College of Education and Human Development

Message from the Dean

March 2023

Dear Friend,

As I write this, I’ve just returned from the annual meeting of the American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education. It was wonderful to connect with colleagues from across the country who share similar goals. I was also reminded that we have a lot to celebrate at the University of Maine, particularly in the College of Education and Human Development.

For example, we recently launched two initiatives to help ensure that Maine educators have the knowledge and tools they need to teach Wabanaki Studies in Maine’s PK-12 schools. Beginning this school year, all pre-service teachers in our college will complete the University of Maine System’s Dawnland micro-credential before they graduate. Next year, we will start requiring our teacher education students will take a course called Teaching Wabanaki Studies, which is being piloted this semester. Both the micro-credential and the course were developed by John Bear Mitchell, a member of the Penobscot Nation and a lecturer in Wabanaki Studies at UMaine. I wholeheartedly agree with John when he says, “We have an opportunity at UMaine to be a model for how this is done in other places.”

We’re also excited to launch our new Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) degree this fall. This program will meet a growing need for athletic trainers to work with sports teams at all levels, as well as in schools, doctor’s offices, and jobs focused on industrial or occupational safety. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in athletic training are expected to grow 17% over the next decade or so, much faster than the average for all jobs. Students who complete the degree will be eligible to sit for the Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers national credentialing exam. Stay tuned for news about a new 3+2 program to allow undergraduate students majoring in exercise science to earn their MSAT in five years rather than the traditional six years.

There’s much more from the college included below. If you have something to share, please email us anytime at coehd@maine.edu. We’d love to hear from you.

Warm regards,
Penny Bishop
Dean of College of Education and Human Development

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