Muskie dean steps down
William H. Foster, Dean and Professor at the Muskie School since 2005, has informed Provost Kate Forhan that he is resigning his position at USM, effective Friday, Feb. 5, to accept a position as President and CEO of Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.
Hughes named as director of development
David E. Hughes, a former longtime Unum executive with experience in numerous community service initiatives, has been named the new director of development at the University of Southern Maine. In his new role, Hughes, a resident of Cumberland Foreside, will design and manage USM’s fund-raising activities, including annual giving, endowment and capital campaigns and special projects.
A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and The American University, Hughes has been actively engaged in community activities with an emphasis on supporting and improving public education in Maine. He chaired funding efforts for the Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education and is a founder and past president of Foundation 51, the educational foundation for MSAD 51 schools in Cumberland and North Yarmouth.Hughes, a past board member and campaign cabinet member for the United Way of Greater Portland, also served as president and chaired the Design Committee of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
Business school reaccreditted
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International has granted reaccreditation to the University of Southern Maine School of Business. AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. It’s also one of the most rigorous and prestigious, accrediting only five percent of schools of business, or 579 institutions across 35 countries.
“To be reaccredited, we had to prove that we were focused not only on maintaining AACSB’s 21 standards of excellence, but also on continuous improvement that ensures a high level of quality education moving forward. I could not be more proud of this school’s faculty and our students,” said Business Dean James B. Shaffer. He noted that the school has added a popular sport management major that has attracted more than 100 students and has created a concentration of courses in sustainable business practices and in entrepreneurship. The last two groups of MBA graduates who took a nationally normed test by the Educational Testing Service scored in the top 20 percentile. “This school is on the move,” said Shaffer.
Gubernatorial hopeful to speak at USM
Gubernatorial candidate, businessman, ski industry pioneer, philanthropist, and renewable energy champion Leslie B. Otten will visit the University of Southern Maine on Tuesday, Feb. 2. The candidate will be speaking at USM’s Masterton Lecture Hall in Portland from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. During the event, which is being hosted by the USM College Republicans, Otten will speak about his campaign and will take questions about his priorities for Maine. Light refreshments will be served.
WMPG holding Fat Tuesday Celebration
The 15th Annual WMPG Fat Tuesday Celebration & Cajun Cooking Challenge will be held from noon to 3 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9, at USM’s Woodbury Campus Center.
WMPG will be broadcasting Mardi Gras and Carnival music from all over the world that day, from the site of the celebration. Local restaurants prepare their best Cajun fare for this event.
All are invited to attend and sample area chefs’ New Orleans style cooking and vote for their favorite.
This year’s participants include 2009 champs Silly’s Restaurant, 2007 and 2008 champs Bayou Kitchen, Empire Dine and Dance, Bintliff’s, Pete & Larry’s, Gritty’s, Great Lost Bear, Izzy’s Cheesecake and more.