ALUMNI NEWSLETTER, APRIL 2025 | |
Hello Spring––and Congrats
to the Class of 2025!
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As spring tentatively blooms across our campuses, the USM Class of 2025 stands at a pivotal moment: Commencement. It marks the close of one significant chapter and the exciting dawn of another. This is a time for reflection, gratitude, and immense pride in all they have accomplished.
I vividly recall those strange twilight days between final classes and the whirlwind of preparations for graduation. Everything felt so fast-paced, and my focus was solely on the future. Looking back, I wish I had paused to truly appreciate that the moment of crossing the stage was years in the making.
And that is precisely what our graduating students have done––they have constructed this moment. Earning their degree is an enormous achievement, forged through years of hard work: papers, exams, late nights, laughter, and perhaps a few tears. Over these next few weeks, I urge those graduating to let the weight of this accomplishment sink in.
They have navigated challenges, embraced opportunities, and emerged stronger and wiser. Let’s take time to celebrate all their hard work and to thank those who may have helped them during their journey.
As we welcome our newest members of the USM Alumni Association to our community, we are also thinking about the stories and accomplishments of so many of our alumni. In this USM Alumni Newsletter, we highlight some of those stories, including:
On behalf of the entire Alumni Engagement Council, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2025. Welcome to the Alumni community!
With appreciation,
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Anna Schwartz '17G
Alumni Engagement Council Member
Senior Consultant, Higher Education Workday
| | | DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD | | | |
RADM William E. Leigher '80,
USN (Ret.)
Congratulations to USM's 2025 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award recipient, RADM William "Bill" Leigher '80, USN (Ret.), who will be honored at this year's Commencement Ceremonies on Saturday, May 10.
Bill's 33-year career in the US Navy carried him into the highest echelons of military operations, strategy, and intelligence. His duty stations are a map of critical hotspots and historical moments from the Cold War to the Global War on Terrorism. After retirement, he led cyber defense programs at Raytheon and today runs his own consulting firm.
Read more about his remarkable career
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James "Jim" Otis '75G
For Jim Otis, working hard was a value instilled from an early age. At 17, he worked as a gravedigger and, once enrolled at USM, continued to pay his way through college. Later, Jim would launch his own CPA firm, Otis-Atwell, from his basement and grow it into the seventh-largest public housing accounting firm in Maine. Read more about this passionate leader in the affordable housing industry–a proud member of the Husky Pack.
Q&A with Jim Otis
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Don Dodge '77
Don Dodge, shown here with his wife and fellow Husky grad, Holly (Harper) Dodge '79, built a successful career at the leading edge of the tech world––an idea that was inconceivable back in 1977 as a new USM grad: “There were no personal computers, no internet, no smartphones, no search engines!” Learn how USM helped Don navigate what turned out to be an unconventional–and exciting–career path.
A conversation with Don Dodge
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Two recent grads join the team building the Crewe Center
for the Arts at USM
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Riley J. Caldwell '23 joined Consigli Construction as a Project Engineer in 2023, where he's part of the team bringing the new Crewe Center for the Arts to completion. Riley holds a BS in Technology Management and Engineering/Industrial Management from USM and an MS in Project Management from Northeastern.
Learn more
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Joseph "Joey" Esposito '23 is an Assistant Estimator at Consigli Construction. He earned his BBA in Accounting at USM and discovered a passion for the construction field. After a stint in residential foundation contracting, Joey joined Consigli in 2022. He also serves on the board of the Lano Family Foundation.
Learn more
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Call for Volunteers
Alumni volunteers are needed to help welcome our new 2025 graduates to the Alumni Association. Come pitch in on Commencement Day, May 10th, or at various special graduation ceremonies during Commencement Week.
Email us to learn more
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The Great Planet Adventures
April 28, 29 & 30
Southworth Planetarium,
70 Falmouth St.
USM Portland Campus
For this and other Planetarium events, please click the link below!
Southworth Planetarium
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Maine Center Awards
The Maine Graduate and Professional Center will hold its first annual awards event honoring alumni and community leaders who are advancing business, law, policy, and innovation in Maine. All are welcome to attend.
4:30 - 7 pm, Tuesday, June 10, 2025
The Maine Center
300 Fore Street, Portland, ME
RSVP and learn more
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Noor Al Dulaimi was a winner of the second annual Distinguished Alumni Awards hosted by the Foundation for Portland Public Schools
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Joel Bancroft ‘01 is hired as Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at the University of the Pacific
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Al Bean '77, '92G has a Gorham campus street named after him to commemorate his decades of service as USM's Athletic Director
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Kristina Beauchais is hired as Manager of Basketball Operations for the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA
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Jarrod Bennett is named Atlas Performing Arts Center’s New Executive Director
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Peter Brown recently celebrated the release of his new book, I Am Jayvyn, on January 25th. He will be speaking at Graves Memorial Library in Cumberland on May 14
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Christa Carmen, Bram Stoker Award-Winning author, has an upcoming book, How to Fake a Haunting, featured in review
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Madison Chadbourne '21 was welcomed onto the staff of the Madison Area Health Center on their professional healthcare team.
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Dan Costigan, former USM Men's Basketball Coach (1996-2003), is being inducted as a "Legend of the Game"
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Kevin Coyne ‘03 started a new job as a Brokerage Associate at Colliers, a global leader in commercial real estate services
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Dan Cunningham '74 recently gave a talk about his experience as a reenactor of the 3rd Maine Regiment at the Joshua L. Chamberlain Civil War Round Table
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Robin Davis '24 was recognized for their work at the USM Free Press, recently nominated for Best Newspaper at the NENPA Awards
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Kathleen de Silva was hired as Vice President and Director of Marketing and Communications at R.M. Davis
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Steph Gilbert '04 was featured on WABI for her performance with Floydian Trip at the Waterville Opera House
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Griffin Gingrich '22 is working at Ayan Mastering as an Assistant Engineer
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Andrew Graham '08G was featured for his work with Kinonik in the Portland Press Herald
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Fred Greenhalgh '06 was announced as Director for an official Star Trek audio series based on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
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Maria Gwinn '87 was promoted to leadership role of Senior Vice President and Tax Director at Spinnaker Trust
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Robert Hawkes '89, '00, was named Director of PA program at the University of New England
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Marc Hebert '74, to be inducted into the Biddeford-Saco Music Hall of Fame
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Khalid Hersi on the starting roster for the Portland Hearts of Pine during their inaugural season
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Mykayla Hoggard '24 was recognized for their work at the USM Free Press, recently nominated for Best Newspaper at the NENPA Awards
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Amanda Johnston '13G, Texas Poet Laureate and Founder/Executive Director of Torch Literary Arts, to be honored at the Carver Museum
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Shawn Lambert, Assistant Superintendent of Brunswick Schools, is featured for his contributions to the school community
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Iona Lee ’98 was appointed Director of Food and Beverage at Kimpton Claret Hotel in Denver
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Kayla Lewis '24 is featured in community spotlight in the Saco Bay News
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Becky Longacre ‘06 was named Best Health Coach Award for 2024 (Best of 207)
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Chris Marine '11 and Benn Marine '20, brothers and owners of Campfire Consulting, were 2024 finalists in the Quick Service Restaurant category for their Aroma Joe's ad at the Planning and Buying Awards in New York in April
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Josh Meyer '08, CEO, and Matt Bolduc '07, COO, are co-founders of Brickell Brands, which was named Sustainable Business of the Year by South Portland's Economic Development Committee in February
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Todd Miranda ('89) will be inducted into the Maine Basketball Hall and Husky Hall of Fame
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Linda Morin ‘00 was celebrated for contributions to the Field of Nursing
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Phil Page '75, “The spirit of Lincoln Academy," has announced he will retire after almost 49 years in education
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Ben Palubiskas ('66) to be inducted into the Maine Basketball Hall and Husky Hall of Fame
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Whitney Parrish Perry was hired as Maine’s Government Relations Director at The American Heart Association of Maine
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Clara Perka '20, '22G co-wrote an article in the Portland Press Herald along with USM faculty and staff members
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Travis Ramsey '03 premiered his commissioned composition, "Fire," performed by ChoralArt and conducted by USM Music Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Russell
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Claude Rwaganje ‘03 was appointed by Governor Mills to serve on the Office of New Americans Council
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Estelle Watson Sanders '67 published her new book, A Kitchen Table Book
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t smith '24 was recognized for their work at the USM Free Press, recently nominated for Best Newspaper at the NENPA
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Abby Snell '24, as part of the FORK Food Labs team, was recognized as Business of the Year by the City of South Portland in February
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Zachariah Stearn releases memoir, '5 Places: Memoirs of a Theatre Kid; interviewed on NewsCenter Maine's 207; and interviewed about his work with Dirigo Theatre Company in Wisconsin
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Daniel Stevenson '93, '96G was interviewed about his new role as the Executive Director of the Midcoast Redevelopment Authority
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Regan Thibodeau '03, 19G is featured in News Center Maine article regarding her work as an ASL interpreter during the Covid-19 pandemic
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Annie Wenstrup '22G gives a public reading as part of the Midnight Sun Visiting Writer's Series at the Museum of the North in Fairbanks, Alaska
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Tara Whiton begins her new role at the Form Lab
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U.S. Army Master Sergeant General Samuel Woodhead '96 will be a featured performer in the American Trombone Workshop
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