2026 Homecoming
Save the date! The 2026 UMaine Retirees Homecoming will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Wells Conference Center!
Registration information coming soon.
2026 Keynote Speaker David Hart, Director of the Center for Sustainability, will present “UMaine’s Leadership in Aligning Research with Societal Needs”
2026 Highlights
- Welcome by President Ferrini-Mundy.
- Keynote by David Hart, Director of the Center for Sustainability. More information below.
- Four optional after-lunch tours: Page Farm and Home Museum, Athletic Facilities, Versant Astronomy Center, and the Orono Bog Boardwalk.
- Introduction of the 2026 Hikel Awardee. Announcement of the Brown Scholarship awardee.
- Free lunch and door prizes.
- 25 organizations will be available to meet with attendees.
Featured Speaker
David Hart became embroiled at the age of 17 in a controversial proposal regarding the environmental and economic future of a coastal California watershed, which sparked his lifelong quest to strengthen the role of science in society. Since then, he has conducted extensive environmental research, advised government, industry, and NGOs, and developed innovative programs addressing challenges that require a dual focus on improving human well-being and protecting the environment (i.e. sustainability challenges).
Following his arrival at UMaine in 2006, David and many colleagues have led efforts to grow UMaine’s capacity for stakeholder-engaged, interdisciplinary research, culminating in the creation of the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. More than 300 faculty and 1000 students from 17 universities representing the natural and social sciences, engineering, design, and the humanities have participated in this solutions-driven research (e.g. 100+ projects focused on water resources, forestry, agriculture, coastal fisheries, climate change, municipal planning, renewable energy, solid waste, community and economic development). Research support has come from many sources, including more than $32 million in grants from the National Science Foundation.
Schedule
9:00 AM:
- Check-in for handouts and parking passes.
- UMaine Activity Information Tables (25 Organizations).
10:15 AM: Welcome by Thomas Sandford, Chair of the President’s Council of Retired Employees, and UMaine President Ferrini-Mundy!
- Introduction of 2026 Barbara Hikel awardee and Harold Brown Scholarship awardee.
- Break to stretch legs.
11:00 AM: Featured Speaker David Hart, Director of the Center for Sustainability, “UMaine’s Leadership in Aligning Research with Societal Needs.”
11:45 AM: Lunch followed by Door Prizes led by Jeff Mills and closing remarks.
1:15 PM: Four Tours — Check-in (parking, location etc.) in dining room corners:
- Tour of Page Farm and Home Museum (max 35) — SE corner
- Walking tour of UMaine Alfond Arena, new Track Facility, and new Soccer Complex (max 40) — NW corner
- Tour of Versant Power Astronomy Center (max 50) — SW corner
- Tour of Orono Bog Boardwalk (max 20) — NE corner
1:20 PM: Disperse for Tours
3:00 PM: End