Update: Tony Shalhoub '77 named Honorary CFA Campaign Chair, announces Crewe Matching Gift
Abigail Harris’ involvement in the Great University Campaign video represents many students at the University of Southern Maine. For starters, she’s a Veteran, having spent six years in the Navy. USM serves the highest number of G.I. Bill recipients of any school in Maine. Also, she is someone who used the proximity and accessibility of […]
Andrew Pelletier ’95 is an internationally active horn soloist, Grammy Award-winning chamber musician, masterclass clinician, and Professor of Horn at the College of Musical Arts, Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where he was named a Professor of Creative Arts Excellence in 2020. Andrew’s solo tours have taken him to 30 US states, Australia, Belgium, […]
Asa Meyer-Waldo’s story may be familiar to some students at the University of Southern Maine. As a gifted musician coming out of high school, Asa had his choice between many colleges—but he also had to face some hard questions about how much debt he was willing to take on in order to attend any of […]
Ashlyn Tomer ‘s leadership capabilities were in evidence long before she received her MA in Leadership Studies in spring 2022. As an undergraduate and indigenous scholar from the Penobscot Tribe, Ashlyn founded and led the Native American Student Alliance at USM and was an active advocate for Native students on campus. A double major in […]
Learn more about Becky McKinnell ’06, moderator of the 2023 Women in Leadership event, and her journey to successful entrepreneurship after graduating USM.
In February 2022, Cindy Soule ’00 received the nation’s highest honor for science and math teachers. A teacher at the Gerald E. Talbot School in Portland, ME, Cindy was one of only 104 recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) for the 2020 award cycle. She is one of […]
USM alum Daniel Kleban and his brother, David, started Maine Beer Company in 2009 as one of Maine’s first “nano-breweries.” They brewed beer on the weekends, growing slowly and responsibly into what is today one of Maine’s leading craft brewers. Their motto, “Do what’s right,” speaks not only to their beer, but also to the […]
David Pease graduated from USM with a BA in Political Science in 1982. He later earned his master’s in Human Resources at Lesley University and went on to a long, successful career as an HR professional. Today, David serves as senior vice president and director of talent, diversity and inclusion at Bangor Savings Bank, one […]
Dean Murray credits his success as a leader in the insurance field to his time on the USM soccer field. Reflecting on his undergraduate experience, Dean says, “I had no idea how the lessons I learned on the USM soccer field would travel with me over all of these years. As a team captain and […]
Michael “Micky” Collins, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned expert in sports-related concussion–and a former standout baseball player for the Southern Maine Huskies, helping his team reach the NCAA Baseball College World Series in 1989. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology from USM and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees at Michigan […]
Dr. Nicolás Dosman is an Associate Professor of Music–Choral Conducting and Director of Choral Studies at USM’s Osher School of Music. An internationally recognized choral director, Dr. Dosman has been a member of USM’s music faculty since 2015. Determined to let the world know “how many talented singers come through here,” he has achieved ambitious […]
Learn more about FRAME Media Strategies, the company co-owned by Dave Loughran ’03, Jim Cole ’02, and Aaron Duffey that created our “Great Takes Grit” video.
One thing that we hear from USM students and alumni, time and again, is that the school gave them unique leeway to follow their passions and to carve their own paths. In this case of Hannah Freeman ’15, the University happened to open up the perfect path while she was there. While attending as a Biology major, she became interested in holistic medicine just as USM was starting to offer courses in it, and became one of the first students to take advantage of Holistic and Integrative Health minor. Learn more about her path from USM to her business, Cove Natural Medicine.
Learn more about the incredible journey of Jocelyne Kamikazi ’19, owner of Burundi Star Coffee in Portland.
Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Josephine arrived six years ago in Portland, Maine, alone and on her own. As an asylum seeker, she took on a new country, a new language, and a new culture. Her immigration status made things challenging, but with perseverance, she began working as a financial eligibility specialist for the City of Portland and attending USM part […]
The first thing anyone learns about Joshua Mutshaila is that he’s extroverted and playful. When he agreed to meet us by the Hungry Husky Food Truck, we explained that our USM Foundation staff member would wear a Boston Celtics hat so he could be recognized. “OK,” he replied, “I’ll wear my Golden State Warriors jersey […]
Josie is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Piano Performance/Collaborative Piano at USM’s Dr. Alfred and D. Suzi Osher School of Music. She supports herself as a freelance pianist/accompanist and works at Specialized Housing, Inc., a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities in home ownership settings. Commenting on her undergraduate experience, Josie says, “I am […]
Kate Cheney Chappell ’83 ’12H studied book arts under well-known Maine book artist and USM faculty member Rebecca Goodale. An award-winning professional artist, Kate’s love of creating handmade books inspired her to create The Kate Cheney Chappell ’83 Center for Book Arts at USM. Her work in a variety of mediums has been exhibited at […]
Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Leyla came to the United States at a young age and grew up attending Boston public schools. After moving to Portland and graduating from Deering High School, she enrolled in community college without a clear career direction––until a trip to her homeland revealed a passion for broadcasting and journalism. Leyla transferred to USM and in 2020 […]
Like many alumni of the University of Southern Maine, Linda Varrell ’00 took a long, winding road to her USM degree. Something else she has in common with her fellow alums is that she then used that degree to decisively propel herself into a more prosperous future—now the founder, President, and CEO of Broadreach Public Relations.
Award-winning mezzo soprano Megan Marino ’05 made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2013 and has returned every season since. Noted as a gifted actress with a “strong, appealing voice, graced by a rich lower register,” Megan performs on opera stages and in concert halls across the country, and around the world. Most recently, her 2021-2022 […]
When you speak to Nadine Bravo, one phrase that seems to come up often is “on the side.” The graduate student is currently pursuing Master of Education degrees in both Teaching and Learning World Language (German and Spanish) and Teaching English, in addition to an online Native American Studies certificate program from Montana State University. […]
Whether it’s on stage for the Great University Campaign launch event or talking with the USM Foundation in private conversation, whenever Ireonna “Rona” Scott is given an opportunity to discuss her experiences and achievements, she’s quick to give flowers to the people around her. That reflects some modesty on her part—she’s accomplished both on the […]
Ronnie earner his BA in Leadership and Organizational Studies in May of 2020 and, just weeks later, was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. A year earlier, Ronnie had exhausted his GI benefits and was forced to navigate the final year of his degree with the stress of financial uncertainty. To cover tuition […]
Hear from music alumni about the impact of D. Suzi Osher’s gift to the Center for the Arts – the largest monetary gift in USM Foundation history.
A $100,000 gift from Maine Beer Company created a unique internship & scholarship pilot program at USM to promote diversity and inclusion within the craft beverage industry.
Featuring remarks from several of USM’s highly accomplished student groundbreakers as well as the leaders who are catalyzing this transformation of the USM Portland campus.
NCAA Diversity & Inclusion Week 2020, USM Athletics highlights the unique stories of our student-athletes from USM’s wrestling, track & field, volleyball, and basketball programs.
USM Professor Chris Oberholzer, director
Hear directly from two Promise Scholars in this moving video as they share what this scholarship means to them.
At USM’s Michael E. Dubyak Center for Digital Science and Innovation is a dynamic space where USM students can prototype, learn, and collaborate on digital, STEAM, and entrepreneurial projects.
Introducing viewers to the exciting new center for student and community engagement, now under construction on the Portland campus