President's Message

President Robert A. Kennedy   Links related to this story

The reach and impact of a comprehensive public university can take many forms. At the University of Maine, we take pride in the profound effect our institution has on people throughout our state. Of course, we educate students from all corners of Maine and well beyond our borders. Cooperative Extension and other outreach activities bring UMaine people and programs to Maine communities, and our alumni are business and community leaders statewide.

Two stories in this issue of UMaine Today remind me of another way to measure the breadth of that impact. They are two examples of UMaine research and outreach changing the lives of children. Economist Mary Davis' research on the impact of secondhand smoke in motor vehicles has led to public policy that protects children from those dangers. The faculty and students at UMaine's Conley Speech, Language and Hearing Center are doing remarkable things to help young children with communication difficulties, opening new opportunities for those youngsters to enjoy happy, fulfilling lives.

All of the UMaine faculty, students and staff members involved in these scholarly pursuits are committed to using their skills and knowledge to help others. Their success in that regard is personally rewarding, and it provides another measure of the value of the University of Maine to our state and its citizens, from the youngest to the oldest.

I offer my best wishes to each of you for an enjoyable summer. UMaine Today will return in September, and we look forward to sharing more news about UMaine and the accomplishments of its remarkable people.