Press Release
Kennedy Installed as 18th UMaine President
Sept. 23, 2005
Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571
ORONO — Citing the University of Maine as an example of a “new model” public state university, Robert A. Kennedy was formally installed on Friday as UMaine’s 18th president.
“This new model involve being responsive and flexible enough to adapt to changing societal needs, while capitalizing on our individual and collective strengths,” he told a Maine Center for the Arts audience estimated at 700. “”It also means greater collaboration with other institutions, and taking a leadership role in creative efforts to pool resources and expertise.”
As an example, Kennedy described UMaine’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Under development in cooperation with Jackson Laboratory, Maine Medical Center, MDI Biological Laboratory, the University of Southern Maine and through the Institute for Human Genetics and Health, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, the school will bring Ph.D. students to UMaine to work with university and other researchers on biomedical research.
“It will put our scientists in a position to apply their skills and their creativity to improving human health globally, and…locally,” he said. “This state has its share of health concerns — many of them particularly acute in this region — and scientists associated with these research programs will be poised to help address those concerns.”
Kennedy also announced that UMaine has formalized an agreement with the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine to offer a joint Ph.D./Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The agreement relates to cooperative arrangements with faculty members from each institution working side-by-side in teaching, research, and graduate student mentoring activities related to the program.
In addition, he told the audience that he has appointed a Retention Task Force, chaired by associate provost Susan Hunter, to take a “top-to-bottom look” at everything UMaine can do to improve the opportunities for students to complete their studies and graduate.
Kennedy came to UMaine in 2000 to serve as provost. He was appointed interim president in August of 2004 and, following a national presidential search, he was appointed UMaine’s 18th president on April 15, 2005.
In a 25-minute installation address, Kennedy praised UMaine’s students, faculty members and staff members for their contributions to making UMaine “a great place to live and work.
“I’ve been fortunate in my career to work at several outstanding universities. Some have more resources than we have at UMaine; some have less. But not one of them can touch us when it comes to the quality of the people who make up our faculty and employee bas, the student population, our wonderful alumni and other friends,” he said. “That is the biggest reason I’m so excited and optimistic about UMaine and its future. When it comes to this most important characteristic, we’re already world-class.”
Throughout his address, Kennedy talked about UMaine’s bright future, and expressed his trademark optimism, as noted by others who spoke at the two-hour ceremony.
“Bob Kennedy possess the personal attributes that motivate and inspire those who care deeply about this institution,” said Board of Visitors Chair Meredith Burgess. “His unfailing optimism and steadfast agreeable personality should not be underestimated as keys to his leadership ability. This is a wonderful university, and we should all feel good about our attachment to it.”
University of Maine System Chancellor Joseph Westphal offered his congratulations, and conducted the investiture ceremony, during which he bestowed the UMaine presidential medallion on Kennedy. Others who spoke at the event included William Johnson of the University of Maine System Board of Trustees; Marie Hayes, president of the UMaine Faculty Senate; John Rohman, vice-chair of the University of Maine Alumni Association Board of Directors; and Julie-Ann Scott, president of the University of Maine Association of Graduate Students. Paul Stern, director of sports clubs in the UMaine Dept. of Campus Recreation represented UMaine’s professional employees; Cynthia D’Angelo, an administrative assistant in the Dept. of Public Administration, represented UMaine’s classified employees; and Kathleen O’Brien, president of UMaine Student Government, represented UMaine’s undergraduate student population.
Gov. John Baldacci, who could not attend the event in person, provided videotaped greetings and congratulations.
Robert Edwards, Bowdoin College president emeritus and a member of the UMaine Board of Visitors, was the keynote speaker. His remarks included three “great issues” that have challenged the university through its history, including contemporary times: public education, money, and the idea of the university.
“Public affirmation of the great purposes of the University, then, will be the unending task of our humane scientist president,” Edwards said. “As a human organism, our university will survive and prosper to the extent it interacts publicly, honestly and effectively with its environment. As a land grant university
this has always been our enduring strength and opportunity.”
UMaine Prof.Mary Rumpho-Kennedy introduced her husband before his installation address. In a humorous and touching introduction, she shared her thoughts and those of the Kennedys’ four sons: Caleb, Alex, Bryce and Curran.
“Bob is an individual who exhibits profound loyalty, who pursues the highest standards, and who holds great aspirations,” she said. “As a family, we have all seen the ways that his tireless work ethic and humility have guided his already significant achievements — it goes without saying that there are many more to come.”
More information about the installation, including photos, is at http://www.umaine.edu/installation/.
