USM Public Affairs

Read the March 19 issue of The Bethel Citizen to learn what a fifth-grade participant had to say about the Bee, held annually at USM.

Lecturer of Art Judith Allen had her exhibition “Here and There” reviewed in the March 7 issue of the Maine Sunday Telegram.

USM alumnus Adam Marquis graduated with a degree in environmental science and recently completed his internship with Opportunity Maine, only to find that Maine has a shortage of green jobs.  He shared his opinion on the subject of Maine’s economy and workforce in the March 17 issue of the Portland Press Herald.

USM Police are busy investigating a string of laptop thefts that have plagued the campus in recent months.  Read more about the investigation in the March 15 issue of the Portland Press Herald.

The 21st-Century USM: From President Selma Botman

A Special Thanks

Our community owes the members of the Design Team a deep debt of gratitude, not only for the work produced, but for also showing us that shared governance truly has a central place in higher education. Members spent nearly 40 hours in formal team meetings, not to mention countless additional hours in conversations with colleagues and groups. The team was a model of civility, dedication and heart. If you haven’t, please check out their reorganization proposal . I also remind you to send me your comments at reorgcomments@usm.maine.edu . Remember that any comments sent to this address are posted on a public USM website.

Marketing Reports to Meg Weston

Our Office of Marketing and Brand Management is now reporting to Vice President for Advancement Meg Weston. Meg brings to us years of experience having overseen marketing operations in imaging and communications businesses. She will provide the necessary leadership to update our brand positioning and marketing initiatives to support a distinctive institutional identity based on the goals of our new strategic plan and on the results of our restructuring effort.  Feel free to contact Meg at 780-4708, mweston@usm.maine.edu. If you have questions on specific, day-to-day marketing issues, please contact Leigh Raposo, the assistant director of marketing, at 780-4773, raposo@usm.maine.edu.

Creating Maine’s Future

This year, USM will offer some form of financial aid to nearly 8,900 students, yet the average undergraduate student will leave USM with nearly $26,000 of debt.  That’s why the USM Campaign for Scholarships is such an important opportunity to help our students achieve their dreams, take advantage of a USM education and then graduate well prepared to build a more vibrant community. We have raised nearly $600,000 toward the campaign goal $850,000. The Campaign includes the establishment of  “Creating Maine’s Future Presidential Scholarships.”  These scholarships, our most distinguished academic award, allow Maine high school graduates to receive a scholarship worth $5,000 per year for four years. On behalf of USM, I especially want to thank Wright Express for funding two such scholarships and the USM Foundation for funding one “Creating Maine’s Future Presidential Scholarship.”   If you haven’t had the chance, visit our campaign blog and watch our campaign video. It offers eloquent testimony as to why people care so deeply about this university and our students.

Current Drawings by Stephen Walsh

Stephen Walsh, a senior art major from Rockland, has been selected to have his work exhibited in the 5^thannual USM President’s Art Show.

The opening reception for “Current Drawings” will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., this Thursday, April 1, in Room 703 of the Law School Building, Portland. Walsh’s drawings will be on display through May 21.

“The act of drawing has always been the foundation in my work as an artist,” said Walsh. “Drawing becomes an essential tool in communicating my thoughts and emotions into a visual reality. Drawing permeates other areas of interest in my work, such as painting, sculpture and ceramics.”

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USM students recently attended the Circle K New England District Convention in Concord, N.H. Back, L-R: Emma Fisk, Bethany Tatro, Crystal Cushman, Rachel Fisk and Jessica Hadley Front, L-R: Jen Tochterman, Emily Julian and Madeline Luddy

The University of Southern Maine Circle K attended the New England District Convention in February in Concord, N.H and won several awards.

USM’s Circle K won second place for the Service Hours Award, with 639 service hours recorded by USM students in the past year. Bethany Tatro of Germantown, Penn., resident director of Robie Andrews Hall, won second place for the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award. Kiwanis Advisor from the Portland Kiwanis, Elizabeth Richards of Westbrook, won second place for the Joseph Strazzulla Kiwanis Advisor Award. The club also won third place for the Scrapbook award.

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Opening Doors to Your Future

The Student Success Center at USM will host its annual Job Fair on Thursday, April 8 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. in the Sullivan Gym on the USM Portland campus. It is open to all students, alumni, and the general public.

The Job Fair will host over 30 employers and there is still time for businesses to register. This is an opportunity for students and employers to meet in an informal setting and discuss employment and career possibilities.

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Author Richard Hoffman

Richard Hoffman, author of “Interference & Other Stories,” will read from his most recent book, “Interference & Other Stories,” at a book-signing taking place at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 1 in the University of Southern Maine Portland Bookstore located in Woodbury Campus Center. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

Richard Hoffman’s writings have received numerous awards, the most recent being The Literary Review’s Charles Angoff Prize. He teachers at the USM’s Stonecoast MFA program and is a Writer-in-Residence at Emerson College and.

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For more than 15 years, Celebrate Writers has commemorated the importance of writing and reading in the university community.

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