While Maine College of Art on Congress St. is one of the regions leading art institutes, some students are lured to USM for diversity and structure.
Betty Rambur, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Professor, Health Policy and Nursing
University of Vermont, Burlington VT
Running on: Long resume of research projects, and plenty of experience on committees similar to the one evaluating her candidicy.
“I am particular interested in creating environments that align institutional incentives, including resource allocation, with strategic directions. This long-standing interest has been refined through my work in health policy, institutional governance, and academic administration.”
Linda Vaden-Goad, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Arts & Sciences
Western Connecticut State University
Running on: Being pretty in-synch with President Botman, who has the final call on this selection. Like Botman, Vaden-Goad has experience cultivating a relationship with High Schools to bolster enrollment and student success. She’s also nuts about strategic planning, having done some of it in her time.
Bahman Ghorashi, Ph.D.
Interim Dean, College of Engineering, Cleveland State University
Director, Fenn Academy
Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Running on: Being an overarchiever. He promises more of what he’s done with his students in the past, iniating a slew of new programs. To quote his cover letter: “New Graduate Student Luncheon; Graduate Student Focus Groups; Staff Kaizen Luncheon and Recognition; new probation/dismissal review procedures; Adopt-A-Freshman program, graduate student technical writing & oral presentation workshops taught by a professional; and a focus group to assess the recruitment and retention of international graduate students.”
Kate Langdon Forhan Ph.D.
Dean of Arts and Sciences
Northeastern Illinois University
Running on: Change! Langdon cites her experience in helping turn around Northern Illinois University, and her willingness to develop and enact big reforms. After quoting Chicago architect Daniel Burnham on the topic of blood-stirring magic, she goes on to say in her cover letter: “The bold vision of USM’s strategic plan has that magic.” Open to interpretation, perhaps, but USM’s strategic plan is still in the planning process.