Thomas College says it too will partner with Roux Institute, details plans for $13.5M gift
One day after a Portland startup announced a collaboration with Northeastern University’s Roux Institute, Thomas College in Waterville has said it too is partnering with the fledgling center for technology and life science research.
The partnership with Roux, founded early this year in Portland, is one of several initiatives Thomas is launching to grow “the workforce of tomorrow,” the college said in a news release Wednesday morning.
Thomas and Roux “intend to develop a deep partnership focused on catalyzing economic opportunity for the state of Maine through the development of homegrown talent,” the college said, adding there would be “more to come” in the new year.
On Tuesday, medical technology developer MedRhythms Inc. also said it will work with Roux to create strategic research collaborations, internships and cooperative work opportunities for graduate students at the institute. CEO Brian Harris told Mainebiz the company connected with the Roux Institute shortly after it announced plans in January to create an "innovation hub" in Portland, focused on technology and life science.
The institute was the brainchild of tech entrepreneur and Lewiston native David Roux and his wife, Barbara, who contributed a donation of $100 million from the Roux Family Foundation. In September, the institute welcomed its first class of 76 grad students, and currently occupies downtown space space leased from WEX Inc.
Other new initiatives
In addition to the new partnership, Thomas on Wednesday said it is firming up plans for the launch of two tech-focused academic programs, in digital media and business analytics. The college last month unveiled the programs, which will be backed by a $13.5 million gift from the Harold Alfond Foundation.
Both programs will debut in the fall of 2021, the college said. The digital media program will include concentrations in web development and multimedia design. Thomas is also adding a cybersecurity concentration to its MBA program.
“The single greatest thing we can do to drive the region and state’s economy is to attract, retain, and graduate more students and provide them with as robust academic and career-preparation experiences as possible,” Thomas College President Laurie G. Lachance said in the release.
“These new programs, initiatives and partnerships will help fuel our dedication to building Maine’s next generation of innovation leaders.”
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