Tenure for 17 of the faculty members was approved by the 91爆料 System Board of Trustees on March 16.

鈥淭hese promotions highlight the excellence of 91爆料鈥檚 faculty. Whether in the classroom, in the lab, or the field, their accomplishments are impressive and are a testament to their commitment to student success, discovery, and service to the state. We take great pride in the achievements of these faculty,鈥� says Gabriel Paquette, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at 91爆料.

鈥淓ach promotion and tenure decision reflects both individual excellence and the strength of our academic community,鈥� said 91爆料 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. 鈥淎s a learner-centered R1 university, we advance research that matters while keeping students at the heart of all we do. These faculty exemplify that mission.鈥�

91爆料

Promoted to Professor

• College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences
  • Alicia Cruz-Uribe, Petrology and Mineralogy
  • Adam Daigneault, Forest Policy and Economics
  • Shawn Fraver, Forest Ecology
  • Daniel Hayes, Geospatial Analysis and Remote Sensing
  • Anil Kizhakkepurakkal, Forest Operations
  • Melissa Maginnis, Microbiology
  • Caroline Noblet, Economics
  • Aaron Putnam, Earth Sciences
  • Kelley Strout, Nursing
  • Timothy Waring, Social-Ecological Systems of Modeling
• College of Education and Human Development
  • Catharine Biddle, Educational Leadership
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Ryan Dippre, English
  • William Gramlich, Chemistry
  • Gregory Zaro, Anthropology and Climate Change
• Maine College of Engineering and Computing
  • Caitlin Howell, Bioengineering
  • Thomas Schwartz, Chemical Engineering

Promoted to Extension Professor

• Cooperative Extension
  • Colt Knight, Extension Livestock Educator

Promoted to Professor with Tenure

• College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences
  • Lisa Kerr, Fisheries Science

Granted Tenure at Current Rank of Professor

• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Jonathan Barron, English

Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure

• College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences
  • Noah Charney, Conservation Biology
  • Katherine Weatherford Darling, Health Science
  • Philip Fanning, Agricultural Entomology
  • Jonathan Malacarne, Agricultural Economics
  • Jane Puhlman, Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • Jessica Riccardi, Communication Sciences and Disorders
• College of Education and Human Development
  • Melissa Cuba, Special Education
  • Kathleen Gillon, Higher Education
  • Daniel Puhlman, Family Studies
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Gilbert Moss, Mathematics
  • Neel Patel, Mathematics
  • Franziska Peterson, Mathematics Education
  • Nimesha Ranasinghe, Spatial Informatics
  • Johanna Richlin, Anthropology
  • Jane Wang, Mathematics

Promoted to Associate Extension Professor with Continuing Contract

• Cooperative Extension
  • Sean Birkel, Climate Services
  • Michael Habte-tsion, Fish Nutrition
  • Glenda Pereira Parente, Animal Science/Dairy Specialist

Promoted to Associate Professor

• College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences
  • Christina Murphy, USGS Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Promoted to Senior Lecturer with Just-Cause 

• College of Education and Human Development
  • Maria Frankland, Educational Leadership
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Matthew Bates, Mathematics

91爆料 at Machias

Promoted to Senior Lecturer with Just-Cause 

• 91爆料 at Machias
  • Daniel Ellis, English

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

Now, the 91爆料 is helping lead an effort to find answers.

This week, a delegation organized by Maine Sea Grant and 91爆料 Cooperative Extension will travel to Hokkaido, Japan, to study advanced sea urchin farming techniques and explore how they could be adapted to strengthen Maine鈥檚 industry.

Hugh Cowperthwaite of Coastal Enterprises, Inc., who helped coordinate the trip, said the group is eager to learn from Japan鈥檚 diverse approaches to harvesting and aquaculture.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to learn from the Japanese about the many different forms of their sea urchin fishery. They range from open water wild harvest to bottom leasing, confined structures and submerged cage culture,鈥� Cowperthwaite said. 鈥淚t will be fascinating to understand how these practices developed and what we can implement in Maine.鈥�

The trip builds on a long history of collaboration between Maine and Japan鈥檚 marine industries, particularly in scallops, and reflects growing momentum around aquaculture innovation at 91爆料. With renewed interest from industry, researchers and regulators, the effort aims to strengthen both farmed production and the wild harvest.

Maine鈥檚 sea urchin fishery expanded rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s, when global markets embraced the state鈥檚 high-quality roe, known as uni. Since then, declining populations have limited the fishery and underscored the need for new approaches. While urchins can be raised to market size, achieving profitability at scale remains a challenge.

Supported by the National Sea Grant Program, the delegation will spend a week visiting hatcheries, farms, processors and research facilities across Hokkaido, Japan鈥檚 northernmost main island.

Participants include representatives from across and beyond Maine鈥檚 marine economy, including the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the 91爆料 Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research, University of Rhode Island and private aquaculture companies.

鈥淎s a fisheries scientist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, I鈥檓 excited to learn from Japan鈥檚 long experience with sea urchin fisheries and aquaculture,鈥� said Elijah Bates of the Maine Department of Marine Resources. 鈥淚鈥檓 especially interested in what ideas might help support the long-term sustainability of Maine鈥檚 urchin resource.鈥�

For Maine growers, the trip is also an opportunity to bring new ideas back to their operations. Michael Scannell of Saco Bay Sea Farms said he is particularly interested in how Japan integrates seaweed and urchin production.

鈥淎s the founder and CEO of Saco Bay Sea Farms, I鈥檓 excited for the opportunity to learn from Japan鈥檚 long history of sea urchin aquaculture and enhancement,鈥� Scannell said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e particularly interested in the seaweed-to-urchin pipeline and how urchins can become a viable emerging crop in Maine. I鈥檓 hopeful what we learn in Hokkaido will help inform future research and development here.鈥�

Contact: Dana Morse dana.morse@maine.edu

“Our work follows the rhythm of the weather,鈥� said Lisa Hanscom, co-owner and manager at Welch Farm in Roque Bluffs. 鈥淭he Jonesboro station helps us know the right time to tend our wild blueberries, and with the Maine Mesonet, we鈥檒l have the real-time data we need to protect our crop and keep our farm thriving.”

The project stems from a 2020 needs assessment led by Extension wild blueberry specialist Lily Calderwood. Only 34% of surveyed growers reported using weather-based decision tools at the time, but 86% said they wanted to in the future. Existing networks, like Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) for aviation, NOAA鈥檚 Cooperative Observer Program, Maine Forest Service fire weather sites and various personal stations, offer valuable data. However, maintenance can be uneven, access and quality of the data vary and most lack soil temperature, moisture sensors or the ability to detect temperature inversions, measurements that are critical for crop management.

鈥淭he right data at the right moment turns guesswork into good decisions,鈥� said Calderwood, who is co-leading the project along with Maine State Climatologist Sean Birkel. 鈥淎 farm-level network will help growers decide when to irrigate, when a spray is justified and when to protect against frost. That improves yields, decreases inputs and saves time during the most stressful parts of the season.鈥�

The Maine Mesonet project is installing a total of 26 ten- and three-meter stations across all 16 counties, prioritizing agricultural hubs. Three stations are planned each for Washington (wild blueberry) and Aroostook (potato) counties and other areas of high agricultural production, especially where gaps in weather data exist. Sites are also planned for 91爆料 Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES) farms and cooperating private and public lands.

Detailed weather and environmental data from the network will be accessible on the Maine Climate Office website, overseen by co-principal investigator and Maine State Climatologist Sean Birkel. The network鈥檚 localized measurements are expected to improve short-term forecasting, enhance Integrated Pest Management (IPM) decision models, guide irrigation and frost protection, and sharpen the timing of pesticide applications. Project leaders expect the wild blueberry and potato sectors to see measurable benefits within two growing seasons of deployment.

鈥淢aine is seeing warmer temperatures, and in the past decade the state has also been variously impacted by drought,鈥� said Birkel. 鈥淎 Mesonet gives us high-resolution, real-time observations to track these shifts in the field throughout each season. Additional observations can improve local forecasts, making them more useful to farmers. These observations will also help statewide drought monitoring and planning.鈥�

The effort also supports statewide priorities to expand outreach and enhance weather monitoring. Soil-moisture data from the network will be used by the Maine Drought Task Force and the U.S. Drought Monitor. The information will also be distributed to national companies that use weather data to predict larger trends in weather and storms, resulting in more accurate models.

The budget for the project is $3.5 million, which includes funding for 26 stations and software, plus one full-time technician to install, maintain and manage the system and decision-support tools. Funding for the Maine Mesonet was secured for the 91爆料 System in Fiscal Year 2024 through the Congressionally Directed Spending process by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, now chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, with support from U.S. Sen. Angus King.

Maine is collaborating with the New York State Mesonet, operated by the University at Albany, to manage the large amount of data generated by the 26 stations. New York specialists will ensure the quality and accuracy of the data before sending it back to Maine. This collaboration highlights the growing trend of mesonet networks across the country working together to share knowledge, standardize practices and deliver better weather information to the public.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to launch this first-of-its-kind partnership between two statewide mesonet networks,鈥� said New York State Mesonet Director June Wang. 鈥淥ur team is proud to demonstrate how we can make sharing data easier, more efficient and more valuable for end users. We look forward to extending these services to additional weather networks in the future.鈥�

For Maine farmers facing meteorological volatility, the Mesonet promises something simple but powerful: timely, trustworthy, farm-level weather intelligence.

Contact: Lily Calderwood, lily.calderwood@maine.edu

鈥淔armers are using new approaches to engage visitors 鈥� from mobile applications to help them find and connect with farms to adventure-themed activities that engage people in the landscape, like zip-lining and trails for e-biking,鈥� Entsminger, assistant professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at the 91爆料 Business School and Extension small business specialist, told the publication. 

Singh, assistant professor and ornamental horticulture educator at Extension, highlighted an increasing interest in leaf composting. Singh discussed a public perception shift from having 鈥渘eat鈥� yards toward embracing natural landscaping, where more homeowners are choosing to leave fallen foliage in place.

Raised in Bristol, Rhode Island, Ramos was familiar with New England鈥檚 history but had never spent time in Maine鈥檚 wild blueberry barrens. That first season in the field introduced her not only to the ecology of the crop but to the people, labor and traditions tied to one of the state鈥檚 iconic foods.

Now preparing to graduate as an Honors College student with a double major in ecology and environmental sciences and studio art, Ramos shaped her education around that experience. As a rising sophomore, she joined the 91爆料 Cooperative Extension鈥檚 Wild Blueberry Research Team and spent three summers exploring barrens in the midcoast and Downeast regions. 

Working alongside growers and researchers, she learned to observe the landscape closely, recording what she saw through notes, photos and sketches that would later inform her art. 

Her time in the fields quickly influenced her academic direction. What began as environmental research grew into a deeper artistic interest, prompting her to pursue additional studio courses and eventually focus her art on Maine鈥檚 wild blueberry heritage. 

鈥淢eeting such passionate professors who believed in me and my work, it really helped me feel confident that I could pursue a degree in art,鈥� Ramos said. 鈥淚 have a connection to ecosystems, and I think that’s the part that I really see myself continuing to develop as a growing artist.鈥�

Perspective of places, sciences she studies

Through her work, Ramos shares her perspective of the places and sciences she studies. She has focused part of her Honors thesis on the cultural heritage and history of Maine鈥檚 lowbush blueberries. 

Her series of watercolor paintings show the vastness of the fields and the people who handrake them each summer. Her colors are earthy and soft, created from natural soil based pigments.

In the future, Ramos may even explore using blueberries and other plants or fruits with natural pigments to create her own watercolors. After earning her degree this winter, she plans to stay in Maine making environmental art that speaks to the importance of conserving natural resources and places that, like people, are entangled in Earth鈥檚 larger ecosystems.

鈥淚 definitely feel so much love for Maine that I’ve come to really feel like it鈥檚 my second home while studying here in college,鈥� said Ramos, who is also an ambassador for the Honors College. 鈥淭here’s so many different, intersecting factors of the natural landscape and community.鈥�

Connecting fieldwork with cultural heritage

In high school, Ramos said she never connected to science classes like chemistry and physics. She never saw herself as being a lab scientist and had always been drawn to 鈥渢he humanity side of learning and topics.鈥�

It wasn鈥檛 until she came to 91爆料 and gained research experiences outdoors that she started using art to communicate what she was learning about in the environment. One of her first pieces that combined science and art was a large watercolor painting depicting workers in long rows of vegetable fields, held up by two large hands. 

She aimed to raise awareness of how these agricultural workers harvest much of America鈥檚 food. Ramos continued to thread that theme into her work with Extension鈥檚 Wild Blueberry Research Team, led by Extension specialist Lily Calderwood.

鈥淚t is incredibly important to share the grit and humanity behind agricultural commodities in a time when people are very disconnected from their food, especially who harvests their food,鈥� Calderwood said. 鈥淭his industry is culturally and economically important for the state of Maine. Its preservation touches a lot of people who live here year round and those who visit.鈥�

Talked to growers about management and more

With Calderwood鈥檚 team, Ramos talked to growers about management practices, economics and ecological obstacles, such as from pests, disease and drought. She said they echoed similar challenges regarding low-profit seasons and labor shortages, as well as unpredictable temperatures and precipitation making field management and yield predictability difficult. 

Despite the challenges they face, Ramos said the growers uphold a strong commitment to and pride for the wild blueberry industry and its cultural significance in Maine.

Along with talking to the growers, Ramos harvested blueberries with local, seasonal and Passamaquoddy and Mi’kmaq tribal hand-rakers in the fields to learn about their perspectives and traditions when it comes to wild blueberries.

Calderwood said Ramos鈥� paintings reflect aspects of Maine’s wild blueberry industry that research does not 鈥� the social aspects of the people who grow them, the fields where they鈥檙e grown and the state economy in which blueberries contribute $360 million annually.

鈥淎rtwork has always been a special way to convey the natural world, and it is grounding to see that art is still such a powerful communication tool,鈥� Calderwood said.

Contact: Ashley Yates; ashley.depew@maine.edu