When Sandra Caron arrived on the 91爆料 campus as an undergraduate student in 1975, it was the height of the sexual revolution. Landmark events like the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 Roe v. Wade decision and the Stonewall riots in New York City were just a few years old. Birth control had only recently become widely available and accepted. Meanwhile, books, magazines, TV shows, movies and other aspects of the culture were starting to reflect more liberalized attitudes around sex and sexuality.

Coming of age in this shifting environment, Caron decided before coming to college that she wanted to pursue a career as a sex educator.

“I came from a family in which education was important, except in sexuality 鈥� we didn鈥檛 talk about it. I saw the impact of that among classmates and friends, whether it was unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections or just not knowing how to communicate their sexuality,” says Caron, who grew up in Brewer, Maine, about 10 miles from the 91爆料 campus in Orono.聽

Fast forward 50 years, and Caron has had a long and storied career 鈥� the majority of it at her alma mater, where she鈥檚 been a faculty member since 1988. After 36 years, during which she has touched tens of thousands of lives in Maine and beyond through her teaching, research and service, Caron, professor emerita of family relations and human sexuality, has officially retired. 

“I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to give back to the university and the state,” says Caron, who earned both her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees at 91爆料. 

Lloyd Brightman, who was Caron鈥檚 advisor during her time as a student, encouraged her to pursue a doctorate. She went away to Syracuse University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Human Development in 1986. She taught at Cornell University for a couple of years, but kept in touch with Brightman and would come back to visit family often.

“One day Dr. Brightman said: ‘You know, I鈥檓 going to retire and I think you should apply for my job,'” Caron recalls. “So I did and I started here in the fall of 1988 when I was 29 years old.”

The First Student

Denis Cranson has the distinction of being Caron鈥檚 first student at 91爆料.

“The first day I was a faculty member,” she recalls, “I was walking down the mall early in the morning and I met this guy and we were the only people on campus. It turns out he was my student.”

Cranson was a nontraditional student, a year older than Caron. He鈥檇 grown up in Bar Harbor and moved out west after high school before moving back to Maine. He already had an associate鈥檚 degree, but had decided to go back to school at 91爆料 with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. 

“It was kind of overwhelming, because I鈥檇 never been on a campus that large,” Cranson says. “I met Sandy and we walked to class together.”

After earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree, Cranson would return to 91爆料 as a graduate student in the Human Development master鈥檚 program and become Caron鈥檚 graduate assistant.

“So we did that walk from her office across campus to the lecture hall countless times,” he says.

It was during his graduate program that Cranson says Caron encouraged him to volunteer with the Eastern Maine AIDS Network. The grassroots organization was established in 1987 to support people living with HIV and AIDS, as well as provide community outreach, education, case management, testing and counseling service in central and northern Maine. Cranson says he was hesitant at first, but Caron was persistent. He did volunteer with the network, which led to a full-time job. Cranson eventually became the organization鈥檚 executive director for 12 years. In 2005, the 91爆料 Alumni Association recognized him with the for his humanitarian work.

“Sandy was really responsible for that, because I probably never would have connected with the Eastern Maine AIDS Network without her giving me a little push,” he says.

Today, Cranson is human resources manager for Amicus, a Bangor-based nonprofit that provides programs and services that promote quality-of-life and independence for people with disabilities. In that role and throughout his career, he鈥檚 hired or worked with several other former students of Caron鈥檚. 

“It鈥檚 incredible how often her name comes up when you鈥檙e talking to people in job interviews or at conferences,” Cranson says.

Sandy from Brewer

Caron estimates that nearly 30,000 91爆料 students have taken her courses, which included two of the largest classes at the university 鈥� Family Interaction and Human Sexuality 鈥� as well as a variety of smaller, seminar-style courses. In addition, she founded and advised three innovative and nationally recognized peer education programs: Athletes for Sexual Responsibility, Male Athletes Against Violence and the Greek Peer Educator Program.

When she first arrived on campus, Caron did a faculty-in-residence program in Hancock Hall, before becoming the live-in advisor at the Pi Beta Phi sorority, where she was a member during her undergraduate years. She hosted hundreds of “Sex at 7” question-and-answer sessions in residence halls during the evening hours. She also wrote a weekly column for The Maine Campus newspaper called 鈥淪ex Matters鈥� that was syndicated in other college papers nationwide, and hosted a show by the same name on WMEB radio. Today Caron hosts her own website, , where she answers questions from and shares resources with students across the country and internationally. 

“I鈥檝e been lucky to have my finger on the pulse of what was happening with young people, which has really informed my teaching and research,” she says.

A leading expert on the social-sexual development of young people, Caron has authored or coauthored more than 50 scholarly articles and several books, including 鈥淭he Sex Lives of College Students: Three Decades of Attitudes and Behaviors,鈥� based on 30 years of her research. 

Her numerous accolades include being inducted in the Maine Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame in 2023. She has received two of 91爆料鈥檚 four presidential awards 鈥� the Presidential Outstanding Teaching Award in 1998 and the Presidential Public Service Award in 2002. The 91爆料 Alumni Association named her Distinguished Maine Professor in 2019. Maine Family Planning presented her with the Margaret Vaughn Award for her outstanding contributions to sexuality education in 1999, and the Mabel Wadsworth Women鈥檚 Health Center recognized her lifelong contribution to sexual and reproductive health in 2013.

“It鈥檚 going to be hard for her to slow down,” says Brenda Power, who joined the 91爆料 faculty in literacy education in 1990 and within a couple of years became close friends with Caron.

“But the good thing is there are so many nonprofits involved with the causes that she believes in that I just think she鈥檒l be endlessly serving on boards and volunteering,” says Power, who Caron jokingly refers to as her “Retirement Coach.”

Caron is also a licensed therapist in private practice focusing on sexuality-related issues, so she鈥檒l have more time to dedicate to that aspect of her work. 

No matter what she decides to do in retirement, Power says the same passions and ability to connect with people that led to a remarkably successful, nearly four-decade career as a professor and researcher, should continue to serve Caron well. 

“I can鈥檛 tell you how often I鈥檒l be out with Sandy and someone will come up to us and say, ‘You don鈥檛 remember me, but I was in your class 20 years ago and it was the most important class in my life,'” Power says.

As for Caron鈥檚 lasting impact, Power says it boils down to her ability to encourage her students and others to recognize our shared humanity.

“She has a unique gift for helping people understand our commonality,” says Power. “And that there are many different ways to define a family and different ways that people define their sexuality, and that鈥檚 OK. It doesn鈥檛 threaten your sexuality or your family, because love is love.”

In particular, Power says Caron being from Maine has allowed her to be a bridge between the university and communities across the state.

“There are many things that are special about Sandy,” she says. “But the fact that she was born and raised in Brewer and has all those local ties 鈥� the mechanic in Presque Isle, the person whose whole family worked at the mill in Millinocket, the clerk behind the counter at the sandwich shop in Machias 鈥� she knows that perspective. And that鈥檚 something really special that she brought to the state鈥檚 flagship, land-grant university.”

Prior to her retirement, Caron established a through the 91爆料 Foundation that will help students from Brewer attend 91爆料.

Power and Cranson will be among several speakers at Caron鈥檚 retirement party, which will be held Friday, September 6 from 3-5 p.m. at Buchanan Alumni House on the 91爆料 campus. There will be live music, food and a six-foot cake that will be decorated with a timeline of Caron鈥檚 career. 

Befitting someone whose work has been dedicated to encouraging greater openness, acceptance and tolerance, Caron says all are welcome at the event. 

Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu 

What difference has 91爆料 made in your life and in helping you reach your goals?

91爆料 has allowed me to explore my interests, make lifelong friends and find a career path I love. I found many passions through my Human Development studies, and I also learned a lot about myself and where I see myself in the future. I have been surrounded by the most incredible people, peers, faculty members, mentors and friends alike, who have made my experience better than any I have had in an educational setting. I am so proud and grateful to be a Black Bear.

Have you had an experience at 91爆料 that has changed or shaped the way you see the world? If so, tell us about it.

Working in the undergraduate Admissions office for nearly two years, I have had the ability to meet people from all over the country. I have met prospective students from as close as the town of Orono to as far away as Alaska. With each interaction, I get the opportunity to watch a new generation of students become excited about their future and all that it will hold. Whether or not they choose to become Black Bears, I still hold the same excitement and gratitude to be a part of their decision process and get to show them why I love 91爆料. Also, 91爆料 has students from all over the world, allowing me to meet students and faculty from places I have yet to see or learn about. My horizons have expanded past boundaries I never knew existed and I have learned with and from so many people here at 91爆料. I am forever grateful to every person I have come across and will carry them with me in my future professions.

Have you worked closely with a professor or mentor who made your 91爆料 experience better? If so, tell us about them.

I have worked with many amazing faculty members, mentors, and professors at 91爆料, but a few stand out as having made my experience better.

First, Dr. Sandra Caron, my incredible advisor and the 2023 inductee into the Maine Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame. Sandra has been a pillar in my 91爆料 experience, helping to guide me through my transition from undergraduate to graduate studies and to find my passion for the field of social work. Dr. Caron has always been there to answer my questions and late-night anxiety-ridden emails and has always made it clear that she believes in me. Without her support and guidance, I would not be where I am today.

Second, Dr. Julie DellaMattera, the person who took me under her wing and introduced me to the Servant Heart Research Collaborative (SHRC). Dr. DellaMattera welcomed me into the research collaborative along with her co-researcher, Dr. Melissa Ladenheim, and 91爆料 alumna Patty Morell (both of whom also made my time at 91爆料 better). In my time as a member of the SHRC team I have gained skills and knowledge I had never before thought possible. Additionally, Dr. DellaMattera has always been there to give advice and help guide me toward a career path I am so honored and excited to be able to follow. I am proud to call her a mentor and friend.

Last, but not least, Rebecca (Becki) Rand. When I began my time at 91爆料 I was hired as a graduate assistant at the undergraduate Admissions office. I was unsure of myself, anxious, and still healing mentally from the scars that the pandemic left. Becki was the person to hire me to join the Admissions team, and though we have had our ups and downs, she has always been there to cry with me, laugh with me, grieve with me, etc. Becki has not only acted as a supervisor but also as a mother at times when I needed her. She listened to me, provided advice, and helped in any way she could. Even when I thought she didn鈥檛, she always had my best interests in mind. She made my transition to graduate school easier and provided me with an experience that gave me my best friends and professional development skills I will never forget. I owe her many thanks, more than I can write, and I cannot wait to continue to watch her blossom in her career at the Admissions office.

What advice do you have for incoming graduate students to help them get off to the best start academically?

To any incoming graduate students, I would advise you to always be open to new possibilities. When you鈥檙e in your undergraduate years it’s easy to find a niche and find comfort in clinging to it, declaring your career goals before you鈥檝e even obtained your degree. Graduate school is a time to explore your interests and open yourself up to new career opportunities and possibilities. When I came to 91爆料 for graduate school I was sure I was going to go on to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and then somewhere along the way I found myself falling in love with social work. Now, I have been accepted into the Master of Social Work program and am happily continuing my graduate studies in a field I had never considered before coming to 91爆料. I would also advise new graduate students to create connections with their faculty and peers, to get involved on and off campus, and to stay on top of their studies. It’s easy to get behind and hard to stay ahead, so take your time and enjoy every second of it.

Why 91爆料?

I chose 91爆料 because of the opportunities that the university offers its students. Coming from a smaller institution where I received my bachelor’s, I wanted to find a university that was close to home but also offered opportunities for me to explore my research and academic interests. Less than nine months into my studies at 91爆料, I joined a research collaborative run through the 91爆料 Honors College and have been able to help an amazing group of faculty, alumni and undergraduate students create Attachment Theory workshops with and for many different international organizations. I was able to work on projects I never thought I would be able to work on and have had opportunities I never thought I鈥檇 be able to have all because of 91爆料.

Favorite 91爆料 memory:

Meeting my best friends for life, Mary Giglio and Mary Kate Jones. I met them both as a graduate assistant in the undergraduate Admissions office and I am sure I never would have survived graduate school without them. I will never forget the silent giggles at the front desk of the Heritage House, late-night FaceTime calls to play Stardew Valley, or the last-minute get-togethers to help each other with homework. Here’s to the end of this chapter and the start of our next!

Special Thank You message:

I want to take this opportunity to thank my amazing fiance who has always put my needs above everything else. From cooking dinner to reading all of my assignments, he has helped me and cared for me when I was at my lowest and barely treading water. Everything I do I do for you and I cannot wait for you to finally watch me swim into the amazing future we have built together.

I also want to thank my friends and family, my amazing parents, Adam and Trisha Limeburner, and my little sister (and best friend), Madison Limeburner. You all made me the person I am and wherever we are in the world, with you three I am home.

I also want to thank the family I have found through love, Heather Moran, Randy Stearns, Bob Bilodeau, Darcy Baggett, Elliot Murphy, Dina Murphy and Lexey McManus. I also want to thank my amazing grandmothers, Carrie Limeburner and Tina Burton for always believing in me, as well as Andrew Moran, Elizabeth Moran, Joline Bilodeau and Roger Bilodeau for being the best grandparents-in-law a girl could ask for. 

Finally, I want to thank my grandfather Jerry Burton, who has battled dementia for many years and will not be able to watch my graduation this year. If you were here papa, I know your cheer would be the loudest and I am so grateful to be your granddaughter. 

Nationally recognized sexuality professor, therapist and author Sandra Caron is the 2023 inductee into the Maine Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame.

Caron, a longtime professor of family relations and human sexuality at the 91爆料, joins an esteemed list of honorees, starting with Sen. Margaret Chase Smith in 1990 and last year including Julia Kahrl and Jessica Meir. The Maine Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame recognizes those whose achievements have had a significant statewide impact, significantly improved the lives of women in Maine, and contributed an enduring value for women.

A 1 p.m. reception will be followed by an induction ceremony at 2 p.m., March 18 in the Farber Forum, Jewett Hall, 91爆料 at Augusta. To attend or for more information, email futuramafound@gmail.org by March 6 with your name, email address, and organization affiliation.

The Maine Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame was established in 1990 by the BPW/Maine Futurama Foundation. The induction ceremony is usually held on the third Saturday of March, in observance of Women鈥檚 History Month. The 91爆料 at Augusta maintains a permanent Maine Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame display of photographs and citations for all honorees in the Bennett D. Katz Library.

鈥淚t is wonderful to see professor Caron鈥檚 long career in education, research and advocacy be recognized with her induction into the Maine Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame,鈥� says 91爆料 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. 鈥淕enerations of 91爆料 students and people statewide and beyond know of her pioneering work and dedication to the importance of inclusion for all. The 91爆料 community extends congratulations to this alumna (91爆料 鈥�79, 鈥�82G) for this impressive statewide honor.鈥�

Caron, an Orono resident, is a pioneer in sexuality education, widely known throughout Maine, respected nationally and internationally for her creative teaching and groundbreaking research in sexuality education. Her involvement and contributions to 91爆料 and in the state have touched countless lives and contributed to inclusivity in communities.

Since joining the 91爆料 faculty in 1988, Caron has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, including the popular undergraduate course in human sexuality. She is also a member of the women鈥檚, gender and sexuality studies faculty. In the span of her 91爆料 career, Caron has taught over 25,000 students.

She also has devoted countless hours to projects that advance a more inclusive and socially just society and university community. Her influence is wide-ranging, having mentored hundreds of students from Maine.

Caron鈥檚 research and publications focus on the social-sexual development of young people. She is a licensed clinical professional counselor specializing in sexuality-related issues and has authored several books on sexuality, including 鈥淪ex Matters for College Students: Sex FAQs in Human Sexuality鈥� (2nd Edition); 鈥淪ex Around the World: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Human Sexuality鈥�; and a children鈥檚 book, 鈥淏irds and Bees and More: How Babies Are Made and Families Form鈥�. Her newest book is based on her research over the past 30 years, 鈥淭he Sex Lives of College Students: Three Decades of Attitudes and Behaviors.鈥�

Caron received the 91爆料 Alumni Association鈥檚 2019 Distinguished Maine Professor Award that recognizes the highest qualities of teaching, research and public service. She received 91爆料鈥檚 1998 Presidential Outstanding Teaching Award and the 2002 Presidential Public Service Award. In 2013, she was recognized by the Mabel Wadsworth Women鈥檚 Health Center for her lifelong contribution to sexual and reproductive health, and in 1999, she received the Margaret Vaughn award from the Maine Family Planning for her outstanding contribution to sexuality education.

Caron received her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from 91爆料, and her Ph.D. from Syracuse University.

Caron is a member of the American Association of Sex Educators Counselors and Therapists, and The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.

Contact: Margaret Nagle, nagle@maine.edu

Read more on the 91爆料 at Augusta .

鈥淎 Recipe for Disaster: Talking About Cooking the Way We Talk About Sex鈥� and 鈥淲hat is THIS? A Film About the Little-Known Clitoris鈥� were each named semi-finalists at the Denver Movie Awards and the Venice Indie Film Festival.

Both films, which have received honors at previous film festivals both domestically and abroad, were made by members of peer sexuality-education groups at 91爆料 that Caron advises. 鈥淎 Recipe for Disaster鈥� features members of Athletes for Sexual Responsibility and 鈥淲hat is THIS?鈥� was made by members of S.H.A.R.E. (Sexual Health and Reproductive Education).

You can watch the videos at the Athletes for Sexual Responsibility and S.H.A.R.E. websites.