Good News from the Office of the Provost

Dear Colleagues, 

I write today to share important news regarding leadership changes in the Office of the Provost.

I am pleased to inform you that Shaleen Jain will join the Provost’s Office on June 1 as Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs. I am thrilled to welcome him to Academic Affairs, where his commitment to faculty excellence and teamwork will undoubtedly propel our collective efforts to new heights. 

Dr. Jain previously served as Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (MCEC) and has contributed extensively to the university, including service as co-chair of the University Teaching Council, a member of the Provost Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee, a member of the Graduate School Executive Committee,a member of the NECHE UMS accreditation writing team, and a member of the UMS graduate worker union bargaining committee.

Dr. Jain also serves as a program evaluator for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. His recognitions include the National Science Foundation’s CAREER award (2011), the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Maine Section Civil Engineer of the Year award (2018), the Graduate Dean’s Recognition Award for Extraordinary Service to Graduate Studies (2018), and MCEC’s Ashley Campbell Award (2023).

Over the course of his career, he has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to teaching, scholarship, mentorship, and institutional service. His leadership experiences, as department chair and through numerous university committees, have equipped him with a nuanced understanding of university governance, practical goal setting, and inclusive decision-making. His work consistently reflects his belief in the power of community, cooperation, and shared purpose. I am happy to welcome him to the Academic Affairs team. 

I am also delighted to announce that Deb Allen has been promoted to Associate Provost, in recognition of her tremendous work, her nearly twenty-four years of service and her vital contributions to Academic Affairs. Dr. Allen has been a member of our academic community since joining the College of Education and Human Development as a Research Associate in 2002. Dr. Allen transitioned to the Office of Institutional Research in 2010 as a graduate assistant, advanced to Associate Director after earning her PhD in 2013, and then became Assistant Provost in 2019. Since taking on the Assistant Provost role, Deb has overseen the successful merger of the Offices of Institutional Research and Assessment. Her leadership has played an instrumental role in high-priority initiatives such as the UMS TRANSFORMS Student Success and Retention assessment, the SRE Academic Portfolio Review, and, most recently, the campus-wide implementation of the Interfolio Faculty Activity Reporting System. Dr. Allen’s dedication, insight, and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in advancing the mission of Academic Affairs, and I look forward to her continued, stellar leadership in many areas of great importance to the university.

Finally, I share both my gratitude and and warmest best wishes to Dr. Sabrina DeTurk, who has accepted a new position as Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Business at Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, where she will also serve as Associate Professor of Art History. Her contributions to UMaine–including most recently as Director of Faculty Development and Strategic Initiatives–have been exceptional, marked by thoughtful leadership, deep care for colleagues, and steadfast dedication to the success of our students and faculty. I thank her for her service to UMaine and wish her every success in this exciting new chapter. 

Please join me in congratulating Shaleen, Deb, and Sabrina. 

Sincerely, 

Gabriel Paquette
Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias
5703 Alumni Hall, Suite 201 | Orono, ME 04469