UMF recognizes top student researchers as 2025-26 Michael Wilson Scholars & Fellows

Undergraduate research helps UMF students develop professionally with in-depth, career-focused investigations

FARMINGTON, ME  (March 16, 2026 )—The University of Maine at Farmington is proud to announce the UMF Michael Wilson Fellows and Scholars for the 2025-26 academic year. This recognition names top UMF students as single-semester scholars or full-year fellows.

The program provides awardees with faculty mentorship and funding support to help them with their research investigation. Many of this year’s scholars and fellows will be presenting their research at UMF’s upcoming open-to-the-public, campus-wide Symposium on April 15.

Student researchers are individually sponsored by faculty and supported at every stage of their research. Faculty mentors assist with proposal development, research methodology, project presentation and continuing follow-up on pre-professional and post-graduate opportunities.

“Congratulations to this year’s UMF Wilson Fellows for their academic research and creative projects,” said Joseph McDonnell, UMF president. “And thanks to our faculty mentors for guiding students to produce these scholarly and artistic works. At UMF, our faculty create a culture of curiosity, inquiry, and innovation that gives students an education that leads to successful careers.”

This year’s full-year Fellows include Brianna Benson, from Bryant Pond and Ryan Martin-Hachey from Fairfield. Semester-long Scholars include: Spencer Brennick, from Jay; Megan Dionne, from Farmington; Jalyn Drost, from Warren; Paige Gonya, from Sabattus; Kathryn Grover, from Brewer; Michaela Hendrix, from Fairfax Station, Vir.; Christopher Houdeshell, from Ledyard, Conn.; Nora Hull, from West Grove, Penn.; Hazel McEnaney, from Kennebunk; Bobbie Pirruccello, from Gardiner; Aili Webb, from Kittery; Hannah Wilbur, from Farmington and Mya Williams, from Fairfield.

2025-26 Wilson Fellows

Brianna Benson – Bryant Pond
A senior majoring in Biology, Benson is researching how temporal partitioning, utilizing habitats at different times of the day, is an ecological strategy that reduces competition between day hunters and night roamers in the natural world. Assoc. Prof. of Biology Donelle Schwalm is the faculty sponsor.

Ryan Martin-Hachey – Fairfield
A senior majoring in Biology, Martin-Hachey is conducting an analysis of Tick Zoonotic Disease Prevalence, infectious diseases that can be transmitted from ticks to humans, in the Greater Farmington area. Assoc. Prof. of Biology Donelle Schwalm is the faculty sponsor.

2025-26 Wilson Scholars

Spencer Brennick – Jay
A senior majoring in Biology, Brennick is studying the effects of calls on foraging in feeder birds. UMF faculty member Evan Jackson is the faculty sponsor.

Megan Dionne – Farmington
Dionne is majoring in Health Promotion & Wellness and is exploring the relationship between alcohol use, peer influence and mental health among UMF college students. Assoc. Prof of Community Health Education Kate Callahan is the faculty sponsor.

Jalyn Drost – Warren
A junior majoring in Elementary Education, Drost is exploring using bookmaking to build content knowledge in Math, Science and Social Studies. Assoc. Prof of Literacy Education Kathryn Will is the faculty sponsor.

Paige Gonya – Sabattus
Gonya is a senior double majoring in International & Global Studies and Earth & Environmental Sciences. She is using GIS technology to assess crosswalk safety on the UMF campus. Assoc. Prof. of Geology Matt McCourt is the faculty sponsor.

Kathryn Grover – Brewer
A senior majoring in Creative Writing, Grover is exploring depictions of feminism, queerness and race through vampiric form. Assoc. Prof. of English Misty Krueger is the faculty sponsor.

Michaela Hendrix – Fairfax Station, Vir.
Hendrix is majoring in Biology and is investigating the effects of landscape changes on the biodiversity of nocturnal hunters and infections transmitted from animals to humans in Western Maine. Assoc. Prof. of Biology Donelle Schwalm is the faculty sponsor.

Christopher Houdeshell – Ledyard, Conn.
A senior majoring in Earth & Environmental Sciences, Houdeshell is researching the variation in growth of Atlantic Salmon across three different Maine rivers. Assoc. Prof. of Biology Rachel Hovel is the faculty sponsor.

Nora Hull – West Grove, Penn.
A junior majoring in Biology, Hull is researching the relationship between small mammal populations, landscape and Tick Zoonosis, infections transmitted from ticks to humans, in Farmington.

Hazel McEnaney – Kennebunk
A senior majoring in Earth & Environmental Sciences, McEnaney is exploring the seasonal dissolved oxygen dynamics in high-elevation ponds in Western Maine. Prof. of Geology Julia Daly is the faculty sponsor.

Bobbie Pirruccello – Gardiner
A senior with an Interdisciplinary major in Web Media & Design, Pirruccello is illustrating a book of poetry. Senior Lecturer and Director of Emery Community Arts Center Ann Bartges is the faculty sponsor.

Aili Webb – Kittery
A senior Psychology major, Webb is researching common and unknown mental disorders and conditions, awareness and acceptance. Asst. Prof. of Psychology Joey Essoe is the faculty sponsor.

Hannah Wilbur – Farmington
A senior majoring in Art & Design, Wilbur is exploring finding joy beyond performance in collegiate sports through graphic design and athlete voice. Senior Lecturer and Director of Emery Community Arts Center Ann Bartges is the faculty sponsor.

Mya Williams – Fairfield
A junior majoring in Elementary Education, Williams is exploring using bookmaking to build content knowledge in Math, Science and Social Studies. Assoc. Prof of Literacy Education Kathryn Will is the faculty sponsor.

More on University of Maine at Farmington

A nationally recognized regional public university, the University of Maine at Farmington is known for its commitment to teacher preparation, the creative arts, health and science, environmental studies, business and public service. Located in the heart of Maine’s four-season outdoor recreational region, UMF provides a challenging but welcoming academic community—here in Farmington and online—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/2026/03/RP256-028.webp
Photo Caption: (Left to right) Top row: Paige Gonya, Michaela Hendrix, Spencer Brennick, Christopher Houdeshell, Ryan Martin-Hachey and Hannah Wilbur. Bottom row: Megan Dionne, Mya Williams, Jalyn Drost, Hazel McEnaney, Aili Webb and Nora Hull. Brianna Benson, Kathryn Grover and Bobbie Pirruccello not pictured.
Photo Credit: UMF Image