Newsletter Archives - International Programs

New from Special Collections and Projects: Student Heritage Alliance Council

The Special Collections and Projects Department in Fogler Library has added new records from the Student Heritage Alliance Council (SHAC) to the online archival content management tool ArchivesSpace. The records include copies of the SHAC constitution, bylaws, and mission statements. There are also SHAC meeting agendas and minutes; funding requests; reports; and promotional material, including event posters, fliers, […]

Life in the Pines: Kaidar Donenbayev

After traveling from Kazakhstan to study at UMaine, Kaidar has found his place in the Climate Change Institute, Honors College, and as president of the International Student Association. He also makes sure to create space for a favorite pastime, футбол (soccer)!

Houston UMaine Reunion

Orlina Boteva and Sarah Joughin from OIP hosted a UMaine alumni gathering in Houston on March 4, 2025. It was wonderful to reconnect with UMaine alumni and share UMaine updates, family photos and career accomplishments. Alumni who attended were Dr. Sohaib Alahmed ’21G, Giang Nguyen ’07, Ofonime Bleess ’08, Dr. Shontay Delalue ’00G, Dr. Amir Reza ’96, […]

Kannan Sockalingam '00, '02G with his wife Visa and their two kids

Gratitude Corner: Kannan’s Story

Kannan Sockalingam ’00, ’02G was an involved international student at UMaine while working on his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering. Two decades after graduation, Kannan remains involved with his alma mater by serving on the OIP Advisory Board and through his philanthropy. His friendships from his student days at UMaine remain strong. Last […]

The Harris Award

The University of Maine Foundation honored one alum from each of the six colleges with the President Abram W. Harris Award at their 90th Annual Luncheon on Friday, October 18. Awarded every five years, Harris Award honors alumni who demonstrate exemplary leadership and contribute to their community and/or service to UMaine – traits synonymous with the former President’s efforts to build a stronger […]

Staff Updates

Born in Brantford, Ontario, Christopher grew up in the small town of Englehart, Ontario. Ten years before becoming a dual citizen of Canada and the United States in February 2021, he graduated from Heritage College in Cambridge, Ontario, with a double-major in music and theology. Joining the Office of International Programs at the University of […]

Staff Updates

Please join us in welcoming our newest addition to the OIP family! Edward Hess is a transplant from upstate New York, where he earned a B.A. in Linguistics from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2015. He moved to Maine in the summer of 2024 and looks forward to working with and […]

2025 International Dance Festival. A celebration of dances from around the world. Free admissions. For more information call 581.3437 or visit umaine.edu/international. Saturday, February 22 2pm and 7pm. Collins Center for the Arts University of Maine.

Save the Date: International Dance Festival!

Rehearsals for the 2025 International Dance Festival are underway! The performers are excited to showcase their cultural traditions on stage at the Collins Center for the Arts on February 22 with the usual matinee and evening performances. This year we have 14 groups performing, representing 12 countries. It is amazing to see the progress each […]

Winter Programming and First Week of the New Semester

At the start of the holiday break, students took a trip down to the Stillwater River on a chilly winter night to check out the holiday lights put on by the town of Orono. After the New Year, OIP secured a number of tickets for a Men’s Ice Hockey game versus Denver University, bringing around […]

Saturday November 2 from 11AM to 3PM in the New Balance Recreation Center UMaine, Orono. Free Admission

Save the Date for Culturefest 2024!

Join us on Saturday, November 2 from 11am to 3pm in the New Balance Recreation Center for Culturefest. Culturefest features international foods, cultural exhibits, children’s’ activities, and a style show. More information can be found here.