Alumni Spotlights

“I was looking for a program in which I would end up helping others in a meaningful way.” When getting ready to apply to colleges, Jodi Philippon ‘89, a Lewiston local, was already familiar with the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF). She was excited about attending a…

“Bring your curiosity,” Tyler Brown ’16 tells his students at Mt. Blue High School. As a History teacher, he wants his students to do more than memorize dates and names. He puts them at the center of their own learning, encouraging them to ask “why?” and dig deeper into…

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…

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…

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…

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 Things Speech & Executive Function,” in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  In…

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…

For UMF alumnus Tanner Webb, a lifelong love of Maine’s outdoors became the foundation for a successful career. A graduate of UMF’s Outdoor Recreation Business Administration (ORBA) program, Tanner turned his passion for paddling and outdoor adventure into the business…

“College was the perfect basecamp for me to grow as a person.” For 2026 graduate Eve Poteet, UMF was more than the place to get a degree. It was where she found a community, discovered her confidence, and built the foundation for a career dedicated to caring for…