Office of the President
Welcome to Incoming Students
June 2, 2008
Dear Incoming USM Students:
Congratulations on choosing the University of Southern Maine! You are beginning an exciting educational journey that will not only transform your way of looking at the world but will also equip you with the knowledge and the skills that you will need to lead a productive and fulfilling life after you graduate.
Like you, I too am beginning life at USM as the president of this wonderful institution. Originally from Boston, I have spent the last two decades in higher education, preparing for just this sort of opportunity. USM is one of Maine's—and particularly Portland's—most cherished institutions of learning.
We have some of the most talented and engaged faculty in New England, and they care deeply about your intellectual growth and academic success. In fact, you are arriving on a campus where dedication to student success is shared by the entire community, from the president's office to the hardworking support staff who ensure that the services necessary for your comfort and security are there when you need them. I have worked at some really wonderful colleges and universities, but I wanted to come to USM because this is a place that truly makes a difference in students' lives.
My scholarly work in Middle Eastern Studies resulted from my encounters with professors who inspired me and yet challenged me in ways that I did not expect. My college education opened my mind to new areas of knowledge while making me question the limits of what I thought I knew. Over the next few months, many of you will confront the most difficult—and exhilarating—intellectual growth experiences of your lives. Just like I did, you will meet professors who will change your way of understanding the world, and you will discover a community here at USM in which to learn and grow. And if my undergraduate experience is an example, I expect that you will find your studies at USM challenging at times. But, in the end, I believe that you will leave USM enriched by your experiences and well equipped to take your place in an ever more global workplace.
Over the next academic year, you and I are going to be getting to know this University very well. I will be thinking about your progress while I work with the faculty, staff, and the community to create new opportunities and exciting activities throughout the upcoming academic year. Making sure that you have a productive and memorable first year matters to all of us at USM, and I promise to set the same high standards for myself this year as your professors will expect from you.
Have a safe, happy, and inspirational summer. This fall you can look forward to taking full advantage of all that this University and the wonderful Portland region have to offer.
Sincerely,
Selma Botman
President
