Augusta Campus, Jewett Hall, Farber Forum, with overflow space available.

This event is open to anyone who wants to attend (all students, faculty, staff, and the general public). FMI: Carolyn Anderson, Institutional Events and Alumni & Donor Engagement Specialist, Carolyn.anderson@maine.edu

UMA has been recognized in the U.S. News 2025 Best Online Program rankings with two significant placements: No. 107 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs and No. 60 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans. Â鶹APP online bachelor’s programs rank first in Maine and seventh in the Northern region, which includes Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.  

Â鶹APP online bachelor’s in business program also improved its standing, moving up six spots to No. 118 from No. 124. This advancement underscores Â鶹APP focus on academic innovation and continuous improvement.

This distinction underscores Â鶹APP commitment to accessible, high-quality education and strong performance among peers.

U.S. News evaluates online degree programs using a rigorous methodology that includes factors such as student-instructor interaction, graduation rates and available support services. These rankings affirm Â鶹APP position as a leader in online education.

“UMA is proud to be recognized for our continued support of students, and more specifically our military and veteran students, in delivering quality higher education that is both accessible and affordable,” said Jonathan Henry, Vice President of Enrollment Management.

Since its founding in 1965, with a “Welcome Veterans” sign inviting Vietnam-era veterans to enroll, UMA has maintained a proud tradition of serving military-affiliated students. This enduring commitment reflects Â鶹APP mission to provide transformative, accessible education for all learners.

Today, hundreds of veterans, active military members and National Guard personnel are enrolled at UMA. The university continues to deliver flexible, high-quality education tailored to their needs through online programs and specialized support services. “UMA is in the business of delivering access to students at a distance, which is invaluable for our military and veteran population,” said Â鶹APP Director of Military and Veterans’ Services Amy Line. “Whether deployed, in the field, or in the office, online courses provide the opportunity to work toward a degree while balancing the demands of service or employment.”

Debora Rountree, director of Â鶹APP (UMA) East Millinocket Center, is the recipient of the Maine Development Foundation (MDF) Honors 2024 Champion of Rural Economic Development Award.

According to the MDF website, “The Champion of Rural Economic Development Award was created by MDF to honor an individual or organization that envisions great potential and possibilities for Maine’s rural communities and works to make that vision a reality. It recognizes organizations and individuals who are dedicated to high standards for their community, defend its unique character, profess a vision, and rally behind its economic potential. Awardees demonstrate outstanding collaboration, leadership, innovation, a commitment to a shared set of values and may be professionals, volunteers, whole organizations or businesses.”

Presenting the award, Rosie Vanadestine, Chief Operating Officer with MDF said, “Deb is the poster child for all of this. Her official title is: Executive Director of Rural Development Initiatives for Eastern Maine Community College and the Â鶹APP. It is a big title and yet it only scratches the surface of all the broad ways Deb helps improve lives and fuel careers for thousands in the Katahdin region.”

Rountree has served the people of the Katahdin region for nearly 30 years connecting people with jobs, job training, higher education, and childcare. Rountree herself earned her associate of science degree in social services from UMA, and both her bachelor’s degree in mental health and human services and master’s degree in education from the University of Maine.

The honor came as a surprise to Rountree. “I wasn’t expecting it!” she said, “I just get personal satisfaction seeing others succeed. It just drives you to want to help more people and provide hope.”

Rountree’s work at Â鶹APP East Millinocket Center began in 1995 when she was brought on as assistant director, and she has dedicated her career to helping others succeed. In 2002, when the closing of the paper mills nearly devastated the Millinocket area, she worked tirelessly to help the displaced workers find new employment. Approximately 8,000 people across the state sought career retraining as a result. Rountree partnered with individuals who reached out to the center. By evaluating their previous education and job skills, and also recognizing the skills they possessed beyond their trade job titles, she helped workers find new career paths in IT, nursing, mental health and more, and guided those who needed or wanted further education into programs that matched their goals.

When she saw how big the need was for childcare, Rountree was instrumental in establishing a facility onsite at the East Millinocket center. In 2022, she wrote a grant to refurbish and expand it to meet the community’s growing childcare needs. Vandestine said, “Deb’s project of passion, the state-of-the-art childcare center is meeting early childhood development for hundreds of children while simultaneously erasing a significant barrier for countless families, allowing parents to pursue their dreams while knowing their children are in safe and nurturing hands.”

Addressing the needs of students experiencing food insecurity, the UMA center provided a food pantry for over seven years.

Rountree actively serves on several boards including the Katahdin Chamber of Commerce, the Katahdin Collaborative, The Katahdin Region Development Board and is a founding member of Katahdin Revitalization. As part of the Katahdin Revitalization efforts, she works with companies looking to relocate to the area, thus increasing much needed job opportunities, revenue, and new technologies to the region. As a result of her efforts, the area’s first indoor salmon farm will be built next year.

“The most wonderful part of my job is when you get to know the people in your community and you get to help make positive transitions in their lives,” said Rountree. University and community leaders attended the award ceremony to celebrate and thank her for her leadership, service, and the impact she has had transforming the lives and empowering the communities in the Katahdin Region.

Dr. Sarah Hentges, professor of transdisciplinary cultural studies, and founder and lead curator of The Spiral Goddess Collective, a Center for Mind/Body Movement was presented with a Bangor Pride Rainbow Award on Saturday, June 22nd. Sarah received the Orange award for Healing, which “recognizes individuals who have made notable efforts to promote healing, wellness, and mental health awareness.”

Sarah Hentges (she/they/we) is deeply committed to promoting health, wellness, and mental health awareness in the Bangor community. As the founder of The Spiral Goddess Collective and a professor at UMA Bangor, she provides opportunities for healing through feminist, queer, trauma-informed embodied movement, making these modalities accessible to all members of the community regardless of financial means. Sarah’s dedication to healing and supporting others makes her a true hero in the community.

The 2024 WICCD awards are as follows:

Student: Terry Knight-Riddle, Interdisciplinary Major

Terry Knight-Riddle has served as a nurse and advocate for military veterans and their families throughout her life. When she came to UMA, she began to expand her previous experience and education, pursuing the Interdisciplinary Studies major and combining Human Services, Business, and nursing. Through her work in INT 208: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies, INT 331: Therapeutic Yoga: Theory and Practice for Self-Care and Holistic Healing, and INT 420: Feminist Praxis for Self and Community Care, Terry has broadened her approach by including an intersectional feminist analysis and framework for her work.

“I am an interdisciplinary studies major at the Â鶹APP, focusing on integrating various fields of human services, nursing, and business. This unique combination equips me with a comprehensive skill set to excel as a Family Assistance Specialist with the military. I chose this degree because it allows me to approach problems from multiple angles, bringing together diverse perspectives and methodologies to find innovative solutions. I understand the complex needs of military families and can provide holistic support by integrating emotional care, healthcare advocacy, and resource management.”

Staff: Joy Steward, Coordinator of Student Life: Wellness and Co-Curricular Enrichment

Joy Steward is the Coordinator of Student Life: Wellness and Co-Curricular Enrichment on the Bangor campus. In addition to overseeing the campus fitness center, Joy is actively involved in a number of activities on the Bangor campus that help to build community, connect people, encourage movement and wellness, and work toward food security and environmental stewardship. She organizes, for instance, the spring clean-up, Welcome Back events, the first annual Turkey trot Fun Run/Walk/Watch, and a variety of weekly activities including Zumba, disc golf, soccer, floorball, and pickleball. She’s also involved in managing the food pantry in Lewiston Hall and mini pantry in College Center and facilitating monthly meetings of the Food Security Coalition.

Faculty: Ann Kennedy, Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies

Dr. Kennedy joined the UMA faculty in the fall of 2022, bringing with her a career of teaching, publishing, and service in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies. Since arriving at UMA, Dr. Kennedy has developed several new courses that enhance the WGS curriculum including The Female Body in Western Culture (to be offered in the fall of 24) and Feminist Abolition: Gender and the Carceral State. She also teaches the Intro to WGS class and Intersections of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality. Dr. Kennedy also brought with her the feminist zine, Ripple, which was published in the spring of 2023 and will be published again in the spring of 2024. With the generosity of donors, Dr. Kennedy also established a gift fund at UMA, which helps support the production of Ripple and provides an honorarium for the student editor.

ABOUT US

WE ARE WICCD!: Women Invigorating Curriculum and Cultivating Diversity

WICCD honors the diversity that exists in Maine by educating our campus and larger community about local, national, and international issues, initiatives, and ideas related to diversity. Because women have been historically underrepresented in social, cultural, political, institutional, and economic spheres, WICCD centers women, gender, and sexuality while working to challenge injustices and inequalities of all kinds. Led by faculty and staff who work toward gender equality and social justice, WICCD provides opportunities for education and engagement to raise awareness around these important intersectional social challenges.

UMA is proud to announce that its Nursing Program has been honored with the prestigious 2023 Institutional Excellence in Holistic Nursing Education Award by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). This recognition underscores UMA’s unwavering commitment to providing holistic nursing education that prepares students to provide compassionate and holistic care to individuals and communities.

The AHNA is renowned for promoting holistic nursing practice, advocating for the well-being of both patients and healthcare professionals, and recognizing institutions that excel in holistic nursing education.

UMA’s Nursing Program, housed within the College of Professional Studies, has a distinguished history of preparing nursing professionals who are not only skilled in clinical practice but also deeply committed to holistic and patient-centered care. This program equips students with the knowledge and skills to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients, fostering a holistic approach to healthcare.

Dr. Shannon Gauvin, Director of Nursing Programs at UMA, expressed her pride in UMA’s Nursing Program, saying, “This award is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation of our faculty, staff, and students. It affirms our commitment to nurturing nurses who provide care that encompasses the whole person and embodies the principles of holistic nursing.”

Dr. Jenifer Cushman, President of UMA, noted the achievement, stating, “We are so proud that UMA’s nursing program was honored with this prestigious award, presented to institutions that demonstrate excellence in holistic nursing education through innovative curriculum, faculty expertise, student support, and a commitment to holistic nursing principles. UMA was selected from a competitive field of institutions nationwide, and we appreciate that the field recognizes the high quality of our program.”

UMA’s Nursing Program offers various pathways to a nursing career, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a RN to BSN degree completion program for licensed nurses. Â鶹APP Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and the RN-BSN has received an endorsement from the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation as one of only 15 nursing schools across the country.

The program’s curriculum integrates holistic nursing principles into all aspects of education, emphasizing the importance of compassion, empathy, and patient-centered care. The education and support for nursing students was demonstrated recently by the most recent class of UMA educated nurses, who achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX exam, a rare achievement. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) develops the NCLEX exam to test the competency of nursing school graduates in the U.S. and Canada.

As UMA continues its mission to provide exceptional holistic nursing education, this recognition serves as both a source of pride and motivation to further elevate the program’s standards. UMA remains committed to preparing nurses who will not only excel in their clinical practice but also uphold the values of holism, empathy, and compassion in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.

Two UMA adjunct faculty were also noted for their long-time service. Elizabeth “Betty” Adams teaches journalism and has taught for 77 semesters (78 starting this fall), making her the longest-serving part-time faculty member at UMA and in the entire University of Maine System. David G. Stetson teaches math and statistics and is beginning his 71st semester this fall. He and Betty are the only adjunct faculty at UMA to top the 70-semester mark. We are very proud of their long-time commitment.

In addition to the anniversary milestones, Meritorious Awards were presented to the following employees:

Leeann Trask
Classified Employees Association Meritorious Award

Lynett Kelly
Professional Employees Association Meritorious Award

Jennifer Long
College of Arts & Sciences Meritorious Award

Shannon Gauvin
College of Professional Studies Meritorious Award

The UMA Sports Hall of Fame has inducted three new individuals for 2023, adding stellar athletic contributors from men’s and women’s sports to the existing 18-member Hall. The public is invited to attend an evening of recognition of athletes and supporters from both the past and present on Friday, May 5, 2023, from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Â鶹APP Augusta campus in the Kennebec Savings Bank Fireside Lounge, Randall Student Center, 46 University Dr., Augusta, Maine.

Established in 2018, Â鶹APP Hall of Fame recognizes individuals or teams who have made outstanding contributions to UMA athletics. Each has helped bring excellence and distinction to the University and its athletic programs.

The Class of 2023 Hall of Famers was selected by the UMA Sports Hall of Fame committee and approved by UMA interim president, Joseph Szakas and Athletic Director Chris Hart.

Honorees for 2023 include:

Brendan Gilpatrick – Brendan is the first coach in UMA history to win a USCAA National Invitational Championship (women’s track and field). Brendan was integral in the implementation of the track and field program at UMA. He helped to create and implement off season training programs for all student-athletes and improved UMA gym facilities to ensure student-athlete success. Brendan was instrumental in the formation of the student-athlete lounge at the Augusta Fitness Center, providing a space for all athletes to connect. Most of all, Brendan make strong personal connections with the student-athletes at UMA and put in the extra time, effort, and energy to ensure that they succeeded academically, felt supported, and were always heard.

Carmen Bragg ’18 – Carmen was the USCAA National Student-Athlete of the Year in 2017. While at UMA, Carmen surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her collegiate basketball career. She earned numerous player of the week honors, as well as earned a spot on the YSCC All Conference team in both basketball and cross country. She is a three-time USCAA National Academic All—American. As a UMA student, she volunteered weekly at the Augusta Food Bank, at numerous blood drives, campus clean-up initiatives, and spent time caroling for the homeless during the holidays. She served in the Student Government Association, the Honors Program, and as an Admission Ambassador where she worked closely with potential new students.

Dean Graham ’90 – 3 Years Team Captain, 1523 career points, 962 career rebounds. NAIA District 4 All Star. 4 year starter; Career average double 16.2 PPG 10.2RBPG 3 year team captain 1987-‘88,1988-’89, 1989-’90. Dean graduated in 1990 with Bachelor’s degree in BA as the all-time leader in points (1523), and rebounds (962). He was a Maine College Basketball Coaches and Writers Association Rebounding Leader District 5 NAIA 1986-’87, and 1987-’88 seasons Recipient of the Dick Haskell UMA Commitment Award. He was selected to the NAIA District 5 All Northeast College Conference Team 1988-’89 and 1989-’90 seasons NAIA District 5 All Star selection in 1990. Dean was assistant coach for Men’s Basketball at UMA for 2 seasons 1990-’91 and 1991-’92.

We will also be announcing award winners for current UMA Student Athletes which will include Player of the Year, Individual Team Awards, Highest Team GPA, and recognize some great accomplishments from the past year.

Amy Rahn, WICCD Faculty Award

Amy Rahn, Assistant Professor of Art History and Charles Danforth Gallery Director

Dr. Rahn is a phenomenal colleague and has passionately supported WICCD’s work since arriving at UMA a few years ago. In addition to her instrumental work on the WICCD book grant project, she has worked to invigorate the curriculum as well as co-curricular initiatives like the exhibition of SĂ©an Alonzo Harris’s photography, which included several events and workshops as well as the related project “Light Confirms My Reality.” This community based photo (and other 2D art) project and exhibition was led by artist SĂ©an Alonzo Harris, in collaboration with faculty and students at UMA and the Charles Danforth Gallery. As described, “This project is a proclamation of radical inclusivity, an invitation to see differently, and transform our perceptions, and therefore our images, of others.” She and Harris also guest taught a session of INT/HON 188: Race and Social Justice. WICCD applauds Dr. Rahn’s service to our campus and larger community!

Amanda Nowak, WICCD Staff Award

Amanda Nowak, Director of the UMA Prison Education Partnership

Director of the UMA Prison Education Partnership

For the last two years Amanda Nowak has directed the Prison Education Partnership at UMA. She has worked collaboratively with many faculty and staff across the UMA, USM, and Maine Department of Corrections systems to enrich the educational opportunities for Maine’s incarcerated and justice-impacted scholars. We wish to honor her passion, dedication, and courage in confronting obstacles and creating pathways to quality education for all.

Audrey McGee and Celena Zacchai, WICCD Student Award

Audrey McGee, DEI Action Club member, organizer for the Radical Self-Care Series and the Health Equity Dialogues, Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator.

During her time at UMA, Audrey has been an active participant in the DEI Action Club and a presenter and organizer for the Radical Self-Care Series and the Health Equity Dialogues. Audrey is passionate about bringing opportunities for healing trauma to marginalized individuals and communities. She will be completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies of Embodied Social Justice—Culture, Community, and Trauma and a Minor in Art. Audrey has dedicated her life work to the use of embodied practices for healing and social justice. As an RYT-200 Yoga Teacher, she recently completed a 300-hr training to become a Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator. She plans to continue this work post-graduation.

Celena Zacchai, UMA Rockland Center Student, Newman Civic Fellow, and Maine Policy Scholar

Celena is a self-actualized scholar and a dedicated civic leader who supports food insecurity initiatives and refugee literacy, among other pressing social justice issues in the greater Â鶹APP community. A distance writing tutor since 2019, Celena has supported the peer learning community of the UMA Rockland Center and expanded that influence to include other UMA campuses and the University of Maine System at large. Celena has also been a Newman Civic Fellow and a Maine Policy Scholar, a legacy she continues by mentoring fellow tutors pursuing these same opportunities now. This is only the short version of Celena’s achievements and she will be further honored at Â鶹APP commencement ceremony!

WICCD Book Grant Program, 2022

With WICCD’s book grant program this year we were able to support two staff members, one faculty member, and nine students in their research projects related to a wide variety of topics related to gender, sexuality, and social justice. Here’s what a few students had to say about their book requests.

About WICCD

WE ARE WICCD!: Women Invigorating Curriculum and Cultivating Diversity

WICCD honors the diversity that exists in Maine by educating our campus and larger community about local, national, and international issues, initiatives, and ideas related to diversity. Because women have been historically underrepresented in social, cultural, political, institutional, and economic spheres, WICCD centers women, gender, and sexuality while working to challenge injustices and inequalities of all kinds. Led by faculty and staff who work toward gender equality and social justice, WICCD provides opportunities for education and engagement to raise awareness around these important intersectional social challenges.

• The slides are arranged in alphabetical order by recipients’ names. To see the listing, move your cursor to the far bottom left, and click on the <1>, and then on the name to go directly to that slide.
• To advance to the next screen, please click on the current slide.
• If you have any questions or notice anything amiss, please feel free to email Sheila at crowley@maine.edu.

Our students are truly amazing. The UMA community couldn’t be prouder! Congratulations to all of the recipients.