It can be especially disheartening and disturbing, in the midst of this pandemic that has now claimed over 100,000 American lives, to witness what seems to be an accelerating number of hate crimes and acts of violence stemming from racism. National crises such as the one we are experiencing inevitably disclose the starkest inequities in…
“Happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”–Frederick Koenig (German inventor, 1771-1833) I thought that Koenig’s quote is particularly appropriate to teaching and learning and working one week into the “new normal” at UMPI. I think of all the things we…
I’ve lived in Maine now for nine months, and never have I lived in another part of the world that is as welcoming to those who are from another part of the country, as I’ve been in Maine, and I hope that it stays that way. —Dr. Nirav Shah, Director of the Maine Center for…
First off, my congratulations to the UMPI Student Government and its Board of Trustees Representative for organizing this year’s remarkable UMS Student Government Conference: 21st Century Leadership: LEADing with Purpose, held right here at UMPI this past Saturday and Sunday. Evan Zarkadas (BOT student rep), Matt Payan (President), Adam Weyeneth (VP), Rebecca Dilenback (Treasurer), Dacian…
UMPI Colleagues, First of all, my thanks to everyone for assisting our students over the past week in getting back to campus, getting into classes and dorms, and getting caught up as we all negotiated two-foot blizzards, ice and rain storms, and just generally blustery weather. All of it meant we saw the most snowfall…
Colleagues, As we enter into the holiday season, I just wanted to put forth a quick list of some things for which I am thankful here at UMPI: For the new faculty and staff and administrators (i.e. Jason Towers, who was ostensibly looking for Mayberry) who joined us this year and help make UMPI an…
Owls of UMPI Social media and networking can be alternately empowering and maddening for many of us, and that experience likely depends upon the day or the topic du jour in the media and how our own experiences resonate with those topics. But one absolutely amazing Community page on Facebook is “Owls of UMPI,” which…
UMPI Colleagues, A heartfelt welcome to all at the start of this new semester, one that sees a great many new initiatives and programs, as well as a continuation of the outstanding work we’ve all been doing in terms of ongoing efforts and campaigns. I must admit that seldom—if ever—have I felt the level of…
Reorganization. My thanks to all who participated in and/or provided feedback regarding the proposed organizational structure of the University. My special thanks to the Task Force that led us through this process, which included the following individuals: Administration, Faculty and Staff : Deborah Hodgkins, Gregg Bouchard, Nancy Pierce, Dan LaLonde, David Buckingham, Jason Johnston, John…
Dear Campus Community, As many of you may know, it’s been a goal of mine that communication and inclusion be hallmarks of the UMPI administration and the president’s office in particular. To that end, I have continued a number of initiatives undertaken by President Schott, including semester visits to each of our campus dormitories to…
