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

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.

“During her time at UMF, Kathy has led the College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation to expand in scope and distinction and grow its mission of preparing teachers and education leaders for Maine, including childcare professionals, classroom-ready teachers and administrative leaders for Maine’s schools,” said Joseph McDonnell, UMF president. “We are grateful for her long and dedicated service to the University, and we will miss her and appreciate the lasting contributions she has made to UMF.”

Over her years of service to UMF, Yardley’s leadership has been instrumental to the creation of new educational programs and modalities, the building of the Theodora J. Kalikow Education Center, the transformation of the Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center and the creation of a thriving graduate studies program.

“From the first time I stepped on campus to interview, I was sold on UMF,” said Yardley. “I just loved the students and my colleagues. It has been a joyful experience, and I am so proud to have been a part of UMF’s continued commitment to quality and building strong relationships with our students and educators throughout the state.”

During the last 20 years of her service, eight Maine educators who graduated from UMF have been recognized by the Maine Dept. of Education as Maine Teachers of the Year.

Yardley started at UMF in 1987 as a faculty member in the then new 4-year Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, which expanded Farmington’s previous associates degree of Early Childhood Education.

She worked to develop strong relationships with students while providing the best educational environment for children. She also served as the education director for the Sweatt-Winter childcare program, which was offered  in partnership with Western Maine Community Action at that time.

Under her more than 30-year leadership at UMF, the childcare program would evolve to become a hallmark of early childcare and education in the community and the state with the opening of a more than 10,000 square ft. state-of-the-art facility in 2023 that includes infant, toddler and preschool capacity and the University’s undergraduate lab school programs. The center integrates outdoor learning into children’s daily learning with a focus on the widely acclaimed nature-based education model.

In 1994, she was appointed department chair for UMF’s Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education programs. In recognition of her academic leadership, she was named Interim Dean of the College of Education, Health & Rehabilitation in 2001 and appointed Dean in 2003.

In this new role, Yardley provided consistent support for colleagues and represented UMF in the community and in the state. She served as the official departmental spokesperson and mentored and collaborated with faculty, supported the development of new degree programs and certificates and oversaw budget administration. She was responsible for meeting state certification requirements, state program approval standards, and national accreditation standards. She was also invited to serve on statewide committees that set the certification and credentialing standards for teachers, educational specialists and administrators in Maine.

As the State’s need for high quality early childhood professionals grew, Yardley helped support faculty in developing off-campus outreach programs that would serve the needs of place-bound learners, especially in southern Maine. An Early Childhood Education (ECE) Cohort program was designed for working adults to earn their UMF bachelor’s degree. It originally started in Bath/Brunswick and Fairfield/Waterville and has been offered through online and in-person classes at Southern Maine Community College since 2012. UMF also added an online Special Education degree program to meet the needs of the State and working adults.

During this time, Yardley also was at the forefront of the building of UMF’s new Theodora J. Kalikow Education Center, a model for green building and energy efficiency, featuring a LEED “silver” certification and an innovative geothermal heating and cooling system. The new facility  created a central home for Farmington’s Education, Health & Rehabilitation  faculty on campus and provided a vital hub for student instruction, program development and faculty collaboration.

Yardley would go on to be appointed UMF co-provost and dean in 2023, where she continued to work to strengthen the University’s leadership role at the state level. She worked closely with faculty and community college administrators to create 63 articulation agreements with Maine Community Colleges. These provide for a clear step-by-step roadmap for students transferring from a two-year college to a four-year bachelor’s degree program at UMF.

She also oversaw maintaining national  accreditation and state program approval with a campus-wide team. Under Yardley’s leadership, the UMF teacher preparation programs have received accreditation from The Council for the Accreditation for Educator Preparation. UMF was the first program in Maine to earn this rigorous national CAEP standard, which, following a site review, is effective until Fall 2032.

In her role as co-provost she was jointly responsible for Academic Affairs, including new degree program and certificate approval at the University of Maine System and BOT level, and the significant conversion of UMF’s 4-credit to 3-credit curriculum.

“Serving UMF over the years and watching our students succeed as educational professionals has been a wonderful experience,” said Yardley. “I couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved together.”

Yardley is looking forward to having some time to travel, volunteer in the community and enjoy a new grandchild.

More on University of Maine at Farmington

A nationally recognized regional public university known for its commitment to the creative arts, teacher preparation, the health arts and sciences, the environment, business and public service, UMF provides a challenging yet supportive environment to prepare students for both careers and further study. Located in the heart of Maine’s four-season outdoor recreational region, UMF is a welcoming, close-knit academic community that prepares students for enriching professional careers, engaged citizenship and an enduring love of learning.

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EDITOR’S NOTE:
Image: https://farmington.edu/app/uploads/2026/09/RP267-002.webp
Photo Caption: Katherine Yardley, dedicated UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation faculty member, dean and co-provost retires after 39 years of service.
Photo Credit: UMF Image