The award recognizes individuals whose work has significantly advanced scientific and engineering knowledge within the renewable materials sector. Division Technical Awards, presented by TAPPI, honor outstanding accomplishments or contributions that advance industry technology in a given field.

Tajvidi received the award on April 28 at the TAPPICon conference in Columbus, Ohio.

He holds appointments in 91爆料鈥檚 School of Forest Resources, the Advanced Structures and Composites Center and the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute. His research focuses on alternatives to petroleum-based products, particularly within forest-based industries.

91爆料 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, recipient of AERA鈥檚 2025 Distinguished Public Service Award, will deliver a lecture on Friday, April 10, titled 鈥淓volving Research for Impact 鈥� People, Purposes, and Periods in Time: Reflections on Public Service for STEM and Beyond.鈥�

Here鈥檚 a look at some of the other 91爆料 researchers participating in events or presenting research at this year鈥檚 conference:

Assistant Professor of Education and Applied Quantitative Methods Kamal Chawla:

• Serving as chair or discussant at two paper sessions: 鈥淎ddressing Challenges in Causality: Free Will, Mediation and Latent Factors, Heterogeneity, and Variable Selection鈥� and 鈥淕enerative AI and Large Language Models in Educational Measurement and Assessment.鈥�
• Co-presenting a study, 鈥淒isrupting Eurocentric Narratives: A Comparative Analysis of High School Geometry Curricula in India, Singapore, and the United States,鈥� at a roundtable session on 鈥淚nternational Perspectives on the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics.鈥�

Assistant Professor of Special Education Melissa Cuba:

• Co-presenting a study, 鈥淏earing the Burden: Cultural and Psychological Costs for Im/migrant and Refugee Families in Special Education,鈥� at a roundtable session on 鈥淎dvancing Equity in Special and Inclusive Education.鈥�
• Co-presenting a study, 鈥淩acialized and Administrative Burdens in IDEA: Examining the Experiences of Im/migrant and Refugee Families,鈥� as part of a roundtable session on 鈥淚mmigrant Students and Intersectional Inequality.鈥�

Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership Lindsey Kaiser:

• Co-presenting a study, 鈥淎t Research-Practice Partnership Edges: Expanding Boundaries, Co-Creating Knowledge, and Supporting Racial Equity Joint Work,鈥� at a roundtable session titled 鈥淔rom Collaboration to Transformation: Evolving Research-Practice Partnerships in Education.鈥澛�
• Co-presenting a study, 鈥淏raiding Research and Practice: Attending to Power Dynamics and Co-Creating Knowledge to Improve Educational Systems,鈥� as part of a structured poster session on 鈥淧ositionality and Research Use in Educational Policy and Practice: Toward Evidence-Informed Decisions.鈥澛�
• Presenting a paper, 鈥淲hite Principals and Logics of Family and Community Engagement: Performative 鈥楴ights鈥� to Growing Equitable Collaborations,鈥� as part of a session on 鈥淩acializing and Spatializing Resistance: Contextual Equity Leadership and Policy.鈥�
• Co-presenting a study, 鈥淢aking Race, Racial Equity, and Power Visible in the Everyday Work of Research-Practice Partnerships,鈥� in a structured poster session on 鈥淢aking the Invisible Visible: Dynamics, Processes, and Outcomes of Research-Practice Partnerships.鈥�

In addition, 91爆料 Associate Professor of Educational Leadership Catharine Biddle will chair the business meeting of AERA鈥檚 Rural Education Special Interest Group (SIG). Associate Professor of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction Bec Buchanan is scheduled to participate in the Lives of Teachers SIG business meeting.

Ashley Reynolds, a doctoral student in food and nutrition sciences, will present an overview of a new mouse model of neuroinflammation associated with colitis and a study on how diet can reduce that inflammation. Reynolds is advised by Sue Ishaq, associate professor of veterinary sciences.

For registration and more information, visit the . 

“This is a meaningful opportunity to learn from colleagues in Portugal and to engage more deeply with a policy approach that has shaped global conversations about public health and substance use disorder,” Glover said. “I鈥檓 excited to bring those perspectives back to my work with students and partners at 91爆料.”

The award builds on a partnership聽Glover聽has developed over the past seven years between the 91爆料 and Universidade Cat贸lica Portuguesa.

Glover聽and Karyn Sporer, professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, are scheduled to lead the third annual faculty-led study abroad program to Lisbon in May. The three-week program brings undergraduate and graduate students from multiple disciplines to study comparative drug policy, with a focus on public health and harm reduction.

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.

The book introduces educators to the ENACT model 鈥� The Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation. It offers comprehensive support on how to incorporate this approach into curriculum and teaching methods across subjects, teaching environments and assessment practices.

The book provides detailed guidance to educators on how to develop and teach higher-education courses that engage students in advocacy for state-level policy, with a focus on assessing the learning outcomes that emerge from this work.

A 91爆料 alumna and MaineMBA graduate, Leary is traveling to four universities across Europe through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters program, where she is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in smart cities and communities. 

Managed by a consortium of European universities, the program focuses on integrating data, internet connectivity, modern energy and digital technologies into urban systems to improve residents鈥� quality of life. The two-year degree is designed to train the next generation of engineers and scientists who can support this emerging type of urban development worldwide. 

Leary began taking courses for her program at University of Vaasa in Finland, and is continuing her studies at the University of Mons in Belgium, the International Hellenic University in Greece and the University of the Basque Country in Spain.  

鈥淪ince starting at 91爆料 in 2019, I鈥檝e always wanted to study or work abroad,鈥� Leary said. 鈥淧ursuing a specialized education in a topic I鈥檓 passionate about in countries that are leading in this field was an opportunity I couldn鈥檛 pass up.鈥� 

With guidance and support from 91爆料鈥檚 Office of Major Scholarships, Leary applied for a fellowship that would allow her to participate in the program by covering her education, travel costs, insurance, visa support and living expenses. 

鈥淭he Office of Major Scholarships鈥� expertise helped me understand what makes an application stand out and how to strategically align my narrative across all the components,鈥� she said.

As an undergraduate at 91爆料, Leary was also a Maine Top Scholar and leadership coach for the Society of Women Engineers.

Miner, a 91爆料 Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering, is researching breast cancer cell dormancy in bone marrow at the Cancer Research Center of Lyon. These dormant cells can evade chemotherapy and are a major factor in cancer recurrence and poor prognosis. A deeper understanding of this process could reveal new therapeutic opportunities to prevent relapse in patients. 

Miner鈥檚 work 鈥� part of her dissertation 鈥� was made possible after she earned fellowships from two of the most prestigious international research awards available to U.S. students: the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the STEM Chateaubriand Fellowship.

Outside the lab, Miner is immersing herself in French culture through her love for sports and the outdoors. She is skiing; practicing karate, of which she is a third-degree black belt; attending local events; and exploring the city鈥檚 museums, food offerings and historical sites. 

When she found out she was a Fulbright finalist, Miner was attending a research conference in Lucca, Italy.

鈥淚t was after dinner, and I was chatting with some friends I had met at the conference when I received an email that a notification was posted to my portal. I announced it to the group, and they all gathered around me as I nervously but eagerly logged in to see that I had been accepted,鈥� Miner said. 鈥淭he entire group celebrated with me and started sharing recommendations of all the amazing things I should experience during my trip abroad.鈥�

At 91爆料, Miner is a member of CompuMAINE, overseen by Andre Khalil, professor of biomedical engineering, and associate professor of bioengineering Karissa Tilbury鈥檚 lab. She was also a Maine Top Scholar and outstanding graduating student for the Maine College of Engineering and Computing during her undergraduate career. 

Miner has been conducting research since her first year of college. The research, which focussed on the potential benefits of electrical stimulation for Duchenne muscular dystrophy using zebrafish models, was in collaboration with professor of biological sciences Clarissa Henry鈥檚 lab. 

Originally from the small town of East Baldwin, Maine, Miner said that growing up around nature sparked both an adventurous spirit in her and curiosity about the world. When she learned about opportunities to conduct research abroad, she knew it was something she wanted to pursue. After attending an information session about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program hosted by the Office of Major Scholarships in March 2024, she realized this was the perfect path for her. 

At the 2nd Brigade U.S. Army Cadet Command’s annual Ranger Challenge in New Jersey, 91爆料鈥檚 team took home the bronze in the Crucible event, a multi-lane station that simulated Army tactical tasks, tested the limits of physical endurance and assessed the cadets’ mental acuity when energy was low. The station involved the navigation of obstacles while carrying hundreds of pounds of equipment, memorization and recall of complex information. 91爆料 team members’ displayed leadership and adherence to orders as they competed against 46 other teams from New England.

Perry, who has been Gorham School District鈥檚 superintendent for the past 10 years, was named . She began her educational career as a teacher and principal in the Machias area before serving as superintendent in the Greenville School Department and RSU 3 (Brooks, Freedom, Jackson, Knox, Liberty, Monroe, Montville, Thorndike, Troy, Unity and Waldo). Perry earned her master鈥檚 in educational leadership from 91爆料 in 2004. She continued taking graduate courses through the 91爆料 College of Education and Human Development before earning a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Southern Maine in 2019.

Perry has overseen transformational changes in boosting student success and post-secondary opportunities in Gorham. Under her leadership, the district redesigned its alternative educational programming for high school students while boosting enrollment in student internships, mentorships and career and technical education. Through its Aspire Gorham initiative, the district has collaborated with local businesses and community leaders to expose students to career exploration from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Doty was named . He has worked in RSU 34 for more than 25 years, serving as curriculum coordinator and coordinator of gifted and talented services before spending the past four years as assistant superintendent. Through partnerships with local colleges and universities, including 91爆料, he led the creation of the Educator Accelerator program, in which the district hires pre-service educators to address substitute teaching needs in the district and pairs them with mentor teachers to build knowledge and experience. To date, nearly 90 students have gone through the program and nine have been hired as full-time educators in RSU 34. 

“Talented and dedicated educators like Jon Doty make me confident in the present and future of Maine schools. What is so notable about Jon’s work is his deep commitment to supporting other educators in achieving similar levels of excellence,” said Zeke Kimball, dean of 91爆料’s College of Education and Human Development. “Jon is the sort of educator that other educators aspire to emulate, and his work serves as an exemplary model for effective practice.”

Doty received his bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education with a concentration in natural sciences from 91爆料 in 2000. He went on to earn three more degrees from the university: a master鈥檚 in education with a concentration in instructional technology in 2004; a certificate of advanced study in education with a focus on gifted and talented education and educational leadership in 2006; and a doctor of education in educational leadership in 2018.

In 2024, the College of Education and Human Development awarded Doty its inaugural Robert A. Cobb Award for Extraordinary Service. The award is named after the former dean of the college, who served from 1977 to 2007. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest tenured dean of a college of education in the U.S.

Both Perry and Doty have also served as 91爆料 adjunct instructors.

Rustad鈥檚 lecture, 鈥淎 Wilde Challenge: The Art of Forest Soil Science in a Polycrisis World,鈥� will examine how forest soil science can help address today鈥檚 complex environmental challenges, including soil degradation, climate disruption, wildfires, invasive species and emerging pollutants such as microplastics and pharmaceuticals. She will emphasize the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration that includes not only other sciences, but also the arts, humanities and community knowledge.

鈥淭his lecture honors the legacy of Sergei A. Wilde while offering a vision for the future of our field 鈥� one rooted not only in technical innovation, but in creativity and connection,鈥� Rustad said. 鈥淭o meet today鈥檚 overlapping crises, forest soil science must expand its reach and build partnerships that span disciplines and communities.鈥�

Rustad earned her doctorate in plant science from 91爆料 in 1988. Over her career, she has authored or co-authored more than 150 research articles and has been recognized nationally and internationally for her work in forest soils, biogeochemistry, climate change research, and the integration of art and science. She is a fellow of the Soil Science Society of America and a Lyda Hill If/Then ambassador, serving as a role model for women and girls in STEM.

The Sergei A. Wilde Distinguished Lectureship honors leaders in forest and wildland soils who have advanced the field through innovative research, teaching and collaboration.

For more information on the lecture and speakers, visit .

Guests enjoyed a California-themed reception in the Bodwell Lounge, complete with food stations and retro arcade games, followed by a performance in Hutchins Concert Hall of 鈥淟ive from Laurel Canyon: James & Joni 鈥� Their Stories, Their Songs,鈥� a tribute to the music of James Taylor and Joni Mitchell.

As part of the celebration, the Collins Center presented two annual honors.

• The Wilma Award, named in memory of longtime arts patron Wilma Bradford and given to an individual or organization demonstrating extraordinary commitment to serving the community through the CCA, was awarded to professor George Jacobson and Karen Boucias.
  • Jacobson serves as chair of the Chamber Music Society Committee, leading the programming of the chamber music season in Minsky Recital Hall.聽
  • Boucias, a 91爆料 alumna and former director of International Programs, has been a devoted member of the CCA Advisory Board and a passionate advocate for the arts. Together, they have strengthened the cultural life of the university and the community.
• The Director鈥檚 Award, which recognizes outstanding support and service to the CCA from within the 91爆料 community, was presented to the Collins Opera Outreach Committee. This group of opera enthusiasts has spent nearly two decades enhancing the Met Opera Live in HD experience by sharing their knowledge, building appreciation for opera and fostering community engagement.

Interim director Karen Cole welcomed guests and reflected on the CCA鈥檚 four decades of presenting world-class performances.

鈥淔or 40 years, the Collins Center has been a cultural hub for the 91爆料 and for the state, connecting people through the power of the arts,鈥� she said.

President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, whose remarks were delivered by George Kinghorn, senior executive director for cultural engagement, congratulated the CCA on its anniversary season and thanked the award recipients for their contributions. 

鈥淭he Collins Center is an important cultural resource for the university and the people of Maine,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淗ats off to the CCA for this wonderful gala and performance, and here鈥檚 to many future years of success.鈥�

The Collins Center also acknowledged the generous support of its sponsors:

• Bangor Savings Bank (season sponsor).
• 91爆料 Foundation (lead sponsor).
• University Credit Union (lead show sponsor).
• Sutherland Weston (corporate sponsor).
• CCA Advisory Board (reception sponsor).

With a full season ahead, the CCA continues its mission as the university鈥檚 home for the performing arts, presenting exceptional programs that enrich, educate and entertain.

As principal investigator of the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Lab (C-CAP), Blossom engages the community in research to improve access to mental health care for youth and families in rural and underserved areas. Her projects include the development of suicide prevention programs, interventions for childhood anxiety and depression and statewide training for primary care and mental health providers, such as her collaborative project to train graduate students and clinicians at 91爆料 in the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children (MATCH).

“I’m honored and humbled to have received this award and recognition for my lab’s work aiming to improve rural mental health care through our research, community partnerships and advocacy,鈥� Blossom said. 鈥淢ost notably, I received this award because my incredible graduate students and close colleagues collaborated to nominate me 鈥� I’m incredibly grateful that I get to conduct values-aligned work with such amazing partners.”An educator and mentor, Blossom trains clinical psychology doctoral students and Master’s students in mental health fields to provide culturally responsive care to rural communities. She has helped expand clinical training and access to treatment across Maine, which has acute mental health workforce shortages. She also serves as co-director of the Psychological Services Center, contributes to public policy initiatives, serves on statewide advisory boards and collaborates with community organizations to advance equitable behavioral healthcare.

Maine Business School (MBS) undergraduate students Alanna Berube, Wyatt Byther and Bailey Clarke, along with graduate student Ernest Asane, were able to apply the skills they鈥檝e learned in the classroom to their work with one of Maine鈥檚 key energy providers. 

Byther, a finance and accounting major who interned in finance at Versant, said he heard about the opportunity through professional development and networking events at MBS and the 91爆料 Career Fair. His greatest challenge this summer was learning how to put theoretical skills into practice and adjusting to the industry learning curve.

Berube, a senior majoring in management, also interned in finance. She said she worked with regulatory asset accounts and created Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. She also learned about regulated utility tax laws, which she said she could only do at a power company.

Clarke, another senior majoring in management, interned instead in human resources. Her responsibilities included assisting with the onboarding of new employees, organizing personnel files, supporting recruitment processes, updating internal documents and providing administrative support to Versant鈥檚 human resources team team.

Graduate student Asane, who is seeking a master of business administration with a concentration in accounting, interned in financial accounting. He said this experience deepened his understanding of accounting systems, improved his data analysis skills and reinforced the importance of accuracy and transparency in financial reporting. 

鈥淎s I move forward, I feel more equipped and confident to take on complex accounting roles, especially in industries where regulatory compliance and precision are paramount,鈥� he said.
Find the full Q&A on the Maine Business School website.

鈥淭he next two years will be critical for nursing as we face workforce shortages, navigate healthcare reform and continue the fight for equality, safety and patient-centered care 鈥� priorities I am passionate about and eager to advance through this role,鈥� Savage said. 鈥淔or nurses across Maine, and especially for students and early-career professionals, I hope my election shows that your voice matters. That leadership isn鈥檛 confined to geography. That our experiences, our resilience and our insights are not only valid, but vital to the future of nursing in this country.鈥�

A 2003 graduate from 91爆料 with a master鈥檚 degree in exercise physiology, Savage was born in Machias and raised in Bangor. She has additional degrees from the University of New England and University of Southern Maine. In addition to her teaching responsibilities at 91爆料, she is a registered nurse at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and believes in the transformative power of nursing, both in educational and clinical settings.

Savage鈥檚 current term of president of ANA-Maine ends this fall. Her term as an elected member of the at-large national board 鈥� the voice of five million nurses across the U.S. 鈥� will start January 2026 and last for two years.

鈥淗ope in the Water鈥� is a three-part documentary series that highlights the stories of innovators, water farmers and fishers working toward a sustainable future. Vertical Bay is featured in the second episode titled 鈥淔arming the Water,鈥� as the story shows how the team at Vertical Bay sustainably farms scallops from seed to market size using Japanese techniques. The episode, which tells the origin story of scallop farming in Maine, will receive a 2025 Emmy nomination for outstanding science and technology coverage.

Vertical Bay鈥檚 episode featured Martha Stewart, who spent a day on the water farming scallops and another one demonstrating how to cook them at her home on Mount Desert Island.

鈥淲orking with the 鈥楬ope in the Water’ team was an incredible experience,鈥� Coleman said. “Our whole team at Vertical Bay was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to tell our story and highlight the ways in which dozens of researchers, farmers and regulators have come together to build this new and exciting industry in the state. Getting to spend the day with Martha Stewart was also a once in a lifetime experience.”

Coleman joined Vertical Bay, which was co-founded in 2017 by Andrew Peters, late in 2022. Today, the business employs two full-time crew members and sells scallops to home cooks and restaurants across the country. Vertical Bay is one of the companies in Maine working to commercialize research and development that has been led by institutions such as 91爆料, Maine Sea Grant and the Maine Aquaculture Association.

Jason Entsminger, a 91爆料 faculty member, has been recognized by peers in the National Association for Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) for individual excellence in community development programming. The award was announced on June 11 during NACDEP鈥檚 conference in Charleston, West Virginia, and is the highest annual honor given by the professional organization. It recognizes his work in 2024 as part of the team leading the development of a for Maine鈥檚 outdoor recreation economy.

鈥淚鈥檝e loved being able to spend the last two years collaborating with our partners in government and industry to engage Mainers in building a vision for this critical part of our economy,鈥� said Entsminger, who is the state specialist for small business at 91爆料 Extension and an assistant professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Maine Business School.

The statewide coalition, which included 91爆料, unveiled the 10-year roadmap in January 2025, following a year-long engagement and development process that involved nearly 450 individuals from Maine businesses and community stakeholders in every county. The roadmap sets out four goals to sustainably grow and manage the outdoor recreation economy in the state.

Read the full release from . 

The fellowship program is an initiative of the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park supported by the David Evans Shaw Family Foundation, Sibley-Saltonstall Charitable Foundation and individual donors. Fellows inform management and protection of the park鈥檚 resources.

plans to set up 60 sensors throughout the park to monitor microclimate, the particular conditions underneath the forest canopy that affect tree seedlings and saplings. Over the course of three years, the sensors will record soil moisture and temperature, air temperature and relative humidity. Additional data will come from the Northeast Temperate Network, a National Park Service (NPS) program monitoring long-term forest health at 176 sites at Acadia.

Like many national parks, Acadia is experiencing rapid changes. The impacts of these changes are still largely uncertain, challenging NPS to manage and protect both natural and cultural resources. 

鈥淎cadia is a place for conservation innovation, and the Acadia Science Fellows play a key role in developing and translating science into action,鈥� said Schoodic Institute President & CEO Nicholas Fisichelli.

Boss, professor of oceanography at 91爆料, is among researchers providing lectures during the voyage from Trom酶, Norway, to Nice, France. His instruction focuses on sampling ocean optical properties, how particles and microorganisms affect light and what information can be gleaned from it about surrounding marine life and ecosystems. During his instruction, Boss reconnected with two former students 鈥� one from France and another from South Africa 鈥� who previously took a summer course at 91爆料. 

Boss also equipped the research vessel with a system that continuously collects measurements of the optical properties of ocean particles 鈥� from which he and his colleagues can deduce their size and composition 鈥� through sensors, samples and satellite data collection. During the voyage, he has been researching the makeup of plankton communities residing along the route of travel and their link to ocean color observations from space.

NASA funded Boss鈥� research and sponsored his and seven students’ participation in the course. ESA and NASA have also recently funded two companion projects 鈥� one through 91爆料 and another via the Plymouth Marine Laboratory in England 鈥� to equip sailing vessels traveling the high seas with sampling kits for studying ocean biodiversity. These enhancements, which also include specialized microscopes, will allow researchers to extract the genetic material from samples filtered on the boats and develop an ocean biodiversity algorithm from space-based observations. 

Boss is testing the sampling kit and protocol measures for its usage along the Statsraad Lehmkhul鈥檚 trip to France. Researchers will continue to collect biodiversity samples using the kit during the year-long , which includes the current expedition and additional travels across the Northern Hemisphere. 

Visit to learn more about the expedition. 

91爆料 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy will receive the AERA鈥檚 Distinguished Public Service Award for her exceptional contributions to education research and policy. 

Here鈥檚 a look at some of the presentations, panels and other events that 91爆料 faculty members and students will participate in at the conference:

Tuesday, April 22

• Rebecca (Bec) Buchanan, associate professor of curriculum, assessment and instruction is a presenter at a pre-conference mentoring session for the Supervision and Instructional Leadership special interest group.

Wednesday, April 23

• Interim Dean of the College of Education and Human Development Zeke Kimball is co-author of a paper being presented as part of a roundtable session on 鈥淕enerating Possibilities Via Critical Reflections and Expansion of Methods.鈥� The paper is titled 鈥淎 Duoethnographic Reflection on Moving Toward a Queer and Socially Responsive Interview Process.鈥澛�
• Catharine Biddle, associate professor of educational leadership, is presenting a paper she co-authored as part of a roundtable session on 鈥淔amily-School Engagement in Diverse Environments.鈥� The paper is titled 鈥淐aregivers in Recovery: Understanding Experiences of Substance-Impacted Caregivers with School-Aged Children in the Context of the Rural School-Community Relationship.鈥�
• Lindsey J. Kaiser, assistant professor of educational leadership,聽 is presenting a paper at a roundtable session on 鈥淚nnovative Methods, Measures, and Theories for Educational Policy Research and Evaluation.鈥� Kaiser鈥檚 paper is titled 鈥淏uilding Trust and Disrupting Power Structures: A Racially Diverse Research-Practice Partnership in Pursuit of Justice.鈥�
• Kamal Chawla, assistant professor of education and applied quantitative methods, is presenting a paper he co-authored at a roundtable session as part of the Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis special interest group. Chawla鈥檚 paper is titled 鈥淢achine Learning-Based Techniques to Handle Missing Data in Meta-Regression.鈥�
• Anne Fensie, a recent graduate of the Ph.D. program in higher education, is participating in a virtual poster session as part of the Faculty Teaching, Evaluation, and Development special interest group. Fensie鈥檚 presentation is titled 鈥淏eliefs and Instructional Practices Among Faculty in U.S. Bachelor鈥檚 Degree-Gathering Institutions.鈥� Fensie is an adjunct faculty member in the collaborative graduate program in Instructional Technology, which has faculty from the 91爆料 College of Education and Human Development, the 91爆料 at Farmington, and the University of Southern Maine. In addition to 91爆料, she has taught at UMF and the 91爆料 at Augusta.聽

Thursday, April 24

• Chawla is presenting a paper he co-authored as part of a roundtable session on 鈥淓lementary Students鈥� Mathematical Cognition: Insights Into Estimation, Relational Reasoning, and Effective Feedback in Mathematics.鈥� The paper Chawla co-wrote is titled 鈥淥ptimizing the 0-100 Number Line Estimation Task: Scale Reduction and its Implications for Elementary Mathematical Cognition.鈥�
• Fensie is presenting a study she co-authored at a structured poster session on 鈥淔rom Research to Application: Learning Engineering as a Process for Learning-Sciences-Informed Educational Design.鈥� Fenie鈥檚 poster is titled 鈥淐onceptualizing Learning Engineering.鈥澛�
• Biddle is chairing the Rural Education special interest group business meeting.聽

Friday, April 25

• Kathleen Gillon, assistant professor of higher education, and higher education doctoral student Devin Franklin are presenting a paper at a roundtable session on 鈥淣avigating College Access and Rural Identities in Higher Education.鈥� Gillon and Franklin鈥檚 paper is titled 鈥溾�楬ow Did I Get Here?鈥� Understanding a Gendered Rurality and Its Role in College Going.鈥澛�

Saturday, April 26

• Kimball is co-author of two papers being presented as part of a symposium on 鈥淐onceptualizing the New Accessibility in Higher Education: Leveraging Disruption for Transformative Opportunity.鈥� The papers are titled 鈥淐onnecting Sense of Belonging with Accessibility鈥� and 鈥淐onnecting Intersectionality to Accessibility.鈥�
• Kaiser is presenting as part of a paper session on 鈥淚ntersections of Justice, Whiteness, and Educational Renewal.鈥� Kaiser鈥檚 paper is titled 鈥� Paradoxes of Racial Affinity Equity Leadership Coaching: Supporting White Principals Leading Toward Racial Justice.鈥�
• Johanna Leslie, assistant director of the 91爆料 Office of Student Financial Aid, and Simon Ferland, director of data and systems for the Office of Student Financial Aid, are presenting a paper as part of a roundtable session on 鈥淣avigating Admissions, Employability, and Financial Support in Higher Education.鈥� Leslie and Ferland鈥檚 paper is titled 鈥淔AFSA Filing Rates: Examining the Negative Impacts of the Problematic 鈥楩AFSA Simplification鈥� Rollout.鈥�
• Buchanan is chairing the Lives of Teachers special interest group business meeting.

Sunday, April 27

• Kaiser is chairing a paper session on 鈥淟eading and Supporting Equity-Oriented Practices in Schools and Districts.鈥�
• Sarah Howorth, associate professor of special education, and Joo Young Lee, assistant professor of special education, are presenting a paper they co-authored at a poster session on 鈥淚nnovative Approaches and Methodologies for Enhancing Educational Outcomes for Students with Disabilities.鈥� The paper is titled 鈥淩eading Interventions for Students with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic PRISMA Review and Meta-Analysis.鈥澛�
• Andrew Hudacs, assistant professor of 4-H teen leadership and workforce development with 91爆料 Cooperative Extension, is chairing a roundtable session on 鈥淓nhancing Student Achievement: Outcomes and Opportunities in Rural Educational Contexts.鈥�

This prestigious recognition places SPIFFY among the nation鈥檚 leading student-run investment funds, ranking #26 for 2024, further cementing the Maine Business School鈥檚 reputation for excellence in finance education.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a proud moment for SPIFFY,鈥� said Sebastian Lobe, University Foundation Professor of Investment Education and SPIFFY advisor. “Again, the 91爆料 and Maine Business School are recognized for nurturing our first-class student investment club SPIFFY, which has managed real money for the 91爆料 Foundation for 33 years.”

The Center for Investment Research, founded in 1993 by Nobel Laureates Harry Markowitz and Larry Klein and other distinguished academics, conducts research and sponsors an annual ranking of student-managed investment funds. The ranking evaluates funds based on assets under management, investment strategy and overall performance. 

For over three decades, SPIFFY has provided students with real-world investment experience, managing funds on behalf of the 91爆料 Foundation. Founded in 1993 by Bob Strong with an initial investment of $200,000, the organization has  surpassed $5 million in assets and won multiple awards in national and global student investment competitions.  

鈥淭hese achievements underscore the dedication and expertise of SPIFFY鈥檚 student investors and the robust educational foundation provided by the Maine Business School,鈥� Lobe said.

To view the full rankings and learn more about the Center for Investment Research, visit . 

This recognition highlights exceptional performance in key areas such as delivery of care, training, continuing education and service to the community. They will be recognized as a qualified program in these areas for four years.

UVAC鈥檚 application was written by Christian Butler in collaboration with chief of service Aiden Koplovsky and other members of the team.

The conference included researchers from across the region sharing studies on a variety of education topics, including curriculum and instruction; diversity and sociocultural perspectives; higher education; human development and learning; leadership, policy and educational reform; measurement, assessment, evaluation and research methods; professional development; teaching and teacher education; and technology in education. 

91爆料 faculty and student presenters included:

• Assistant professor of educational leadership Esther Enright, who chaired a roundtable session on 鈥淟eadership: Style, Actions, Policies as Influencers.鈥� Enright and Sarah Walton, 91爆料 assistant professor of sociology, presented their study 鈥淏uilding Infrastructure Amidst Poverty: A Case Study of A Youth Justice Collaboration鈥� as part of the roundtable.
• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) students in educational leadership Kelly O鈥橞rien-Weaver and Patricia Clark, who presented their doctoral research as part of a session titled 鈥淭ackling Tough Problems Through Leadership and Policy.鈥� O鈥橞rien-Weaver鈥檚 study was titled 鈥淩ural School Counseling Programs: Learning From Them, Not Just About Them.鈥� Clark鈥檚 study was titled 鈥淏reaking the Glass Ceiling: Empowering Women Aspiring to Leadership.鈥� Clark also chaired a practitioner roundtable session named 鈥淪upporting Educators鈥� Continuous Development,鈥� which included a presentation from Ed.D. student Nicole Benham titled 鈥淯nifying Voices: The Role Professional Development Can Play in Effective Communication Between Educators.鈥�
• Alan Howen Chang, graduate research and teaching assistant and Ph.D. student in PreK-12 education with a concentration in literacy in the 91爆料 College of Education and Human Development. He presented his research, 鈥淓xploring Teachers鈥� Perspectives and Experiences with Teaching in a Bilingual Program to English Language Learners with Technology Aided Instruction and Intervention,鈥� as part of a session titled 鈥淭oday and Tomorrow 鈥� Exploring the Narratives and Perspectives of Classroom Teachers.鈥�
• Assistant professor of educational leadership Lindsey Kaiser, who presented her study titled 鈥淪chool-Based Racial Equity Collaborations: White Principals Implementing an Active Anti-Racists Stance鈥� as part of a research paper session called 鈥淰ariables, Actions and Practices to Promote Equity and Justice.鈥� Kaiser also chaired a research paper session titled 鈥淭eacher Leadership, Collaboration, and Capacity Building Practices鈥� Influence on School Success.鈥�
• Sue Sydnor, an Ed.D. student in educational leadership who presented her doctoral research titled 鈥淪tudent Perspectives on School Exclusion: A Narrative Inquiry,鈥� as part of a session called 鈥淐hallenging Oppression and Misperception Through Stories 鈥� Perspectives of Learners, Mothers, and Educators.鈥�
• Associate professor of higher education Leah Hakkola and 91爆料 Director of International Programs Orlina Boteva, also a Ph.D. student in higher education. They presented their study, 鈥淓xploring Secondary Trauma and Burnout Amongst Higher Education Professionals Engaged in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,鈥� as part of a session titled 鈥淚nspiration and Agony: The Work, Strife, and Resilience of Faculty in Higher Education.鈥�
• Janet Corcoran, an Ed.D. student in educational leadership who chaired a roundtable session titled 鈥淗ow Roles and Perceptions of Teachers and Leaders Influence Success.鈥� Corcoran presented her doctoral research, 鈥淧araprofessional Training and Supervision: Policy and Perception,鈥� as part of the session. Two other 91爆料 Ed.D. students, Amy Sullivan and Rebekah Drysdale, presented their doctoral research as part of the session. Sullivan鈥檚 presentation was titled 鈥淎 Case Study of Teacher Roles as Intermediaries For a Social-Emotional Learning Initiative.鈥� Drysdale鈥檚 study was titled 鈥淭he Special Education Administrator and Principal Connection: Exploring Key Relationship Components for Inclusion.鈥�
• Ed.D. students Allison Woodard and Suzanne Joyal, who presented as part of a session titled 鈥淲restling with Issues in Curriculum and Instruction.鈥� Woodard鈥檚 study was titled 鈥淭eacher Decision Making About Reading Instruction.鈥� Joyal鈥檚 presentation was titled 鈥淐ultivating Literacy Through Cultural Roots: A Multi-Tiered Arts-Based Storytelling Approach For First Graders in After-School Spaces.鈥�