White House picks UMaine’s Ferrini-Mundy for National Science Board

Photo / Courtesy, University of Maine The White House has selected UMaine’s Joan Ferrini-Mundy to join the National Science Board.

Write a Comment

By Laurie Schreiber

The Biden administration said Wednesday it intends to appoint University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy to serve on the National Science Board.

The board is the governing body of the National Science Foundation, a federal agency that supports research throughout the U.S. and whose budget last year totaled over $9 billion.

In a news release, the White House commented on Ferrini-Mundy's leadership at the Orono university, saying, “During her six years as president, Ferrini-Mundy has introduced changes and efforts to position UMaine as a leader in advancing Maine’s workforce and economy, with focus on inclusion, learner success and the integration of learning and research."

The statement highlighted UMaine’s rise in 2022 to R1 classification, the highest tier a doctoral research university can achieve in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

The White House noted Ferrini-Mundy’s role as co-principal investigator of a $320 million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation to improve educational opportunities and outcomes in Maine and beyond.

The statement also cited extensive capital improvements at UMaine under Ferrini-Mundy’s presidency, including the completion of the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center, new athletics facilities and an on-campus hotel developed through a public-private partnership.

Ferrini-Mundy was a 2024 Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year.

If the appointment goes forward, Ferrini-Mundy will be one of 24 board members and will serve as an independent adviser to the president and Congress on national science and engineering policies and programs. In addition, she will help determine National Science Foundation’s strategic direction, budget, funding allocations and evaluation of major research initiatives.

“The board and NSF have played a pivotal role for decades in advancing our nation’s policy, economic and educational interests through investment in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and STEM education,” Ferrini-Mundy said.

“All of those areas are critical to the quality and preparedness of the American workforce and for maintaining our national infrastructure, innovative leadership and competitiveness.”

NSF experience

Ferrini-Mundy became president of UMaine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias, in 2018. She also serves as the University of Maine System’s vice chancellor for research and innovation.

She already has extensive experience with NSF, having held several senior administrative positions with the organization during her 11-year tenure there. Her last role with NSF was as its chief operations officer, a position she held until her UMaine appointments.

However, she reconnected with NSF in a non-employment role in 2022 when President Joe Biden appointed her to the committee that recommends recipients for the President's National Medal of Science.

With a Ph.D. in mathematics education, her research interests span calculus learning, mathematics teacher knowledge and STEM education policy.

University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy nominated Ferrini-Mundy to the National Science Board and also appointed her as the system's first vice chancellor for research and innovation in 2021.

"Just as Maine is fortunate to have Joan leading its R1 university and research and innovation activities across its public university system and state, our nation will greatly benefit from her service on the National Science Board," said Malloy.

Established by Congress in 1950, the National Science Foundation has a mission to promote the progress of science, advance national health and welfare, secure the national defense and advance the country's global leadership in research and education. NSF’s investments make up about one-quarter of all federal support for basic research conducted at America’s universities and colleges.