President’s Biography

Joan Ferrini-Mundy is the 21st president of the University of Maine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias, and the vice chancellor for research and innovation for the University of Maine System. 

During her six years as president, Dr. Ferrini-Mundy has introduced changes and efforts to better position UMaine for a future advancing Maine’s workforce and economy. Those include establishing the standing President’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, budget and space advisory committees, a presidential fellows program, a strategic re-envisioning program, a UMaine/UMaine Machias regional campus task force, and the UMaine 2025/COMPASS Commission. 

UMaine’s research, development, and innovation pursuits have flourished under her leadership. In early 2022, UMaine was designated an R1 Carnegie Classification research university, joining the ranks of the nation’s top universities engaged in “very high research activity.” She also led the development of the R&D to promote industry, business, and community growth in Maine FY20-FY24 plan, for the University of Maine System. 

She is a co-PI of a $320 million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation. This transformative and historic investment supports the Maine Center in Portland, the statewide Maine College of Engineering and Computing, and UMS-wide student success and retention efforts including the Research Learning Experiences program. It strengthens the state’s only Division I athletics program, at UMaine, with new buildings, facilities and significant renovations.

Prior to July 2018, she was the chief operating officer of the National Science Foundation (NSF) after leading NSF’s Directorate for Education and Human Resources for six years.

Her distinguished career spans the fields of mathematics education, STEM education and policy, teacher education, and research administration. 

Ferrini-Mundy is an active leader nationally and in Maine. She was appointed to the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science by President Joe Biden and to the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board and the Strategic Work Team of the Maine Economic Development Strategy 2020 – 2029 by Governor Janet Mills. She is chair-elect of the APLU Council of Presidents. She is immediate past chair of the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences, and board member of the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance Advisory Board. Ferrini-Mundy is also a member of the Transforming Post-Secondary Education in Mathematics (TPSE) board, and the NAS Board on Higher Education and the Workforce. In Maine, she serves on the boards of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, Maine & Co., and Maine Public.