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Encomium: A Celebration of the UMF Community

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Encomium: A Celebration of t...

Recognizing What and Who Make UMF Special

Encomium is UMF’s centralized space for recognizing and celebrating the achievements, contributions, and dedication of our students, staff, faculty, and campus partners. Through stories, highlights, and historical records, Encomium documents what we value and honors the people and programs that strengthen our academic and campus community

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New UMF Staff

Meet some of the newest members of our campus community and learn more about the people helping UMF move forward.

Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost

Director of Student Life

Andrew Willihan ’06

Andrew Willihan ’06

Director of Major Gifts

Jasmine Olivares

Jasmine Olivares

Coordinator of Housing and Student Activities

Thomas Brann ’25

Thomas Brann ’25

Area Director for Scott Complex

Christine Rholl

Christine Rholl

Career Advisor & Outdoor Recreation Hub Coordinator

About Christine

Deputy Title IX Coordinator

Brianna Hinkley ’21

Brianna Hinkley ’21

Administrative Specialist CL2

Victoria Davenport

Victoria Davenport

Admissions Specialist

Administrative Specialist

Celebrating UMF

Smiling woman standing in front of UMF Education Center

UMF announces retirement of Katherine Yardley, longtime dedicated faculty member, dean and co-provost of the UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation

September 02, 2026

FARMINGTON, ME (September 2, 2026)—The University of Maine at Farmington has announced that Katherine Yardley, a longtime UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation faculty member, dean and co-provost who has helped lead Farmington’s academic excellence in its teacher preparation…

Two smiling young women pose with a Farmington beaver mascot holding large gold balloon numbers saying 2030 outdoors in front of a brick building.

UMF welcomes members of incoming Class of 2030 on move-in day

September 02, 2026

FARMINGTON, ME (September 1, 2026)—The University of Maine at Farmington incoming class of 2030 is more than 390 strong, with first-year and transfer students representing all 16 Maine counties and 148 high schools throughout 15 states, including all the New…

Monarch butterfly with orange and black wings resting on a pink coneflower in a garden bed.

UMF Campus and Community Garden certified “Pollinator Friendly” by UMaine Cooperative Extension

August 12, 2026

FARMINGTON, ME (August 12, 2026)—Pollinators—bees, birds, insects and more—are the powerhouse of the ecosystem, and the University of Maine at Farmington Campus and Community Garden was just certified as a Pollinator-Friendly Garden by the University of Maine Cooperative…

Young man in a plaid shirt and blue apron smiles at the camera in a cluttered workshop with plastic bins and a hanging mannequin head nearby.

UMF in the News: The man who brings dummies to life

August 07, 2026

Austin Phillips, University of Maine at Farmington 2017 graduate and skilled craftsman, preserves a disappearing art as one of the last full-time ventriloquist puppet makers, according to a recent New York Times article. Originally from Cape Neddick,…

Smiling student with sunglasses and necklace against a natural background

UMF student receives American Anthropological Association Mentorship Award

August 04, 2026

FARMINGTON, ME (August 4, 2026)— Trinity Slate, a University of Maine at Farmington anthropology and political science major from North Anson has been awarded the Ina Rosenthal-Urey mentorship award by the American Anthropological Association (AAA). This prestigious award pairs…

Smiling student standing on the UMF campus green on a sunny day

Zachary Holt, student author, is inspired by the written word and inspires others

Zachary Holt, a University of Maine at Farmington senior majoring in Creative Writing and English, didn’t plan on attending college. But all that changed when he came to visit UMF with a friend on accepted student day, and he…

UMF in the News: Two UMF alumnae named as Maine County Teachers of the Year announced as semifinalists for 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year by Maine DOE

The Maine Dept. of Education has just announced that eight of the 16 Maine County Teachers of the Year have been named as semifinalists for the 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year. Two of those semifinalists are UMF…

Alumni Spotlights

Smiling girl in a classroom holding a back-to-school poster with her name on it (Ms. Smith).

Fallon Smith ’26: Ready for the Classroom

September 04, 2026

Fallon Smith ‘26 is ready to get to work. She started her first week of school as a Math and STEM teacher at T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School, where she is looking forward to putting her classroom experience and…

Hockey player in white jersey #21 smiles during an interview with a reporter holding a mic.

Interview with Hot Radio Maine Host Hayley Smith-Rose ’14

August 27, 2026

In this alumni spotlight, Hayley Smith-Rose ’14 reflects on her time at UMF, the experiences that shaped her, and the unexpected opportunities that have helped guide her career in radio, entertainment and beyond. What drew you to UMF?…

Smiling woman wearing a pink cardigan and a colorful scarf, outdoors near a stone wall.

A Foundation for Great Things: Marianne Hartford ’97

August 11, 2026

Marianne Hartford earned her bachelor degree from UMF in 1997 before continuing her education at Syracuse University. Today, she works as a Speech Pathologist as the founder and director of her own private practice, “Great…

Young man in a plaid shirt and blue apron smiles at the camera in a cluttered workshop with plastic bins and a hanging mannequin head nearby.

UMF in the News: The man who brings dummies to life

August 07, 2026

Austin Phillips, University of Maine at Farmington 2017 graduate and skilled craftsman, preserves a disappearing art as one of the last full-time ventriloquist puppet makers, according to a recent New York Times article. Originally from Cape Neddick,…

Newsletter Archives

Access past UMF monthly updates that build a stronger UMF community and foster belonging.

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