Peruccio, an assistant professor in both the Department of History and the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program, will grace the airwaves at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 9 as she competes on an episode of the show’s 41^st season. The program is available to Bangor viewers on WVII (Channel 7) and for Portland viewers on WMTW (Channel 8). It’s been a longtime goal for Peruccio to be on the show that she’s been watching since childhood.

“I grew up watching ‘Jeopardy!’ with my family,” she said. “When we were very little, my twin sister and I would dance in front of the tv to the music during Final Jeopardy. We also had a ‘Jeopardy!’ CD-Rom game and it got pretty cutthroat; there was some body-checking to get to the mouse first to answer. I really enjoy trivia and so trying out for Jeopardy was a no-brainer!”

“Jeopardy!” has always been a show that appealed to multiple generations. It’s a family affair, but it’s worth noting that those familial ties bind tighter than most when it comes to the Peruccios.

“My twin sister Caitlin was a contestant back in 2013,” said Peruccio. “After she got on, I was extra motivated to keep auditioning when I remembered to do it!”

Auditioning for “Jeopardy!” is a multi-step effort. There’s the online qualifying test, which used to take place periodically, but now is available anytime. Get a qualifying score there and you might get an offer to audition in person. Pull off the audition and you might receive what many former contestants refer to simply as “the Call.”

It’s not an easy path, and people often must walk it more than once before finally making it to the big stage. Peruccio’s a prime example of that fact. She auditioned for the show’s College Tournament when she was an undergraduate student. She didn’t get picked then, so she took the online test and got another audition, this one right after she graduated in 2011. This one was successful — she was selected — but was working teaching English in Turkey and was unable to return to tape. 

She made another attempt in 2020, but the show at the time focused on local contestants and faced other COVID-19 restraints. Finally, in September 2024, she auditioned again and got “the Call” again, only this time, she was available and ready to roll. Fourth time’s the charm, as they say. Once the wheels were set in motion, they turned quickly.

“I auditioned on Thursday, September 5, 2024,” Peruccio said. “I almost missed the audition because the email went into my spam folder! Luckily, it all worked out. They called me in early February 2025, and I flew out to Los Angeles in March.”

So what about the day itself? Contestants work long hours for the program, but meet many new and interesting people.

“One of the highlights was meeting and becoming friends with the other contestants! They were all such cool, interesting people, and now we have a group chat going,” Peruccio said. “Seeing the Alex Trebek stage was amazing, and it’s actually much smaller than you might expect. 

“I also had a very supportive cheering section, so it was fun to finally see them when I got to play my game,” she said. “I think I’m allowed to say this, but ‘Jeopardy!’ tapes multiple episodes in a day, and I ended up going at the very end. It was a long but super fun day!”

Peruccio also spoke to other aspects of the “Jeopardy!” experience of which people might not be aware.

“Timing the buzzer right is really freaking hard!” she said. “Also, ‘Jeopardy!’ (rightfully) prides itself on the high quality of its production. Of the five outfits I brought to wear, they only approved the sweater you’ll see me wearing! My other options had prints that didn’t work on camera.”

One of the more difficult aspects of being a contestant on “Jeopardy!” is maintaining secrecy regarding the results. Episodes are recorded weeks in advance, usually airing a couple of months after taping, but contestants are asked not to reveal any details. Of course, this is something with which Peruccio had prior experience.

“After my sister taped her episode, she and my mom (who went with her) wouldn’t tell the rest of our family how she did!” she said. “Neither of them could make the trip out to LA with me and so I’ve been giving them a taste of their own medicine! Only my little sister knows how I’ve done. On the whole, I think I’ve been pretty successful at dodging questions about how I did.”

For our own Final Jeopardy: This northeastern university is very proud of Peruccio. The answer: What is the 91����?

Contact: Allen Adams, allen.adams@maine.edu

Thompson, who is double majoring in political science and women’s, gender and sexuality studies, has been working with 91���� UVote, a student-led advocacy group that helps people register to vote and offers education and outreach on engaging in the election process. During the general election, they will join dozens of other student poll workers from UVote  to help manage the polls, assist with same-day registration, hand out ballots and keep records of who voted. On Oct. 30, they and other volunteers helped Orono residents vote early and register. 

“I know a lot of students are really worried about the results of the election, but I think that the most important thing to do is to get out and vote and make sure that you are informed,” Thompson said. “91���� UVote has a lot of resources, and other organizations provide resources on how to answer questions on the ballot. “

Thompson has also been working with associate professor of political science and honors Rob Glover as a research assistant since August, gathering data surrounding poll worker recruitment and the impacts of serving as a poll worker. 

During their research with Glover, Thompson found that recruiting citizens to work as poll workers on election day is difficult. However, shared concern regarding the integrity of the election process helped make it easier. This concern motivated citizens to work the polls during election day to ensure the legitimacy of the electoral process and help protect democracy. 

“Mak was invaluable to our field research, engaging directly in canvassing, phone banking and collaborating with Maine’s town clerks. Their hands-on work was crucial to understanding the factors that support successful poll worker recruitment and some of the challenges faced by our local election officials,” Glover said. 

Outside of the classroom, Thompson serves as president of 91����’s branch of Triota, the national honors society for women’s, gender and sexuality studies, and helps organize events to provide resources to the 91���� community. Thompson is a tutor on campus and previously worked with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which helped them feel more connected to the campus community.

We spoke to Thompson more about their experience conducting poll worker recruitment research and learning about the importance of working the polls directly from citizen volunteers.

How did you get involved with UVote? 

I am a political science major, so I am included in emails that every student in the department receives. However, I am also currently a research assistant for professor Rob Glover. He reached out, expressing that I would be a good fit for UVote due to the fact that I enjoy helping people make informed decisions and get the information required to make an informed vote. 

Tell us more about the work you will be doing as a poll worker on election day. 

On election day, I will most likely be in the Collins Center helping people register to vote — whether or not that means someone has a form of ID on them, knows their address, or just being able to get registered and fill out that card with them — or handing out the ballots to people and sitting down with them, and checking their names off the list and making sure that gets done. To prepare for this role, we had a Zoom meeting with the former liaison for the town of Orono. She walked us through how to appropriately get someone registered and make sure that there are no mistakes, and making sure we understand that it is okay to ask for help if you are unsure how to help the person, because you may not know how to help. We want to make sure that everyone has the ability to vote. 

Can you describe your research surrounding poll worker recruitment and how the role impacts volunteers?  

I have been doing this since August. We started calling citizens from towns like Standish and Winslow to see if they were interested in working the polls. As much as I would like to say that a lot of people said yes, it was very hard to get people to say yes. We also asked them what they thought about helping democracy, and many people were worried about the upcoming election. We wanted to give them that ability to help and understand that elections are being run safely in Maine. It has been really moving to hear how people view the importance of the upcoming election and the work they will be doing in addition to voting. 

How have UVote and your research prepared you for your future endeavors? 

Working as a research assistant, I have learned so much about how to gather data, how to put that data and how to make that data mean something. I feel that I want to work in nonprofit fields and help people, whether that means in a political science field, like voting or along those lines, or just simple community activism. I think that working as a research assistant has helped me figure out many ways to help people. As a student, I am continuously learning, but I have learned so much since this job started in August. I have been able to learn how to independently work and be confident in myself and the work that I am producing, and that the work I am doing means something, especially in regards to bettering the environment for coworkers and their needs. 

Have you worked closely with a mentor, professor or role model who made your time at 91���� better, and if so, how? 

A lot of the work I have been doing has been with Rob Glover, and he has shown me that the work I am doing is going to get me somewhere and add value to his work. I struggled before with confidence and that I was doing work that would amount to something and not just doing an assignment. The work that I am doing is not necessarily a part of my degree, but it has definitely influenced my interest in a career in policy writing and changed the outlook I have when I do assignments. He has also helped me as a mentor with filling out applications, and he has invited me to attend a conference in Puerto Rico to discuss our findings for the Maine chapter of the national Scholars Strategy Network. Assisting in writing policy on this project has influenced my interest in future policy writing and how I view my future career path. Someone else who has influenced me is Taylor Ashley, who no longer works at 91����, has impacted the work I have done at 91����. Working for the Office for Diversity and Inclusion showed me that no matter what I was doing, it was making an impact on campus.

Story by news and social media intern Luke O’Neil.

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

The march will proceed along the Mall and end in the New Balance Field House in the track area. Speakers at the event will include U.S. Sen. Susan Collins; Robert Dana, vice president for student life and inclusive excellence and dean of students; Amanda Cost, executive director of Partners for Peace and 91���� alumna; and Heather Hogan, deputy Title IX coordinator. Casey Faulkingham, director of development and engagement at Partners for Peace, will present the remembrance ceremony and the Renaissance singers will conclude the program. 

The theme for this year’s march is “Ending domestic violence in our communities.”

Event partners include 91���� Student Life (which encompasses Title IX); Partners for Peace; 91���� Athletics; The Honors College; Army ROTC Black Bear Battalion; 91���� Navy/Marine ROTC;  the Maine Business School; MBS Corps; IOTA; Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Rape Response Services; Student Government; Fraternity and Sorority Life; and others.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Nory Jones at njones@maine.edu.

“I came from a family in which education was important, except in sexuality — we didn’t 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,” said Caron, who grew up in Brewer, Maine, about 10 miles from the university.��

Fast forward 50 years and Caron has had a long and storied career as an expert on sexuality and families — the majority of it at her alma mater, where she’s 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 retired.

Her retirement party will be Friday, Sept. 6, from 3-5 p.m. at Buchanan Alumni House. There will be live music, food and a six-foot cake decorated with a timeline of Caron’s career.

Read the full story about Caron’s career at 91���� on the College of Education and Human Development’s website.

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

Tea, coffee and cookies will be served at the Q&A, where Sebastian will answer questions related to the romance genre and her experience as an author. She will provide writing prompts during the afternoon workshop and answer questions while participants brainstorm and write. Tea and hot chocolate will also be served.  

Advance registration is not required for the lunch-time Q&A, but is mandatory for the afternoon writing workshop. Both events are open to the 91���� community, but the workshop is limited to forty participants. 

Email Elizabeth Neiman at Elizabeth.Neiman@maine.edu to reserve a spot in the workshop. 

The first 18 undergraduates to register will receive a free copy of Sebastian’s 2023 novel “We Could Be So Good.” This event is co-sponsored by the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, 91���� professor of English Caroline Bicks.

“91���� is honored to host the prestigious Maryann Hartman Awards and Maine Women’s Hall of Fame ceremony,” said John Volin, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “By combining these two significant honors, we hope to recognize more women in a variety of fields who have excelled in volunteer or professional work and improved the quality of life for all people in Maine.” 

This year’s winners feature a social justice warrior grounded in faith, an abortion rights activist, a bicultural advocate for equality in healthcare and an expert in family health. Learn more about the two inductees into the MWHoF, Nancy Fritz and Julia McDonald, and the two recipients of the 2024 Maryann Hartman Awards, Marwa Hassanien and Kara Hay, by reading their biographies.

Every year since 1990, the BPW/Maine Futurama Foundation selected one to two inductees into the MWHoF and hosted a ceremony in observance of Women’s History Month. 

“The BPW/Maine Futurama Foundation is excited for 91���� to continue the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame,” said Myra Chaloult, president of the foundation. “Deserving women will be recognized at what I’m sure will be a wonderful event.”

Steering committee member Elizabeth Neiman, director of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, said combining the MWHoF and Maryann Hartman Awards will improve the nomination pool and quality of the event. Differentiating each honor from the other, although difficult, allowed the selection committee to better define what it means in the 21st century to be a recipient of the Maryann Hartman Award or an inductee into the MWHoF.

The MWHoF honors lifetime achievement for mid- to late-career women, and the Maryann Hartman Award focuses on achievements over a more specific period in time. The selection committee aimed to create a process that encourages nominations for people who have guided change in women’s gender identity, sexuality and equity beyond the traditional ideas of leadership.

“We really did strive to define this award broadly so that people might recognize themselves and others as being achievers,” said Neiman. “I think that our pool of candidates really reflects that.”

Maine Women’s Hall of Fame

Maryann Hartman Awards

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

Read more on the 91���� at Augusta .

The team, led by Abigayl “Abby” Novak, a master’s student in forest resources at the BioEnergy Lab of the School of Forest Resources (SFR), found that attracting and retaining women in bioenergy and related-fields, including those who are young or from historically underrepresented groups, can be done by offering interdisciplinary research opportunities in higher education, having employers provide ample support and outreach, and promoting relatable success stories. 

Increasing gender diversity in the workforce not only helps women looking to enter into or advance careers in bioenergy or forestry, but also benefits companies. According to researchers, having more gender-diverse teams can result in better teamwork and more innovative products, services and problem solving. 

Their study, conducted by Novak, Ling Li, an assistant professor of sustainable bioenergy systems of SFR, and Katherine Glover, a Research Associate with the Climate Change Institute, was published in the academic journal . 

To determine the possible benefits of university interdisciplinary research, the group hosted a summer program that involved students and faculty working on projects pertaining to biochar production and multiple applications, which was funded by the AY 21–22 UMS Research Reinvestment Fund (RRF) Grant Programs:Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Collaboratives. Eight undergraduate students, three graduate students and six faculty participated. Six out of the 11 students were women. One faculty participant was female.

The program allowed young students to learn skills that helped them envision having a career in forestry and identify and use their strengths for their projects, researchers say. They also benefited from collaborative work and exposure to mentors — graduate students and faculty — with diverse backgrounds. 

At the end of it, two undergraduates, one of them female, produced research findings they were able to present at several conferences, symposiums and workshops. Two female students shared plans to pursue graduate studies in nanoscience and sustainability, and one enrolled in a forestry sustainability-related graduate program at 91����. Several reports produced by program participants were featured in the “2021 Wild Blueberry Grower Report” published by 91���� Cooperative Extension.

“When I participated in this program as a junior in my undergraduate career, it opened my perspective about the depth of interdisciplinary research,” says now 91���� graduate student Jessica Hutchinson. “It is crucial in deepening your understanding of what collaboration looks like, as well as broadening the way you question and approach a topic. Now I am a graduate student in plant, soil, and environmental science working with native woody species. Having been a part of a bioenergy research project not only prepared me for the skills necessary for graduate research, it has broadened the scope in which the principles of my discipline can be applied. I hope to incorporate and promote interdisciplinary studies within my field, focusing on the wide applications of bioenergy.”

In addition to offering opportunities for their students, researchers say universities with degree offerings in bioenergy and forestry can help create a more gender-diverse workforce in the industry by implementing ambassador programs, apprenticeships, internships and similar activities for nearby middle and high school students, as well as other forms of outreach.

“The need for universities and colleges to implement a more gender diverse workforce in bioenergy/forestry is essential to progressing as a society that fosters diversity and different backgrounds,” Novak says. “In order to create change and new innovative ideas, for researchers and the community, we need to make it a priority to make moves to alter the existing institutional dynamic, especially in a historically white male dominated industry and sector. Being able to have multiple perspectives can move all voices to be united.” 

Study authors also determined efforts employers could make to not only enlist more women workers, but also better support them and encourage them to pursue leadership roles.

These measures include creating safe spaces for people from underrepresented groups to voice their hardships without fear of retaliation, establishing reachable goals for recruiting more women leaders, being transparent with those efforts and challenges associated with them, and highlighting past or present work of women in forestry in workshops, lectures, newsletters, social media or word of mouth. 

Implementing efforts by academic institutions and companies will benefit from having well-developed and well-resourced planning committees, researchers say. 

“Since the 1970s, women in forestry have grown from essentially zero to where we are now. While we have progressed significantly in this time, there is more which we can do, as a university, a sector and a state, to promote opportunities for women and under-represented populations in Maine’s forest economy,” Li says. “Bringing different experiences and backgrounds into the workforce and leadership provides greater opportunities for new ideas and approaches to solve problems.” 

The study also explored the degree of representation of women among bioenergy companies in Maine, which a particular focus on biochar. Through analyzing public data, researchers found that women account for 33–39% of leadership positions among companies in Maine that contribute to biochar production. 

For the forestry industry overall, only a little over 30% is made up of women, with a small part comprising minority women. Nationwide, 38% of forestry workers and leaders are women. 

“Abby started researching these demographics in her field in spring 2021 as a project for my ‘Women and Climate Change’ course,” Glover says. “I’m so pleased to see how this study evolved to incorporate workforce development programs happening here on our campus. We now know from multiple studies that supported, diverse teams are in the best position to drive the innovation we will need to tackle the effects of climate change. With this study, we are able to offer actionable advice to others who want to implement similar training programs that develop a diverse workforce and a sense of belonging.”

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

91���� partnered with UCC to create the scholarship that honors the 1998 Northern Ireland peace accord brokered by then-Senator George Mitchell between Ireland and the United Kingdom. The merit-based scholarship allows recipients to participate in semester-long student exchanges at UCC, with funds for 12–15 credits of study, housing, and meal and airfare stipends. 

The award is granted annually to a 91���� student with high academic achievement, leadership skills, commitment to community service, and the ability to promote the scholarship to the academic and wider community.

Champagne, who uses she/they pronouns, is double majoring in political science and sociology with minors in legal studies, and women, gender and sexuality studies. Previously, she was named a John Nickerson Scholar from 2021–23 and a 2019 high school Mitchell Scholar. Champagne’s application was supported by the Office of International Programs, the Office of Major Scholarships, professor Karyn Sporer in sociology, professor Robert Glover in political science, and the selection committee. 

In light of her recent accomplishment, Champagne reflects on how she came to 91����, the professors who helped guide her and what it means to study abroad as a first-generation college student. 

Why motivated you to study abroad?

Coming from a low-income, first-generation background, I felt compelled to apply for an opportunity that could broaden my experience and excel my academic career. I felt as if I had to be uncomfortable and in a new environment in order to grow, and I found the George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship to be a perfect opportunity to do so. I have never traveled outside of the country, so I thought this would be great to strengthen my social and independent life skills. Wherever I go, I always find joy in meeting new people and experiencing their perspectives. I think the idea of studying abroad is the epitome of experiencing new life and culture, and hopefully I will be able to bring some of that back to Maine and my community.

How do you feel about earning the Peace Scholarship?

I feel ecstatic and anxious for the future. The Peace Scholarship has truly opened my eyes to how hard I work in and out of school, and what I can really contribute to my community. I think this will be a great opportunity to make new friends and explore the Earth.

Why did you choose to come to 91����?

I transferred from USM to 91���� in 2020 in hopes that I could pursue my goal of law school and meet new people.

Describe any research, internships or scholarly pursuits in which you have participated.  

I just completed a year-long political science practicum doing research on public policy surrounding food insecurity with three of my peers and Professor Glover. In the spring semester, I interned with Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund to learn about public advocacy, and women’s and LGBTQ+ reproductive rights. 

This summer, I will be participating in the Maine Government Summer Internship Program, where I will be working with the state’s department for Vocational Rehabilitation. Here, I will be taking part in the Step-Up Program at 91���� that guides high school students with autism along the pathway to college. I am very eager to learn about what Maine’s departmental services can do for students and how valuable this experience will be for my career in law

Have you worked closely with a mentor, professor or role model who made your time at 91���� better? 

I would like to thank Dr. Sporer and Dr. Glover for encouraging me to apply for opportunities that I would not have thought were applicable to me. Their availability and openness to help students are something that I will continuously look for in law school and in my career. The Office for Major Scholarships has also done a phenomenal job helping me access resources in order to succeed through this opportunity. Finally, I’d like to thank my mom, meme, and Abby for always pushing me to do my best and truly reach for the stars. 

Describe 91���� in one word. 

Insightful.

Explain.

I have learned quite a bit about myself by transferring to this school and I am grateful that 91���� could be my stepping-stone into higher education.

Contact: Sam Schipani, samantha.schipani@maine.edu 

The women will be honored in a free public ceremony and reception at 5:30 p.m., April 1 at Buchanan Alumni House at the 91����. To attend the ceremony, RSVP or by phone: 207.581.1591. Note that space is limited for the event.

The Maryann Hartman Awards, named for the late 91���� associate professor of communication, have recognized Maine women’s achievements in the arts, politics, business, education and community service since 1986. Maryann Hartman (1927–80) was a distinguished educator, feminist, scholar and humanitarian.

This year, the 91���� Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program is partnering with the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost to continue the three-decade tradition of honoring Maine women by enhancing awareness of their unique accomplishments.

The work of the Hartman Award winners provides inspiration to others and testifies to women’s potential to positively impact the contemporary world. 

Mohamud has been a community bridge builder in her adopted hometown since 2001. For nearly two decades, she was a certified nursing assistant at Central Maine Medical Center and worked as a translator when needed. In the Lewiston community, she served as a liaison between other immigrants and the city. Mohamud found her way into the role as community leader by being visible, but the motivation came from a desire to give back. She has volunteered for just about every major institution in town: the library, school department, police department and hospitals. She even served on the School Committee, the first Somali ever to do so. If a newly settled refugee needs help navigating rental housing, or if a school is facilitating a discussion on cultural diversity and inclusion, or if the police want to do outreach in a predominantly immigrant neighborhood, they call Mohamud. 

Brooks is an advocate for people with mental illness, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. She founded Opportunity Housing, Inc., now called OHI, in 1979. The nonprofit started with two residential homes offering support services to people with intellectual disabilities and/or mental illness. Today, OHI supports nearly 600 people with disabilities in their own homes or in one of OHI’s 32 group homes. In the past four decades, Brooks has consulted for public and private agencies nationwide and in four other countries. She founded the Maine Association for Community Service Providers; was appointed to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Federal Policy Impact Council; and served as a staff member and program consultant to the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation, now the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. She has provided congressional testimony on Medicaid policy, housing issues, fraud and abuse investigations, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration issues.

Bell has had a more than 40-year career in public administration, public policy, management and education, with leadership responsibilities in all three branches of Maine state government. The former three-term legislator served as deputy commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation and then directed the Maine Forest Service from 1992–95 — the first woman in the country to be named state forester. For eight years, Bell was a senior policy advisor and a member of Gov. Angus King’s executive management team. She went on to serve as director of the Office of Clerks of Court and was a senior project manager at Bernstein Shur Government Solutions for six years, through 2012. A former biology and human physiology teacher, Bell led a public health education project and established Project Graduation at Oxford Hills High School, an alcohol-free celebration for graduating students that served as a prototype for the nation, helping to protect the lives of graduating seniors in every state.

Contact: Margaret Nagle, nagle@maine.edu

Roberts’s lecture — introduced and facilitated by Bruce King, co-executive director of Maine Inside Out — is titled “Family Surveillance” and draws from Roberts’ forthcoming book, “Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families — and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World” (Basic Books, 2022). Roberts’ talk argues that the U.S. child welfare system is a state apparatus that investigates, supervises and terrorizes Black families to control them, not to protect their children, describing how warrantless home investigations, monitoring of families by state agents, civilians deputized to report on parents and coerced compliance with agency dictates reflect a carceral logic with parallels in the criminal punishment system. State Child Protective Services authorities increasingly use modern surveillance technologies and coordinate with law enforcement agencies to manage regulated populations more efficiently. Family policing should therefore be a focus of critiques of the prison industrial complex and part of the movement to abolish it.

Dorothy Roberts’ pathbreaking work in law and public policy focuses on urgent social justice issues in policing, family regulation, science, medicine and bioethics. Her major books include “Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-first Century” (New Press, 2011); “Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare” (Basic Books, 2002), and “Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty” (Pantheon, 1997). She is the author of more than 100 scholarly articles and book chapters, as well as a co-editor of six books on such topics as constitutional law and women and the law.

The annual Howard B. Schonberger Peace and Social Justice Lecture honors Schonberger’s legacy as a 91���� professor of history and an activist scholar before his death in 1991. At 91����, his interests included U.S. foreign policy during war and periods of colonialism and imperialism, and the struggles for democracy and democratic socialism at home and abroad. 

This event is part of the Spring 2022 History Symposium Series and is co-sponsored by the Maine Scholars Strategy Network; the Center for the Arts and Humanities at Colby College; 91����’s Women’s Gender, and Sexuality Studies; the 91���� School of Social Work; the 91���� Department of Sociology; the 91���� Socialist and Marxist Studies Lecture Series; and the 91���� School of Law.

Monday’s Schomberger Peace and Social Justice Lecture is . For more information, contact brian.jansen@maine.edu. 

CUGR Research Faculty Fellows are a cohort of faculty members who were nominated by their respective deans and selected by the center. The program is designed to support faculty efforts toward improving undergraduate research mentoring skills, expanding curricula to include research and scholarship experiences, and developing proposals for additional funding, specifically for undergraduate students.

Each CUGR Research Fellow is provided $1,200 to support an undergraduate research assistant of their choosing during their second year in the program.

The 2022–2024 CUGR Research Faculty Fellows are:

• Rebecca Buchanan, assistant professor of curriculum, assessment and instruction with the College of Education and Human Development.
• Matthew Chatfield, assistant professor of evolution and eco-health with the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture.
• Chaofen Chen, assistant professor of computer science with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
• Amelia Couture Bue, assistant professor of communication and journalism with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
• Justin Dimmel, assistant professor of mathematics education and instructional technology with the College of Education and Human Development.
• Alice Doughty, lecturer, instructor and Golden Undergraduate Coordinator with the School of Earth and Climate Sciences at the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture.
• Robby Finley, assistant professor of philosophy with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
• Kelsi Hobbs, assistant professor of economics with the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture.
• Kara Peruccio, assistant professor of history and women’s, gender and sexuality studies with College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
• Lauren Ross, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering with the College of Engineering.
• Jared Talbot, assistant professor of biology and ecology with the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture.

A memorial service will be held in Bangor later this year to honor the life and legacy of Ann Schonberger, retired director of the 91���� Women in the Curriculum and Women’s Studies program. Schonberger passed away Jan. 25 at the age of 81.

.

Schonberger and her husband, Howard, a professor of history, joined the university community in 1971. She had a Ph.D. in mathematics education and was a faculty member in University College before being named director of the Women in the Curriculum and Women’s Studies program in 1991. A nationally recognized activist and women’s studies advocate, Schonberger was among the organizers of the First Maine Women’s Studies Conference in 1990, launching what would be an annual statewide event led by women scholars and gender equity advocates.

Schonberger was among an interdisciplinary group of faculty and graduate students who, in 1992, formed the Feminist Oral History Project to document the early feminist movement. With the large number of 91���� research projects on violence against women, Schonberger organized the Violence Against Women Research Collaborative in 2002, an interdisciplinary group of 91���� faculty and students, women’s advocates and professionals in the community. Schonberger also was one of the organizers of the Maine Women’s Studies Consortium — faculty, staff and students who met over several decades and annually sponsored a women’s studies conference and research retreat.

For her community activism to end domestic violence that included decades of volunteering with Spruce Run, Schonberger received the 2001 Presidential Public Service Award. She retired from 91���� in 2013, and three years later, she was inducted into the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame.

Schonberger was one of 91����’s early stalwart champions of diversity, equity and inclusion. For countless undergraduate and graduate students, 91���� faculty and staff members, and women and girls throughout Maine, Schonberger was a mentor, advocate and leader. Her influences ranged from curricula changes and an institutional focus on nonsexist language to on-campus programming of interest to all community members.

Many 91���� female faculty members were welcomed to — and encouraged to be involved in — the university community by Schonberger. She is remembered as a woman of great strength and commitment who always spoke her mind, and “a builder who got things done.”

Howard Schonberger passed away in 1991. 91����’s​ ​annual Howard B. Schonberger Peace and Justice Memorial Lecture at 91���� is named in his honor.

What difference has 91���� made in your life and in helping you reach your goals? 
The support and encouragement by the faculty and staff, and breadth of extracurricular, professional and academic activities at 91���� has shown me how my various interests and skills can merge for meaningful outcomes. 

Have you had an experience at 91���� that has changed or shaped the way you see the world?
Participating in and later organizing and hosting the annual “Take Back the Night” speak-out and march for survivors of sexual assault and harassment first introduced me to the power of personal experience, then solidified my passion for activism and education in storytelling modes. In the annual event, survivors voluntarily share their experiences in a non-mandatory-reporting space. The swelling sense of communal support from fellow survivors and allies at the event laid the foundation for my current and future storytelling-based advocacy, since I firmly believe that one’s experiences hold immense potential for education and change.

Why 91����?
The 91���� simply “clicked” for me during my first campus visit in 2017. My family and I indeed were greeted with a “Hearty Maine Hello” in our entrance on campus, and the same feelings of welcome, warmth and openness have only continued to show in the past four years as an undergraduate. The abundance of opportunities ranging from arts to research in individual and communal efforts has expanded my understanding of what issues of interest can intersect and in what modes and contexts. Since my first entrance onto campus, the spirit of a “Maine Hello” has backed my academic, professional and extracurricular endeavors. This spirit is present in the Advising Center at the College of Education and Human development, the outpouring of community spirit and service at Maine Day, and in the countless efforts of various student leaders on campus.

How would you define the opportunities for student success at 91����? 
91���� has a host of opportunities for student success. As also referenced in my advice to incoming students, there is an abundance of professional and academic resources to be tapped into according to one’s interests and skills if they are to be sought out and tapped into. As mentioned before, the Advising Center at the College of Education and Human Development has been particularly helpful in not only providing support and suggestions for academic and professional inquiries, but also in creating a general collaborative air that carries throughout the college as a whole. Additionally, the college’s tapping into associate professors who are current teachers in the field to teach education-based courses has been immensely helpful for my early entry into the education profession. Working with and learning from these professionals throughout the development of my general praxis and principles for teaching has allowed my teaching to be adaptable, inventive and collaborative.

Have you worked closely with a professor or mentor who made your 91���� experience better?
Conducting and co-authoring qualitative research alongside professor Rebecca Buchanan has demonstrated the ability for partnership in professional and academic endeavors. As I have grown to increasingly value my own critical insight as a researcher and educator, I have only better appreciated and sought out more opportunities for professional collaboration on a host of topics, whether it be executing a service project at a student teaching placement or asking for ample resources on a topic of interest. Executing my honors thesis under professor Susan Gardner was a similarly encouraging experience, since the model of professional, intentional and reflexive praxis in her work and mere mentorship provided a strong foundation of support for me to succeed on.

What advice do you have for incoming students to help them get off to the best start academically? 
My first and foremost tidbit of advice is to take stock of one’s strengths and interests, then locate resources on campus that align with these areas. For instance, the Advising Center at the College of Education and Human Development was essential to me crafting my academic course load to support my various academic interests, running from courses in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies to independent research opportunities such as the honors thesis. Advocating for oneself is essential to success in and out of the college classroom.

Contact: Margaret Nagle, nagle@maine.edu