Professor passes on
A former USM faculty member, John Romanyshyn, died March 15. Romanyshyn was professor emeritus of social work. He joined USM faculty as a professor of social work in 1967, after teaching at UMO from 1946 to 1967. He was the first chair of USM’s undergraduate Social Work Department. Romanyshyn retired in 1982, but taught part-time until 1988. He was 82 years old. His family is planning a celebration of his life on May 25.
New deans appointed
On March 18 the University of Maine System Board of Trustees approved two new deans for the University of Southern Maine.
Jack W. Trifts was appointed as dean of the School of Business and Betty Lou Whitford as dean of the College of Education and Human Development.
Trifts is a professor of finance at the Crummer Graduate School of Business in Florida and brings a strong background of developing university/community interactions. He is a former director of Crummer School’s MBA program and is an expert on corporate and bank mergers. Trifts succeeds John Bay, who will continue on as faculty.
Whitford is a professor of education and director of the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools and Teaching at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Whitford succeeds Richard Barnes, who decided to return to the faculty. Barnes was dean of College of Education and Human Development for 10 years.
Let’s get healthy
USM and the entire University of Maine System are experiencing multi-million dollar increases in the cost of health care, USM President Richard Pattenaude said in recent budget discussions.
As one way to lower the rising costs, the university appointed a health education specialist to direct a new wellness program at USM. Suzanne Roy, who coordinated health programs for the Maine Municipal Association, will work with faculty, staff and their families to help the USM community adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
Roy plans employee interest surveys to determine health-related interests and personal wellness assessments. Based on the information she collects she will develop intervention programs. Roy is currently organizing a Wellness Advisors Team.
For more information contact her at 228-8131.
Smoke it while you can
It has been decided that smoking will be eliminated from all student resident halls beginning in fall 2002, President Richard Pattenaude said following recent publicity of a campus initiative on smoking.
A task force led by Pamela Clay-Storm of Student Health Services brought a proposal to student, faculty and staff senates to extend the smoking ban to include any campus location, inside or out. A number of forums will be held to discuss the proposal.
Pattenaude said he is interested in feedback from the campus community on the subject. A forum will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Woodbury Campus Center Amphitheater, Portland and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Faculty Dining Room in the Brooks Student Center, Gorham. The time and location for a Lewiston-Auburn College forum will be announced.
Pattenaude will make a decision whether or not to adopt the proposed ban by the end of this semester.