a member of the Husky Hall of Fame, Dan Del Gallo has wrestled his way into another elite club of athletes.
Racing to preserve the history of Maine’s 1st gay rights organization (Bangor Daily News): If a book were to be written about UMaine’s Wilde Stein Club, the organization’s co-founder hopes that its author would be USM Instruction and Outreach Librarian Megan Mac Gregor, using documents in the Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine.
In the news: Georita M. Frierson (The Bay State Banner): Dr. Frierson settles into her leadership role at USM after a month on the job as Provost.
Maine police departments sign national initiative to increase female officers by 2030 (Maine Public): In order to make policing more appealing to women, USM Police Chief Gráinne Perkins suggests flexible scheduling for caregivers among other innovations.
Legislature shores up finances of emergency medical service providers around the state (Maine Monitor): State funding addresses the problem of “ambulance deserts” which was identified in research by USM’s Maine Rural Health Research Center.
Sports memoir scores with mix of basketball lore and American history (Portland Press Herald): Kendrick Perkins gets an assist from Dr. Seth Rogoff in telling the personal struggles behind his rise to NBA stardom.
June
What if the ambulance doesn’t come? Rural America faces a broken emergency medical system (USA Today): A study by the Maine Rural Health Research Center at USM reveals the need for more systematic funding of EMS services to address ambulance deserts.
Commentary: Community is key to preventing teen substance use (Portland Press Herald): A family history of substance use fuels the desire of a recent USM graduate to help others avoid the same pitfalls.
Into the Wild: Designing a bird-safe world (Portland Phoenix): New architectural standards championed by researchers at USM will reduce the number of birds that die by flying into windows.
A new program is showing promise in chipping away at Maine’s affordable housing crisis (Maine Public): Estimates of the state housing shortfall should be adjusted upward to account for the new workers that Maine employers hope to recruit, according to the findings of USM researchers.
Sold-out crowd celebrates Juneteenth by attending the inaugural State of Black Maine Symposium at USM
Maine nurses split over whether state mandate of staff ratios would help (Portland Press Herald): With her services in such high demand, USM graduate Kaitlynn Hutchins has her choice between several career opportunities in nursing.
A gay hotline started in Aroostook County became a lifeline (NEWS CENTER Maine): The original answering machine message for a hotline which provided information and services to Maine’s gay community is preserved in USM’s LGBTQ+ collection.
A little fish plays a big role in the food chain: Alewives return to rivers to spawn (NPR): Even with all of her expertise in Environmental Science, Dr. Karen Wilson is still awed by the sight of the annual alewife migration, which also serves as a buffet for hungry predators.
USM’s Lewiston campus to develop ‘health education corridor’ (Sun Journal): Occupational Therapy is one of several health care programs open to LAC students, with more set to be added.
New USM police chief brings international experience (Bangor Daily News): From Ireland to South Africa to Seattle, Gráinne Perkins traveled an unconventional road on her way to USM.
Longtime, accomplished Waynflete soccer coach stepping down (The Forecaster): Between leading the boys’ soccer team at Waynflete High School to eight state championships, Brandon Salway also found time to return to his college alma mater to serve as an assistant coach of the USM women’s basketball team that played in the 2006 national championship game.
This is what happens to old windmill blades (Bangor Daily News): As an expert in alternative housing options, emeritus professor Robert Sanford floats the idea of using decommissioned windmill blades as building materials for homeless shelters.
Washington County law enforcement faces unprecedented pressures (Maine Monitor): Statistical analysis by the Cutler Institute’s George Shaler reveals the nuance behind the crime rate numbers in Maine’s easternmost county.
17 historic gay bars to be showcased in Portland tour (Bangor Daily News): By piecing together records in USM’s LGBTQ+ Collection, University librarian Megan Mac Gregor is working to preserve the history of Maine’s vanishing gay bar scene.
A taste of two worlds (Edible Maine): Reindeer, seal, and musk ox were some of the meats that students sampled on a trip to Greenland to collect recipes for a cookbook of Inuit and Wabanaki dishes.
College grads at the top of their game (Gorham Times): In his senior year on the USM baseball team, Jason Komulainen posted a team-best batting average of .374, along with a perfect fielding percentage.
Maine author Morgan Talty to release first novel next year (Portland Press Herald): As with his acclaimed collection of short stories, the the first novel by Stonecoast MFA faculty member Morgan Talty will also be set within Maine’s Penobscot Indian Nation.
USM and SMCC pair up for Southern Maine Pathways program (NEWS CENTER Maine): A signing ceremony formalized a new partnership agreement that allows SMCC students who plan to continue their education at USM to live on the Portland campus.
Everything is Connected: A reading list of linked stories (Literary Hub): Stonecoast MFA alumna and author Shannon Bowring recommends books with the types of tight-knit relationships that she recognizes from the small Maine community where she grew up.
University cooperation: Developing sustainability in times of climate change (Reykjavik University): A group of 14 honors students from USM visited Iceland to learn about the country’s culture, landscape, and economy.
New director of USM’s Lewiston campus aims to strengthen community connections (Sun Journal): “One my goals personally with LAC is to do our best to tailor our offerings to the interests, but also the lifestyles of the students that come to the campus,” said Dr. Netty Provost, whose tenure as director begins in July.
Good news for wildlife in Augusta! (Maine Audubon): The Maine Legislature passed a bill that will set guidelines for bird-safe architecture, as recommended by a team of experts including USM’s Dr. Christine Maher.
2023 Annual Meeting: Reducing nuclear threats in a time of peril (Arms Control Association): Dr. Rebecca Davis Gibbons, of USM’s Political Science Department, lent her expertise to a panel discussion titled “Reducing nuclear risks and reinforcing the taboos against nuclear use and threats” at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
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
Spinnaker Trust makes a $50,000 donation to the University of Southern Maine Foundation (Bangor Daily News): The donation, which will go to support the completion of the McGoldrick Center for Student & Career Success, is the biggest gift that the Trust has ever given.
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.
Visually arresting, profoundly contemplative (Artscope): Sunbathing is the theme of an exhibition at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art under the curation of USM Art History Professor Emerita Donna Cassidy with assistance from two USM interns.
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.
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.”
Research Integrity (On Research Podcast): As a basic test of research integrity, Maine Regulatory Ethics and Training Center Director Ross Hickey posed three questions: “Is it true? Is it fair? Is it wise?”
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 (Advertiser Democrat): 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 (The Forecaster): 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.
2 Maine high school basketball stars are fulfilling a dream to play together in college (Bangor Daily News): Brady Saunders and Madden White were rivals in Maine’s Class A North region, but bonded after being paired up on the same AAU team.
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.
The Harraseeket Conference — Revisiting systems for ethics oversight of research with human participants (Research Ethics): To address evolving risks inherent to research with human participants, a paper co-authored by George Shaler and Ross Hickey envisions a corresponding evolution in ethical oversight.
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
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.
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.
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 (Kennebunk Post): 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.
Fundraising campaign for the new arts center gets a boost with a donation from University alum Tony Shalhoub
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.