Review on President Zillman’s appointment conducted

UMPI seeks input on president
    PRESQUE ISLE – The University of Maine System is looking for community feedback on the appointment of Don Zillman as President of the University of Maine at Presque Isle.     Chancellor Rich Pattenaude is looking at the possibility of Zillman continuing as president beyond his current fixed-length term appointment, which ends June 30, 2008. Zillman stepped in as the University’s interim president two years ago.
    “While it is unusual to make an appointment without a search following a fixed-length term, my conversations with people at Presque Isle and my own observations lead me to think it is a course of action I should seriously consider recommending to the Board of Trustees,” Pattenaude said. “Don has stated that he would be willing to accept such an appointment if offered.”
    Dr. Allen Berger, Provost of the University of Maine at Farmington, was scheduled to be in Presque Isle from Nov. 19 to 21 to conduct a campus and community review with a two-fold purpose. He will ask whether the UMPI community supports Zillman’s appointment without a search in order to continue the leadership now in place, and, if so, what guidance, advice and information the community would offer to ensure his success and effectiveness in the position.
    Dr. Berger will meet in scheduled sessions with individuals and groups representing students, faculty, staff, administration and members of the community in order to conduct this review. Mary Lawrence, president of the University Senate, will serve as coordinator of the review visit. Anyone who would like to meet individually with Dr. Berger may contact Lawrence at 768-9502 to schedule a confidential appointment.
    “I request that you participate in this review and contribute your thoughts and ideas so that we can make the best decision for the future of the University of Maine at Presque Isle,” Pattenaude said.
Faculty Noon Seminar Series
    PRESQUE ISLE – The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host the first seminar in its new Faculty Noon Seminar Series on Wednesday, Nov. 28, in the Allagash Room,  Campus Center.
    The series will kick off with a presentation entitled “Strategic Writing for Professionals” by President Don Zillman, who will take an interactive look at the book “Strategic Legal Writing,” which he co-authored with Evan Roth.
    The Faculty Noon Seminar Series is meant to foster awareness of research and teaching activities taking place on campus. The series will be held on the last Wednesday of each month at noon. Presentations will be 20 to 30 minutes in length followed by a discussion. Participants are invited to bring their lunch and join in the discussion. Beverages will be provided by the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
    While no seminar will be held in December, four are planned for next semester. They include:
• Jan. 30, “Lecture-Free Teaching: A Learning Partnership of Professors and their Students,” by Dr. Bonnie Wood, professor of biology;
• Feb. 27, “Agency, Alienation and the Learning Process,” by Dr. Dick Ayre, professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Barb Chalou, associate professor of teacher education;
• March 26, “Bringing the Mosquito Menace into the Classroom!” by Dr. Andrea Gorman Gelder, associate professor of science; and
• April 30, “Inspiring Courage in Girls! An Examination of How Participants in a Wilderness Program Inspires Courage in Girls,” by Anja Whittington, assistant professor of recreation/leisure.
    Faculty, staff, students and the community are invited to attend this free event. For more information, contact Lynn Eldershaw at 768-9749 or Lynnelde@maine.edu.
Justin/Tyler Wood Trio
    PRESQUE ISLE – Justin and Tyler Wood return to their hometown during Thanksgiving Day weekend for a jazz concert with bass player Chris van Voorst van Beest. The Justin/Tyler Wood Trio will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24, in the Campus Center. The New York City jazz musicians will play a few standards and their own compositions.
    Justin and Tyler Wood grew up in Presque Isle and eventually made their way to Brooklyn, where they pursued diverse musical projects. Justin (saxophone and flute) performs in the New York City area with the jazz ensemble Spoke, the New York SoundPainting Orchestra and his own ensembles. Tyler (organ and piano) has toured with artists such as Luke Temple and the Troglodytes.
    Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for UMPI, NMCC and SAGE students with valid ID.  For more information, contact Carol Ayoob at 768-9462.