Dear Colleagues,

With the spring semester in full swing, I have a good deal of positive news to report from recent weeks at the University of Maine. January was another remarkable month, full of achievements by our faculty, staff and students.

One highlight drew attention to the value and quality of UMaine research and development work. An Advanced Engineered Wood Composites (AEWC) Center team, led by Bob Lindyberg, joined with the U.S. Navy, Hodgdon Yachts, Maine Marine Manufacturing and a Virginia company to develop a prototype composite vessel for use by Navy SEAL teams. This innovative boat is meant to satisfy Navy concerns related to the current fleet of aluminum vessels. UMaine's world=class R&D capability, combined with Maine work ethic and ingenuity, led to a successful launch in January, marking the first step in a process that could lead to the development of a whole new fleet of composite boats.

Later in the month, Jack Cashman, the governor's economic adviser, announced that three businesses are seriously considering new operations in the Bangor area, possibly bringing 1,000 new jobs. Mr. Cashman stated, without equivocation, that all those businesses chose this region because of proximity to UMaine.

These developments suggest that the state's investment in UMaine R&D is paying off. Other indicators, like a 24 percent year-to-year increase in UMaine research expenditures and the recent news that Maine led the nation in the percentage increase of research funding from 1994-2006, further indicate the great value of that investment.

UMaine provided a valuable link to the surrounding communities in January, hosting a series of memorable events. A wonderful crowd of families, friends and well-wishers attended an Alfond Arena send-off ceremony for the Maine Army National Guard's Charlie Company, 1-126th Aviation Regiment as that group of citizen soldiers left for a second deployment in Iraq. Members of the UMaine men's and women's hockey teams, and their coaches, participated in that ceremony. U.S. Rep. Tom Allen was also part of that event.

The area's largest Martin Luther King birthday celebration, a collaborative effort of UMaine and the local NAACP chapter, drew a capacity crowd to Stodder Hall on Jan. 21, including Sen. Susan Collins and U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud. Prof. Doug Allen from UMaine's philosophy faculty provided a well-received keynote address.

Later that day, hundreds of avid Boston Red Sox fans visited Alfond Arena to have a look at the 2007 World Series trophy. Harold Alfond, for whom the arena was named, was a long-time part-owner of the Red Sox and people from that organization really appreciated the connection.

I was most pleased when Combined Charitable Appeal for University Employees (CCAUE) co-chairs Sharon Buchanan and Andrea Gifford announced the 2007 final campaign total of $110, 999.22. Once again, UMaine's people have shown generosity and real concern for our friends and neighbors who benefit from the great community agencies that receive funds through this annual appeal. My thanks to Sharon, Andrea and all who participated.

I hope you will join me in welcoming Sue McCullough to the UMaine community, when she takes over as Hutchinson Center director on March 1. We announced Sue's appointment, subject to final Board of Trustees approval, two weeks ago. She is currently dean of graduate and extended studies at Longwood University in Virginia. Dean Bob White, the search committee, interim director Lavon Bartel and members of the midcoast community worked hard to find a new director with a record of achievement and leadership, and we are excited about having Sue take over that important role. I must also acknowledge Lavon and thank her for interrupting her well-deserved retirement to serve as interim director.

There was more good Hutchinson Center news recently, when the Unity Foundation announced a $200,000 challenge grant to support the $2 million Hutchinson Center fundraising campaign. There is great excitement in mid-coast Maine about UMaine's presence there, and the great possibilities associated with the planned expansion.

We were also delighted to announce a generous $1.5 million gift from Bion and Dorain Foster of Hampden, two of UMaine's great benefactors and supporters. We have named "The Bion and Dorain Foster Student Innovation Center" in recognition of this gift, which also supports student scholarships and the Student Recreation and Fitness Center. We are humbled by the generosity shown by Bion and Dorain, who are committed to helping us find ways for our students to find success.

It is also a pleasure to welcome Danny Williams back to UMaine, as a planned giving officer at the University of Maine Foundation. Danny is a UMaine graduate and former alumni association staff member whose enthusiasm for his alma mater is hard to match. I am certain that he will do a terrific job at the foundation.

Congratulations to the UMaine business graduate students who competed successfully in January's John Molson MBA International Case Competition in Montreal. This is the oldest competition of its kind, featuring teams from great business schools around the world. UMaine teams always do very well there, and this year was no exception. Paul Myer and Harold Daniel from the business school faculty served as mentors for team members Christine Clark, Kevin Paul, Cristin O'Brien and Thomas Miller.

Interesting news came out recently about another student group, which will travel to Houston this summer to conduct in-flight tests aboard a NASA aircraft that creates near-zero gravity conditions. Prof. Mike Mason is working with the students, who will conduct and experiment related to the effect of microgravity and hypergravity on way toxicants interact with cells. A University of Southern Maine professor, USM students and a Portland high school student will also participate in the project.

UMaine electrical and computer engineering professors Ali Abedi and Mauricio Pereira da Cunha are also involved in a project related to NASA. Ali and Mauricio are developing a battery-free wireless sensor communication system. Working with a three-year NASA grant, Ali and Mauricio are involved in research that could have a positive impact on space shuttle operations. Transportation engineers are also interested in the technology, which might be useful in monitoring the condition of bridges.

Congratulations to Prof. John Vetelino and the research team from UMaine's Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology (LASST) for recent recognition from the National Science Foundation. NSF selected a sensor developed at LASST as one of its "notable achievements." Joining John on this project are professors Carl Tripp and Paul Millard, along with Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology Senior Research Scientist David Frankel.

Five Australian literacy educators visited our area in January to learn about the Maine Literacy Partnership (MLP), a local initiative involving UMaine that works to boost student reading and other communication skills. The visitors spent time with UMaine College of Education and Human Development faculty members and others to gain a better understanding of the model and how it supports K-6 teachers.

UMaine's College of Engineering brought 30 Bangor middle school girls to UMaine on Jan. 23 for an extensive project intended to promote science and engineering education and careers. Prof. John Vetelino, a real innovator who works very hard to extend UMaine expertise and resources to local schools and teachers, developed the well-received program, which included interaction with UMaine professors, staff members and students, along with Coach Cindy Blodgett. The Bangor students also attended the exciting women's basketball game against Boston University, which the Black Bears won. Since 2004, more than 550 Maine middle school and high school students have visited UMaine research labs through programs like this one.

A Feb. 9 faculty piano/cello recital with Phillip and Noreen Silver is the next event in the spring semester School of Performing Arts performance schedule. The school will present an incredible array of events over the next few months. For more details, visit umaine.edu/spa.

David Hart and the staff at UMaine's Sen. George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research have developed an interesting and informative Environmental Solutions Initiative seminar series, which continued Monday with a presentation on environmental communication by Stephen Depoe of the University of Cincinnati communication faculty. This series has been well-received and is a great credit to David and the Mitchell Center staff. UMaine's Dept. of Communication and Journalism co-presented the Monday seminar.

A record number of employers visited UMaine on Wednesday for a career fair, where recruiters had the opportunity to interact with UMaine students. The career fair is now at capacity, with 150 employers represented, and director Patty Counihan has an extensive waiting list of businesses that would like to participate. This says good things about the high regard employers have for UMaine graduates in all fields of study.

Given that interest, it is no surprise that the Office of Institutional Studies has issued an encouraging new report about the after-UMaine activities of those who graduated from the university between Dec. 2005 and Aug 2006. Eighty percent of those who responded say they are employed full-time, while another 6.1 percent are in graduate school and 10.8 percent are employed part-time. Sixty-eight percent of those working full-time are in Maine, including 76 percent of those Maine natives who are employed full-time. Eighty-six percent of those in the workforce and 92 percent of those in grad school say that UMaine prepared them "very well" or "moderately well." To me, these statistics say that UMaine is providing what its students and Maine citizens expect – graduating the well-educated students who are prepared to take their place as emerging leaders in our communities and businesses.

I'll conclude this month's message by saluting the 231 Black Bear student-athletes honored last weekend for classroom achievement. Once again, more than half of those students achieved grade point averages of 3.0 or better, earning recognition at Sunday's events. Great credit goes to the coaches and athletics department staff and administration, and also to the faculty and staff members who work so hard every day to support all of our students. It is that commitment that leads to all the student success stories we celebrate and recognize virtually every day at the University of Maine.

Sincerely,
 

Bob Kennedy

President