Black Bear alumni, faculty, staff, and students are among Maine’s most productive innovators and entrepreneurs. In this month’s column, we hear from Veena Dinesh, whose role is to help UMaine’s innovators bring their ideas to life. As the university’s director of business incubation, Dinesh leads efforts to accelerate university innovations, coordinating several programs that help…
A former chief justice, a civil rights advocate, and a physician are among the 2022 Alumni Achievement Award recipients who will be recognized during an awards celebration on May 12. The Hon. Leigh Ingalls Saufley ‘76 was chosen to receive the Alumni Career Award. Saufley was the first woman to serve as Maine’s Chief Justice…
A livestreamed event on MLK Jr. Day focused on the State of Civil Rights in Maine. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and a panel of five individuals addressed the topic and spoke about their experiences. The panelists included Maulian Dana ’06 of Indian Island, Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador; State Rep. Richard Evans of Dover-Foxcroft; David…
Diane Dunn ’01G, former assistant adjutant general of the Maine Army National Guard, has joined UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy’s senior leadership team as senior advisor. During her 33 years of military service, Dunn became the highest-ranking woman in the Maine Army National Guard. At UMaine, she will focus on the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity,…
Philip and Susan Keene Morse, both members of the University of Maine’s Class of 1964, have pledged $1 million to support UMaine’s Athletics Facilities Master Plan. The master plan is part of the UMS TRANSFORMS initiative, launched by the Harold Alfond Foundation’s historic gift in 2020. The Morses, who met at the university, have generously…
The University Inn and Academic Suites, situated on College Avenue and overlooking the Stillwater River in Orono, was sold in December and will become an office complex for Texas-based Tyler Technologies. The familiar landmark opened in 1964, and served generations of alumni with its 48 hotel rooms. Tyler Technologies provides software and services to public…
Black Bear alumni, faculty, staff, and students are among Maine’s most productive innovators and entrepreneurs. In this month’s column, the husband-and-wife team of Stephen Gilson and Elizabeth DePoy, both professors of interdisciplinary disability studies and social work at UMaine, provide updates on the adaptive mobility device they invented in 2013. Called the Afari, the sleek,…
Former UMaine basketball standout Kim Corbitt ’05 holds an essential behind-the-scenes position with the Phoenix Suns. Corbitt became the Phoenix Sun’s Senior Vice President of People and Culture last summer. She oversees all human resource functions for the Suns as well as for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, Phoenix Suns Arena, and all the affiliated entities. …
Do you know an alum who has a history of involvement with the UMaine Alumni Association? There’s still time to nominate an alumnus or alumna for the Suzanne K. Hart ’68 Alumni Service Award. The award recognizes exemplary leadership and extensive service, in multiple ways and over a lengthy period of time, to promote the…
David Patrick ’16, ’19G is cofounder of Racial Equity and Justice (REJ), a nonprofit that provides consulting services, educational support, and professional development programs. REJ seeks to raise awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. With cofounder Desiree Vargas ’20, he works to help communities of color “survive and thrive with greater equality, justice, liberation,…
Nolan Altvater ’21 is working to create resources and fill gaps that will help Maine educators teach Native history and culture. The Passamaquoddy student, who is enrolled at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, is coordinating with Portland public school educators and tribal leaders to develop resources and materials that will assist K-12 educators in…
Jim Boylen ’87 will serve as head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team. The team began competing in late November in their efforts to qualify for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Boylen began coaching after graduating from UMaine, and most recently was head coach of the Chicago Bulls. Read more here.