Appointment of Executive VP for Academic Affairs and Provost

Dear members of the University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias communities,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gabriel Paquette as Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of the University of Maine and the University of Maine at Machias, effective April 1, 2026.

Dr. Paquette is a proven academic leader and a prominent scholar of European, Latin American, and international history. In his three years at our university, he has progressed from Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Faculty Development, to Senior Associate Provost, and, most recently, to Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. In these roles, Dr. Paquette has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of academia, a commitment to excellence and opportunity for our students, and unwavering respect for the important work of our faculty.

I am especially grateful for Dr. Paquette’s thoughtful and transparent leadership in our ongoing Strategic Re-Envisioning initiative. He has a strong command of the dynamic and challenging national context for higher education, and indeed maintains a presence as a public intellectual in that arena, as evidenced by the publication of his perspectives in The Chronicle of Higher Education and Times Higher Education.

Prior to joining 91¸£Àû, Dr. Paquette held leadership roles at the University of Oregon, including Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Clark Honors College. Earlier in his career, he directed the Latin American studies program at Johns Hopkins University, where he rose through the faculty ranks and also served as a Provost’s Fellow.

Dr. Paquette is the Adelaide C. and Alan L. Bird Chair and Professor of History at 91¸£Àû. He is the author of three books and has taught or held research appointments at Trinity College (University of Cambridge), Harvard University, Wesleyan University, the University of Notre Dame, and King’s College London.

We are very fortunate to have such a talented, committed, and experienced academic leader as Dr. Paquette at our flagship university. I look forward to continuing our work together to advance the academic, research, and engagement missions of our land, sea, and space grant university.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Paquette on this appointment.
Sincerely,

Joan Ferrini-Mundy, President

University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias