Each June 20, the United Nations observes World Refugee Day to recognize the courage, strength and contributions of refugees and displaced people around the world. It is a moment to reflect on the experience of leaving home under duress and on the determination it takes to rebuild.

This year鈥檚 observance comes amid ongoing global displacement. According to the, 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced as of mid-2025. Conflict, persecution and instability continue to force millions from their homes. Behind each number is a person navigating unfamiliar systems, environments and languages, and finding a way forward.

Refugees and New Mainers in Maine

People come to Maine through many different pathways and with many different stories. The term 鈥淣ew Mainers鈥� often refers to immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and others from other countries who now call Maine home. 

Maine is home to approximately 53,000 to 56,000 immigrants, or about 4% of the state鈥檚 population. They contribute to health care, education, agriculture, construction and many other parts of Maine鈥檚 economy, bringing professional experience, multilingual skills and community leadership.

Recent federal funding changes and operational shifts have affected refugee resettlement and immigrant services in Maine, making community organizations, educational institutions and state programs even more important for people already here.

Education as a pathway: 天美传媒 role

For people rebuilding after displacement, education can offer structure, connection and a way to carry existing knowledge into a new context. At UMA, flexible courses, advising and student support services help learners move forward in ways that fit their lives.

Some UMA students, staff and faculty have experienced displacement or immigration systems firsthand. Their experiences, skills and leadership strengthen the university and the broader community, bringing perspective and purpose to classrooms, workplaces and civic life.

Resources for New Mainers

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Check out local events commemorating World Refugee Day on 天美传媒 Heritage Month Calendar as well as learning resources concerning the significance of World Refugee Day in Maine and beyond. You can keep up with more content like this by and submitting events and resources to help promote inclusion and belonging in our community.

Every year on June 19, the United States observes Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people in Texas were free. The announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, and was delivered through Major General Gordon Granger鈥檚 reading of General Order No. 3.

The History of Juneteenth

For generations, Juneteenth has been commemorated through celebration, remembrance, and learning. Often referred to as America’s second Independence Day, it highlights the uneven and delayed process by which emancipation became known and enforced across the United States. The message brought to Texas in 1865 represented one of the most significant milestones in the long process of emancipation.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, when President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. In Maine, Governor Janet Mills signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a paid state holiday in 2021, with the first official state observance taking place in June 2022. 

The Maine Connection

Maine is not often the first place people associate with slavery, yet its economy was connected to trade networks that depended on enslaved labor. Maine鈥慴uilt ships carried captives and goods produced through the labor of enslaved people across the Atlantic and along the U.S. coast, linking Africa, Cuba, the West Indies, the American South, and New England. Maine salted fish and produce helped feed enslaved people, while Maine lumber was used for Caribbean construction and as fuel in sugar processing.

Maine traders imported slave-grown cotton, helping make the state a northern leader in cotton fabric production in the early 1800s and fueling the growth of mill towns like Lewiston and Biddeford. By 1860, Portland was a major hub for importing sugar, molasses, and rum, processing about one-fifth of all molasses entering the United States and supporting several rum distilleries along its waterfront.

Our Shared History 

This history provides important context for Juneteenth and for a fuller understanding of Maine鈥檚 place within the broader history of the United States. At UMA, we value the role of education in helping people examine history with accuracy, care, and attention to complexity.

Juneteenth offers an opportunity to learn more about this history, attend local observances, and consider the ways freedom has been understood, pursued, and protected across American history. Through continued learning and shared understanding, UMA affirms the importance of education in strengthening communities and supporting the dignity and rights of all people.

Check out local events commemorating Juneteenth on 天美传媒 Heritage Month Calendar as well as learning resources concerning the significance of Juneteenth in Maine and beyond. You can keep up with more content like this by and submitting events and resources to help promote inclusion and belonging in our community.

Imagine trying to earn a university degree in an environment defined by constant disruptions, no privacy, impending court dates and ongoing family struggles, and persistent self-doubt. For the students enrolled in the 天美传媒鈥檚 Prison Education Partnership, these struggles are daily realities of their educational journey. 

On Wednesday, May 20, eight students at the Maine State Prison marked a hard-earned milestone. Their commencement ceremony showed what access to higher education can make possible when students are given the opportunity, structure, and support to keep moving forward. 

It took graduate Dustin Carpenter ten years of steady, patient effort to earn his Bachelor of Liberal Studies. 鈥淭ime will pass no matter what,鈥� Carpenter reflected. 鈥淲ho will you be when it does? Don鈥檛 watch the clock. Do what it does. Keep going.鈥�

Turning to the faculty and staff who supported his decade-long journey, he added a phrase that cuts straight to the core of why this work matters: 鈥淭hank you for treating our minds as something valuable.鈥�

Access that meets students where they are 

UMA is committed to making higher education accessible to anyone in Maine, wherever they are in their educational journey. In a place like the Maine State Prison, that means giving students a genuine chance to find their confidence, earn a degree, and become problem-solvers who make their communities stronger.

The impact of that access was evident in graduates鈥� accomplishments and vision:

• T. Tyler Thibeau, named UMA’s Interdisciplinary Studies Student of the Year, has completed his sentence. He crossed the commencement stage at the Augusta Civic Center on May 9, and is now enrolled in a graduate computer science program at the University of Maine pursuing both a master鈥檚 degree and a Ph.D.
• Thomas Heaberlin, recipient of the Perseverance Award for his resilience through setbacks, earned his Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and was recently approved to begin graduate studies.
• Abdihamit Ali, who earned an Associate of Science in Justice Studies, put his sense of purpose simply: 鈥淚 want to give more than I have ever taken.鈥�
• Jomo White, looked beyond the limits of his current circumstances, declaring,  鈥淒iscipline can overcome doubt. I don鈥檛 plan to look for opportunities, I plan to create them. We can accomplish tremendous things beyond these gates.鈥�

Making learning possible 

Creating access to a college education in prison takes sustained effort from everyone involved. Faculty, staff, and correctional partners work together to make learning possible in an environment where course materials, technology access, and study time can all require careful coordination. Maine State Prison Warden Nathan Thayer noted that UMA staff consistently advocate for students to have what they need to succeed, a process that requires both institutions to keep finding practical ways around barriers most college students never have to consider. 

Overcoming those barriers make each completed course, and each completed degree, especially meaningful. Keynote speaker John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global, spoke from experience about what education can make possible. He served a 16-year sentence beginning at age 21 before earning his own college degrees, and he reminded the audience that completing college coursework in prison sets an example of healing, perseverance, and possibility for the students who follow. 

To date, UMA has awarded more than 160 degrees through the Prison Education Partnership. Behind each degree is a student who chose to keep learning, even when the path was difficult, and who now carries that education forward into the communities they belong to. Welcoming this year鈥檚 graduates, UMA President Jenifer Cushman said, 鈥淭oday, you become UMA alumni. You are part of this university and we are proud of you.鈥� 

It鈥檚 been an exciting year!

天美传媒 60th anniversary brought our community together to celebrate where we started, how far we have come, and what comes after this milestone. Across campuses, centers, programs, events, stories, and the memories gathered along the way, the year carried plenty of celebration, but also a clear sense of direction.

Now, as the year winds down, we are looking back at a few of the moments that helped make it special.

Celebrating 天美传媒 history and community

• 60th Birthday Party story with pictures
• Convocation story with pictures
• Celebrating 60 years: UMA marks a milestone with growth in nursing, cybersecurity, and residence halls

From birthday cake and campus celebration to Convocation and community gatherings, 天美传媒 60th year began with energy, gratitude, and a strong sense of shared purpose.

Sharing stories from across UMA

The year also opened the door for UMA voices from across the state. Their stories showed how 天美传媒 reach is lived out in real paths, places, and possibilities.

Growth for the future

• Capital Center for Nursing and Cybersecurity Workforce Development

The Capital Center enables us to expand our programs, welcome more students, and strengthen Maine鈥檚 workforce in healthcare and cybersecurity now and in the future.

Celebrating through arts, music, and culture

Art, music, archives, and creative work gave the anniversary year its color and rhythm. These celebrations honored 天美传媒 cultural life and the creativity that continues to thrive here.

Gathering for learning and connection

• Temple Grandin at UMA

From public events to campus traditions, the anniversary year created space for conversation, learning, and connection.

Showing Moose pride

• Moose Basketball Home Opener with Special 60th Anniversary Jersey Reveal

UMA pride showed up on the court, in the stands, and across the community. The 60th anniversary year gave Moose fans another reason to cheer.

Commencement

Looking ahead

The close of this milestone year points forward. UMA continues to grow, adapt, and create new pathways for learners across Maine and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who marked the anniversary year in your own way, whether by attending an event, sharing a story, contributing a memory, cheering on the Moose, or helping UMA celebrate 60 years of access and impact.

Here鈥檚 to the next 60 years of opening doors for learners across Maine. 

Take a closer look at these fascinating organisms that feed us, heal us, and occasionally outsmart us.

In Mycology: Introduction to Fungi, 天美传媒 new fully online, 4-credit lecture/lab, you will study fungal diversity, structure, genetics, ecology, and importance to humans, and explore roles in human health, biotech, and the environment. 

With a hands-on lab kit, web-based simulations, and photography, you will grow fungi and investigate fungi through lab work, data analysis, and case study.

Contact marta.frisardi@maine.edu for more information.

Registration is now open for fall 2026.

BIO 235 Mycology: Introduction to Fungi

Instructor: Marta C. Frisardi, PhD
Credits: 4 (Lecture + Lab)

Format: Fully Online | 15 Weeks

Prerequisite: BIO 110

Discover the kingdom you鈥檝e been overlooking.

Chief (ret.) Noel March, 天美传媒 senior lecturer of Justice Studies and director of the Maine Community Policing Institute, serves as an invited speaker during the 2026 Professionalizing Law Enforcement Community Engagement Training Conference in Dallas, TX on May 28-29th. 

Chief March, a nationally known expert in community policing, spoke on the value of multi-agency partnerships in building community outreach and relationships of trust when developing strategies for reducing crime, fear of crime and social disorder. 鈥淓very person has a rightful expectation to feel respected, protected and safe in their own community,鈥� was the heartfelt core of his presentation.

This year鈥檚 PLECET conference also included keynote addresses from  FBI Director Kash Patel, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, DEA Administrator Terry Cole and United States Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta. 

Dr. Leigh Reagan Alley, coordinator of teacher education and assistant professor of education at the 天美传媒, has earned two top honors in the for School Seasons xSELeratED: A Year of Community and Collective Growth for Educators, a book she co-wrote with Heather Lageman and Walter McKenzie. 

The book received Gold in Social Sciences & Education and a Special Honors Gold for Best in Small Press, placing Alley鈥檚 work among Nautilus-recognized authors that include the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Eckhart Tolle. 鈥淭his recognition is deeply meaningful because the Nautilus Book Awards celebrate books written in service of a better world,鈥� Alley said.

Alley describes the book as an invitation for educators to lead with humanity, moving through the school year with intention, reflection, and collective care. Built around the rhythms of school life, it offers a seasonal framework for strengthening community, supporting professional growth, and teaching social-emotional learning across the year.

At its center are the educators themselves. 鈥淥ur work is rooted in the belief that educators deserve spaces for reflection, restoration, and collective growth,鈥� Alley said. 鈥淪chool transformation begins with the educator and grows through the everyday interactions that shape school culture.鈥�

For UMA education students, Alley鈥檚 recognition is a reminder that they are learning from faculty whose work is helping shape the field they are entering. It affirms 天美传媒 role in preparing educators through scholarship that is current, practical, and deeply attentive to the communities they will help build. 

What does it take to lead in today鈥檚 classrooms? Explore 天美传媒 Education programs and learn how UMA prepares future educators with purpose, care, and practical skill. 

School Seasons xSELeratED and its companion, xSELeratED Schools Framework: Social-Emotional Learning at the Speed of Life, are available now from major booksellers.

Each June, communities across the nation observe Pride Month to recognize the history, contributions, and resilience of LGBTQIA+ individuals. At the 天美传媒, this month offers a meaningful opportunity to support our diverse student body, faculty, staff, and alumni.

To understand the scope of this celebration, it helps to recognize what the acronym itself represents. LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual. The plus sign signifies all other sexual orientations and gender identities that form this diverse community.

The Roots of the Movement

The roots of Pride Month reach back to the Stonewall Uprising in New York City in June 1969. During an era when same-sex relationships and diverse gender expressions were criminalized across the country, a police raid on the Stonewall Inn sparked days of spontaneous protests. Led largely by transgender women of color, drag queens, and gay youth (including prominent activists like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera), these protests catalyzed the modern gay liberation movement.

One year later, on June 28, 1970, the first Pride march took place in New York. This event transformed a single act of resistance into a national tradition of visibility, educational events, and community gatherings. Federal recognition followed in 1999 when the month of June was officially designated to honor the community, an acknowledgment that has been expanded by successive administrations over the last 27 years.

Symbols of Visibility

Visual symbols have always played a central role in bringing visibility to the community. The traditional rainbow flag, designed by veteran and artist Gilbert Baker in 1978, originally featured distinct colors to symbolize elements of human experience, including life, healing, sunlight, nature, serenity, and spirit.

In 2018, designer Daniel Quasar introduced the Progress Pride Flag to place a specific emphasis on intersectionality. This newer design adds a five-colored chevron (a triangle) pointing from the left edge toward the center. The light blue, pink, and white stripes represent the transgender community, while the brown and black stripes represent LGBTQIA+ people of color. The black stripe also honors those lost to or living with HIV/AIDS. The arrow shape points forward to signify the ongoing movement toward community inclusion.

Spotlight on Alumni Leadership

The spirit of advocacy and community care is carried forward by dedicated individuals across our state, including members of our own UMA family. One notable example is UMA alumnus Justin Chenette.

A 2021 graduate of UMA’s Post-Baccalaureate Public Administration program, he made history in 2012 at age 21 by becoming the youngest openly gay legislator elected in the United States and the youngest lawmaker in Maine. He went on to serve eight years in the Maine Legislature, including two terms in the State Senate, where he was the only openly LGBTQ+ senator at the time, before being elected the first openly gay York County Commissioner in 2022. UMA awarded Chenette its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing his successful ethics reform legislation, his nonprofit scholarship foundation, his efforts to pass York County’s first-ever Pride Proclamation, and his current role as Chief Communications Officer at Sweetser, one of Maine’s largest mental health organizations. Chenette鈥檚 leadership has earned him spots on two 40 Under 40 lists, receiving national recognition from The Advocate and state-level honors from Mainebiz.

Community Care in Maine

Maine has a distinctive history of grassroots advocacy and community connection. Rather than a sudden shift, the state鈥檚 path has been shaped by decades of local organizing, legal updates, and cultural growth. Notably, in 2012, Maine became one of the first states to legalize marriage equality through a popular referendum, demonstrating a widespread, neighbor-to-neighbor effort to shift public perception.

Today, that spirit of community care lives on through local organizations and advocates doing vital work across the state. Groups like focus on supporting rural queer youth by building safe spaces, providing school resources, and offering educational opportunities. Meanwhile, historical foundations like the continue to provide essential care, case management, and housing assistance for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. These efforts highlight a steady, quiet commitment to supporting neighbors and fostering connection in every corner of the state.

Opportunities to Connect

This year, UMA welcomed the Seen and 鈥淗erd鈥� Club (SaH), a student organization that creates a safe, welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ students and allies to connect and support one another. SaH reflects 天美传媒 commitment to belonging by offering inclusive access, both in-person and via Zoom meetings, for the entire UMA community.

The club will be attending Hallowell Pride on Saturday, June 6 and plan to march in the parade.

The Hallowell Pride Parade and Festival is on Saturday, June 6. This year鈥檚 theme is “Freedom.” The full day’s schedule includes a festival from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Granite City Park and McAllister Real Estate. Festivalgoers can support local vendors, community activities, and celebration throughout the afternoon in the heart of Hallowell. 

Additionally, the annual Bangor Pride Festival and Parade will take place on Saturday, June 27. This year, the festival features a new location at the Bangor Waterfront. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore local vendor markets, enjoy live performances, and support the local community right by the river.

Check out local events commemorating Pride Month on 天美传媒 Heritage Month Calendar as well as learning resources concerning the significance of Pride Month in Maine and beyond. You can keep up with more content like this by and submitting events and resources to help promote inclusion and belonging in our community.

UMA welcomed 75 high school students to its Bangor campus on May 12 for a Rural Workforce Medical Bootcamp, a day designed to give students a closer look at healthcare and human services careers in Maine.

Students from the Katahdin and Washington County regions spent the day with UMA faculty and staff discovering opportunities in nursing, veterinary technology, dental health, medical laboratory technology, and mental health and human services. They rotated through hands-on activities, asked questions, and learned more about the kinds of careers that support Maine communities every day.

The program gives students an up-close look at different career options, with the hope of one day helping fill workforce needs in some of Maine鈥檚 most rural communities.

鈥淚f you think about the healthcare team, it鈥檚 the whole team. It鈥檚 not just about getting a provider to an area. It鈥檚 about helping secure professions for students who want to stay in their rural communities but granting them the access to really explore what their options are,鈥� said Shannon Gauvin, director of nursing at the 天美传媒, in a WABI TV5 story about the event. 

The Bangor event followed a recent Medical Bootcamp in Augusta, where approximately 40 Oxford County high school students explored health care programs through hands-on demonstrations in nursing, medical laboratory technology, mental health and human services, and dental programs. The Augusta event was offered in partnership with through a grant.

Together, the two events show how UMA is working with partners across the state to introduce students to healthcare and human services fields earlier, and in a more hands-on way. For many students, a day like this can make these careers feel more real and more within reach.

UMA is grateful to the students, schools, faculty, staff, and partners who helped make the Bangor event possible, including and Executive Director Korah Soll, whose collaboration helped bring students to campus for the experience.

Explore. Learn. Protect.

Middle and high school students across Maine are invited to attend a two-day Cybersecurity Summer Camp on July 14 and 15 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Maine Cyber Range, UMA Capital Center in Augusta.

This hands-on camp is open to all skill levels and introduces students to real-world cybersecurity concepts through interactive activities and guided simulations.

What to expect

Enroll now – Limited spots available

Completing the enrollment form is the first step to reserve your place. There is no cost to submit the enrollment form. After you enroll, you will receive a follow-up packet with full registration and payment details.

Questions?

For more information, contact Anja Acharya at umacyber@maine.edu or 207-621-3103.