Students in the Spotlight

  • Doctor of Philosophy in History Alumna, Dr. Shannon Risk, Interviewed Helen Hunt on NBC Reality TV Show

    Posted September 26, 2012

    University of Maine Graduate Dr. Shannon Risk received her Doctoral Degree in History in 2009 and is currently an assistant professor of history at Niagara University. Risk was chosen to interview acclaimed actress Helen Hunt on NBC’s new genealogical reality show, “Who Do You Think You Are?” (March 23). “Who Do You Think You Are?” follows well-known celebrities as they seek to learn about their family history. The decision to have Risk interview Hunt was based on Risk’s doctoral dissertation regarding 19th century woman suffrage movements in Maine and New Brunswick. Hunt’s great-great grandmother was instrumental in the fight for women’s voting rights, and was included in Risk’s manuscript. On the T.V. show, Risk taught Hunt about her great-great grandparent’s lives and actions. Dr. Risk said of the experience, “It was nice for me to be a part of Helen’s journey of discovery.” Dr. Shannon Risk is also a former Fulbright scholar and has published two books. For the full story, please click here. 

  • Robert Gee, Doctor of Philosophy Candidate in History, Becomes Member of Gradhacker

    Posted September 26, 2012

    Rob Gee, a Ph. D. candidate in the History Department, has recently become a permanent member of the gradhacker community. Gradhacker is a popular InsideHigherEd.com blog written by graduate students for graduate students addressing topics such as technology, professional tasks, wellness related topics, and productivity. Gradhacker’s mission statement describes the site as, “dedicated to creating a community of grads who can benefit from hearing the stories, tips, and challenges of others who are experiencing the same things.” Gee’s first post is titled “Community, Wellness, and the Economy: It’s What’s for Dinner” and discusses food, cooking and the benefits of joint meal preparation for academic communities. You can read Gee’s post here. 

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies Student, Ana Cecilia Mauricio, Featured in Peruvian Newspaper

    Posted September 26, 2012

    Ana Cecilia Mauricio, a Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies student, was featured in an interview published by El Comercio, Peru’s leading newspaper. Mauricio teamed up with another Peruvian graduate student from Yale University to organize the first conference on the Lima culture of the first millennium A.D. The newspaper called the two students, “a new generation of archaeologists, trained in (Peru) with foreign doctorates, who bring a new vision to carry out their work and understand a country as complex as Peru.” Mauricio was recently awarded a prestigious National Geographic Society Waitt Grant. According to the National Geographic website, “The National Geographic Society/Waitt Grants Program funds projects that require venture capital, supporting exceptional projects while foregoing a time-consuming peer-review process.” 

  • 2012 Graduate Student Employee of the Year

    On April 9, 2012, Graduate School Grad Assistant Sarah Snow was awarded the 2012 Graduate Student Employee of the Year award at the Student Employment Recognition Banquet.  Nominated by the entire Graduate School Staff, Snow’s nomination letter describes her as “the ideal graduate student employee - highly intelligent, extremely motivated, and very reliable and professional.”  She will be graduating in May, 2012 with a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and has accepted a position as a Speech-Language Pathologist at the Manson Park and Vickery Schools in Pittsifeld, Maine.  Snow has worked at the Graduate School for two years, most notably as the co-coordinator for both the New Graduate Student and New Teaching Assistant Orientation each August.  The Graduate School wishes the best of luck to Sarah in her future endeavors!
     
    Sarah is pictured here with Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Dr. Robert Dana and President Paul Ferguson at the Student Employment Banquet.
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