Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – “I feel as if it’s home,” renowned author Cathie Pelletier said of her teacher’s niche created within the University of Maine at Presque Isle and surrounding central Aroostook communities. Pelletier bade farewell to members of UMPI and local residents at a celebratory reception on March 27 ending her stint as the university’s first writer in residence. UMPI has the honor of being Pelletier’s first host school for the writer in residence position. “I’ve always turned down writers in residence before,” explained Pelletier. “I’ve been working on a manuscript or I just didn’t feel it was the right place.”
However, after completing her latest manuscript, Pelletier felt the time had come and sought out her former contacts at UMPI over the winter break. “When I was here on my book tour in the fall of 2006, I was overwhelmed with the campus and the spirit that was here,” remembered Pelletier. “Deb Hodgkins (chair of the School of English and Fine Arts) was so wonderful, and I enjoyed all the professors asking me to visit their classes.”
Pelletier, originally from Allagash, was also drawn to UMPI because she had never spent a lot of time in the central area of Aroostook County. Dr. Hodgkins and Rachel Rice, media relations coordinator, seized the opportunity to have a respected author on campus, and made the arrangements for Pelletier to teach two classes three time a week during the spring semester.
According to Dr. Don Zillman, president of the university, he has received nothing but positive feedback from involved members of the campus and community. “It has been an absolutely marvelous combination of the classes themselves where they would spend about two hours, and then about half a dozen students returning here to go on for hours longer,” said Dr. Zillman. Pelletier spent the semester as a guest in the apartment on the first floor of the president’s house and often invited students back to continue discussing the business and craft of writing.
“She has been a real presence,” explained Zillman about Pelletier’s active work and openness both on and off the campus.
Pelletier’s experience and contacts within the writing world have benefited not only the individual students but the program as a whole. “Some of the students have had the opportunity to work very intensely with a widely published author,” commented Dr. Hodgkins. “She’s been very generous with her time and brought other people to campus. One of the most important things is that more than half the students in the class were individuals from the community, and those connections to the community are an important part of the university.”
The mix of older and younger writers created an ideal learning environment. “It was unbelievable having older members of the community there,” said Pelletier. “They added an element for the younger writers, an element of patience.”
Administration and faculty have seen such a positive impact from the program, the English and Fine Arts Department hopes to again host a writer or artist in residence within the next two years. Pelletier offered to assist the university in the search for the next writer or artist as a special adviser to the program.
“The two things that we agreed on is that the person is a splendid teacher and commercially and professionally experienced in their field,” said Dr. Zillman about possible future candidates.
Pelletier, officially inducted into the university with her UMPI hoodie, will promote the program among her contacts in literary and musical circles.
In the future, organizers plan to offer only one course, depending on the guest instructor. “We will focus on the one class, the work with the community and having open office hours,” said Dr. Hodgkins.
According to Dr. Zillman, the majority of the financial support for the program comes from the yearly appeal so tuition is not affected.
