Gabriel Paquette has been appointed executive vice president for academic affairs and provost of the University of Maine and the University of Maine at Machias, effective April 1.
The appointment was announced by UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy in a letter to the campus community.
“Dr. Paquette is a proven academic leader and a prominent scholar,” President Ferrini-Mundy said. “In his time at the University of Maine, he has demonstrated a deep understanding of academia, a commitment to excellence and opportunity for our students, and unwavering respect for the important work of our faculty. I am especially grateful for his thoughtful and transparent leadership in our ongoing Strategic Re-Envisioning initiative, which will position Maine’s flagship to most effectively serve our students and state as a learner-centered R1 far into the future.”
Paquette had served as interim executive vice president for academic affairs and provost since July 1, 2025. He joined UMaine in 2023 as associate provost for academic affairs and faculty development, later serving as senior associate provost. Prior to UMaine, he held leadership roles at the University of Oregon, including vice provost for academic affairs and dean of the Clark Honors College. Earlier in his career, he directed the Latin American studies program at Johns Hopkins University.
“It has been a privilege to serve as interim provost and to work closely with colleagues across both campuses,” Paquette said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue building on that work, supporting faculty and students, strengthening our academic programs and advancing our shared mission.”
The Adelaide C. and Alan L. Bird Professor of History at UMaine, Paquette is a scholar of European, Latin American and international history. He is the author of three books and has taught or held research appointments at Trinity College (University of Cambridge), Harvard University, Wesleyan University, the University of Notre Dame, and King’s College London. His work has also appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education and Times Higher Education.
