College of Liberal Arts & Sciences /las The 91±¬ÁÏ Wed, 13 May 2026 16:14:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Congratulations to the Class of 2026 – Chemistry Department Graduates /las/2026/05/congratulations-to-the-class-of-2026-chemistry-department/ Wed, 13 May 2026 16:08:10 +0000 /las/?p=8286 PhD’s – Chayton Boucher, Christian Geci, Mamoona Raheem, Viraji Senevirathene, Ayan Dutta

MS’s – Logan Harkins, Kyle Pease

BS’s – Madison Oliver, Riley Day, Lee Schmidt, Kim Spears

Chemistry graduate in a cap and gown in front of the 91±¬ÁÏ sign
Three Chemistry graduates in their caps and gowns
Chemistry graduate in cap and gown
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The Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) recently held their second annual SEATLE Awards /las/2026/05/the-center-for-innovation-in-teaching-and-learning-citl-recently-held-their-second-annual-seatle-awards/ Wed, 13 May 2026 16:05:55 +0000 /las/?p=8277 The Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) recently held their second annual SEATLE Awards on May recognizing outstanding efforts by faculty in their work with the Center.  Two of our lecturers won awards:

The Chain Reaction Award:  Sarah Lindahl

The Catalyst for Clarity Award:  Natalie Machamer

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Viraji Senevirathne Recieves second place at national Tappi Conference 2026 /las/2026/05/viraji-senevirathne-recieves-second-place-at-national-tappi-conference-2026/ Fri, 08 May 2026 15:21:34 +0000 /las/?p=8244 Graduate student, Viraji Senevirathne, attended the national TAPPI Conference 2026 held in Columbus, Ohio April 26-29.ÌýÌýShe received second place in the poster competition.ÌýÌýViraji is a PhD student and is co-advised by Dr. Carl Tripp (Chemistry) and Dr. Mehdi Tajvidi (School of Forest Resources).   Viraji has also recently defended her PhD.  Congratulations!

Viraji's award
Viraji
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Chemistry Department Celebrating Scholarships and End-of-the-Year Awards /las/2026/04/chemistry-department-celebrating-scholarships-and-end-of-the-year-awards/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:17:38 +0000 /las/?p=8194 Twenty-four Chemistry majors were recognized with various scholarships and awards at the department’s annual awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 28. Both graduate students and undergraduate students were celebrated for their accomplishments this past academic year.

Professor giving a student an award
Four students and a professor standing together
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Oral Presentation Award Winner at the Student Symposium – Kalani Samarasekara /las/2026/04/oral-presentation-award-winner-at-the-student-symposium-kalani-samarasekara/ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:51:28 +0000 /las/?p=8139 The 91±¬ÁÏ Student Symposium was held on Friday, April 17th at the New Balance FieldHouse where many students presented their research.  Kalani Samarasekara was presented with this medallion for her oral presentation that day.  Also representing the department of Chemistry that day were the following students:  Peter Abimbola, Jacob Mensah, Anjana Ranasinghe, Autumn Greene, Riley Day, Will Morris, Laif Bergo, Ziyad Choudry, and Nuraia Afreen. Congratulations to all the presenters.

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CLAS Awards /las/2026/04/clas-outstanding-lecturer-of-the-year-ana-chatenever/ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:44:23 +0000 /las/?p=8124 The CLAS awards were presented on Monday, April 13th.  For the Chemistry Department, Dr. Ana Chatenever, senior lecturer, was presented with the CLAS Outstanding Lecturer of the Year Award and Dr. William Gramlich received promotion to professor.

Below: William Gramlich

Will Gramlich being promoted to Professor, with three other Chemistry Department faculty joining him on stage
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The 2026 Graton Prize was awarded to Kyle Ricker /las/2026/04/2026-graton-prize-was-awarded-to-kyle-ricker/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:53:53 +0000 /las/?p=8089 The 2026 Graton Prize was awarded to Kyle Ricker, a senior dual-degree student in Political Science and Education at the 91±¬ÁÏ. A former intern for U.S. Senator, Susan Collins, Maine’s Preschool Development Grant, and the nonprofit Midcoast Literacy, Kyle currently works as an event staff for the 91±¬ÁÏ Center for Student Involvement. This fall, he will attend Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education in the Education Policy and Analysis Program, focusing on the intersection of policy and literacy interventions. He hopes to pursue a career in public service.

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Philosophy Student Ambassadors /las/2026/04/philosophy-student-ambassadors/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:42:05 +0000 /las/?p=7920 The department is excited to introduce our spring 2026 cohort of Philosophy Ambassadors, Hannah Brown, Marguerita Fairfield, Margaret Kastelein, Sophie Thieme, and Wyatt Perron. The Philosophy Ambassadorships support the Department and extend our presence and impact beyond The Maples. To this end, Ambassadors engage in various activities while representing the Department to the broader university community. The program is made possible by the generous support of two former faculty members, Ronald Levinson and Doug Allen. Applications are open for positions in the upcoming Fall 2026 semester. Candidates must be a Philosophy major or minor, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. If you are interested, please reach out to Jen Bowen for further information on how to apply. Our current ambassadors support classes and are engaged in nuanced philosophical work beyond the classroom- learn more about each of them below!

Sophie Thieme

Sophie is a fourth-year student double-majoring in Philosophy and Psychology with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. This particular combination of disciplines allows them to pursue a holistic investigation of what it means to be a person. They are interested in applying philosophy to contemporary issues such as gender, health, and discrimination. Once they graduate, Sophie plans to earn their cosmetology degree and move abroad. In their free time, they enjoy building connections with people, wandering around outdoors, creating with their hands, watching video essays, and hyperfixating on strange things (Chernobyl was a big one). During the Fall semester, Sophie assisted Dr. Finley with PHI 250: Logic, and this Spring, they have been helping with PHI 222: Philosophy of Games. Feel free to stop by the Levinson Room to chat with them about life or whatever is on your mind. 

Photo of Sophie Thieme and their dog

Wyatt Perron

Wyatt is a fourth-year student double majoring in Philosophy and Psychology with minors Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Film. His main philosophical interest is phenomenology, specifically delving into the experience of connectedness and loneliness. As a Philosophy Ambassador, Wyatt will serve as a learning assistant for Dr. Breslau’s PHI 235 : Biomedical Ethics and PHI 262 : Philosophy of Art, along with Dr. Michaud’s PHI 100 : Contemporary Moral Problems. He has also been awarded fellowships with both McGillicuddy Humanities Center and CUGR, working on a project entitled Posing In Bondage : A Phenomenological Investigation Into The Male Loneliness Epidemic. He is also the president of both the Philosophy Club and Dwell. In his free time, he watches far too many movies, crochets, and runs.

Photo of Wyatt Perron

Hannah Brown

Hannah is a fourth year philosophy student with a broad range of philosophical interests. She is looking forward to helping in whatever way she can as a learning assistant in PHI 102: Introduction to Philosophy. Outside of class she likes to listen to ambient witch music, go on walks, grow oyster mushrooms, hang out with friends, and watch documentaries.

Photo of Hannah Brown in a classroom

Maggie Kastelein 

Maggie Kastelein is a senior majoring in Philosophy with a minor in History. As a Philosophy Ambassador she provides support for PHI 104: Existentialism and Literature, as well as the Democracy Forum Series organized by former professor Doug Allen. Her philosophical interests focus mainly on Philosophy of Media, specifically the way we interact with and are influenced by art, digital media, film, and music. Outside of school she enjoys listening to music, going to museums as much as possible, and fixing up her old car.

Portrait of Maggie Kastelein

Marguerita Fairfield 

Marguerita is a fourth year Philosophy and WGS student, with a minor in creative writing. She is in the Honors College and is currently writing her thesis in feminist philosophy. She is the president of Women in Philosophy and the secretary of 91±¬ÁÏ’s Triota chapter. She is also the 2025 recipient of the Erling Skorpen Prize Memorial in Ethics. Her philosophical interests include phenomenology, existentialism, ethics, feminist philosophy and gender theory. Marguerita is known less formally as Mars, and is usually full of whimsy (when the sun is out). She is always happy to listen to and get to know others.

Photo of Marguerita Fairfield
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Upper Level Course offerings – Math Department /las/2026/03/upper-level-course-offerings-math-department/ Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:54:56 +0000 /las/?p=7582 Fall 2026 Upper Level Course Offerings

Mathematical

MAT 329 – Problems Seminar II, 1 credit, Wednesdays 1:00-1:50pm, Bradley

MAT 362 – Linear Algebra II, MWF 2:00-2:50pm, Pitt

MAT 425 – Introduction to Real Analysis I, MWF 1:00 – 1:50pm, Crisp

MAT 453 – Partial Differential Equations I, MWF 10:00 – 10:50am, Patel

MAT 463 – Introduction to Abstract Algebra I, MWF 12:00 – 12:50pm, Moss

MAT 471 – Differential Geometry, MWF 9:00-9:00am, Atzema

MAT 487 – Numerical Analysis, MWF 11:00-11:50am, Stechlinski

MAT 500 – Topics in Graduate Mathematics: Number Theory, MWF 9:00-9:50am, Buttcane

MAT 523 – Real Analysis I, MWF 10:00-10:50am, Miller

Statistical:

STS 434 – Probability Theory, MWF 2:00 – 2:50 pm, Wang

STS 437 – Statistical Methods in Research, MWF 10:00-10:50am, Hiebeler

STS 533 – Stochastic Systems, MWF 11:00-11:50am, Parekh

Fall 2026 Enrollments Dates

Graduate Students & Seniors – Week of March 30 at 7:00am

Student Athletes & Juniors – Week of April 6 at 7:00am

Sophomores – Week of April 13 at 7:00am

First Years – Week of April 20 at 7:00am

Non- Degree Students – Begins May 4

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Four Math-Stats Faculty to Receive Promotion and Tenure /las/2026/03/four-math-stats-faculty-to-receive-promotion-and-tenure/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:17:00 +0000 /las/?p=7590 The Board of Trustees recently approved promotion and tenure for four assistant professors in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.  From left to right, Franziska Peterson, Jane Wang, Gilbert Moss, and Neel Patel are shown at the department’s recent celebration of this momentous occasion.  

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