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B U S I N E S S L E A D E R S O F T H E Y E A R AWARD VO L . X X X I N O. V I M A R C H 2 4 , 2 0 2 5 16 MB: Have you raised all the money you need for the new school? JH: We are in the final phase of a comprehensive capital campaign and are on track to meet our fundraising goals. ese include the cost of the new Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences and additional projects to renovate spaces vacated by the medical school in Biddeford for new and existing programs and schol- arships to support students. MB: What was it like raising money in that environment? JH: As we have raised money for this campaign, we have found that people, including alumni, friends and the business community, are enthu- siastic about UNE's mission and our momentum. In a time when so many colleges and universities are financially struggling and even clos- ing, UNE can continue to invest in market-aligned programs, to provide a great place to work for people in Maine and to prepare students, many of whom are first-generation college students like myself, for good jobs once they graduate. MB: The health care shortage continues to be a problem for many hospitals. Do you see that changing? JH: e workforce shortage for phy- sicians, nurses and other health pro- fessionals is a significant challenge in Maine and across the country. We are educating as many professionals as possible, but a critical bottleneck here is the limited number of clinical training opportunities. Most of our students must leave the state to com- plete this training, which decreases their likelihood of returning to Maine to practice. e workforce shortage will only worsen if Maine does not address this issue. MB: What is UNE's current focus? JH: We are focusing on finalizing the medical school's move to the Portland Campus for the Health Sciences and then reimagining the Biddeford campus to accommo- date growth and new programs in business, sciences, computer science and the humanities. For example, we have invested in expanding our Communications major with a brand-new production studio in Biddeford. We are also building an innovation maker space in the Girard Marine Science Center. We are also investing in athletic facilities and scientific laboratories. MB: What has UNE planned for the future? JH: ere is no doubt that we are in a challenging time for higher educa- tion. We are facing a demographic cliff for college-age students, public confidence in higher education is at an all-time low, and higher education is also finding itself at the center of a highly politically charged climate. To position ourselves to continue thriving, it will be more important than ever for us to demonstrate our value proposition, showing prospec- tive students and their parents how a UNE education will set them up for a great job and prepare them for a fulfilling life. MB: Do you see enrollment increasing or decreasing in the coming years? JH: With the many new programs in our College of Business, as well as new undergraduate, graduate and online programs, we are optimistic that our enrollment will continue to grow despite the challenges facing higher education. Alexis Wells, Mainebiz Digital Editor, can be reached at awells @ mainebiz.biz » C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 1 4 There is no doubt that we are in a challenging time for higher education. All in on Maine. INTRODUCING THE NEWLY COMBINED MAINE COMMUNITY BANK Our bank is defined by Maine—where we are, who we serve, and our mission. This singular focus has made us the largest mutual savings bank operating solely in our state. For us, community banking means helping Maine families, businesses, and communities reach their financial goals—and today, we can offer more than ever. Learn more at maine.bank.

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