New UMFK president brings varied background to the community

He may be the only UMS president who has eaten whale blubber.

Dr. Wilson Hess, the new president of the University of Maine at Fort Kent, said he had the unique opportunity to eat whale blubber while studying native groups in Canada when he was the executive director of the Audubon Expedition Institute out of Belfast, Maine.

(For a video of Dr. Hess' opening remarks to the UMFK Board of Visitors, please click HERE)

His PhD is

UMFK President Wilson Hess. - Birden photo

in history with a focus on military and naval history.  His favorite historical figure is President Theodore Roosevelt and his favorite period of history is America's Progressive Era.

With a wide-ranging career in academics, strategic planning, governance, conservation, and accreditation, Dr. Hess most recently finished a four-year stint as the president at the College of the Marshall Islands in Micronesia, a collection of thousands of islands which is northwest of Australia.  While there, he helped restore the struggling college to full accreditation.  The faculty of the college bestowed him the title of President Emeritus.

But rather than relax in his retirement, in July Dr. Wilson took the helm at UMFK.

In an interview on July 29, Dr. Wilson provided a wide-ranging glimpse of the kind of man who has stepped into a powerful position of responsibility in our community.

He said, "The College plays a critical role in the community in terms of public policy, community development, culture and heritage."

He said "there are parallels" between the isolation of the St. John Valley and the isolation of the communities in the Marshall Islands.

This isolation increases the responsibility the college plays in the community to "try to expand horizons".

He said, "As a good citizen, the university has a more significant role to play than if we were in Boston."

He said UMFK has many advantages.  "I'm a big fan of small scale education," said Hess.  According to the new president, the small scale is the human scale, and that has value.  He said, "If you can capitalize on that, you can do some really exciting stuff."

This creates a mutual challenge to take the enthusiasm and "focus it and take it to the next level."

Hess said he wants to increase enrollment at UMFK and make the operation of the university more sustainable, fiscally viable, and a model to promote student success.

He said, "These are perilous times for state and federal funded education."

Hess predicts that beginning in 2012 there will be a long-term decline in high school graduates.  The decline will last until 2025.  He said there are studies that back up this prediction.  The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education backs up his prediction.

He said, "Fiscally, that's a challenge."

He said that an increase in student success can override reduced numbers.  He credits the growth at the College of the Marshall Islands to student success.

He noted that former President Richard Cost left the university operating within its budget.

Along with a balanced budget, Hess arrives at the university at the same time that approximately $850,000 in funding is also coming to the campus.  He said the college is receiving $250,000 from a strategic investment fund to support bridging programs and reach beyond the geographic boundaries for more diverse revenues.  He also said Senator Collins told him that $600,000 will come to Fort Kent for the nursing program.

Hess said it is normal for a university to change presidents every three or four years.  He said he is ready to commit to as many as five years in Fort Kent.

He said, "I've known about this region for 35-45 years or so.  The people are wonderful.  We have a lot to do to reach out for community support."

He added, "I really do believe we have enormous potential here to make UMFK a center of excellence in many areas.

At the end of the interview, Hess quoted Henry David Thoreau.  The famous author wrote, "I have faith in a seed. Show me a seed there and I will expect miracles."

To Hess, this quote makes him feel confident about UMFK.  He said, "There are some very significant seeds in the ground.  We're in pretty good shape."

As far as the taste of whale blubber?

Well Hess said he learned something from the experience.  "I do not recommend it."