ADD YOUR NAMEGreetings to the UMPI Community,
Over the past month, we have all been paying attention to the news and following stories surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement.
We have seen coverage of large protests and rallies and viewed videos documenting interactions between law enforcement and community members, all while processing the news stories and social media posts about the worldwide scale of these events. At the same time, we recognize that many may still perceive this as a movement happening elsewhere and not directly impacting our immediate community.
Institutionalized racism and the legacy of white privilege, and their associated cultural behaviors, are very real in Maine, Aroostook County, and at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. These behaviors, whether explicitly exercised or implicitly maintained, continue to have a detrimental impact on the people of color who call this place home.
Progress can only occur when we each confront our own position of privilege, hold one another accountable, and become actively anti-racist. It is no longer enough to think or say “I’m not a racist,” because that does not require us to participate in the disruption of racist systems. Instead, to declare yourself “anti-racist” is to say that you will do everything in your power to fight against racial oppression in all its forms. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmum wrote in 1978, “In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race.” Therefore, we must all address the racialized world around us and actively confront racism by supporting anti-racist policy and declaiming racist ideas and actions when we encounter them.
Black Lives Matter is an example of a direct anti-racist response to centuries of racist policies that remain woven into the fabric of our culture. There has been widespread debate and misunderstanding over what “BLM” actually means. Black Lives Matter does not mean that any lives matter less than Black lives; it means that we must all recognize, today, that a single Black life matters as much as a single white life. It is an authentic anti-racist response that ensures we truly embrace one another as human beings. It recognizes the reality that millions of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Americans live in fear of unnecessary violence and death based solely on the color of their skin. All lives do matter, but Black lives need our support at this moment in time and it is vital that we say it out loud for the world to hear.
UMPI students are experiencing racism right now. Today. In their homes here, in other parts of Maine, and across the country. Unfortunately, there are few places on social media and in our general communities where racism does not reach. As a result, UMPI students are being harassed at protests and sent racist messages, profiled in stores and businesses, and experiencing indirect, subtle, and even unintentional acts of racism on a daily basis. These microaggressions are happening to wide groups of individuals of various marginalized identities, whether they be based upon race, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, or age. These abuses are often labeled as “not a big deal”; thus, when someone experiences and expresses hurt they are often told they are being “too sensitive.” However, the collective impact of such abuses every day over time can be overwhelmingly significant and can make individuals feel both unwelcome and undervalued.
This is something each of us can help to change. We encourage every member of our community to ask themselves what they are doing to be actively anti-racist, because, the exercise of racism anywhere diminishes humanity everywhere. Conversely, the exercise of anti-racism, which supports the belief that there is nothing inherently right or wrong with any racial group, leads to racial equity and embraces our common humanity. Everyone can engage in anti-racism in their own way. Some are attending protests and contacting government officials demanding policy changes. Some are donating money to the NAACP. Some are reading books and watching documentaries as they work to understand other perspectives. Some are having difficult conversations with family and friends, and challenging racist and otherwise bigoted jokes and comments. Others are reminding colleagues and fellow community members of the foundations of civility and respect that are the cornerstone of anti-racist and inclusive behavior. What is vital is that each of us finds our own way to be anti-racist in our own lives.
As leaders, family members, teachers, and learners, we stand with Black Lives Matter and the BIPOC communities calling for our support to end institutionalized racism and become champions of anti-racism. We invite you to stand on this side of history with us.
Sincerely,
Raymond Rice
President and Provost
Matthew Morrin
Dean of Students
Sarah Coyer
Director of Student Life
NSLS Advisor
Jason Johnston
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Barbara Blackstone
Dean of the College of Professional Programs
Sen. Woman Administrator, Athletics
Benjamin Shaw
Chief Business Officer
Advisor for SGA
Jason Towers
Executive Director of Enrollment Management
Deborah Roark
Executive Director for University Advancement & External Affairs
Dorianna Pratt
Labor Relations Manager
Senior HR Partner for UMPI
Title IX Coordinator for UMPI
Lisa Smith
Special Assistant to the President
Matthew Payan
UMPI SGA President
Ines Ngoga
Senior Student Ambassador
BSU President
Bio-Med Club President
Shirley Rush
BSW Program Director
BSU, Advisor
SOSW, Advisor
Inclusion and Diversity Council, Chair
Kendra Bear-Perley
President of Native Voices
Dan Kane
Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation
Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Dr. J, Saint, Dusty
Jacqui Lowman
University Senate Chair
Associate Professor of Professional Communication and Journalism
International Student Club, Advisor
Stacey Emery
Faculty Assembly Chair
Assistant Professor of Business and Accounting
Allen Salo
President, University of Maine at Presque Isle’s AFUM Chapter
Associate Professor and Coordinator of Psychology Program
Rachel Rice
Director of Marketing and Communications
Corinne Corbin
Student
Jordan Hansen
Student
Scott A. Harrison
Executive Director, Central Aroostook Council on Education
David Murray
Director of Early College Programs
Laurie Boucher
Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Sandy McDougal
Administrative Specialist, Athletic Department
Chunzeng Wang
Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Fred Strickland
Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity and Computer Information Systems
Carol McGlinn
Director – TRIO College Access Services
Jennifer Deschene
Campus Branch Manager, University Credit Union
Nancy Pierce
Senior Financial Analyst
Franklin Thompson
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Darylen Cote
Retired Director of TRIO College Access Services
Linda McLaughlin
Administrative Specialist
Roger Stinson
Head Baseball Coach
Christopher Smith
Associate Director of Wieden Hall, Head Coach of Women’s and Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field
Tomasz Herzog
Professor of Social Foundations of Education and Social Studies Education
Lisa Leduc
Professor of Criminal Justice
Shara Page
Associate Director of Advising
Deborah Hodgkins
Professor of English, Coordinator of Humanities and Fine Art
Gavin Kane
Assistant Athletic Director/Women’s Basketball Coach/Men’s Golf Coach
Jeffrey Davenport
Adjunct Professor
Kim Masse
Larry Feinstein
Assistant Professor of Biology
Anne Chase
Tutor Coordinator/Science Specialist
Ericka Weatherbee
SSS Administrative Specialist II
Teri StPierre
Mathematics Instructor
Jean Cashman
Associate Professor of Social Work
John Haley
Director of University Experience
David, Putnam
Associate Professor of Science
Roger, Getz
Director of Library Services
Sarina Raposo
Resident Assistant
Rowena McPherson
Coordinator of Graphic Design, Social Media, & Photography; Adjunct Faculty
Shawn McPherson
Digital Content Specialist
Pamela Easler
Administrative Specialist
Lea Allen
Assistant Professor of English, Co-director of the Honors Program
Nola Belanger
Admin. Specialist
Mary Kate Barbosa
Director, Student Support Service
Tracy Rockwell
Director, Houlton Higher Education Center
Jen Lynds
Adjunct Professor
Melissa DeMerchant
Human Resources Partner
April Chase
Assistant Director, Student Support Services
Amber Woods
Alissa Edwards
Head Softball Coach and SSS Academic Programmer
John Zaborney
Professor of History and Political Science and Coordinator of History and Political Science
Alexander Myhre
Registrar
Naomi Rice
Carrie J. Bossé
Administrative Specialist, Early College Programs
John Harrington
Adjunct Faculty – Psychology
Emily Burr
Nicole Mills
Alumni
Heidi Dockery
Corinthian Dockery
Kris Cote
April Flinta
Student
Kylie Vining
Nursing Student
Carol Corcoran
Chief Human Resource Officer, UMS
Kelly Zuras
Administrative Specialist CL3, Human Resources/Title III Grant
Tim Crowley
NMCC
Mary Crowley
Melissa Lizotte
Alumni (English Program)
Jennifer Wortman
Recent Graduate 🙂
Macie Tompkins
Student
Craig Terrell
Retired
Adam Weyeneth
Alumnus
Laura Bagley
Student
Kat Hartford
Women’s and Gender Studies Student
Cynthia, McCarthy
Former student
Griffin Goins
NMCC
Matt Clark
Asst Women’s Basketball Coach
Belle Thibault
Student
Danielle Pelkey
Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Robert Steele
Lorette Adams
Former SAGE student
Shelby Pelletier
Alumni
Robert Murray
Associate Professor Emeritus
Gayla, Shaw
Adminstrative Specialist
Lillie Lavado
CRM & Comm. Manager
Max Bushman
Alumni
Craig Cormier ‘06
Interim President, UMPI Alumni Association
Sierra Mailman
Brad Wolverton
Alice Bolstridge
Ph. D. UMPI Alumna 1970
Shelly Mountain
Alumnus
Allen Stanback
Alumnus
Craig Kesselheim
Desiree Felch
Alumna
Ryan Simpson
Carolyn Dorsey
Dean, College of Degree Completion and Credentialing
Fenton Jones, Boys & Girls Clubs of Border Towns
Janet Charette
Pat Karpen
Student
Carol Ayoob
Mainely Girls Chair – Board of Directors
Nathan Richardson
Student (English major)
Lisa Udasco
Administrative Specialist CL2, Conferences and Special Programs
Stephenie Bragg
Student
Sandra Huck
Bethany Lord
Professional Academic Advisor
Dr. Dottie Martin
Dean of Development & College Relations-NMCC
Lorelei Locke
Director of Advising
Kailee Sprague
Student
Kim Sebold
Professor of History
Debra Guiod
Spanish Instructor
Shawna Page
Rachel Stetson
Julia Macek, LCSW
Adjunct Professor in Social Work
Wendi Malenfant
Education Faculty
Jim Dwyer
Associate Professor of Agriculture
Margaret Yeager
UMPI Alumni
Alex Guillotte
Brian Day
Adjunct Instructor – Social Work
Melanee Terry
Student
Judith L. Roe
Associate Professor of Biology; Biomedical Club Advisor
