Jacqueline Edmondson, who became president of the University of Southern Maine in 2022, has been instrumental in shaping the university into an arts hub. Under her leadership, USM last year opened the $63 million Crewe Center for the Arts on the Portland campus, honoring brothers Daniel and Bob Crewe, the late songwriter and record producer known for many of the Four Seasons’ hits. The center has a performing arts hall and is home to the Dr. Alfred and D. Suzi Osher School of Music. This year, the university unveiled plans for a $15 million fine arts center on the Gorham campus.
Mainebiz: How did you raise the money for the Crewe Center for the Arts?
Jacqueline Edmondson: The Crewe Center represents the culmination of more than 30 years of vision and advocacy led by Dan Crewe and supported by many arts champions across Maine. Funding came from a combination of private philanthropy and public investment. The key was articulating a clear value proposition: the center would expand access for students, elevate the reputation and reach of the Osher School of Music, strengthen downtown Portland’s cultural infrastructure, and generate long-term economic and civic impact across Maine. Strong financial stewardship and consistent communication built the confidence needed to invest at scale.
The USM Foundation has raised $25 million to bring the Crewe Center for the Arts to life. This fall, we launched the Crescendo Campaign — the final movement of our effort to bring this building to life. We are now focused on completing the remaining $4.5 million by securing naming support for two spaces, the Great Hall Gallery and the Performance Hall.
MB: How did the Crewe brothers get involved?
JE: Dan Crewe attended a School of Music performance in Corthell Hall on the Gorham campus with President Rich Patenaude more than 30 years ago. He recognized the caliber of our students, and he believed they needed a state-of-the-art facility to learn, practice and perform. Dan never lost sight of the vision and one of the greatest days of my presidency was being with Dan on the first day of classes at USM this year.
MB: How did you choose the site?
JE: Locating the Crewe Center in Portland ensures strong community engagement and reinforces USM’s role as Maine’s metropolitan university. The site integrates the university more deeply into the city’s cultural and business ecosystem.
MB: After leading such a transformative project, what’s next?
JE: I’m focused on ensuring that USM is seen as the intellectual and cultural hub of Southern Maine. This includes enrollment growth, financial sustainability and expanding experiential learning opportunities that connect students directly to Maine’s workforce needs.
MB: With an arts center planned for Gorham, how do you think about growth across campuses?
JE: The new art building in Gorham will house sculpture, pottery, metal, wood, along with photography and digital arts. Our theater and music theater will continue to be housed in Gorham and we are in the process of adding a new dance major, which will also be primarily in Gorham. Rather than duplicating efforts, we’re creating complementary assets that strengthen the university system as a whole.
MB: Is USM focusing on growth in the arts?
JE: Yes — strategically. Many colleges and universities emphasize workforce development and technical skills. While those are vital, USM’s commitment to ensuring every student has meaningful engagement with the arts and humanities signals something deeper: an understanding that education is not just about what you can do, but who you become.
The arts prepare students for jobs that may not exist today, but will exist in the future.
In a time when employers seek creativity, communication and collaboration, USM’s emphasis on the arts and humanities becomes a differentiator. Students trained to think critically and express themselves powerfully are more innovative across all fields — from engineering and business to health sciences and education.
