PORTLAND, Maine - Former Maine House Speaker Glenn Cummings has been named the new president of the University of Southern Maine. The announcement comes after the man scheduled to take over leadership at the campus, Harvey Kesselman, withdrew his name, citing problems at his current post at Stockton University, in New Jersey.
Cummings was a finalist for the USM presidency, and is currently interim head of the University of Maine at Augusta. Prior to that, Cummings served as director of Good Will-Hinckley, formerly a school for at-risk kids that now includes a magnet school focused on agriculture, forestry, and sustainability.
Maine House Leader Ken Fredette is praising Cummings' appointment. "Having worked with Glenn on his successes at Good Will-Hinckley, I’m confident he can provide the same type of leadership as President for the University of Southern Maine," Fredette says, in a statement. "As a USM graduate, it is my hope that this appointment will lead to stability and continue to build upon USM’s growing reputation and potential for a great urban campus."
Kesselman became the acting president at Stockton University in April following the abrupt resignation of Herman Saatkamp for medical reasons. The school is currently embroiled in a legal dispute over the school's plan to develop a campus at the former Showboat Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.
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