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University of New England President Sandra Featherman, Ph.D., announced her intention to step down as UNE president in two years' time.
She announced her decision at a  recent UNE Board of Trustees meeting and cited her desire to give the growing educational institution sufficient time for a presidential search and an orderly transition. She said her intent is to continue her work in improving and strengthening UNE for the duration of her tenure.
Growth
In her tenth year at UNE, President Featherman described UNE's remarkable growth in operating budget and academic programs. In that time, UNE's gross annual revenues have more than tripled, from $27.6 million a year to $88 million, a growth rate of nearly 14 percent annually. The University has also developed a number of new graduate and undergraduate degree programs.
During President Featherman's tenure, the University merged successfully with Westbrook College in Portland, completed two major fundraising campaigns worth more than $18 million, invested $65 million in capital improvements on both campuses (including major new facilities such as the Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences and the Marine Science Education and Research Center on the University Campus in Biddeford and the Parker Pavilion/I2H2 Classroom on the Westbrook College Campus in Portland), increased scientific research, and grew enrollment every year to its current size of about 3,000 students.
"Energetic Leader"
"Sandra Featherman is an extraordinarily energetic leader with a great vision of what UNE is capable of becoming," observed Ed Woodsum, LL.B., UNE board chair. "We are lucky to have her - she's done a remarkable job of building the institution. At this time of UNE's development, we couldn't have had a better individual running the show. Her capabilities and commitment have energized the board. She has been delightful to work with, and she will be a hard act to follow."
Woodsum noted that UNE's strong position and rising status should attract many good presidential candidates.
Sandra Featherman came to UNE in 1995 after serving at the University of Minnesota/Duluth as vice chancellor for academic administration and professor of political science. Before that she was at Temple University, as assistant to the president, director of the Center for Public Policy, and president of the Faculty Senate.
"This institution is on the verge of greatness," President Featherman told her UNE board members. "Together, we have brought it a considerable distance. Now we need to search for a successor to take us to the next level."
She continued, "It has been a great privilege to serve this fine school, with its wonderful board, its talented and committed faculty and staff, its extraordinary students and its loyal and accomplished alumni."
She assured the board she would not be a "lame duck" president during her final two years.
(Press release issued May 20, 2004)
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