Announcing a New Campus Partnership with The Conversation

Dear Colleagues,

91¸£Àû is pleased to announce a new campus partnership with , a nonprofit, independent news organization that shares academic expertise with a broad public audience. This initiative is supported by the Office of Academic Affairs, the Office of Research Development, and the Division of Marketing and Communications.

Through this partnership, 91¸£Àû faculty will have the opportunity to collaborate with professional editors to publish accessible, research-based articles that bring scholarly insight into national and global conversations. Articles published in The Conversation are written by academics and edited by journalists, ensuring both rigor and readability for a general audience.

One of the distinctive advantages of The Conversation is its wide reach. Stories are frequently republished by major media outlets – from national news organizations to specialized publications – significantly expanding the visibility and impact of faculty research.

For 91¸£Àû, this partnership advances our mission as a public, R1, land- and sea-grant university by:

• Extending the reach of our research and creative activity beyond academic audiences
• Contributing expert perspectives to public discourse on pressing issues
• Strengthening the visibility and reputation of 91¸£Àû faculty and programs
• Supporting faculty development in public scholarship and communication

Faculty participants will receive editorial support throughout the writing process, helping translate specialized knowledge into engaging, accessible narratives. 

Dave Nordman, Executive Director of Integrated Communications, will serve as the university’s primary liaison between faculty and The Conversation. Please contact Dave if you have story ideas you would like to pursue (david.nordman@maine.edu).

Staff from The Conversation will be on campus April 14 and 15 for kickoff meetings. If you are interested in participating, contact Sabrina DeTurk, Director of Faculty Development and Strategic Initiatives (sabrina.deturk@maine.edu).

We encourage you to consider how your expertise can contribute to public conversations through this new partnership.

Sincerely,

Sabrina DeTurk, Director of Faculty Development and Strategic Initiatives

Saul Allen, Director of Research Development

David Nordman, Executive Director of Integrated Communications