Summer/Fall 2011 - the University of Maine at Fort Kent

FACULTYHIGHLIGHTS ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTSStudents Present Their Research at theState CapitolBehavior Sciences major, BridgetHughes (Presque Isle, Maine) andEnvironmental Studies major,Maxwell Petrashune (Plattsburgh,New York) presented their work atthe University of Maine System’sannual Undergraduate Research Day,held in the Hall of Flags at the StateCapitol in Augusta, Maine in May.Bridget’s work: Rural versus UrbanPerceptions of Consumption: Interviews withWomen was a study conducted with interviewsof 10 women, who were not from Maine, buthad lived in a city, and currently resided in FortKent, ME. The purpose of the study was to testFlora and Flora’s hypothesis that consumptionpatterns are similar for rural and urban residents.Maxwell presented: The effects ofMycorrhiza on Glacier Tomatoes a study thatcompared the impact of fungal mycorrhizaCELEBRATING STUDENT RESEARCH AT THE STATE CAPITOL are: Dr. Kurt Holzhausen, UMFK professor ofPsychology and chair of the Natural and Behavioral Sciences division; student presenter, Maxwell Petrashune;State Representative John L. Martin; student presenter, Bridget Hughes; University of Maine System ViceChancellor for Academic Affairs, James Breece; and, Dr. Soraya Cardenas, UMFK assistant professor of Sociology.fertilizer on tomato growth. The tomato plantsthat used the fertilizer out-produced the tomatoplants that did not. This was a direct consequenceof the fungal mycorrhiza attaching itselfto the root system, which allowed it to extendout and bring more nutrients to the plants.Two other projects presented during theday were: Fort Kent: Maine the way life shouldbe? a documentary which addresses theinequalities facing the community in Fort Kent;and, Energy Impact Study of Refrigerators atThe Lodge, a group study that analyzed the useof individual refrigerators to determine if moreefficient methods could be used.The glacial tomatoes study was mentoredby Dr. Steven Selva, professor of Biology &Environmental Studies. The other student projectswere mentored by Dr. Soraya Cardenas,assistant professor of Sociology. Dr. Selvahas taught at UMFK since 1976. Dr. Cardenasteaches courses in the subjects of sociologyand environmental studies. She has been amember of the UMFK faculty since 2007.VOISINE APPOINTED DEAN OFCOMMUNITY EDUCATIONScott Voisine has been appointed Dean ofCommunity Education by President Wilson Hess,effective July 1. Voisine’s new position is fundedthrough the University of Maine System.Dean Voisine will oversee educationaloutreach components, including UMFK’s EarlyCollege High School initiative, workforce education,and collaborations between UMFK andpublic schools, community organizations, andemployers. He will continue to administerand expand aspirations and lifelong learningprograms housed under the UMFK CollegeCommunity Project, including KinderKollege,Middle School U., and Senior College.As the Dean of Community Education,Voisine will be the conduit for educationalefforts that build upon the strengths of UMFKand its collaborators to provide lifelong educationalopportunities.Voisine has served UMFK in the area ofStudent Affairs for 16 years, most recently asDean of Students.8 | The Bell TowerSINGER-SONGWRITER DAVID MALLETT VISTS FORT KENTMaine singer-songwriter David Mallett sang and talked with students and community membersabout the stories behind his songs during a trip to Fort Kent to participate in a writingworkshop taught by Allagash native and UMFK alumna, Cathie Pelletier (’76). Mallet hasrecorded 14 albums and written songs for musicians, including Alison Krauss, Vince Gill andEmmylou Harris. He perhaps is best known for the folk classic “Garden Song.” which hasbeen recorded by Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger and John Denver.