Maine Graduate & Professional Center, University of Maine System

09/03/2026

This week, the Maine Center welcomed the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of the National Ombudsman and members of Maine’s fishing and marine trades for a Lawfare and Regulatory Reform Hearing.

The interactive listening session brought business owners and industry professionals together with federal representatives for direct conversations about regulatory challenges affecting their work and opportunities to better support Maine’s small businesses and marine economy.

We’re always glad to have the Maine Center serve as a place for industry voices and government leaders to connect around the issues shaping Maine’s economy.

Interested in hosting your next event at the Maine Center? Learn more: https://www.maine.edu/mainecenter/convening/

08/24/2026

As summer winds down, we’re continuing our Maine Center Graduate Internship Program spotlight series! 🌟

Through the program, the Maine Center is sponsoring paid internship experiences for 20 graduate students from across our academic partners, connecting students with experiences that strengthen their professional development while allowing them to contribute to meaningful work at organizations in Maine and beyond.

As these internships wrap up, we’re highlighting students from Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine and the work, lessons, and perspectives they’re taking away from the summer.

Swipe through to hear directly from the interns about their experiences ➡️

08/17/2026

🎉Meet the 2026–2027 Alfond Ambassadors!

We’re proud to introduce this outstanding cohort of graduate students representing the Maine Center's academic partners: University of Maine Graduate School of Business (Maine Business School), University of Maine School of Law, Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine, and the Maine College of Engineering and Computing.

Selected for their academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to positively shaping Maine’s future, the Alfond Ambassadors will take part in immersive professional development, build meaningful connections, and receive financial support designed to advance their academic and professional success.

Please join us in congratulating this accomplished group of students! We look forward to an exciting year ahead and to seeing all they accomplish as a cohort.

08/12/2026

There’s still time to build your practical AI toolkit this summer. 💻

✅Tuesday 8/25 | ChatGPT in the Real World — Designed with staff and faculty in mind, this session explores practical ways to use ChatGPT for more efficient, repeatable workflows.

✅Thursday 8/27 | Gemini + NotebookLM in the Real World — For professionals working in Google Workspace, learn how Gemini and NotebookLM can help synthesize information, draft content, prepare materials, and uncover insights in your files.

✅Tuesday 9/1 | Beyond the Prompt: Working with Files and Folders — For professionals ready to move beyond basic prompting, explore agentic AI tools that can take on multi-step tasks involving files, research, documents, and more.

Learn more and register: https://www.maine.edu/mainecenter/ai-essentials/

08/04/2026

This summer, the Maine Center Graduate Internship Program is sponsoring 20 graduate students from across our academic partners with paid, hands-on experiences at organizations in Maine and beyond. These opportunities allow students to build professional connections, apply their skills to real-world challenges, and contribute to meaningful work across sectors.

We’ll be highlighting interns from each of our academic partners as they share their reflections on the experience.

First up, University of Maine School of Law students putting their legal education into practice ⚖️

Swipe through to learn more about the impactful work shaping their summer ➡️

07/31/2026

How far could $75,000 take your business? Apply to Maine Community Bank's LaunchPad, Maine’s premier small business competition through Thursday, August 13.

Visit Maine.Bank/LaunchPad

07/29/2026

On August 6, join the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, and partners for a conversation about Maine’s emerging role in the global algae and seaweed industry.

Researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders will explore new commercial applications, from biotechnology and skincare to environmental solutions, as well as the opportunities and challenges shaping Maine’s growing algal economy. Stay after the panel for networking with members of Maine’s innovation community.

📅 Thursday, August 6 | 3–5:30 p.m.
📍 Coastal Enterprises, Inc. | Brunswick

Learn more and register →

Maine is making waves in the global algal industry—be part of the conversation. Join Maine Center for Entrepreneurs, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, and partners for a dynamic panel on how algae and seaweed are powering innovation across biotech, life sciences, skincare, and environmental s...

07/27/2026

Alfond Ambassador Alumna Spotlight! 🌟

We’re excited to see former Alfond Ambassador and 2026 MaineMBA graduate Isabelle Sée recently profiled by UMaine Marine for her work bridging marine research, business strategy, and working waterfront communities as she builds a career in Maine’s growing blue economy.

Read more about how Isabelle’s interdisciplinary experience and business expertise are shaping her career and her commitment to Maine’s future.

Maine Business School

I didn’t find my way into the marine industry through a classroom. I grew up in a small boatyard on the marsh of the Royal River as the daughter of a boat builder. Early on, I came to understand the rhythms of working waterfronts and the people who depend on…

07/23/2026

Yesterday at the Maine Center, we were pleased to welcome HUD, Project Home, and the Portland Housing Authority for a Foster Youth to Independence Roundtable. The event brought together social service leaders, policymakers, community partners, and people with lived experience to identify critical gaps and develop practical solutions for supporting vulnerable Maine youth.

We're proud to provide a space for meaningful dialogue and collaborative problem-solving that can strengthen systems, create better pathways for young people, and help build a stronger future for Maine and its communities.

07/20/2026

💡 The AI Essentials Series starts this week!

Join us live on Zoom on July 21 and 23 for two practical sessions exploring how AI can support work with files, folders, documents, and other real workplace tasks.

The series continues through August 27. Join the sessions that interest you most and start building your AI toolkit to work better, smarter, and faster.

Learn more and register: https://www.maine.edu/mainecenter/ai-essentials/