UMaine President sworn in as National Science Board member

Ferrini-Mundy will help oversee the $9 billion National Science Foundation and advise the President and Congress on STEM policies and programs

University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy was sworn in today as a member of the prestigious National Science Board (NSB), the governing body of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).

Ferrini-Mundy was sworn in by NSB Chair Dario Gil, who administered the oath at the start of the board’s two-day December meeting. The meeting is focused on the future of the U.S. science and technology enterprise, global competition and multi-sectoral approaches to partnerships and research investments. Agenda items include discussions of a vision for American science and technology and a new National Defense Education Act to improve the nation’s educational capacity and capabilities to inspire more children to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. 

Appointed to the NSB in October by President Joe Biden, Ferrini-Mundy began her six-year term as one of 25 board members responsible for advising the president and Congress on national STEM policies and programs. Board members are selected for their distinguished service and accomplishments in academia, government and the private sector.

As a board member, Ferrini-Mundy will help shape NSF’s strategic direction, oversee its budget and funding allocations and evaluate major research initiatives. NSF’s FY24 congressional appropriation totaled $9.06 billion, underscoring the importance of the independent organization’s role in fostering innovation and scientific discovery.

Ferrini-Mundy brings extensive leadership experience and a unique perspective to the NSB. She had a lengthy career with NSF, culminating in her role as the organization’s chief operating officer before her appointment in 2018 as president of UMaine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias. In addition to her current position, Ferrini-Mundy serves as the University of Maine System’s vice chancellor for research and innovation. Recently she was elected as the 2025 chair of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), an organization of nearly 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems and affiliated organizations.

Contact: John Diamond, diamond@maine.edu