PORTLAND, Maine – As students begin classes today, the University of Southern Maine (USM) is launching the new academic year with two new colleges: the College of Nursing and Health Professions and the College of Education. These colleges bring together existing academic programs in related fields, creating a structure that’s designed to better prepare students for in-demand careers in healthcare and education.
The College of Nursing and Health Professions integrates programs in nursing, occupational therapy, athletic training, exercise science, and health sciences. The College of Education unites more than 30 undergraduate and graduate programs focused on teaching, educational leadership, counseling, school psychology, and related fields.
“As a public comprehensive university, we have a responsibility to prepare graduates who can help our state meet the challenges of today and tomorrow,” said USM President Jacqueline Edmondson. “Education and healthcare are fundamental to the strength of our communities, and Maine needs highly educated professionals in both fields. These new colleges will deepen our partnerships, strengthen our academic programs, and create new opportunities for students to make a difference in the communities they call home.”
The College of Nursing and Health Professions is expected to enroll more than 900 students this fall. USM already graduates more newly-licensed registered nurses than any other university in Maine, and the new college builds on that role by bringing students from multiple health professions together. As healthcare becomes increasingly collaborative, students will have more opportunities to learn and train alongside one another and prepare for interdisciplinary care teams, with access to simulation labs and specialized learning spaces.
Students also gain hands-on experience through clinicals, fieldwork, and internships with more than 200 partners across New England.
Kathryn Robinson has been named the inaugural dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions and brings extensive academic and healthcare experience. She most recently served at the University of Maine as associate director of the School of Nursing, director of the Ph.D. in Nursing Program, and graduate program coordinator. She was instrumental in developing a request for a $3.1 million Congressionally Directed Spending award secured by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins to launch Maine’s first Ph.D. in Nursing program at UMaine. A former oncology research nurse, Robinson holds a Ph.D. in Nursing from Northeastern University.
“I’m excited to build on the strengths of our campuses and create a truly interdisciplinary health sciences model that can have a lasting impact on the state’s healthcare workforce,” said Robinson. “We have an opportunity to modernize our curriculum to meet the evolving demands of healthcare and increase our research partnerships. Most importantly, I want our graduates to be ready to make an immediate impact in Maine’s hospitals, clinics, and communities.”
The College of Education builds on USM’s strong tradition of preparing educators and other education professionals to serve Maine schools and communities. Its programs span teacher education, special education, school psychology, counseling, applied behavior analysis, educational leadership, literacy, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
USM teacher candidates get more classroom experience than students in any other teacher preparation program in Maine, including a yearlong student teaching internship. USM is also the only institution in Maine that offers programs to prepare school psychologists and Board Certified Behavior Analysts, and the only institution to offer a degree in TESOL. Partnerships with over 100 Maine schools, behavioral health agencies, and related community organizations provide high-quality training and service opportunities for graduate students in these fields, and innovative partnerships with Maine school districts create accessible pathways into the teaching profession by helping educational technicians become special education teachers.
Cathie Fallona will serve as interim dean of the College of Education. She has been at USM since 2000 and has held numerous leadership roles, including director of the School of Education and Human Development, associate dean and director of teacher education, and director of the Center for Education Policy, Applied Research, and Evaluation. A professor of education and former elementary school teacher in Maine and Arizona, Fallona holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Arizona.
“This college gives us the platform to strengthen what we already do best — preparing the educators and behavioral health professionals Maine needs,” said Fallona. “But just as important is what our graduates go on to do: help the people of Maine thrive as engaged citizens of their communities and our democracy.”