Greetings!
I am quite honored to serve as the 14th President of the University of Southern Maine, with campuses in Portland, Gorham, Lewiston-Auburn, and online. The University of Southern Maine is a ‘people’s university,’ an institution that provides access to education, research, and outreach intended to improve the lives of individuals and the communities where our campuses are located and beyond. Our work has regional, national, and global impact.
Our campus community is diverse and vibrant, and you will receive a warm welcome here. We care deeply about creating and nurturing a sense of belonging so that all may thrive as valued members of our community. We also recognize our complicated history and acknowledge that we are located on the unceded homelands of the Wabanaki Confederacy. Students at the University of Southern Maine come from many different backgrounds. Many may be the first in their family to go to college (like I am), or they may identify as adult learners, veterans, immigrants, people of color, Indigenous, members of the LGBTQ+ community, or neurodiverse and/or disabled. At USM, we celebrate the intersections of our identities. We welcome all, knowing that everyone enriches our community and that a degree from the University of Southern Maine will be transformative.
One of the reasons I am proud to be president of the University of Southern Maine is because of our service promise to be “student focused every day.” Our faculty and staff dedicate their time and energies to creating learning environments for students that will help them reach their educational and personal goals. While at USM, students have opportunities to engage in research, internships, and other enriching co-curricular experiences that deepen and extend what they learn in classes taught by our world-class faculty. Our motto, Gaudium Visque Discendi (The Joy and Power of Learning), compels us to advance knowledge and understanding every day.
This is an exciting time to join the Husky Nation! Please be sure to visit us to see first-hand the wonderful opportunities the University has to offer.
Thank you,
Jacqueline Edmondson Ph.D.
President