IN MAY AND JUNE, the Alumni Association invited nearly 30 alumni of color to share their UMaine experiences through a series of conversations via Zoom. The conversations occurred in the context of President Joan Ferrini-Mundy’s public commitment to ensuring “inclusive excellence” at the university through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As students, nearly all of…
As UMaine grapples with increasing its commitment to DEI, it cannot forget its past. The following story is disturbing but provides a tragic glimpse into the type of racism and violence that took place on UMaine’s campus. It should serve as an example of how unknown and suppressed stories affect our ability to understand perspectives…
Black Bear alumni, faculty, staff, and students are among Maine’s most productive innovators and entrepreneurs. This month, Innovators of UMaine showcases Raleigh Toussaint ’21, a recent graduate who majored in animal science with a pre-veterinary focus. In her senior year, Toussaint structured her capstone project around supporting a team of faculty members exploring the commercialization…
UMaine Athletics recently hosted its fifth annual Alfond Golf Classic fundraiser at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club in central Maine. The event benefits the Alfond Fund, which provides scholarships and other forms of support for UMaine athletics. This year’s event attracted 168 players, including Black Bear Award recipients Skip Chappelle ’62 and Phil Morse ’64, 2018…
Six outstanding individual athletes, a former coach, and members of a women’s basketball team will be inducted into the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame. The 2021 UMaine Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will take place on Friday, Sept. 17, at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer, at 5:30-8:30 pm. Space is limited, and tickets are available…
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) recently inducted Mark “Rookie” Letendre ’78 into the NATA Hall of Fame. The induction is the highest honor an athletic trainer can receive, and recognizes Letendre’s outstanding career, providing the best medical care, and being an advocate for the athletic training profession. Rookie spent 18 years as head athletic…
Save the date! Plan a return to UMaine for Homecoming on October 15-16. Join the campus festivities, including events planned by different colleges, and tailgating and a football game against the College of William and Mary, beginning at noon. Learn more at UMaineHomecoming.com.
Liam Nee ‘14 didn’t travel to Tokyo to watch the Olympics, but the former track & field student-athlete had a prime view, and participated in another way. Working from Stamford, CT, Nee served as a digital editorial producer for NBC Sports. He provided breaking news and feature coverage leading up to and during the Olympics.
In July, University of Maine System trustees approved a project that would transform Coburn Hall and Holmes Hall into boutique hotels. The two buildings have been unoccupied since 2009. The UMS trustees voted to enter a lease agreement with Radnor Property Group, LLC to redevelop and renovate the buildings. Coburn Hall was built in 1887-88…
Black Bear alumni, faculty, staff, and students are among Maine’s most productive innovators and entrepreneurs. This month, Innovators of UMaine showcases Maine Biosensors, a startup spun out of UMaine research that is using radar-based technology to help beekeepers monitor overall hive health. Most people would associate bees with honey, but few probably realize how critical…
Three new deans recently joined the University of Maine. Norm O’Reilly is dean of the Graduate School of Business, Diane Rowland was named dean of the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, and Ellen Weinauer will join UMaine as dean of the Honors College. O’Reilly is a former professor and assistant dean at the University…
Naturalist and marathon runner Bernd Heinrich ’64, ’66G was featured on the PBS NewsHour in early July. Heinrich’s newest book, Racing the Clock: Running Across a Lifetime, combines two of his major interests, biology and running. In it, the retired biology professor turns his attention to the science behind running, the human body, metabolism, and…