Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 28 : Spring 2016 | Page 51

Campus and community
members gathered for
the Gentile Hall 10th
anniversary celebration.
Pictured with Gentile Hall
staffers Dick Gardiner, Keli
Marston, Amanda Baker
and Donna Underwood
are some of the individuals
who have been Gentile
Hall members since the
facility opened its doors
in 2006. From left to right
are: Baker, Kim Wright,
Karen St. Peter, Theresa
Talbot, Marston, Gardiner,
and Underwood.

completed a nine-week program between February and
April, using Gentile Hall’s elevated track, with the goal of
building up their skills and confidence to the point that
they can participate in a local 5K event. At program’s end,
participants were encouraged to take part in UMPI’s Spring
Run Off.

years to a UMPI faculty member to assist in research and
faculty development.

“We are delighted to have Dave Putnam serve as the
second-ever recipient of the Zillman Family Professorship,”
President Schott said. “He is a dedicated scientist who is able
to focus his attention on a wide range of research topics and
On the local professional development front, the University the professorship will allow him to continue the important
once again partnered with MMG Insurance this spring to work he’s been doing both close to home in northern Maine
offer the Young Professionals Institute. The professional and halfway around the world.”
development short course was designed specifically for
emerging leaders looking to hone their professional skills. To learn more about these and other exciting things
YPI 9 participants took part in role-playing scenarios happening at UMPI, visit www.umpi.edu.
that refined their abilities to “pitch” proposals and deliver
presentations, completed on-the-spot public speaking
assignments, and networked with area business and
community leaders. The theme of this year’s Institute was
Discover the Leader Within, which focused on self-awareness
and understanding participants’ emotional quotient (EQ).
Participants were able to gain a deeper understanding of
how and why they tackle problems and projects the way
they do, how it impacts the workplace and team members,
and how to harness it to advance the needs and goals of
their organization.
The spring semester also saw the announcement of the
recipient of the Donald and Linda G. Zillman Family
Professorship for 2015-2017: David Putnam, archaeologist/
climate scientist and UMPI faculty member. Putnam is using
the professorship funds to conduct a wide range of research,
including a joint climate change-focused research expedition
to Mongolia and related publication work in 2015-2016, as
well as research connected with documenting wood turtle
populations, glacial geology, and archaeology survey in the
North Maine Woods in 2016-2017. The professorship—
established in 2013 by former UMPI President Don
Zillman and his wife Linda Zillman—is awarded every two

(Photo by Dr. Aaron Putnam) UMPI faculty member David
Putnam, shown here riding a horse in the Altai Mountains of
Mongolia during an international research trip in Summer
2015, was named the the recipient of the Donald and Linda G.
Zillman Family Professorship for 2015-2017.

SPRING 2016

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