Academics

Alicia Bridges ‘25 always knew she wanted to be a teacher. After earning her degree at UMF, in secondary education, she is now in her second year of teaching at Mt. Blue Middle School. Alicia is focused on growing her skills as an educator…

For Shane Tracy, a 2012 UMF graduate, UMF immediately felt like family. Recruited to play basketball, Shane remembers his first visit to campus. “During my visit, everyone was so welcoming and kind, which made me feel like I could truly see myself being part of the UMF…

Four Maine educators have been announced as state finalists for 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year by the Maine Dept. of Education including Gina Welch, a Pre-K Teacher at Crescent Park Elementary School and 2000 UMF graduate; Abby McCoy, a Chemistry and Forensic Science Teacher at Lewiston High…

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 education to use with her own students. After years of…

FARMINGTON, ME  (September 3, 2026)—The UMF Emery Community Arts Center welcomes Bread & Puppet Theater, a political puppet theater, and its presentation of “The Upside Down World Circus,” to Nordica Auditorium in Merrill Hall, on Sept. 10, 2026, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The one and…

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 programs for 39 years, is retiring effective Sept. 2, 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? Before pursuing UMF, I had actually applied exclusively to…

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 Extension. This distinction was spearheaded by Emma Towers, UMF…

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, Philips majored in Visual & Performing Arts at UMF, which…

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 undergraduate anthropology majors with mentors from both academia and professionals…