Seven individuals and one family have been selected as recipients of the Alumni Association’s 2020 Alumni Achievement Awards. The 2020 awards program was sponsored by Maine Savings Federal Credit Union. To view all of the alumni winner videos, click here.
Given the uncertainty about the impact and length of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alumni Association reluctantly canceled its 2020 Alumni Achievement Awards Dinner and Recognition Ceremony, which was scheduled for April 24th. Instead, a video tribute to our honorees is being produced and shared with alumni and friends through digital media. We also recognize individual honorees at regional alumni events to be held later in the year. Those who purchased tickets to the event were issued a refund.
Please contact alumni@maine.edu with any questions. Thank you for your understanding and support.
George Smith ’70
Alumni Career Award Recipient
George Smith ’70 has been chosen for the Alumni Career Award, the association’s highest honor. The former executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and a champion for Maine’s land and access to it, Smith spent decades advocating for state policies related to Maine’s outdoor heritage and environmental preservation. In addition, he has achieved prominence as a book author, newspaper columnist, blogger, and television show host. Maine Governor Janet Mills and U.S. Senator Angus King were among those who nominated Smith for the award. He lives in Mount Vernon, Maine.
Richard Powell
Distinguished Maine Professor Award Recipient
UMaine Political Science Professor Richard Powell, the 2020 recipient of the Distinguished Maine Professor Award, the university’s most prestigious faculty award. Powell, who has taught political science at UMaine since 2001, was selected for the award earlier this year. He was one of six faculty members nominated by campus deans for the award. The Distinguished Maine Professor Award program was established in 1963 through an endowment fund started by the Class of 1942 and continued by the Class of 2002. A special committee of alumni, current and former faculty members, and a representative of the student body made the selection based on a detailed review of the candidates’ teaching, research, and public service records.
The Chase Family
Fogler Legacy Award Recipient
Janine di Giovanni ’83
Bernard Lown Humanitarian Award Recipient
Janine di Giovanni ’83 has been selected to receive the Bernard Lown Humanitarian Award. Di Giovanni is an internationally prominent war correspondent and best-selling author. She has written seven books and won more than 12 major awards for her extensive work in war and conflict zones. The New York Post named her latest book, “The Morning They Came for Us: Dispatches From Syria,” on its “Best Books of the Year” list. Currently di Giovanni is a Senior Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute of Global Affairs and a professor of Practice, Human Rights. She was previously the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a professor of Practice in Human Rights at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Prior to that, she was the Middle East Editor at Newsweek, reporting mainly on human rights abuses and investigating war crimes. She lives in New York City.
Dr. Anne Pooler ’72G, ’75 Ed.D.
Pine Tree Emblem Service Award Recipient
Dr. Anne Pooler ’72G, ’75 Ed.D. is the recipient of the 2020 Pine Tree Emblem Alumni Service Award. Pooler earned her master’s and doctoral degrees at UMaine, served decades on the UMaine faculty, and eventually became dean of the College of Education and Human Development. However, her award selection was based on her long history of service as an alumni leader and advocate. Pooler was a member, officer, and committee chair of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She also served as secretary of the UMaine Foundation as well as on many other civic and community boards. She resides in Bangor.
Rachel Binder-Hathaway ’12
Spirit of Maine Achievement Award Recipient
Rachel Binder-Hathaway ’12 has been selected to receive the Spirit of Maine Achievement Award. The award recognizes a young alumnus or alumna who has achieved exceptional professional success in the years since graduation. A Millinocket native, Binder-Hathaway is a behavioral economist, gender expert and research consultant. She presently works with theUnited Nations, the World Bank, and Harvard University. Binder-Hathaway has successfully worked to improve the lives of women and children across Southeast Asia and Africa as a Fulbright Fellow, J-PAL Global Training Manager, and founder of Seeds of Change. Binder-Hathaway was valedictorian of UMaine’s Class of 2012. She resides in New York City and Cambridge, MA.
Renee Minsky ’44H, ’50H
Champion of UMaine Award Recipient
Renee Minsky ’44H, ’50His the recipient of the Champion of UMaine Award, which recognizes a non-alumnus or -alumna who has been an effective, longtime advocate for UMaine’s mission and public agenda. An influential proponent of education and the arts in the community, she has dedicated her time and resources to enhancing the cultural resources on campus and beyond. She lives in Bangor and Sanibel Island, Florida.
Jeff Rogers ’16
Rising Star Award Recipient
Jeff Rogers ’16 and Jenny Desmond ’14 are co-recipients of the Rising Star Awards. The award honors recent graduates who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing the strength and success of the Alumni Association and its members. Rogers leads the Black Bears of Portland alumni chapter and is active in other alumni groups and activities. Rogers is senior manager of strategy and operations for Covetrus, an animal health technology and services based in Portland, where he resides.
Jenny Desmond ’14
Rising Star Award Recipient
Jeff Rogers ’16 and Jenny Desmond ’14 are co-recipients of the Rising Star Awards. The award honors recent graduates who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing the strength and success of the Alumni Association and its members. Desmond serves on the board of All Maine Women Alumni Affinity Group and as the advisor for undergraduate All Maine Women. Desmond is coordinator for leadership development in UMaine’s Center for Student Involvement. She lives in Brewer.
2020 Alumni Achievement Awards Sponsored by:
