President Biden appoints UMaine’s Ferrini-Mundy to the National Science Board
Role Includes Oversight of the $9 billion National Science Foundation
The White House today announced that President Biden has appointed University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy to serve on the prestigious National Science Board (NSB), the governing body of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
As one of 24 board members, Ferrini-Mundy will serve as an independent adviser to the President and Congress on national science and engineering policies and programs. In addition, she will help determine NSF’s strategic direction, budget, funding allocations and evaluation of major research initiatives. NSF’s FY24 Congressional appropriation totaled $9.06 billion.
“During her six years as President, Ferrini-Mundy has introduced changes and efforts to position UMaine as a leader in advancing Maine’s workforce and economy, with focus on inclusion, learner success, and the integration of learning and research,” the White House said in a news release about Ferrini-Mundy’s appointment.
The statement also highlighted UMaine’s ascension to R1 Carnegie classification in 2022 under Ferrini-Mundy’s leadership, recognizing the university’s place among the nation’s highest-performing research universities. It also noted Ferrini-Mundy’s leadership as co-principal investigator of a transformative and historic $320 million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for the people of Maine and beyond.
The White House also cited extensive capital improvements that have occurred during Ferrini-Mundy’s presidency, including the completion of the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center, new athletics facilities and an on-campus hotel developed through a public-private partnership.
“I am greatly honored by this appointment,” Ferrini-Mundy said. “The board and NSF have played a pivotal role for decades in advancing our nation’s policy, economic and educational interests through investment in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and STEM education. All of those areas are critical to the quality and preparedness of the American workforce and for maintaining our national infrastructure, innovative leadership and competitiveness. I look forward to serving in this important role.”
“Just as Maine is fortunate to have Joan leading its R1 university and research and innovation activities across its public university system and state, our nation will greatly benefit from her service on the National Science Board,” said University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy, who nominated Ferrini-Mundy to the NSB and also appointed her as the System’s first Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation in 2021. “Throughout her distinguished career, she has elevated excellence in science and engineering and in doing so, enhanced the lives of countless Americans and our country’s innovation economy and global competitiveness.
“With Joan in this influential role on its governing board, I have no doubt the National Science Foundation will foster even more groundbreaking discoveries and strong public-private research and education partnerships that ensure our nation continues to shape the future of our rapidly changing world,” Malloy said.
Established by Congress in 1950, NSF is an independent federal agency that promotes the progress of science, advances national health, prosperity and welfare, secures the national defense and advances the U.S.’s global leadership in research and education. NSF’s investments support about 25% of all federal support for basic research conducted at America’s universities and colleges.
Ferrini-Mundy became president of UMaine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias, in 2018. She also serves as UMS vice chancellor for research and innovation. Ferrini-Mundy has extensive experience with NSF, having held several senior administrative positions with the organization during her 11-year tenure there. Her last role with NSF was as its chief operations officer, a position she held until her UMaine appointments. However, she reconnected with NSF in a non-employment role in 2022 when President Biden appointed her to the committee that recommends recipients for the President’s National Medal of Science.
Ferrini-Mundy holds a Ph.D. in mathematics education. Her research interests span calculus learning, mathematics teacher knowledge and STEM education policy. In addition to her UMaine and UMS appointments, she has held administrative and faculty roles at Michigan State University and the University of New Hampshire, and also served as staff at the National Academy of Sciences. In 2023, she was honored by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Contact: John Diamond, diamond@maine.edu