What is it like being a university president in the 21st century?

In 2018, Joan Ferrini-Mundy became the 21st president of the University of Maine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias. In 2021, she was appointed vice chancellor for research and innovation for the University of Maine System. Among her many leadership initiatives: the appointment of the President’s Council on Diversity Equity and Inclusion to ensure foundational inclusive excellence, and chairing the UMS Science Advisory Board to stay abreast of fast-breaking scientific and medical developments in areas relevant for universities and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this week’s episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, Ferrini-Mundy, UMaine’s second female president in history, discusses what it’s like being a university president in the 21st century. She describes her daily routine, favorite tasks, the challenges she faces and her vision for the future of Maine's only public research university. This episode is the second in a two-part series featuring the president. Last week, she discussed what being an R1 university means for UMaine.