Ceremony honors Rising Scholars and faculty, highlights civil rights theme for the academic year
See all of the convocation pictures here!
Members of the UMA community gathered this week for the annual convocation, a ceremonial launch of the academic year that also marked a milestone: UMA’s 60th anniversary.
Vice President of Enrollment Management Jonathan Henry opened the event by welcoming students, faculty, staff, honorees and guests. Following the processional, President Jenifer Cushman extended greetings and reminded the community of UMA’s mission of access and transformation. She also acknowledged the university’s location on Wabanaki homelands and reaffirmed UMA’s commitment to respect, justice and healing.
A Year of Reflection: Civil Rights as the Academic Theme
President Cushman emphasized the importance of this year’s academic theme: Civil Rights. Selected by faculty colloquium, the theme invites reflection across disciplines and builds connections between UMA’s founding in 1965 and the Civil Rights Movement of that era. This year, the community will also read and reflect on Congressman John Lewis’ memoir Walking with the Wind as a touchstone for learning, dialogue and action.
Rising Scholars Honored
The convocation also celebrated more than 60 Rising Scholars, fitting for UMA’s 60th anniversary. Established in 2011, the Rising Scholars initiative recognizes students who demonstrate academic excellence, campus engagement and future promise. Nominated by faculty and staff, these students represent UMA’s spirit of perseverance and leadership.
Faculty Honors: Educator and Scholar of the Year
Two outstanding faculty members were recognized for their dedication and scholarly achievements.
Distinguished Educator Award: Assistant Professor of Veterinary Technology Kelby Myers, DVM, was honored for her innovative, student-centered teaching. She blends real-world practice with classroom learning, builds partnerships and supports student wellness and advising. She is praised by students for her clarity, accessibility and ability to make complex material understandable. Beyond the classroom, she is a dedicated advisor who designs individualized academic pathways, including a new pre-veterinary track, and supports students in their professional and personal growth. Myers also participated in a veterinary project in Nepal, helping train caregivers, support herders and advance snow leopard conservation.
Distinguished Scholar Award: Assistant Professor of Architecture Patrick Hansford was recognized for his wide-ranging scholarly work and community partnerships. From local design projects to national recognition through Envision Resilience, Hansford’s work bridges professional practice, student engagement and climate-focused design. His leadership has positioned UMA’s architecture program as a contributor to both state and national conversations on resilience and design.
Convocation Address: “For Now, Forever and For Always”
The keynote address was delivered by The Honorable Noel C. March, senior lecturer of justice studies and former U.S. marshal for Maine. Drawing on his decades of public service and family history, March challenged the UMA community to see civil rights as both a promise and a responsibility.
“For now, we are called to action. Forever, we are bound by the lessons of history. And for always, we are responsible to each other,” March said, urging students and colleagues to embrace courage, moral responsibility and the everyday work of protecting justice and dignity.
A Community Moving Forward
Closing the ceremony, President Cushman reflected on the themes of access, opportunity and responsibility. She reminded the audience that UMA’s future is built on its people: students, faculty and staff who carry forward a tradition of transformation and civic engagement.
As UMA celebrates its 60th year, the convocation served not only as a ceremonial beginning but also as a call to embrace the shared responsibilities of education, community and civil rights.