Recent News

Bowen ’20 Advises Students to Pursue Options

September 17, 2018

Christopher “CJ” Bowen may herald from Plaistow, New Hampshire, but ever since starting at UMaine he has made the state of Maine his home.

The summer following his first year he stayed in Orono to work with the UMaine Foundation, and this past summer instead of returning to his hometown he again elected to stay in Maine, this time interning at MEMIC in Portland.

Bowen, the September recipient of the Alumni Association’s Dirigo Award, is pursuing a double major in business management and marketing. He serves as president of the Maine Business School Corps, the school’s community outreach organization. Bowen has been involved with the organization for the last three years and served as its secretary his sophomore year.

“Nory Jones was a professor that helped me get involved with the Maine Business School and with the overall UMaine community,” he notes. “If it wasn’t for her I don’t think I would be involved in the things I do today at UMaine.”

In fact, Bowen urges other students to get involved in everything they can at the beginning of their time at UMaine. He credits the times he’s felt the most nervous and uncomfortable as those moments where he’s learned the most and understood what truly matters.

When he’s not in class or organization meetings, Bowen keeps busy in other ways. His Sunday routine includes spending time at Aroma Joe’s, an off-campus coffee shop, enjoying an energy drink called a “Green Alien Rush” and playing chess. His other pastimes include archery, photography, and camping as well as outdoor hammocking and paddleboarding on the Stillwater River.  

Although he has taken to the state, Bowen hopes to move west after graduation to experience something new. He intends to find  a job in sales, eventually working his way into upper level management of a large company.

The UMaine Alumni Association, with support from University Credit Union, each month presents its Dirigo Award to an undergraduate student who exemplifies the academic and civic ideals of the University of Maine. Selections are made in consultation with UMaine’s deans and the Division of Student Life.

 

UMaine Graduate Students Benefit from the Real World Experience of Alumnus

September 17, 2018

UMaine graduate students are benefiting from the real-world experience of alumni. Lt. Col. Jon Velishka ’97 has returned to campus to help teach a graduate-level course on the potential reunification of the Korean Peninsula. Velishka, who belonged to the Army ROTC while he was a student in Orono, has a 20-plus year military career, including overseas deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and most recently, the Republic of Korea.

Velishka is teaching with Peter Madigan ’81, a lecturer in the School of Policy and International Affairs, who has over two decades of experience in Washington politics. Throughout the semester, the students will develop a strategy for addressing the various scenarios that might play out regarding the future of Korea.

 

UMaine Welcomes the Class of 2022

September 17, 2018

The University of Maine welcomed incoming first-year students on August 31st, 2018. Returning students, faculty, staff, and alumni volunteers took part in the campus-wide event to greet students and families. Click here to view a quick highlight of the day.

 

Nominate Someone this Year for the 2019 Alumni Achievement Awards

September 17, 2018

Do you know an alumnus or alumna whose professional achievements, community service, or volunteer activity on behalf of UMaine deserves recognition?

The Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the 2019 Alumni Achievement Awards. There are eight categories of awards, the purposes, criteria, and the nomination process for which can be found here. The deadline for nominations is November 5, 2018. A 13-person committee will review nominations, with award recipients announced in January.  

Awardees will be honored at the 2019 Alumni Achievement Awards dinner and ceremony, to be held in Orono in April. Images and videos from the 2018 ceremony may be found here.

 

Ken Ralph Name New UMaine Director of Athletics

September 17, 2018

Ken Ralph, former Director of Athletics at Colorado College, began his new role of Director of Athletics at UMaine on September 1st.

“Ken has demonstrated leadership in helping ensure student-athletes’ success in the classroom and in competition, as well as experience in compliance, strategic planning, fundraising, and community outreach,” said UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy.  “We look forward to an exciting new chapter building on our outstanding foundation in Black Bear Athletics, and welcome Ken and his wife, Mary, to the UMaine community.”

Ralph, a Salem, New Hampshire native, has spent the past 11 years as the Director of Athletics at Colorado College overseeing a department of 51 professionals. Prior to Colorado College, Ralph served as Director of Athletics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) from 2002-07.

He earned his undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Alaska-Anchorage and earned a master’s degree in sports management studies from California University of Pennsylvania.

More information can be found here.

 

Ken Ralph Named UMaine Director of Athletics

August 20, 2018

Ken Ralph, Director of Athletics at Colorado College, has accepted the position of Director of Athletics at the University of Maine, effective Sept. 1.

“Ken has demonstrated leadership in helping ensure student-athletes’ success in the classroom and in competition, as well as experience in compliance, strategic planning, fundraising and community outreach,” says UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy.  “We look forward to an exciting new chapter building on our outstanding foundation in Black Bear Athletics, and welcome Ken and his wife Mary to the UMaine community.”

Ralph, Salem, New Hampshire native, has spent the past 11 years as the Director of Athletics at Colorado College overseeing a department of 51 professionals. Prior to Colorado College, Ralph served as Director of Athletics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) from 2002-07.

He earned his undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Alaska-Anchorage and earned a master’s degree in sports management studies from California University of Pennsylvania.

More information can be found here.

UMaine Set to Help Shape the Future of Bridge Construction

August 10, 2018

UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center showed off another of its many innovations last week: the successful testing of the “72-Hour Bridge,” a bridge system that can be built in fewer than three days and is designed to last 100 years with little or no maintenance. The project is part of the Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center, a coalition of several universities with UMaine as the lead partner. UMaine recently won a highly competitive $14.2 million grant to establish the center.

The bridge system is targeted to be used for highway bridges, pedestrian bridges, and military applications. The composite bridge withstood forces up to 376,000 pounds and 7.5 times the HL 93 design load specified by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials.

The Advanced Structures and Composites Center is a world-leading, interdisciplinary center for research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, manufacturing, and engineering of composites and structures. It includes a testing laboratory with more than 150 full- and part-time personnel.

Click here to view a news story and video about the project.

Art Professor’s “Ode to Nature” Showcased

August 10, 2018

Greg Ondo, UMaine associate professor of art, creates art that reflects a sense of place. His multi-layered and multi-faceted environmental art pieces are on display at Lord Hall on the UMaine campus.

To watch the full feature on his work, click here.

 

Several UMaine Professional Development Programs Available

August 10, 2018

UMaine’s Hutchinson Center is offering several professional development programs beginning this fall.

The center, located in Belfast, will feature five development programs from September until November. Topics include implementing project management, grant writing, mindful leadership, group work, and public speaking in business.

A limited number of need-based scholarships will be available. For more information or to register contact Diana at 207.338.8093.